I’m not talking about refusing to wash for months and growing dreadlocks – I want to discuss some effort free ways to make more of an eco-impact on your chosen destination.

People travelling today don’t want to have to lower their standard of living to be environmentally friendly – there are of course many people who are happy to live out of a rucksack and wear the same clothes for days on end!

However, if you don’t want to lower your standards to help save water and become more eco-friendly – then take a look at some of the following tips  – and they don’t include the well-repeated ones like ‘turn off the tap while brushing your teeth’!!!

1) Try to source biodegradable toiletries.  This way you can still have your luxury thickening, gloss-inducing shampoos and your extra invigorating shower gels – but you know that they won’t wash off you and into a sensitive water course affecting wildlife and landscapes.

2)  Make sure you locate yourself some biodegradable suncream too- as this is likely to wash off of you and straight into the sea and rivers – now there’s a nasty thought.  There are many adventure parks and natural waterways (like the cenotes in Mexico) that will check your sun cream before entering – making sure they are biodegradable!

3)  Find yourself a brand of leave-in hair conditioner that you like.  This will save plenty of water as you won’t need to use water for the rinse part.  Many people leave the shower head running while rubbing their normal conditioners in before rinsing – wasting even more water!  Why not leave the product protecting your hair for longer as well as making a difference.

4)  And why not leave all other toiletries at home that aren’t essential.  Do you really need to be moisturising your fingernail cuticles while trekking through jungles?  Or changing the color of your toenails midway across a desert (after using nail polish remover!!!)?  No you don’t.  Take essentials only or buy multipurpose products to do the same jobs.

5)  It’s a great idea to save small bottles during your everyday life especially to travel with.  These smaller bottles are perfect for travel toiletries without taking up too much room in your luggage – and you will use them again and again rather than dispose of them abroad.

Many people take half empty larger bottles from home, planning to dump them on vacation and make room for souvenirs on the way home!  This may well put too much pressure on your destination and could rule out a return visit in the future….

6)  As a man, why take all your shaving paraphernalia if you are travelling about?  Why not grow yourself a beard while you are away and keep a photographic record of it’s journey with you!  Maybe get on a social networking site and have your friends see you like never before – I mean could you keep your job at the bank with a great big bushy beard?

No such fun possible for the ladies – but why not let your hair go natural if you normally tame it down at home.  Ne need for straighteners and anti-frizz potions – just get yourself some great head scarves or bandanna’s and change your look for the vacation.

7)  Another one for the ladies would be personal hygiene.  Make sure if using towels or tampons (non-applicator of course) that you use the lowest possible protection to reduce the amount of waste created.  By using products designed for ‘extreme conditions’ when there is really only a need for ‘standard protection’ requires a larger product and more resources – it also means more ‘rubbish’ to be disposed of by your hosts.

Never flush anything like this down the toilets (even back home) as most developing countries ‘sewers’ barely work with just toilet tissue in the first place.  Make sure you dispose of them carefully and hygienically and warn you hosts if close contact may be encountered!  Don’t dispose of them outside either as they will attract vermin and dogs.

8)  Another thing never to throw away or flush down the toilet are medications or any sort.  They could poison not only wildlife – but people as well.  Always take unwanted medicines, treatments and contraceptives to a chemist who will dispose of them safely.  Try not to take too many with you in the first place – generic named products are available almost everywhere you go – and are probably cheaper anyway!

9)  And finally – try to find an alternative to every-day disposable contact lenses!  The waste involved in this is not good for any environment – but especially not in developing countries – unless you bring them all home with you.  Decide on an alternative that suits you, either monthly lenses or your old-fashioned eye-glasses!!

Now get packing……

By Catherine at www.ecoholidaysandadventures.com

More and more outdoor clothing now carries a UPF rating. What does this rating mean? Why should you care about sun protection clothing? www.rei.com provide a quick summary followed by a more in-depth look from several leading dermatology experts.

Sun Protection Basics

1. Sunlight includes rays of invisible ultraviolet (UV) radiation, and overexposure to UV rays can lead to sunburn, accelerated skin aging and skin cancer. Sunscreen and your clothing offer the main forms of significant UV protection.
2. All fabrics disrupt UV radiation to some degree. Clothing that does the best job carries an Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) value. UPF ratings range from 15 (good) to 50+ (excellent).
3. Some individuals have an elevated need for UPF-rated clothing, including:
   • Fair-skinned, sun-sensitive people
   • Children
   • People spending extended time at high elevation, in equatorial regions or on reflective surfaces (such as snow or water).
4. Not everyone needs to wear UV-protective clothing to guard against sunburn. People with “average” to darker skin types rarely get a sunburn on skin covered by clothing, even if they’re wearing a basic T-shirt. Even so, UPF-rated clothing enhances everyone’s protection against UV-related health risks.

Shop REI’s selection of sun protection clothing.

UPF and Skin Types

Q: What is UPF?

