Make Holidays Greener: Packing Light

We’re all about supporting Make Holidays Greener Month throughout July. And one of the big ways we can all help is by packing a bit lighter when we go on holiday.

Did you know, the lighter the load, the less CO2 we produce. So keeping your luggage to a minimum is a big step in the right direction. And to help you with this, we asked fashionista Brix Smith-Start for her top tips for packing light.

1. Check the weather before you travel. If the weather forecast is dry and sunny throughout the time you are away then you are unlikely to need more than one warm jumper and one pair of jeans.
2. Think about the kind of holiday you are going to have. If you love active adventure then by all means bring your hiking boots and heavy duty combat trousers to protect your legs from scrapes. However, if you are just going to lie by the beach and possibly do some sightseeing then leave your boots behind, unpack your gym kit and just bring a pair of plimsolls or shoes that you’ll be comfortable walking around in.
3. Plan what shoes you’ll wear. Shoes weigh a lot, and yet when we asked you about your packing habits, 10% of you packed five or more pairs. On holiday you don’t need to match your shoes with every dress – instead bring a pair of sparkly flat flip flops or sandals, and a pair of wedges or neutral high heel sandals, which will go with everything. You then just need a pair of flip flops for the beach and some plimsolls for walking.
4. Bring a couple of statement items. A fabulous maxi-dress, an original kaftan or a statement necklace will be all you need to get you from looking chic during the day to looking glamorous at night. Kaftans and maxi-dresses are so easy to dress up or down and a bright print will make you really stand out and feel confident while you are away.
5. Don’t bring a towel. Towels are heavy, get smelly when damp and take up a lot of room in your case. A lot of beach hotels provide beach towels.
6. Bring accessories that will work hard. Strings of beads that can be worn as bracelets or necklaces, chunky earrings and necklaces that can smarten up a beach dress and flower corsages that can jazz up a plain boob tube or can be pinned to your sun hat – accessories should be the key to your summer wardrobe. They are small and will ensure that your outfits can look different each time you wear them.
7. Cut down on toiletries. Do you need hair spray, mousse, serum, gel, body lotion, body oil, after sun etc? Probably not. In fact if you are anything like me your toiletries bag will be the heaviest thing in your suitcase. Try and cut down by bringing mini versions of your products and deciding what you actually need to get you through the day. Remember you’ll probably spend less time getting ready at night as it will be too hot for blow dries and straightening sessions. Also if you are going away with the girls, choose who will bring what. You don’t need four bottles of shampoo between four of you!”

Let us know if you have any top tips for our readers below.