Is It Possible Feel Chic On A Family Holiday?
Maybe. If you don't mind using your Tide Pen every day.
Ever since my little one was born, this has been my style conundrum: how to feel ‘me’ and channel the more elevated, polished elements of my style, whilst wearing an outfit that’s practical and moves with me throughout the day, whether I’m contending with sticky little fingers or what feels like the world’s biggest BRIO train layout on the floor. My head says jogging bottoms, my heart says rigid denim. But there IS a way to marry them together, and really, that’s what’s at the heart of this newsletter. It’s just taken me bloomin’ years to work it out, so I’m always more than happy to share my lessons with you so you can fast-track the process.
But holidays feel like a different beast. I even wrote about it last year after spending a family holiday feeling like an utter turd. The practicality notch gets dialled up even higher, and you’re often needing to travel light because packing Hot Wheels track becomes the priority. Nailing every single puzzle piece is an impossible task, but getting 70% of the way there results in a pretty damn good holiday wardrobe, and that’s what I have to show you today. Because, SPOILER: I did feel pretty chic on a family holiday.
First, the context:
A six-day, five-night trip with my husband, son, our friends and their kids in a self-catered villa.
We visited Pollença, Mallorca (I shared our full itinerary here). The weather was a balmy 23°C for some days, and absolutely pouring down and 13°C for others, adding a layer of complexity to packing (FUN!).
The vibes were chill family times - wandering around local markets with a few nice lunches and dinners sprinkled in for the adults, with visits to the beach and stops by playgrounds when we saw them, for the kids.
So here’s what I packed, how I wore it, the essential pieces that I reached for every single day that surprised me, the items I didn’t need and what I’d throw in my suitcase for next time because I’m an utter FOOL for leaving them behind…