Holiday clothes - please help me not to look like a pile of washing that got up and walked this year!

[ElizabethinherGermanGarden]

I'm 45, 5'5", the north end of size 14 and I'm off to Greece in July, having not been anywhere hot for 5 years.

None of my existing clothes that would be okay for the temperatures are any better than 'not totally shit'. I would like to buy myself some clothes just for the holiday that will actually look nice in the photos for a change.

Is anyone a similar size, shape and age and would be prepared to tell me what you've bought/worn for hot weather that made you look and feel good?

If anyone feels the need to tell me to lose weight, I'm going to try that too, but am realistic about my own willpower.

I like to pack on paper first so I can work out outfits that re-use accessories, shoes and bottoms so I’m at least packing efficiently and making sure I have the right undies.
My must haves are:
good quality denim shorts, Hush’s are nice but as short as I dare go. Cos have some longer ones that aren’t too long
Loose deep V neck T-shirts rather than vests (cos again)
Maxi dresses, ideally cotton and for me personally the T-shirt style is better but that’s about my body shape and tendency to burn. Cos again but if you look carefully on free people they have some on the less expensive end that are simple loose dresses and a bit more fun.

However to avoid the laundry look (perfect term) it’s all about accessories because a lot if what I’ve described still looks too plain without them:
Jewellery that you like e.g. Some light weight layered necklaces
A good straw trilby
Sunglasses
Sandals, I’m going for box fresh white birks this year as a straight swap for the white trainer look. I also love Menorcan sandals.

And finally… a basic hand held steamer

Aspiga is your friend.
Beautiful things

Sooo love the title , it made me LOL and weep a bit too .
I'm about the same height/size but 10 years older so the menopausal middle to contend with .

I start with my feet . I need comfy shoes and sandles otherwise nothing will work.

I found over the last few years that dresses are better than trousers , much floatier , so tightness round my middle ( I've got some of the M&S skater style ones and a couple from Uniqlo)

I love the look of those linen shift dresses from Next ( the ones with the pocket ) but I don't have the bodyshape and I know it'll look like a windowcleaner's rag in 20 minutes .

I'm going through my clothes at the moment , on holiday in a couple of weeks .

You'll need a cover for yur shoulders .
And hair protector spray .

This is so true. I always think we dress in holiday clothes rather than every day clothes - it’s like a speciality in shops around now. So Brits abroad are so easy to spot by their jersey shorts and ‘fun’ t shirts.
Maybe because of the weather change? We have to buy clothes rather than continue wearing what we have?
I always take denim shorts, sliders, converse and then t-shirts/tops as a base.

I normally wear dresses on holiday, no working out what goes with what! I buy most of mine from H&M. Natural fibres are cool but do crease more. Take a cheap pack of hangers with you, there are never enough hangers on holiday.

I am the same height but a size 18. This works abroad for me .
Birkenstocks - honestly a life changer for me in the heat where my feet expand .
Day - I look awful in shorts which make me look stumpy, and I’ve found dresses look better - much more tidy and complete. Or Wide legged trousers ( Usually cotton patterned ) with a plain t shirt .
Evening. -used to cause me all sorts of angst and stress . Now I take 2 pairs (navy & black) of wide legged floaty polyester trousers. ( Saloos are my preferred make ) and a few floaty tops. Some are the ‘bare shoulder ‘ style . Wallis are good for these . Wear with white or silver flat sandals & matching bag. I even wear with trendy trainers (mine are snakeskin pattern ) if we’re going for a walk . I’ve got a few nice dresses for evening which have no sleeves and hankie hems , and these are great too. These were from Bon Marche , (which I know is classed as an old fashioned shop but if you shop carefully ). I like them as they fit my boobs and have decent sized shoulder strap width (not spaghetti which look awful with big bra straps showing ) .

Avoid linen. Looks lovely for about the first 20 minutes.

Less is more! A decent pair of denim shorts, I like M&S boyfriend. Some t shirts. I also wear dresses, again midi/maxi and trainers/sandals. I wear primark cycling shorts under dresses to avoid chub rub. I do have snag and other proper chub rub shorts but find the cycling shorts most comfortable. You need much less than you think.

I like chiffon caftan style for the walk to the beach. (Short ones)

Don't get linen. I wore one of my linen summer tops yesterday in the car for 2 hours.....when I arrived where we were going I had to take it off as looked like a dishwasher all screwed up.

A maxi dress for the evenings is good.

I have just gone through this getting prepared for a holiday. I set aside a pile for the charity shop as well and got rid off eg a Primark beach shirt that was probably 5 years old and probably cost pennies , hats that have lost shape and other old crap that I have worn in the garden over lockdown summers. You have to be ruthless with these things! Any bobbles or holes or limpness - has to go! 😂

Much of it depends on your budget eg I see someone recommend Aspiga above but 150 a pop for a dress isn't for everyone and esp for a holiday.

I am going with approx 8 - 10 dresses as I don't wear shorts. They are from a variety of places - M and S, last year Next and local boutique. The dresses are a mix of knee length and midi. I am taking my All Birds for my feet as they are the most comfy things in the world. I also bought a pair of plastic slides from M and S for pool etc. I have 2 good bikinis from Pour Moi and one swimsuit from them.I have 2 cover ups both from H and M. 2 strapless and 2 other bras ( but I do have washing facilities) and one 5 pack of new knickers as well as 2 natural coloured knee length slips for dresses that are too see through.I have a wrap that I use on the plane and a different one for poolside. I have one hat and one cap.

