Latest news with #holidayfashion
Telegraph
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Packing for the Cyclades or Cornwall? How to dress for every holiday mood
It's that time of year when everyone is giddy with excitement for summer holidays. For some of us, part of the anticipation is planning what to wear. It doesn't matter how many cotton voile kaftans or linen shirts you own, it's almost impossible to resist scouring early summer sales for new swimsuits, sundresses and sandals – a kind of retail 'holiday goggles', if you will. Perhaps we do it because different holidays call for different aesthetics. Take my upcoming stay with relatives in the south of France: for weeks, I've been trawling Vinted for exactly the right kind of dress for strolling around Provençal villages – my efforts were rewarded when I stumbled across a white cotton Dôen number with just the right degree of 'milkmaid' appeal. If Cornwall or Devon is more your speed, a degree of meteorological prep for all eventualities is required. Chunky cotton knits are ideal for throwing over shorts and swimsuits if temperatures drop, along with a waterproof in case the heavens decide to open. Beyond the practicalities, a subtle nod to nautical style also feels appropriate. A Spanish holiday might call for a more bohemian feel, with embroidered blouses and handmade espadrilles, while a Greek island escape suits a wardrobe that shares the same unfussy, minimal appeal as a port-side taverna at sundown. It's a literal take on holiday dressing – a bit like wearing florals to the Chelsea Flower Show or crisp whites to Wimbledon – but it's also part of getting into the spirit of wherever you're going. Eating your bodyweight in gelato in Italy or having a pastel de nata at every opportunity in Portugal isn't something you can't do elsewhere – it's just more fun in the right context. Of course, curating your holiday wardrobe is only half the challenge. Fitting it all into a Ryanair-approved carry-on is quite another. Succeed, and you've won the holiday season before you've even set off. French girl summer This look takes its aesthetic cues from Brigitte Bardot and Jane Birkin in the 1960s. Tie a scarf around your hair, toss your belongings into a wicker basket and, very quickly, you'll start to resemble the sort of person who knows their mer from their mère. Nobody understands this better than Morgane Sezalory, founder of Sézane, who likes to escape to Cap Ferrat with her family. 'I always gravitate towards simplicity – timeless, essential pieces that I can mix and match throughout the season. A crisp white shirt or a well-cut pair of shorts are staples for me,' she says. Accessories help these wardrobe staples transition into evening: 'A beautiful pearl necklace like the Morgane or a statement belt like the Selena can completely transform an outfit from day to night, especially when worn with a pair of heeled sandals,' she adds. Greek island goddess Silk Astrea dress, £350, Hansine Pared-back and effortless should be the watchwords when it comes to dressing for the Greek islands – the sartorial equivalent of crystal-clear water lapping at a pebbled beach. Think sun-bleached linen, traditional leather sandals, or one of Hansine's billowy silk dresses, loved by Kate Moss and Sadie Frost. The label's founder, Hansine Johnston, was born in Greece and created her collection with island summers in mind. They make for wonderfully lightweight packing: 'I always say that when you're in the Greek sunshine and light, you see colour in a completely different way,' she says. 'I pack five or six Rhodes dresses, some in neutrals and darks, and others in super-light colours. As the dresses fold up so small, I can honestly fit almost two weeks' worth of looks into one hand-luggage suitcase – with a bit of room left to bring back treats. Since I often visit the Cyclades islands, which are really windy, I love how our fabrics and prints on the silk cover-ups move in the breeze.' 'Dolce vita' dressing Gingerbread cotton-blend midi dress, £790, La Double J x MyTheresa In Italy, maximalism is the order of the day – at least, if you ask JJ Martin, the American-born, Milan-based founder of La DoubleJ. Martin's collection is a celebration of colour and print that truly comes into its own in the land of pizza, pasta and la dolce vita. Different parts of the country call for different moods, though. 'I just spent a weekend in Como where we had lots of very chic meals with Comasco families – very classic Italian – and there I was wearing a classic printed shirtdress, but very tidy and neat,' she says. 