8 ways to do getaway style

From heatwave-ready dresses to raffia accessories, here’s our fashion editor’s guide to holiday dressing.

Planning your next trip? From hardworking cover-ups and heatwave-ready dresses to raffia accessories, here’s our fashion editor’s guide to holiday dressing.

Words: Anish Patel

Your flights are booked. The hotel is reserved. Now all that’s left is the packing. Instead of panic-buying at the airport, invest in pieces that will serve you for holidays to come, and for all manner of trips. Here’s our fashion editor’s guide on what to invest in.

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1. Dare to bare

Sweltering temperatures call for fewer clothes, and the rise and rise of cutouts and sheer fabrics means you can choose anything from a subtle peek-a-boo to something far more revealing. From hip-flashing midi skirts and midriff-grazing tops to Aphrodite dresses that artfully drape the body, these pieces are made for turning up the heat.

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JACQUEMUS - La Jupe Pero bead-embellished stretch-woven midi skirt

SKIMS - Semi-sheer chiffon silk skirt

MUSIER PARIS - Brac cropped stretch-woven top

SAVANNAH MORROW - Exclusive Indra balloon-sleeve organic-cotton crop top

STELLA MCCARTNEY SS23

2. Set your spirit free

Crochet knits, patchwork accessories, beaded tops and tie-dye prints: our love for anything that looks homespun hasn’t frayed since craftcore first wove its way onto the scene back in 2021. Whether it’s Marni’s knitted multicoloured bucket hats or Frame Denim's crochet mini dress, embrace the free-spirited, Balearic bohemianism of these pieces as you lounge poolside this summer.

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3. Press refresh with your accessories

The right accessories give the clothes you reach for every summer a new lease of life. Statement sunglasses by Prada are perfect for changing the mood of your go-to white vest tops and linen cover-ups. The same goes for Shyla’s transformative jewellery: these emerald-green enamel earrings make minimalist slips feel dressy enough for dinner.

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MIU MIU - Logo-embellished raffia visor hat

PRADA - PR 13ZS acetate sunglasses

SHYLA -Nancy 22ct yellow gold-plated sterling-silver earrings

ENAMEL COPENHAGEN - Enora 18ct gold-plated 925 sterling-silver hoop earrings

FAITHDFULL THE BRAND

4. Try the new retro prints

A new wave of retro prints washed up on the runway this season as designers resurfaced iconic patterns from the 70s and 80s, reworked as digital prints. Swimwear brand SIR took inspiration from groovy prints in sepia tones and splashed them onto one-pieces. At Zimmermann, wallpaper florals in mustard-yellow make linen dresses feel retro.

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FAITHFULL THE BRAND

5. Get yourself a hardworking cover-up

Cover-ups have undergone a style transformation in recent seasons to become something you can wear way beyond the beach or pool. This season, they’re designed in sheer, lightweight and luxurious cotton, silk or linen, and come with artisanal details and timeless patterns that will look just as good for sundowners as they do on a sun lounger. All you need is the right accessories (see entry 3). 

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MELISSA ODABASH - Victoria semi-sheer cotton cover-up

MAX MARA - Aquila tiered-trim stretch-cotton blend midi dress

LE KASHA - Round-neck relaxed-fit linen maxi dress

DEVOTION TWINS - Ella flared-sleeve cotton mini dress

LOEWE

6. Invest in raffia accessories

Since Prada launched its sell-out tote a few summers ago, raffia has barely left beaches from Biarritz to Capri. It works so well for holidays because it feels just the right amount of undone and imperfect. From bucket bags that will hold all your hot-weather essentials to micro-minis you can wear in the city, take or weave one of these.

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7. Find a heatwave-proof dress

Whether you’re at a wedding in the South of France, out for dinner on holiday or have lunch plans in a sweltering city, you’ll need a dress that can keep you cool and look as good at sundown as it did when you headed out the door. Silk midi dress and airy lace gowns will get you out of these sticky style situations when it’s scorching outside. 

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FRAME x Julia Sarr Jamois tie dye silk maxi dress

SIMKHAI - Annita gradient woven maxi dress

MARY KATRANTZOU - Napoli floral-pattern regular-fit silk-crepe midi dress

PROENZA SCHOULER - Ruched-bodice halterneck stretch-woven midi dress

NANUSHKA

8. Build a strong foundation

Simple tees, shorts, shirts: don’t overlook these hard-working items that you can wear from dusk till dawn, dress up or down, and wear again and again. This season, they have been updated in luxurious fabrics and flattering fits which means they’ll transition seamlessly between settings.

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