There are masses of dresses on M and S and H and M and Next. If you want cheaper then have a look at Tu and Matalan.

www.next.co.uk/g70524s2/t15403#t15403
www.next.co.uk/g28523s2/a58256#a58256
www.next.co.uk/g70565s1/t09446#t09446

Wow I love this thread! Not wishing to hijack but where do you buy a nice straw trilby?

OP on hols I live in cotton midi dresses / cotton t-shirt dresses with silky long pants (to stop chafing thighs) and Birkenstock's.

I hope your holiday is amazing xxx

What shape are you? You mention size 14 but are you pear shaped, apple shaped etc?

I bought this at the weekend. I am far fatter than anyone has a right to be, and unless it's very hot will be wearing a bit of something over the top of it, but it's remarkably flattering and very comfortable. I have just ordered another one.

@Whitney168

I bought this at the weekend. I am far fatter than anyone has a right to be, and unless it's very hot will be wearing a bit of something over the top of it, but it's remarkably flattering and very comfortable. I have just ordered another one.

I forgot about jumpsuits. I got one last year from Next with a bardot neckline and wide legs and they are very flattering.

@ilovebencooper

Wow I love this thread! Not wishing to hijack but where do you buy a nice straw trilby?

OP on hols I live in cotton midi dresses / cotton t-shirt dresses with silky long pants (to stop chafing thighs) and Birkenstock's.

I hope your holiday is amazing xxx

I have bought from this company before but sadly they just seem to lose their shape after every plane trip. It could be me not looking after them properly after the humidity. www.amazon.co.uk/Tumi-Genuine-Woven-Fedora-Panama/dp/B00KPWA1IE?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

This year I have gone for this one from M and S. I see Fat Face have fedoras .

www.pourmoi.co.uk/swimwear/beachwear/ as well as fabulous swimwear they do a great range of cover ups.

I got a gorgeous straw fedora from Tesco! I can't remember what it cost but it definitely wasn't much.

I agree with a PP who says to work it all out on paper first. List all the things you have that you like/fit and then match things together with shoes & accessories. I do this so that I can minimise the amount of stuff I bring.

I am 30 size 16 and went on an emergency trip to Matalan (pregnant and feeling frumpy!) they had some lovely holiday stuff at good prices!

Wow, thank you all - I'm in the US at the moment visiting family so it's the crack of dawn and I've just woken up to all this inspiration! I've mis-packed for this trip as usual, which is what inspired the thread. (Who knew that California would be cold and foggy? I'm stuck wearing my hideous plane-cardigan every day!)

I am definitely a maxi dress person rather than a shorts person, but then maybe I need to branch out. Perhaps I have previously worn the wrong maxi dresses because I definitely looked rubbish last time I went on a trip. I like the look of the jumpsuits - the one a PP linked to was great. Not sure about the bra to go with, though, as the thick straps of the boulder-holder might be an issue and strapless bras are pure misery, aren't they?

Someone asked about my shape and I would say that I'm a cross between an hourglass and a rectangle in that boobs and bum are quite balanced but my waist is not as defined as I would like. If I were an actual hourglass I would run very fast!

The aspiga recommendation looks good. It's dear but perhaps I should invest in one nice frock rather than getting it wrong over and over again! The first few on the website are pretty underwhelming - at first I thought it was a mad recommendation but then I scrolled down and it all made sense. Why would they put all the crinkly viscose up at the top?

Just bought this long sleeve beach dress from M&S for a beach holiday this year. It comes in black or white and is really generously sized. Knee length on me at 5 foot 1. I am going to use it as a cover up for swimwear. It is really flattering and I am very pleased with it.

This thread is wonderful. I am in a similar situation, the only difference being I am taller and going to Spain!

Shorts definitely do suit me, I've got a couple of pairs from Boden that are lovely, which I'll put with some nicer than usual tops. Then mostly dresses for the evening, and a couple of pairs of wide leg trousers. I've planned what goes with what, aiming for most things to go go with most other things.

I still need to tackle swimwear, a beach cover up and accessories, so definitely taking tips from here! Also wondering if my budget will stretch to some white Birkenstocks!

Despite the 'no linen' exhortations, I'd recommend something like this. A bit pricey though.
www.toa.st/products/garment-dyed-linen-easy-dress-black-coffee-1

@WellTidy

Just bought this long sleeve beach dress from M&S for a beach holiday this year. It comes in black or white and is really generously sized. Knee length on me at 5 foot 1. I am going to use it as a cover up for swimwear. It is really flattering and I am very pleased with it.

That's really nice

[quote midsomermurderess]Despite the 'no linen' exhortations, I'd recommend something like this. A bit pricey though.
www.toa.st/products/garment-dyed-linen-easy-dress-black-coffee-1[/quote]
I like this very much, but I think I would definitely ruin it with my tendency to look like a rag bag. I don't know how things that look simple, chic and elegant turn into dishcloths on me. I think it's the boobs.