'When I'm spending my weekends in Forte dei Marmi I'm on the beach most of the time. The Salt'n'Vinegar knit set is super chic and easy – the perfect beach day look.' Martin is something of a master when it comes to the myriad ways to dress for the heat: 'I'm heading to Stromboli in August where it's going to be blazing hot. There, I'll be bringing a lot of cotton pieces – we'll essentially be sitting on a volcano, after all... At my ten-day Vipassana retreat in Tuscany, it'll be hotter than Hades so I'll just be living in the new Meditation tee in terrycloth.' Nautical by nature When it comes to a British holiday, you have to be prepared for all eventualities, advises Pip Durell, the former Vogue stylist and founder of women's shirting brand With Nothing Underneath. Durell grew up in Devon and returns as often as she can. 'The unpredictability of the weather is actually what I love,' she says. 'Taking a brisk dip is obviously preferable in golden sunshine, but an unexpected downpour? Well, that just justifies a fish and chips lunch – the Winking Prawn in Salcombe is my choice of shelter.' Naturally, her wardrobe is dominated by her own designs, chosen for their practicality. Shirt and shorts sets, along with a cotton knit for tying around the waist, just in case. '[Seersucker] is perfect for the heat, and in a pre-crinkled material that can be pulled out of a case and worn straight away, no ironing required. The other set I always reach for is our hemp... in a slightly weightier material that gets softer with every wear. Hemp is thermodynamic, which means it keeps you cool when it's hot and warm when it's cold – ideal by the coast. I like to mix up my blues and pair them with Birkenstocks. That's my summer uniform.' Spanish señorita For some, summer isn't complete without a visit to Spain – whether it's the blustery Atlantic coastline of the north, the bohemian party vibes of Ibiza, or the sandy beaches of the ever-popular south. 'It's a season of joy and vibrant energy, and I like to reflect that in my clothes,' says Montserrat Álvarez, founder of accessories brand Heimat Atlantica. 'Galicia – where my roots are – is always part of my summer. I love the northern coast in summer, especially the small islands scattered across the Rías Baixas. There's something magical about their wild beaches and quiet charm.' For her, a holiday wardrobe includes quintessentially Spanish staples, like rope-soled shoes. 'A crisp white cotton dress, flat espadrilles and silk cotton bandanas for the head are my go-to. And I like to add playful touches with one of our handmade bags.' There's always an element that reminds her of happy holidays past, too: 'A unique souvenir that no one else has, and that instantly transports you back to a special moment.'
The Guardian
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Jess Cartner-Morley on fashion: So long, sequin kaftan! The holiday wardrobe is all about sleek, muted neutrals
Does your kaftan have a sequin trim? Adorable! Does your holiday tote bag have a shell bag charm? Cute. Does your maxidress have pom-poms dangling from it? Um, OK, I'm sure it's lovely, but let's take a moment here, shall we? Are you completely sure you need to coordinate your beach jellies with your candy-striped shorts and cropped top? Look, I'm going to come out and ask the question here. Have our holiday wardrobes got a bit … overexcited? The Guardian's journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. I don't want to be a killjoy. But there is a fine line between a cheerful holiday aesthetic and looking as though you bought the entire contents of your suitcase while on a sangria-fuelled shopping spree at Gatwick. Beguiling though all this stuff is, there is a point where tomato-print sundresses and sandals with ric-rac lacing stop looking delightfully Dolce, and start looking a tiny bit overwrought. Take a deep breath and put those fringed palazzo pants down. The holiday wardrobe is now as relentlessly marketed in summer as baubles at Christmas and roses on Valentine's Day. The powers that be have figured out that 'holiday' is a magic word when it comes to unlocking our purse strings. You can be sensible the rest of the year, but holidays are all about the treats, right? Yes, you absolutely do deserve a treat. I'm on your side here, believe me. It is precisely because I am an absolute sucker for the chic Provençal promise of yet another straw basket that I am getting a bit fed up with how much the holiday glamour industrial complex takes out of my salary. So I'm trying to take the rosé-tinted sunglasses off and remember that living my best life is not actually the same thing as bankrupting myself on loads of gaudy tat. Also, the style tide is turning. I've been to a few fashion shows in the south of France and Italy in the past few months (I know, hard life), which provide excellent opportunities