Style your holiday with the latest transitional trends and accessories and effortlessly move from beach to bar without bulking up your baggage

Flying yoga guru Heidy takes to the skies in our printed silk manto maxi. The relaxed off the shoulder style and individual tailoring makes this the perfect holiday maxi dress

With the summer season in full swing, and the school holidays just around the corner, many of us have upcoming trips away booked in. From breakfast on the beach to bellinis at the bar, we all want to look and feel our very best. Whatever the occasion. But how best to plan sartorially for these vacations? That’s where the latest thinking in ‘smart packing’ comes in…

We all know the struggles of trying to pack cleverly and effectively. There is little joy to be found in the interminable wait for an extra suitcase at baggage reclaim, not to mention making space for it all in the taxi or hire car. And these difficulties aren’t exclusive to trips away to tropical climes. Festival packing calls for even greater efficiency. To quote a recent article in The Telegraph, “when time and space are at a premium, it pays to start your trip on the right foot with smart packing.” 

And I’m sure many of us can identify with Nina Ruggiero, digital editor at premium NYC magazine, Travel+Leisure, when she says "there's nothing more annoying than struggling to stuff everything back into your suitcase at the end of a trip only to realize you didn't even wear half the clothes you brought.” According to Ruggiero, the solution is to begin “strictly packing by outfit”. Laying out your clothes by look allows you to visualise what to wearday by day, in order to both maximise packing space and look your best. As Jess Cartner-Morley, Fashion Editor of the Guardian, says “Don’t pack light, pack clever… think about waking up on holiday, and what you will most want to wear, and pack that”.

Clearly define your key looks

Packing by outfit allows you to focus on essential transitional items that will really put the work in; those stylish holiday pieces that can be effortlessly dressed up or down with a few accessories and a touch of flair. Enabling you to saunter straight off the beach and into dinner. So you can spend more time kicking back and enjoying early evening cocktails and a fabulous sunset.

 To give you a little inspiration we’ve selected the 4 key holiday styles that are bang on trend right now and with a little styling know-how, we are going to show you how these pieces can be rocked throughout your trip taking you from dawn to dusk.

1. The Sleeveless Maxi

The ‘trophy dress’ is a required item for the 2018 summer season (Naomi Clarke- Vogue), and a printed sleeveless maxi certainly fits the bill. This perfect holiday dress has been updated for SS18 with Bold prints, ditsy florals and bright patterns. And thanks to its incredible natural properties, a floaty silk maxi is the best way to stay cool in the heat. Furthermore, sleeveless, flowing maxi dresses really are flattering to every physique, making them a favourite amongst fashion bloggers and celebs. According to Harper’s Bazaar, revealing your arms can actually make you appear taller, rendering the sleeveless maxi the ideal dress to elongate your frame. So they’re perfect for a day on the beach in comfortable flats.

Kat from @doesmybumlook40 wears Ridley's 'Alissya' printed silk maxi dress. Statement floral maxi dresses were big on the catwalk for Valentino's SS18 collection. Whilst actress Vanessa Hudgens styles her evening silk maxi dress with layered gold accessories 

 

Day/ Beach

Style your sleeveless silk maxi dress for daytime with a pair of gladiator sandals or flip flops, worn over a bikini on the beach. Keep jewellery simple for daytime. Add a boho vibe with a decorated rattan basket a must-have accessory for summer. The new customised collection by Crosslow is really unique and now available at Ridley & Co.

 

Evening into Night

Slip on a pair of killer heels, add statement earrings, simple bangles and slicked back hair a la Valentino and you're ready for a sophisticated dinner out. Create a more bohemian vibe by layering multiple gold bangles and necklaces. Longer, layered necklaces have the desirable effect of elongating a rounder face, or add shorter layers to soften an angular jawline. Add a Harry Rocks' constellation necklace for a more personalised look, which are available at Ridley & Co

 

Our gorgeous Alyssia sleeveless silk maxi is the perfect holiday dress and can be made to measure to fit you perfectly. This is available to purchase at our Ridley & Co concept store in Barnes along with the Constellation jewellery collection by Harry Rocks and customised collection of rattan bags and baskets by Crosslow

 

2. The floral Jumpsuit

A jumpsuit is always a light packing saviour, as there’s no need to consider separate pieces. Camille Charriere, writing in her SS18 Net-A-Porter trend report, understands the appeal of this edgy modern wardrobe staple: “Jumpsuits are so comfortable and can be adapted to suit most occasions; whether you keep them looking very casual and wear them with sneakers for day, or make them more feminine with a pair of mules for night.”

Fashion blogger Becky @bricksandstitches rocks our new tropical trails 'Alissya' floral print jumpsuit in the Columbian jungle. Meanwhile songstress Solange (Knowles, Beyoncé's sister) pairs her retro style jumpsuit with nude courts and simple gold tassel earrings for a chic evening look. The relaxed style of our new 'Manto' floral printed jumpsuit in pink liesel is perfect for laid back summer days

 

Day/Beach

The Ridley 'Manto' and 'Allisya' printed jumpsuits are particularly functional for hotter climes, as they are made with breathable Liberty silks and viscoses. Throw them over a bikini for a chic beach cover up and pair with bold sunglasses.

