The Holiday Shop

Sixty pieces for the warm half of the year: summer dresses, co-ord sets, swimwear and cover-ups, most of them under fifty pounds. Sized XXS to XXXL, with free UK delivery and free 14-day returns.

What packs, and what does not

A holiday wardrobe is judged by one thing: how much of it comes out of the case wearable. Fifty-eight of these sixty pieces are cut for summer, in cotton blends, crochet, chiffon and light jersey — fabrics that fold small and recover from a suitcase.

What does not travel is anything heavily structured or in a fabric that creases hard. If you are taking one occasion dress for a holiday dinner, take a chiffon or jersey one rather than a satin, and roll it rather than fold it.

The core of it: summer dresses

Thirty-two of these are day dresses — sleeveless, unfussy, worn with flat sandals rather than heels. Sixteen are midi and thirteen are maxi, with a handful of minis.

A summer dress earns its place by doing two jobs. It should work on a beach with bare feet and in a restaurant with a sandal and some jewellery, without needing to be changed in between. The A-line and floaty styles here do that; the fitted evening cuts do not, and are better kept for a single night.

Fifteen are floral, which is the safest print for a holiday because it hides everything a plain fabric shows — sun cream, sea water, a spilled drink.

Swimwear and cover-ups

Nine swimwear pieces sit inside this edit: bandeau, halter and push-up bikini sets, and three-piece sets that arrive with their own cover-up or skirt.

The three-piece sets are the practical recommendation. A matching cover-up means you can go from the pool to lunch without a change, which is the single most useful thing a holiday wardrobe can do for you.

Co-ord sets, and why they travel best

Seven co-ord sets are tagged for holidays, and they are the smartest thing to pack. Two pieces that match give you three outfits: the set together, the top with a skirt or shorts you already have, and the bottom with a plain vest. A dress gives you one.

Colour

This edit runs blue first, then green and white, with pink, black, yellow and brown behind them. Blue and white are the reliable holiday pairing for a reason — they photograph well against sea, sand and whitewashed stone, and they do not fade visually in strong midday light the way darker shades do.

If you want one bright piece, take the yellow or orange. Strong sun flattens most colours and those two hold up.

Sizing

This edit runs XXS to XXXL, the widest range in the shop, with full measurements in centimetres on the size guide. Our pieces are true to size.

Two notes that matter more on holiday clothes than elsewhere. Cotton and crochet have almost no stretch, so between two sizes take the larger. And swimwear should be sized to your usual size rather than down — a bikini that fits on land and cuts in wet is the most common holiday regret.

Ordering before you fly

Order at least two weeks before you travel. UK delivery is free on every order with no minimum spend and takes around seven working days, and returns are free within 14 days with a prepaid label in the box — but a return you cannot make because you are already abroad helps nobody.

Where to look next

For the dresses on their own, midi and maxi dresses. For daytime events at home rather than abroad, garden party. And for the rest of the separates, clothing.