for close study of what fashiony people wear when it's hot. And while long, dramatic dresses and slick tailoring are still pulled out of the bag for fancy evenings, the daytime and travelling looks are distinctly low-key. Think loose trousers or shorts, T-shirts or linen shirts, boat shoes or Birkenstocks. No perky sundresses, no bright co-ords, no bedazzling sandals. The name for this deliberately low-key look? Bore-core. But here's the thing. In the sea of sunny pastels and jaunty polka dots that is the airside Pret queue, it is the traveller in sleek, muted neutrals who stands out. Of course, it has to be done well to work. Good quality fabric is key – but investing in quality linen or Supima cotton makes sense when the pieces you are buying will unpack straight from your holiday suitcase to your home wardrobe. To build this look, start with separates. You want soft tailoring, not athleisure. Look for shorts and trousers with belt loops – a belt adds sophistication without looking fussy – sleek tank tops as a bottom layer, and breezy collared shirts that can be buttoned up smartly or worn open as a beach cover-up. Keep everything in neutrals, but within that, tonal shades are good – not too matchy-matchy. But we still want to feel special, right? As soon as M&S online was back, I snapped up their gold flat sandals (£29.50), which have a comfy adjustable slingback. They are a soft metallic, so easy to wear all day, but glam enough to create a holiday-dinner look with the simplest black dress. As well as gold, I'm backing pale pink as a neutral. Cos has a slim linen waistcoat (£135), which fastens with one button and is in a colour they call apricot, that would make a great travel-day layer but will also work at home. Going on holiday is exciting, but our clothes don't have to be. Model: Amaka at Milk. Styling: Hair and makeup: Sophie Higginson using Sam McKnight and Charlotte Tilbury. Blazer, £198, Reiss. Necklace, £59, Ottoman Hands. Top, £85, shorts, £165 and sandals, £195 all Me & Em. Bag, £180, Cos
The Guardian
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Jess Cartner-Morley on fashion: So long, sequin kaftan! The holiday wardrobe is all about sleek, muted neutrals
Does your kaftan have a sequin trim? Adorable! Does your holiday tote bag have a shell bag charm? Cute. Does your maxidress have pom-poms dangling from it? Um, OK, I'm sure it's lovely, but let's take a moment here, shall we? Are you completely sure you need to coordinate your beach jellies with your candy-striped shorts and cropped top? Look, I'm going to come out and ask the question here. Have our holiday wardrobes got a bit … overexcited? The Guardian's journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. I don't want to be a killjoy. But there is a fine line between a cheerful holiday aesthetic and looking as though you bought the entire contents of your suitcase while on a sangria-fuelled shopping spree at Gatwick. Beguiling though all this stuff is, there is a point where tomato-print sundresses and sandals with ric-rac lacing stop looking delightfully Dolce, and start looking a tiny bit overwrought. Take a deep breath and put those fringed palazzo pants down. The holiday wardrobe is now as relentlessly marketed in summer as baubles at Christmas and roses on Valentine's Day. The powers that be have figured out that 'holiday' is a magic word when it comes to unlocking our purse strings. You can be sensible the rest of the year, but holidays are all about the treats, right? Yes, you absolutely do deserve a treat. I'm on your side here, believe me. It is precisely because I am an absolute sucker for the chic Provençal promise of yet another straw basket that I am getting a bit fed up with how much the holiday glamour industrial complex takes out of my salary. So I'm trying to take the rosé-tinted sunglasses off and remember that living my best life is not actually the same thing as bankrupting myself on loads of gaudy tat. Also, the style tide is turning. I've been to a few fashion shows in the south of France and Italy in the past few months (I know, hard life), which provide excellent opportunities for close study of what fashiony people wear when it's hot. And while long, dramatic dresses and slick tailoring are still pulled out of the bag for fancy evenings, the daytime and travelling looks are distinctly low-key. Think loose trousers or shorts, T-shirts or linen shirts, boat shoes or Birkenstocks. No perky sundresses, no bright co-ords, no bedazzling sandals. The name for this deliberately low-key look? Bore-core. But here's the thing. In the sea of sunny pastels and jaunty polka dots that is the airside Pret queue, it is the traveller in sleek, muted neutrals who stands out. Of