LOOKSMETER · GUIDE
What to pack for a beach holiday
A beach bag goes wrong in two directions: seven complete outfits that never mix or a pile of swimsuits and nothing for dinner. A capsule solves both. You pack by category, keep everything in one palette and pick cuts that suit your shape, so a week's worth of looks comes out of about twenty pieces. This is the list by category, how many of each and the rule that makes every piece earn its place.
Three rules before you open the suitcase
One palette: two neutrals and one or two accents from your sun palette, so any top goes with any bottom. One shape logic: every piece in a cut that suits your proportions, because there is no layering on a beach to rescue a wrong one. Two jobs each: a one-piece that is also a bodysuit, a sarong that is also an evening wrap, a linen shirt that is also a cover-up. If a piece only does one thing, it has to be a very good thing.
The capsule by category, for a week
Numbers are for seven days with access to a sink or a laundry. Scale down for a long weekend, not up for a fortnight.
Swim: 3
One one-piece in your best cut, one bikini in your best support style, one spare. Two in neutrals, one in an accent. The one-piece doubles as a bodysuit on the City day.
Cover-ups: 2
One long and open, a linen shirt or kaftan that goes over any suit and to lunch. One short and easy, a sarong, wrap skirt or short dress. Both in the neutrals.
Day tops: 3
A linen shirt, a vest or tank in an accent, a knitted or crochet top. All of them work over a swimsuit and on their own.
Day bottoms: 2
Wide-leg linen trousers and a skirt or shorts in the cut your shape wants. Both in a neutral so every top sits on them.
Evening: 2
A slip or midi dress and a silk top to pair with the linen trousers. Restyle with earrings, a wrap or a belt rather than packing more.
Layer: 1
A light cardigan, overshirt or pashmina for sea breezes, air conditioning and the flight. Doubles as a beach wrap.
Show 3 more
Footwear: 3
Flat sandals that survive sand and water, an evening sandal or low heel, trainers or espadrilles for the town and the journey.
Accessories
Two pairs of sunglasses in shapes that suit your face, a hat that packs flat, a straw or canvas day bag, a small evening bag, two or three pairs of earrings and one belt in an accent.
Sun and after
High factor face and body sun protection, lip balm with a factor, after-sun, a wet bag for damp swim, hair oil or leave-in for salt and chlorine.
Three looks the capsule should produce
Test the list against three days before you zip the bag. Beach day: the one-piece or bikini, the long open cover-up, flat sandals, hat, day bag. Sunset dinner: the slip dress or the silk top with linen trousers, the evening sandal, earrings, the light layer over your arm. City day: the one-piece as a bodysuit under the skirt or trousers, the linen shirt open over it, trainers or espadrilles, the second sunglasses. If any of the three leaves you reaching for something not on the list, swap a piece rather than adding one.
Packing it so it arrives wearable
Roll linen loosely rather than folding it hard and hang it in a steamy bathroom on arrival. Put swimsuits and sun care in a separate washable pouch at the top, so a beach on day one does not mean unpacking everything. Stuff shoes with socks and underwear and bag them. Wear the bulkiest items, the trainers and the layer, on the journey. Keep one complete outfit and a swimsuit in hand luggage in case the bag is late, because the first afternoon is the one you most want to be in the water.
Where the Swim & Resort Fit Guide picks up
This page gives you the category structure. The guide fills it in for your body. The free step reads your shape from one clothed full-length photo and names your number one swim cut and support style. The paid guide writes the three swim cuts, three support styles, cover-ups, the cuts to skip, your sun palette, three complete vacation looks for the Beach day, Sunset dinner and City day above, sunglasses, hat, jewellery, bag and footwear for your proportions, a holiday photo brief, a packing list by category in cuts and colours and your Vacation look rendered on your own photo.
Frequently asked
How many swimsuits do I need for a week?
Three. One is drying, one is on and one is spare for a boat day or a rinse that did not finish overnight. Make at least one a one-piece that works as a bodysuit under a skirt or trousers for the City day, so it earns a second job.
What is a resort wear capsule?
A small set of pieces in one palette, chosen so almost any top goes with any bottom and any cover-up goes over any swimsuit. For a week that is roughly three swimsuits, two cover-ups, three day tops, two day bottoms, two evening pieces, three pairs of shoes and a handful of accessories, which mixes into far more than seven outfits.
What colours should I pack?
Pick two neutrals and one or two accents from your sun palette, the shades that hold up in bright light rather than washing you out. Keep swim and cover-ups inside that palette and let the accents live in accessories, so everything layers. A colour analysis gives you the season to build from.
What do people most often forget?
A second pair of sunglasses, a hat that packs flat, a wet bag for the damp swimsuit, after-sun, a light layer for the evening breeze and one outfit that is not beach at all for a town day or a travel day.
Should I pack a different outfit for each evening?
No. Two evening pieces, a slip dress or wide-leg trousers and a silk top for example, re-styled with different earrings, a wrap or a belt read as different outfits in photos and halve the bag. Choose the cuts that suit your shape so each one does the work on its own.
Does the Swim & Resort Fit Guide write a packing list?
Yes, in the paid guide. It builds a packing list by category from the swim cuts, support styles, cover-ups, sun palette and three vacation looks it has already chosen for your shape, in cuts and colours, never brands. The free step reads your body shape and names your number one swim cut and support style from one clothed full-length photo.
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