If you’re heading away for the August bank holiday weekend, you’ve likely already started fretting about what, exactly, you’re going to pack. Just how many outfits can you squeeze into one overnight bag? How are you supposed to prepare for every single weather eventuality over the course of three days?

The thing with packing for an extended weekend staycation is that it’s about practising high patience. Patience, when packing, is key. But so too is the knowledge of how to streamline a wardrobe and pack smart, rather than light.

Alongside the buzz and excitement, it’s time to get serious about packing a capsule wardrobe for your trip so you have more room for the important stuff (see: wine and snacks).

I have a rule with packing for bank holiday staycations: I am allowed to pack seven items and seven items only, which must be friendly with one another – enough so that they can be worn together and mixed and matched. It’s a fine art, but one that I have spent years getting wrong, learning from and, over time, perfecting.

So in case you’re dashing off to Devon to soak up some sun or scuttling off to the seaside for some salt, vinegar and sand-sprinkled chips, I promise you: these seven summer-ready basics are all your August bank holiday wardrobe needs. You can thank me later.

These are the only 7 pieces you’ll ever need to pack for an August bank holiday staycation