Evening into Night

When the temperatures drops, simply top with an embroidered denim jacket by Will and Pop, and finish with simple statement bangles. Wider bangles are a great choice for those with small hands. Meanwhile, layering up multiple smaller bangles is complimentary for larger hands and wrists. Add some height and extra glamour with a pair of wedge mules. And you have a whole new outfit, effortlessly.

 

 Will and Pop's new collection of stylishly embroidered vintage denim jackets is available for purchase at our Ridley & Co concept store in Barnes. Jackets can be personalised with their unique 'design your own' service

 

 3. The Halterneck silk maxi

 The perfect evening maxi dress. With the recent 1990s style revival, halternecks have been firmly welcomed back into the fashion fold. A firm favourite this season with the celebrity crowd, halterneck maxi dresses stared on both the Dior and Salvatore Ferragamo runways. A silk halterneck maxi dress is the perfect way to inject some glamour into your holiday wardrobe. Universally flattering yet stylish, they perfectly complement tanned shoulders after a day out on the beach! Furthermore, thicker halternecks distract from broader shoulders and remove the need for heavy bling.

 

Poppy Delevinge in a cream silk Calvin Klein halterneck, accessorized with a red lip. Rosie Huntington-Whiteley wears a Reformation floral maxi dress with pared back accessories for a night out in LA. The Ridley 'Talitha' halterneck statement maxi dress can be made to measure to fit you perfectly in a number of printed silks. Shown here in blue poppy dream silk chiffon

 

Evening into Night

When styling, keep necklaces and earrings simple, as the dramatic halter neckline speaks for itself. For ladies with a pear body shape, halternecks are a great look, as bolder tops and volume above the waist will balance out curvier hips. Keep it chic and match your halterneck maxi with simple strappy stilettos and bold lip gloss like Poppy Delevingne. Or slip on some Ash studded flip-flops for a more relaxed dinner look. Add a touch of sparkle with a pair of Tarra Rosenbaum gold cherry blossom stud earrings to beautifully complement the neckline. Available in Ridley & Co

 

Day

Although a silk halterneck maxi dress is probably not the natural fit for a day on the beach, they can be surprisingly adaptable for a number of daytime occasions. Simply dress with flats and a denim jacket for a more relaxed look, and add a panama-style hat in the sun. Or to smarten up your halterneck for lunch, wear with a structured trench jacket. 

 

4. The Midi

A flowy printed midi silk dress is a perfect transitional piece for SS18, as it will keep you cool yet classy without running the risk of showing too much skin. In the words of Jess Wood at Marie Claire, “Summer wouldn’t be summer without a sea of florals and pretty dresses”. Floral printed silk midi dresses are an elegant way of embracing a shorter hemline and a pretty, feminine style. What’s more, the midi is suitable for women of every height. Neither too short nor too long, the midi dress is a chic addition that will be here to stay for the summer.

 

Kate Bosworth styles her printed silk midi dress with a hot red lip, black stilettos and the latest shades, giving a floral classic a vampish spin. Jenny Packham's Spring collection featured models in pastel midi dresses with nude accessories. Lifestyle vlogger Freddy Cousin-Brown opts for a spot of Como chic, matching her printed floral silk midi dress with strappy wedges, bold shades and a seventies style wide brimmed hat

 

Day

Our new season strappy Olivia printed silk midi dress is a flexible summer classic that can be effortlessly dressed up or down. Pair with the latest shades, trainers or flip flops for a modern daytime look that's perfect for sightseeing or a day out boating. And top with a wide brimmed straw hat to keep your face protected from the sun. Keep jewellery and distractions to a minimum.

 

Evening into Night

The classic floral printed silk midi dress can be instantly transformed for dinner occasions with the right footwear and accessories. Pair with Castaner wedges for a relaxed look or team with block colour stilettos for a night on the town. Both help elongate the legs creating a slimmer silhouette. The midi is a classic style that works well with pared back accessories: choose long dangling or tear drop style earrings. These are particularly flattering for a rounder face shape as they have a slimming effect. And up the glamour with a matching block colour clutch bag by Aurora London.

Our 'Olivia' printed midi silk dress in Coral Reef silk, styled with Ash trainers are both available to purchase in our Ridley & Co concept boutique in Barnes

 

 

Silks will always carry an air of glamour allowing you to effortlessly transition from a daytime to nighttime look. Ridley garments are individually made in London from the lightest, highest quality silks using specialist tailoring techniques. This makes them incredibly comfortable and cool in hotter climates without being too skimpy for a chillier evening. And because they’re silk, they’re incredibly light and easily fold down to virtually nothing, so they certainly won’t tip your luggage over the weight limits.

At our Ridley boutique in Barnes we are happy to assist with questions around styling, so feel free to pay us a visit. We can help you find jewellery, shoes and accessories to elevate your summer looks and effortlessly complement transitional pieces. 

Most importantly, every Ridley garment can be tailor made to fit in any of our amazing fabrics and prints. So whether it’s a statement silk maxi dress or one of our floral print jumpsuits, we can help you create a unique garment that’s going to make you look and feel amazing for summers to come. And we can also help you find the right accessories to match your outfit from our curated collection of jewellery, shoes and accessories. So you can find everything you need for your perfect holiday wardrobe in one place.