Do you dread packing for your summer holidays? Are you anxious about the dreaded luggage weigh in at the airport as you usually stuff your case full of clothes "just in case"? Do you wear 20% of you suitcase 80% of the time when you're away?

If this is you, then it might be time to take some holiday style advice from North West style expert Nicola Cupples, Image Consultant & Stylist.

Women are at heart, practical creatures who like to feel prepared for every eventuality whilst away from home, which leaves them in somewhat of a dilemma when it comes to holiday packing. The key is to learn how to mix and match essential summer wardrobe staples that you can use year after year with this season's trendy key pieces to give you an up to date yet varied look.


Key Summer Wardrobe Staples

Black or Camel Pashmina

Wear on cool evenings for an effortless yet chic look. Also pashminas are practical and stylish for travelling on planes when the air conditioning gets cool yet pack up neatly into your case or hand luggage


Linen trousers

Ideal for keeping cool yet covering up classically in hot climates but make sure that the length of your trousers comes down past your ankle to lengthen your leg

Darker linen trousers are more slimming for pear shaped ladies. Team up with this season's floral frilly sleeveless tops to draw the eye up and away from hips and thighs

For those ladies amongst you with skinny legs, try going cropped to highlight those slim pins. 7/8 trousers are big for this season and are great for women with slim ankles.



Black Large Frame Sunglasses

Glam up any look, day or night, by the pool or at the airport. Brilliant at hiding one too many cocktails the morning after!



Kaftan

A great kaftan can make a beautiful poolside look or teamed with shorts and wedges a more glamorous evening outfit

For a petit bust and shoulders, choose kaftans that are more fitted and have detail around the shoulders and bust area to draw the eye up away from your hips and thighs. Choose material that skims your thighs and doesn't cling

Good legs and generous bust are flattered with deep V necks and shorter lengths that shows off your perfect pins



Jewelled flip flops or flat sandals

Will glam up any daytime look. Choose gold, silver, white or black that will go with everything.
They also double up beautifully with floaty skirts and shorts for a boho evening look. Gladiator styles are big for this season.



Wedges

For those shorter ladies, height is a must have, even on holiday. However stiletto heels can be agony when your feet swell not to mention can look, dare I say, tacky in a more relaxed holiday resort. Wedges look boho chic and are kinder to your feet in hotter climates. A must have for those of us with shorter legs



Maxi dress

The maxi dress has been on trend for the last few summers, thank goodness!

Buy a maxi in a colour that suits you and dress it up with bold accessories and wedges in the evening or with flip flops and a large beach bag for a more casual look

For small busts go for detail at the top such as frills, patterns or colour that will highlight your shoulders and fill out your smaller bust

Bustier ladies should choose dresses with more support built in to the top half in a v-neck style; halternecks can work well. Stay away from empire line dresses to avoid looking pregnant!



Plain White and Black vests

A must have for mixing and matching with various trousers, shorts and skirts, or maybe try one of this season's brightly coloured camis to jazz up your look

For further help with your summer dilemmas why not invest in an Image Consultant? Nicola Cupples, Image Consultant & Stylist has brought what was once an exclusive service linked to the rich and famous, to the everyday woman. Whether its packing advice, an outfit for a wedding abroad or your entire summer wardrobe needs addressing, Nicola can be your fashion Fairy Godmother for this season!

Nicola says "Every woman dreams of celebrity beauty, glamour, confidence and success but not every woman has the budget to match her dreams...until now. I offer affordable, practical and tailored style advice to the everyday woman. After all, why should a polished image be exclusive to the rich and famous?" Visit http://wwwnicolacupples.com to learn more about how to perfect your image.


© nicola cupples, 10th June 2008