YOUR GUIDE TO HONEYMOON AND HOLIDAY STYLING
Here at Milli’s Sewing Studio, we absolutely LOVE outfit planning. Getting to enjoy and make memories in pieces that you really love is one of life’s great joys, right? And throwing yourself into planning your wardrobe ahead of a big trip is a simple way to enjoy the build up and excitement even more.
With many of our customers either heading off on their honeymoon or planning for a special holiday, the Milli’s Sewing Studio team have pulled together their tips for planning a holiday wardrobe that not only makes you feel fabulously confident but is practical and helps you keep luggage down to a minimum.
1. Think outfits, not pieces
We’ve all been there; you have a new piece you absolutely love and can’t wait to wear. But beware of throwing too many of such pieces into the mix as it’s easy to end up with a suitcase full of clothes but that feeling like you don’t have anything to wear.
Try to think of a number of different ways you can wear a piece and only selecting those that can be worn as part of two or three different outfits. For example a great fitting midi skirt could be worn with a casual t-shirt or cotton vest top in the day as well as being elevated in the evening with a silk camisole and a low strappy heel.
Sometimes we have pieces that we love but something small and niggly stops you reaching for it regularly. Think awkward hem lengths, something that’s just that bit too big or a sticky zip… you get the idea. These are often things that can be easily changed with alterations, at a relatively low cost. We’re always happy to discuss options and give you ideas so please reach out if this is you!
2. Lessons in layering
Even if you’re jetting off to somewhere super-hot, always thinking about layers is something that can make your holiday wardrobe super-versatile and hard-working. Take an oversize linen shirt, for example. This can be worn over swimwear, to protect your skin from the sun when thrown over a sundress for sight-seeing and even used to take the edge off if the temperature drops in the evening.
We love Marks and Spencer for great quality, affordable linen shirts. Another great option is With Nothing Underneath (WNU) who specialise in shirting and carry linen ranges all year round.
3. Start as you mean to go on
Being super-organised from the get-go really pays off. Organising the contents of your suitcase into categories or pieces that you’ll wear together means you can hit the ground running when you arrive. We are absolute converts of packing cubes which help you separate pieces and outfits, making them easier to find and maximising the space you have.
Antler packing cubes, whilst an investment, are great quality due to the compression zip which helps you pack in as much in as possible. You’ll never look back once you’ve tried them, trust us!
4. Accessories are your superpower
You understandably want to have some special looks in your back-pocket, particularly if you’re packing for your honeymoon. But statement pieces often only get worn once on a trip and take up valuable space in your luggage. So how can you build that wow-factor or special touch into your outfits without ending up
Enter accessories. Particularly scrunchies and bows which are having a real moment currently. They can elevate a simple sundress or vest top and maxi skirt combo or add that finishing touch to a linen co-ord.
We’ve had our eye on this elegant pleated barrette as well as this dainty sheer bow for our holidays later in the summer.
We offer our own range of silk scrunchies, available in a wide range of colours. Fawn is our go-to when we want an opulent, neutral vibe. We’re also able to create custom bows in any fabric at all. If you think this could be the finishing touch you’re looking for, just reach out and let us know your requirements.
5. Basics don’t have to be boring
Picking a well-made, well-fitting basic as a centrepiece to your holiday wardrobe will serve you well. A simple linen shift dress or an elevated sundress fitted to perfection will be the hardest working piece in your suitcase. Our advice is always to buy the best quality you can afford and invest in alterations to get the fit just right. You can wear alone during the day, throw over a shirt in the evening or elevate with accessories and a statement sandal for the evening.
Delivering that flawless fit is what we do here at Milli’s Sewing Studio so if you’ve found your centrepiece basic but it needs nipping and tucking to really deliver that “wow” then you know where to find us!
We are great at turning pieces around, especially when you have a particular trip you’re planning for. That said, please keep in mind that the summer months are often hectic at the studio as we help all our beautiful brides with their gown alterations. For this reason the earlier you can plan ahead the better. We usually suggest a month before the trip to be safe, particularly if the piece needs more complex alterations. After all, the more time we have the more we can do and the more enjoyable the process is.