A stylish summer staycation

While it’s certainly wonderful to see so many places back open again, it feels like we have a while to go before we can jet off on holiday. I’m considering what my options are with regards a staycation in Ireland.

Whether you’re just enjoying a break in Costa del back garden or venturing further afield to a hotel or Airbnb come July, one way you can get that holiday vibe is by packing a bag or putting together a collection of staycation essentials. I mean, why not dress for that stylish city break you had planned when in reality you might not be even leaving Cork?

I also think staycation looks or summer looks in general can be quite forgiving if, like me, you’ve become so used to comfortable clothes that the thought of wearing restrictive jeans or anything remotely tight fills you with dread.

Flowy dresses, wide leg trousers and summer blouses all ensure you look stylish and feel great while letting your body feel free and unhindered by fabric.

One thing I always find perfect for summer packing is a trusty dress. From a practical point of view, it takes up very little room in luggage but it’s also just so easy to wear. Pick a great print that does all the talking and you really don’t have to add very much else.

I recently bought a black and white ditsy print midi dress from H&M which has a square neck and a shirred fabric body. It makes it really the perfect dress to wear as it’s slightly structured around the body but then has more of a flow to the skirt part meaning it has that elusive combination of structure and flow which skims the body and is super flattering. I’m also very much here for anything in a bright colour and with a very flattering v-neck.

As always, I’m never far from a jacket and my absolute go to summer jacket is the staple denim jacket. It really does work over any dress and gives even the most dressy of dresses a more relaxed look. While I already have a few in different blue denim washes, I’ve recently been very taken with a cream oversized one from Zara which is something to consider to change things up a little bit.

Summer time and gingham also go hand in hand and I recently invested in a red and white gingham skirt and a black and white version, too. All you need is a simple t-shirt and a sandal and you’re dressed. Gingham is also a print that never goes out of style so I always have a few pieces that I’ve collected over the years that I can pull out and wear year after year. To me gingham, espadrilles and a straw basket bag are just a fashion match made in heaven.

Lately, I’ve also been toying with the idea of a summer hat but I’ve yet to make the move to buy one. It really seems like something that you’d need to try on and try a few different types. While I absolutely love the idea of a dramatic black straw hat with oversized floppy brim, I just know this would look completely ridiculous on me. I also like the idea of the fisherman’s or bucket hat but I am loath to look like someone stuck in the Oasis Brit Pop era. I think it’s just one of those things I need to try at home for a bit on my own till I get used to it.

In the meantime, I think I could instantly get on board with the straw fedora from Littlewoods. It’s stylish and keeps the sun off one’s face, which we all know is essential on your staycation!