Pack & go: Holiday essentials from Asos, Coast and Tommy Hilfiger

Jumpsuit, £65, Jovonna (jovonnalondon.com); sandals, £60, Birkenstock at Schuh (020 7100 1515, schuh.co.uk); sunglasses, £135, Tommy Hilfiger at Sunglasses Shop (0800 148 8070, sunglasses-shop.co.uk); necklace, model’s own

Bell-sleeved minidress, £45, Asos (asos.com); sandals, £35, Schuh (as before); gold snake ring, £85, Evra the Art of Eve (evratheartofeve.com) 

With the weather taking a turn for the worse this week, there has never been a better time to book a holiday somewhere hot, exotic and most importantly, dry. Holiday packing can be the act of Satan for some, chucking in everything but the kitchen sink for those very important five days. But it needn’t be such a struggle. 

Opt for separates in bold primary colours that will pack a punch in your holiday photo album (ahem, daily instagram posts) but are unfussy and can be mixed with more basic, everyday pieces.

The red bell sleeve dress from Asos is the perfect go-to for evening drinks under the stars. Wear with flat sandals, like these sky blue versions from Schuh, to make walking in sand and dancing the night away that much easier but are also great to wear sightseeing during the day. 

A white jumpsuit is a necessity for a summer holiday as it always looks super chic, and of course does not do the tan any harm. The belted style by Jovonna London is also a good option to have in case the evenings bring out a chill.

A pair of Birkenstocks will keep you going all week, even worn with a short shift number, like the jacquard dress from Hallhuber, which keeps the overall look relaxed. If you invest in just one item of clothing, let it be the retro playsuit by Tara Jarmon, which would look just as amazing coming back from the beach as it would at dinnertime. 

Look to celebrities Millie Mackintosh and Gwen Stefani, who constantly give us holiday wardrobe envy, for inspiration. 

Strapless ruffle top, £79, Coast (coast-stores.com); full prom skirt, £60, Asos (asos.com); hoop earrings, £175, Alexis Dove; gold snake ring, £85, Evra the Art of Eve 

Jacquard shift dress, £129, Hallhuber (0844 410 0224, hallhuber.com); sandals, £60, Birkenstock at Schuh; gold circle ring, £120, Alexis Dove; Happy mini bag, £495, Hill & Friends (hillandfriends.com); gold snake ring, £85, Evra the Art of Eve 

Styling by Paula O’Connor  

Words by Sian O’Donnell

Photographs by Chris Bracewell

Stylist’s assistant: Sian O’Donnell 

Photographer’s assistant: James Sharpe 

Hair and make-up: Katie Pettigrew at LHA Represents using Kiehl’s Since 1851 and MAC