Packing for a trip away is hardly a fashion lover’s dream. Handheld luggage restrictions and a lack of storage on most forms of transport means organising outfits/make-up/toiletries for a trip away induces more pain than pleasure.

There is, however, a slight catch. Many airlines now charge hefty fees – not just for luggage stowed in the hold, but for bags and wheelie cases that need to be stashed in the overhead lockers, which means that now more than ever, packing smart is more essential than ever before.  

Whether you’re heading on a well-deserved break to the Balearics or a short trip to Italy, this is a quintet of tips that will promise you a headache-free trip of dreams without a Joan Collins-inspired impractical suite of luggage. Call us your going-away fairy godmothers, here to serve you with all of the tricks that promise to streamline your suitcase and save on any pesky hidden fees.

Upgrade your luggage  

First things first – which form of luggage are you using? If it’s a raggedy old case that is falling apart at the seams, then you’re in for a rude awakening. The first step of the packing smart holiday guide is finding a piece of luggage that does all of the heavy lifting for you. Look for sleek weekend cases (Away’s are among the best in the luggage game), which have built-in compartments for underwear, socks and laundry, meaning packing and unpacking has never been more organised. 

While we’re the first to profess the virtues of teeny-tiny handbags, there’s only so much you can squeeze into a tote the size of a book, so it also may be time to invest in a more capacious carry-on; one with room for shoes, toiletries and other miscellaneous bits. Don’t forget the stringent new regulations airlines have put in place though, and be sure to check the fine print. The size of your free under seat bag, for example, is 40cm x 25cm x 20cm on Ryanair, but 45cm x 36cm x 20cm on EasyJet. Trying to board with an additional suitcase may incur charges, so ensure that you’ve measured your bags and cases accordingly. 

Make an outfit plan 

Ditch the chunky shoes

To pack smart, the fashion ratio is one pair of shoes and one pair of sandals to every three outfits. When travelling to your destination, wear your trainers (or chunkiest pair of shoes) to cut down on wasting unnecessary space in your case, and ensure that your evening or occasion shoes are taking up as little room as possible. This is the time that teeny-tiny shoes truly come into their own.

Ideally, you’ll choose to eschew vertiginously high heels in favour of a pair of micro mules or malleable ballet flats (great for a final finishing touch for an evening ensemble consisting of trousers). 

Streamline your skincare

Thanks to a clutch of buzzy beauty brands, skincare and make-up have never been so streamlined and minimal. From micro moisturisers to multi-tasking make-up, your toiletry bag will be at its most small but perfectly formed once you make the switch to these travel-proof alternatives.

Take Bobbi Brown, whose innovative new no-make-up make-up brand Jones Road has already become a household name across the pond and is now busy taking the UK by storm. The make-up artist has crafted a chunky crayon, deftly named the Face Pencil, which actually works to conceal and brighten, and a jojoba and vitamin E-filled Miracle Balm that acts as a moisturiser-cum-highlighter-cum-dewy base. There’s Supergoop!’s travel-sized SPFs, Living Proof’s world-class micro dry shampoos, U Beauty’s mini Super Smart Hydrator (one of the best moisturisers in the game), all of which can be housed in Space NK’s innovative clear and travel-friendly zip-up pouches. Beauty minis are a thing for a reason.

Embrace the do-it-all dress

Dresses are a summertime perennial, this much we know, but those of the throw-on-and-go variety really do make for the ultimate travel plus-one. The style equation for their appeal is simple: with your comfiest and no doubt most orthopaedic-looking shoes, the dress is perfect for daytime exploration, and with your micro heels, the frock is elevated to a more sophisticated realm for when you’re crying out for a cocktail. 

For a three-day trip, one dress will suffice and if you’re conscious of not being able to run it to the dry-cleaners before double-wearing it, look to Steamery Stockholm’s snazzy handheld steamers (which make getting crease-free a whole lot more fun and stylish) and innovative Danish export The Lab Co’s Sports Mist, which uses essential oils to neutralise odours on clothes, leaving them fresher in between washes. Looking good and being practical has never been so simple.

Images: Getty