Hel and Mel’s Ultimate Holiday Style Guide

Gear up for your big summer getaway: style editors Hel and Mel open up their suitcases to reveal their best holiday packing tips and beach-destination must-haves. Get ’em while it’s hot…

Need a little holiday inspiration for your summer wardrobe? We’ve just come back from a quick trip to the beautiful Greek island of Mykonos, where the blue skies, cobbled streets and perfect sunshine were the perfect boost we needed ahead of the impending school holidays. And it gave us loads of fresh ideas for what works best, whether you’re going away or soaking up the sun in the UK…

Packing for a mini-break is no mean feat – 16 bikinis between the two us for just four days may seem a bit excessive, but we are lucky to be working with some great brands, so our suitcases were also full of their gorgeous dresses, lightweight shoes and jewellery. Here are a few of our favourite finds – some of which you’ll already find in the sales, if you’re quick:

Hel and Mel both wear Malibu Dress (in Green Dotty Mix/Pink & Blush Leopard Mix), £49, Dancing Leopard

1 The suitcase saviour: Dancing Leopard dresses

The Malibu Moments collection from Dancing Leopard has some of our favourite sizzling summer looks right now. These easy-to-pack, high-impact Malibu dresses are not only a great way to get the mix-and-match look without any effort, they also look incredible under the sun – and really stand out against the traditional whitewashed buildings you’ll find in Mykonos and across the Med. Pair with some strappy sandals, and you can take this look from day to night.

holiday packing tips: summer wedge sandals

Half Moon espadrille wedges, £65, Office

Leopard Print Wedge Sandals, £24.99, Deichmann

Mel wears jumpsuit, from a selection, Odd Molly at Number 6 Cobham

2 The one-stop holiday shop: Number 6, Cobham

We’re all short on time these days, so being able to sort your holiday style in one quick hit is a massive help. We love independent fashion boutique Number 6, based in the heart of Cobham: owner Sally Case has a fresh, eclectic and unique edit of pieces from designers around the world, including Citizens of Humanity, Odd Molly (above), Second Female (below) and Scotch & Soda. With Number 6’s mix of well-known and less familiar brands, you can get your holiday capsule wardrobe sorted in one visit.

Hel wears dress, from a selection, Second Female at Number 6 Cobham

Mel wears belted denim playsuit, £35, Asos Design; and Cowrie Shell necklace in gold, £10.50 Rose Mae Jewellery| Hel wearing floral bodysuit, River Island; and Cowrie Shell necklace in white/gold, £12.50, Rose Mae Jewellery

3 The all-day dream team: playsuits, bodies and shorts

The hardest-working item you can throw in your suitcase has to be something denim – its crease-proof, looks amazing with almost everything, and can be worn repeatedly. Playsuits are the ultimate go-to and easy-to-style piece. We love this plunge-front denim number from Asos which is perfect to throw on over a bikini or a strappy Bardot top. Little denim shorts or cut-offs are a staple of any summer wardrobe, and look great teamed with little crop tops or a fun, bright bodysuit like this one from River Island.

Denim Plunge-Neck Playsuit, £35, Asos Design

Holiday packing tips - River Island Tropical Bodysuit

White Floral Spot Bodysuit, £18, River Island

Hel and Mel wear wrist cuffs, from a selection, and Gold Shell bracelets (worn as anklets), £7.50 each, all Rose Mae Jewellery

4 The finishing touches: Rose Mae Jewellery

Switch up any garment – even a white T-shirt – with different jewellery and you’ve got several looks in one. Shell jewellery is an even bigger trend this year than last, and Rose Mae Jewellery‘s shell necklaces and bracelets not only went with everything in our suitcase, but also received many compliments. The brand has a great selection of handpicked pieces offering style and quality at an affordable price.

Mel wears Natural Cowrie Shell necklace in gold, £10.50; and earrings, from a selection, all at Rose Mae Jewellery

Credit: Hel & Mel

5 Bring me sunshine: leave room for holiday shopping

Our last (and favourite) holiday-packing tip is to leave room for pieces you find in your holiday destination – you never know where you’ll pick up an amazing bargain or one-off artisan treasure. We fell in love with Mykonos and the romantic area of Little Venice, wandering along its winding streets (via tempting little boutiques) and arriving at the waterfront where its fishing houses overhang the azure Aegean sea. Here we stopped for an Apple Gin Fizz and watched the sun glow orange as it descended into the sea… meaning the best thing we brought back were holiday snaps and happy memories…