Last week I promised the follow up installment of Travel Essentials, and here it is! Today’s Flexible Fashion is designed for a trip to warm, summery locations. A trip that might see you doing everything from shopping to karaoke parties, lazing by the pool and walking miles to take in the local colour. It took me years to master the art of packing light, but the more I travel…and shop.. the more  I realise, I would sacrifice having the choice of  10 pairs of shoes with me for the space required to bring more home!

The first thing you’ll notice when taking in this page is the theme.  My single greatest trick to traveling light, is to pick a colour palette and a theme, then ensure that everything fits within it.  This time (as I have so often done in the past), I’ve picked a red white and black pallet with a floral theme.  Choosing the right pieces is then all you need to do and viola! Instant capsule wardrobe. This selection is but one variation on a theme.  There are infinite varieties you could come up with but let’s start here.

Every trip requires one fancy dress. Even if you have no special outings planned, you never know when you might be faced with a James Bond moment.  Need an upgrade? Break out the fancy dress.  Met a dark handsome stranger in the bar? Break out the fancy dress. Department store shopping? Break out the fancy dress. You can be assured that my Fancy Dress gets a good work out on each trip. You’ll also need one pair of heels to mix and match with your various ensembles.  I prefer to pick a great pair of wedges as you never know just how far you may have to walk or the condition of the streets.  I’ve seen many a heel meet its end on a cobble stone road.

An inexpensive feature bracelet comes with me everywhere.  It must be big, have impact, and be replaceable – as with just about everything you take.  This is a good time to point out that I very rarely take any of my vintage collection with me when I travel unless the purpose of my trip is specifically vintage related.  I am yet to ever loose my luggage (touch wood), but no amount of travel insurance will ever be able to replace that New Look 1950′s dress I adore.   I rely on my makeup and hair styling to give my outfits a more vintage look. After all, accessories are the key to any successful outfit. And don’t forget a fine knit pashmina – small enough to fit in the hand bag and a lifesaver in various crisis.

The key to getting day wear right is to ensure that each piece can be worn with the others and all in various ways. A little summer dress can become a tunic top over the pants, and button through blouses can double as light weight cover ups.  If you have the room for it, a fine knit black poncho not only deals with an evening chill, but with the addition of your sparkliest accessories, takes on a slightly more evening look. One pair of feature flats that tone with each of your looks is also essential.  Other than the one pair of wedges included in the previous selection, all the other shoes in this capsule wardrobe are flat and easily packable without adding much to the weight or space component of you bag.

Beach and swimwear should be simple. If yours is a predominately pool holiday, you’ll want more than one suit; but that is of no great space concern. Don’t think you can skimp on the sun hat and that you big dark glasses will do all the work – that’s how you end up with a big old chicken neck!  These days, you can find great wide brimmed hats in crushable straw that can be rolled up and spring back into shape.  Note: These are  not the “crushable” kind which often look just that – crushed!  Bring your sunscreen in wipe form to save on weight and space; as well as to prevent any leakage. Oddly, sunscreen seems to be one type of cream that often leaves stains on fabric that can’t be removed.  And don’t forget the cover up.  Choose something from your palette in a solid colour. It shouldn’t have shoe string straps, but a nice wider arm that not only gives better sun protection, but can do double duty as a dress or tunic for day wear.

Hair can be one of the trickiest things when traveling. You don’t want to spend too much time on it, after all you should be relaxing! And for me, traveling in hot and humid climates is the absolute worst when it comes to looking put together.  I end up a mass of frizz with bits sticking out all over the place.  Finally, after paying attention to the locals in many of the hotter and stickier countries I’ve visited, I noticed one of their secrets to sleek hair. It wasn’t theirs! Now when I travel I take a switch or a fauxny-tail piece in a colour to exactly match my hair.  That way I can do something sleek with the front and rely on the switch to do the rest of the work. As for getting Hollywood glam hair without bringing along the rollers, I use my Perfect Pin Curls trick.  All you need is a little smoothing setting lotion, bobby pins and a scarf. Done!

Make sure to bring along a good selection of hair ornaments and you’ll have a different do every day.

Sleep is simple. If you are not staying somewhere where a robe is provided, make sure to include a lightweight kimono in your suitcase. Other than that, all you need is here. A cute but classy nightgown and some fancy roll up jiffies.  That way, should you be hosting nightcaps in your room, you’ll still be fit to work the room.  Some travel candles are a great touch to help you relax, particularly if you’ve had a trying flight, and if you burn them while away, the weight can be replaced on the trip back home. shhhh..  I also like to take a little reminder of home to watch me sleep – it must be teeny tiny too.  The teeny tiny toy touch is something I learnt in Bangkok, when the Hilton kindly provided me with a tiny elephant for my pillow. I liked him so much he now lives on my bedside table.

Being a maximalist trying to travel in a minimalist way, there is one singular key to success that keeps me sane and my creativity intact. Accessories! Stay on colour, on theme and go wild.They take up very little space and change the whole tone of an outfit. It is all about the mix and match, stretching a little to think up new combos and new ways of wearing things.

Of and don’t forget the perfume.. if all else fails… or perhaps if you succeed… you won’t need to wear anything but this!

P.S: Don’t forget to keep on voting for me in the Nuffnang Asia Pacific Blog Awards!