I'm very lucky to be jetting off on my summer hols this week. A full seven days packed with sunshine, reading my favourite books on the beach, exploring the local area and sipping on the odd cocktail here and there. But although I might be bouncing off the walls with excitement at the thought of a week of fun in the sun, the thought of packing a week's worth of clothes for the beach trips, exploring, evening cocktails and just in case the weather might turn disastrous, is enough to turn in me into a quivering wreck.

I don't know about you, but I am NOT good at packing. I'm the one that sits on top of my suitcase with a slightly frayed at the edges appearance, asking my partner for help doing up the zip on a fairly medium-sized bag that I have tried to transfer my entire wardrobe into. It's hardly a surprising revelation that I always end up packing far too many clothes, but the fact that I only ever wear a small percentage of them during my stay and at the end of the trip I am never actually able to cram any of it back into my suitcase, is becoming a bit of a problem. My suitcase is currently sitting innocently in the corner of the flat and every time I walk past it I start breaking out into glistening beads of sweat.

With this is mind and partly for my boyfriend's sanity, I have developed a new 'packing strategy'. Wait for it - I think this is pretty special guys - this time I am only going to take the clothes with me that I really love to wear. None of the 'I-haven't-worn-that-for-three-years-but-I-might-need-it-on-my-seven-day-trip' outfits are allowed. This year I'm going to be strict with myself.

I've heard on the grapevine that a good way to do this is to pack everything you think you want to take - then take half of it out, which seems fairly logical. So if I'm in any doubt about taking an item of clothing, I'll be leaving it out. Most probably in a large pile on my bed to sort through when I get back. Joy.

So, after careful thought I have come to the conclusion that these are to be my holiday wardrobe essentials....

2 bikinis - M&S do some awesome and good fitting mix and match sets for about a tenner!

2 pairs of shorts - a light weight denim pair from H&M and a khaki pair

4 vests/T-shirts courtesy of Very.co.uk Kaftan = do not underestimate F&F at Tesco

Sarong

Cropped combats for exploring

Lightweight jacket - my trusty denim number should do the trick

White linen trousers

Cotton skirt

Pretty top for the evening

2 dresses for evening including a maxi-dress (I recently bagged the brightly coloured one with the sequins from New Look and I love it!)

Cardigan

Wrap - in case my shoulders get chilly

Pair of comfy mules

Pair of plimsolls

Flip flops - 2 pairs

Kitten heeled sandals

Beach bag - mine handily converts into a beach towel

Clutch bag

Day bag that can be worn across my body

Accessories that I don't mind losing, breaking or accidently leaving behind

Now all I have to do is stick to the list.....

Yeah, wish me luck with that.

Happy summer holidays everyone! S x