course, it has to be done well to work. Good quality fabric is key – but investing in quality linen or Supima cotton makes sense when the pieces you are buying will unpack straight from your holiday suitcase to your home wardrobe. To build this look, start with separates. You want soft tailoring, not athleisure. Look for shorts and trousers with belt loops – a belt adds sophistication without looking fussy – sleek tank tops as a bottom layer, and breezy collared shirts that can be buttoned up smartly or worn open as a beach cover-up. Keep everything in neutrals, but within that, tonal shades are good – not too matchy-matchy. But we still want to feel special, right? As soon as M&S online was back, I snapped up their gold flat sandals (£29.50), which have a comfy adjustable slingback. They are a soft metallic, so easy to wear all day, but glam enough to create a holiday-dinner look with the simplest black dress. As well as gold, I'm backing pale pink as a neutral. Cos has a slim linen waistcoat (£135), which fastens with one button and is in a colour they call apricot, that would make a great travel-day layer but will also work at home. Going on holiday is exciting, but our clothes don't have to be. Model: Amaka at Milk. Styling: Hair and makeup: Sophie Higginson using Sam McKnight and Charlotte Tilbury. Blazer, £198, Reiss. Necklace, £59, Ottoman Hands. Top, £85, shorts, £165 and sandals, £195 all Me & Em. Bag, £180, Cos
The Sun
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
I waited weeks for my new Hermes dupe sandals from Shein to arrive but they are so embarrassing & look better on my dog
A WOMAN has revealed that she waited weeks for her new holiday sandals from Shein to arrive, but was left in fits of laughter when her postman delivered her purchase. Sha Una, a bargain hunter from the UK, recently treated herself to a pair of cream sandals from the online retailer. 4 4 4 4 But what the savvy shopper thought was going to be a stylish pair of sandals perfect for evenings abroad and warm summer days, instead turned out to be an epic fail. Making light of her blunder, Sha took to social media to show off her hilarious error - which saw her accidentally order the sandals, which she thought would be a gorgeous dupe of the £610 Oran sandals from Hermes, in a children 's size. Posting on Dogspotting Society, a public Facebook group with 1.4 million members, Sha uploaded snaps of her tiny shoes, which are the same size as her hand. Not only this, but she also shared pictures of her dog wearing the sandals - and it's left thousands of people in hysterics. Alongside the post, the Shein shopper joked: "One woman's Shein fail is another's treasure.' She then confirmed: 'Been waiting weeks for my new holiday shoes and I've been done dirty but we found a new use." But although Sha can't wear her new sandals, she acknowledged that they've gone down a treat with her pooch, as she added: 'She's absolutely rocking them and loving it.' As well as this, Sha later confessed to her blunder and wrote: 'They did say kids in the description but I completely missed that. 'Greatest mistake I've ever made.' Sha's post quickly racked up 120,000 likes and has since been re-shared on BARGAIN LOVERS Poundland, Home Bargains, B&M, Primark, The Range & More, a public Facebook group with 859,600 members. From Shein to Hermes: Viral Fashion Hack A user named Liyana Leena re-shared the hilarious blunder alongside laughing emojis and in just nine hours, it has amassed 9,900 likes, 1,300 comments and 428 shares. Social media users couldn't believe their eyes at Sha's blunder and stressed the importance of always reading reviews and double checking the sizing when buying items from Shein. One person said: 'Always read the reviews when ordering from Shein.' Another added: 'Hahahahah, at least I'm not the only one.' A third commented: 'Lol, always check the sizes before you order.' Whilst in uncontrollable laughter, someone else beamed: 'You've made my night.' At the same time, another user wrote: 'This made me laugh my head off.' What is Shein and is it legit? Shein is an online-only fast-fashion retailer, based out of China, that has become a number one shopping destination for many around the world. The company was valued at $66billion in 2023, dwarfing that of popular high street brands Zara and H&M. The fashion retailer was founded in late 2008, by entrepreneur and marketing specialist Xu Yangtian, also known as Chris Xu. Shein is a legitimate selling website and is not a phishing scam. But you may receive a disappointing order or run into shipping issues if you order from the site, according to reviews. There have been swathes of quality complaints, which makes sense when looking at the price tag.
BBC News
13-06-2025
- BBC News
Why do we dress like someone else when we go on holiday?
Why do we dress like someone else when we go on holiday? From multipurpose utility garments to Instagrammable maxi dresses and floppy hats, one thing is for sure – we don't dress this way at home. An American friend recently asked me what to wear on her first flight to Europe. "I want to be comfy but chic," she said. She'd come to the wrong person. As a travel journalist, I'm either on assignment, sun cream-smeared in hiking boots and hauling a rucksack like a tortoise shell; or travelling light with a five-piece capsule wardrobe in beige neutrals to leave space for edible souvenirs. Meanwhile, many of my fellow travellers parade past in floral gowns, breezy summer whites or cosy pyjama-like layers. Sometimes I glimpse my own reflection and feel a pang of FOMO. Should I have worn a floral dress to photograph ruins? I don't even own one. Or perhaps instead of clunky hiking boots, I would be more comfortable in a pair of Birkenstocks, with thick white socks hiked up to my knees. As disparate and sometimes dramatic as travel get-ups can be, one thing is for sure: we don't dress this way back home. The dawn of holiday wear So why do we dress so differently when we're on holiday – almost as if we're someone else? Marta Franceschini, head of communications and editorials at the European Fashion Heritage Association, says that the holiday wardrobe emerged alongside leisure travel in the 19th Century. "Prior to this, clothing for travel was primarily utilitarian, associated with migration, pilgrimage or military and trade expeditions," she explained. According to Franceschini, the growth of the middle class and the expansion of railways in Europe in the mid-1800s meant that seaside resorts became fashionable destinations, prompting the development of travel wardrobes that fused elegance with comfort. Warm weather necessitated lighter, breathable fabrics such as linen and silk, and by the interwar period, designers like Coco Chanel were championing relaxed styles such as casual knitwear, wide-leg trousers and swimwear. "The post-World War Two economic boom, coupled with the advent of commercial aviation, democratised travel further," Franceschini added. "From the 1950s to the '70s, leisurewear evolved into a distinct genre: Capri pants, resort prints, kaftans and cruise collections became staples." Franceschini also notes that the need to dress for unfamiliar temperatures "[permits] a certain relaxation of social dress codes". That explains sandals with socks. Backpacks and backlash And yet, it is a universally acknowledged truth that no one wants to look like a tourist. Lifestyle publications teem with articles steering travellers away from the reviled traditional tourist kit – T-shirt, backpack and hat – proposing, instead, luggage-conscious capsule wardrobes inspired by the destination itself. When Vanessa Friedman, chief fashion critic at the New York Times, receives reader questions about how not to look like a tourist on holiday, she taps locals for their input to make her recommendations. "I think people dress to belong," she told the BBC. "So, when you're travelling, you don't want to stand out." But if the term "tourist" conveys a sense of escape from the everyday, what's so terrible about looking like one? "There are some interesting negative connotations about being a tourist," said Dr Charlotte Russell, founder of The Travel Psychologist. "Ideas around being seen as naïve, not being experienced or well-travelled, perhaps clumsy with regard to cultural differences and potentially falling prey to unfair pricing. None of us want to be any of these things, so it's unsurprising that people want to differentiate themselves from these stereotypes." Franceschini believes that this wariness likely emerged in the late 20th Century, "as global travel became more accessible and distinctions between the traveller and the tourist became increasingly codified". Anyone booking travel back then – the dawn of internet travel planning and the expat blog boom – would have witnessed that ever-growing chasm between the two. The smug verdict: tourists, who visit a place for mere days, are less culturally savvy than travellers, who may be privileged enough to spend months or even years overseas. Dr Andrew Stevenson, author of the book The Psychology of Travel, believes this dichotomy reveals something deeper: how we want to be seen. "Do you want to present yourself as somebody who's trying to blend in, like an anthropologist?" asked Stevenson. "Or do you want to erect a barrier between yourself and the host location, because maybe you've got safety concerns, or you want to travel in a bubble with your travel party? I think clothes are a symbol of how much belongingness we want to have with the place we're visiting." Do my day-to-night layers and rugged footwear merely reflect that I'm segueing from 10km hikes to interviewing government officials? Or that I want to signal my identity as a travel journalist? 'Monica Vitti is dead' Picture it: Sicily, The White Lotus Season Two. Jennifer Coolidge as the daffy, doomed Tanya McQuoid has rented a Vespa and is ecstatic in her flowy pink dress, pink headscarf and giant sunglasses. "Guess who I am?" she asks the hotel manager, Valentina. "Watch, watch." Tanya takes a drag from her cigarette, exhaling smoke in a sultry stream. Valentina, a bona fide Italian woman in a no-nonsense double-breasted blue pantsuit, is nonplussed. She hazards a guess: "Peppa Pig." Tanya beams: "I'm Monica Vitti!" "Monica Vitti is dead," snaps Valentina. Rarely has a scene of television so perfectly encapsulated the yawning gulf between what people wear and what overseas visitors believe they wear. I've been based in Southern Italy for 15 years; if you see someone swanning around in a flowy dress and hat, they are 100% a tourist. Franceschini calls it a kind of "sartorial mimicry", observing that "clothing choices are often influenced by an imagined or real desire to either assimilate with the local culture or to symbolically participate in it". Like Bermuda shorts or Hawaiian shirts, she says, these outfits are clichéd, but they are also signs of cultural aspiration and symbolic belonging. However, she cautions that they can also veer into cultural appropriation, where items are worn "without an understanding of their cultural context or significance". Tanya's "Dolce Vita" look, Franceschini added, is a contemporary iteration of long-romanticised visions of Mediterranean leisure, femininity and glamour. "Rooted in cinematic depictions from Federico Fellini's La Dolce Vita to more recent iterations like the season of The White Lotus set in Italy, this mode of dress draws heavily on idealised representations of Italy as a sensual, timeless and emotionally unburdened destination… These choices are often less about actual cultural integration and more about performing a version of Italy that aligns with global stereotypes – sun-drenched, stylish and hedonistic." In other words, imagine an overseas visitor visiting London dressed as Twiggy, or the US dressed as Marilyn Monroe. The Instagram effect It's hardly news that social media presents a highly curated view of everyday life. But, that knowledge doesn't stop us from consuming holiday content, where influencers and celebrities pose thirstily in front of beautiful places while wearing beautiful things. Russell believes that these aspirational travel posts have a significant impact how people dress when they travel. "We see a lot of images of people looking dressed up from everywhere to the Colosseum to natural places and even at the top of mountains," she said. "This certainly was not the case 15 years ago, and I definitely think there has been a shift." "I remember when people used to take photographs of places and things," echoed Stevenson. "But now people take photographs of themselves, and the places and things are in the background." The result? "A convergence of fashion and digital spectacle: locations become backdrops," said Franceschini. "Outfits become integral to the performative self-branding of the traveller. Influencer culture has further accelerated this dynamic, with sponsored wardrobes, coordinated colour palettes and editorial-style holiday shots becoming standard." It brings to mind a quote from the legendary late American actress Betty White: "Facebook just sounds like a drag; in my day, seeing pictures of people's vacations was considered punishment." Time to celebrate Of course, it's exciting to go somewhere new, and how we dress on holiday is a reflection of that joy. "Holiday dress often functions as a performative break from the conventions of daily life," said Franceschini. "On holiday, people permit themselves to wear clothing that might be deemed inappropriate, excessive or impractical in their everyday environments. Holiday wear can thus be read as a sartorial manifestation of the freedom, or at least escapism, and sensory indulgence associated with travel." Russell agrees: "For many of us, we are working on laptops all day or may have uniforms at work, and we dress for function and comfort. So, a holiday is an opportunity to explore a different part of ourselves. A part that is perhaps more carefree, joyful and relaxed." Whether that self wears hiking boots or pink chiffon, the same truth applies. "If you want to wear a beautiful dress or bright shirt, and it feels right to you, then this is totally okay," said Russell. "Life is too short for worrying about judgements from others." And so is your holiday. -- For more Travel stories from the BBC, follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram.