A: Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) is a rating system used for apparel. It indicates how effectively fabrics shield skin from ultraviolet (UV) rays. The higher the UPF number, the greater degree of UV protection a garment offers.

UPF is similar to SPF (Sun Protection Factor), the rating system used for sunscreen products. UPF gauges a fabric’s effectiveness against both ultraviolet A (UVA) and UVB light. An SPF number pertains only to a sunscreen’s effectiveness against UVB rays, the sunburn-causing segment of the ultraviolet spectrum. Most sunscreens include ingredients that shield skin from UVA rays, but sunscreen makers have yet to agree on how to measure that protection.

Q: What is in sunlight that puts our skin at risk?

A: In addition to visible light and other spectrums, sunlight includes invisible ultraviolet radiation (UV-R). Overexposure to the UV spectrum has been linked to skin cancer, accelerating skin aging and sunburn.

Three types of UV rays exist:

• UVA (320-400 nanometers, or one-billionth of an inch): Causes premature skin aging, wrinkling and potentially skin cancer. Penetrates skin more deeply than UVB rays. Can impact skin during any hour of daylight. Can penetrate clouds and untreated glass.
• UVB (290-320 nm): Causes sunburn; also contributes to premature skin aging and potentially to skin cancer. Causes most impact between 10am and 4pm. Can penetrate clouds, but not glass.
• UVC (200-290 nm): Deadly to humans. Fortunately, it is absorbed by atmospheric gases before it reaches the earth’s surface.

Excessive UV radiation weakens the body’s immune system in addition to causing cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States—an estimated 1 million nonmelanoma cases are diagnosed annually. The majority of skin cancer cases, up to 90%, are sun-related.

Many skin-care experts believe clothing shields skin more effectively from UV light than sunscreen. Key reasons: Many of us often apply sunscreen lotions too thinly, giving our skin less protection than the sunscreen’s available SPF rating, and we neglect to reapply it.

Q: How do I interpret UPF ratings?

A: UV-protection claims for clothing were first formalized in the 1990s in Australia, where skin cancer is a widespread concern. Researchers there developed the first fabric testing procedures for UV transmission and created a UPF rating system (see chart below). Clothing manufacturers have since voluntarily adopted this system.

Basically, a UPF rating of 50 indicates the fabric of a garment will allow only 1/50th (roughly 2%) of available UV radiation to pass through it. A garment rated UPF 25 permits roughly 4% (1/25th) UV transmission.

The higher the number, the better the protection the fabric offers. Any fabric that allows less than 2% UV transmission is simply labeled UPF 50+.

All fabrics in some way impact the transmission of UV radiation. You may read that fabrics “absorb” UV rays, but that wording implies that fabrics somehow soak up UV radiation like a sponge. That’s not exactly the case. When ultraviolet radiation and textiles interact, the energy of UV rays is changed. UV radiation is converted to heat, a transformation that renders most rays harmless. Some garments, depending on factors such as construction, dyes and fabric treatments (explained later in this article), do a better job at this than others.

The original Australian rating system stipulates that garments made with fabrics rated below UPF 15 cannot be marketed as UV-protective. So where does a white cotton T-shirt rate? Many Web sites estimate it falls between UPF 5 and UPF 8, meaning it could allow as much as 20% (one-fifth) of available UV radiation to pass through.

While no doubt true in some cases, many newer T-shirts are treated with “optical brightening agents.” These OBAs, appearance-enhancers for white fabrics, also boost disruption of UV radiation. Most common household detergents also include OBAs, so repeated launderings will increase the fabric’s accumulation of brighteners and thus increase its UV-protective ability. Some experts estimate that such shirts may offer a UPF of nearly 15.

Q: Which skin types are most vulnerable to UV radiation?

A: The FDA publishes the following guide to skin types:

Fair-skinned individuals (Types I and II) commonly embrace UPF-rated clothing as an effective method for shielding their sun-sensitive skin. Yet people with any skin type can benefit from having their skin covered with UV-protective clothing to guard against the less-obvious risks (aging and skin cancer) associated with UV rays.

Children also can benefit from UV-protective clothing. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that just a few serious sunburns can increase a child’s risk for developing skin cancer later in life. Clothing is a reliable form of sun protection for children, particularly for those who are not fond of sunscreen lotions.

UV-protective clothing also makes sense for outdoor-oriented people of any skin type who plan to explore areas with increased UV intensity, such as high elevations, equatorial regions, or areas in close proximity to reflective surfaces (water, sand, snowfields).

An overall UV protection strategy includes the use of sunscreen, wearing UV-protective clothing and limiting the amount of time you expose yourself to UV radiation.

How Sun Protection Clothing Works

Q: What makes some fabrics more effective at disrupting UV rays than others?

A: There are a variety of factors:

• Construction: Dense, tight construction (either weaves or knits) minimizes the spaces between yarns, which in turn minimizes the amount of UV light that can pass through. Some tightly constructed UPF-rated garments use vents to boost air circulation and help the wearer stay cool. Thicker fabrics also help reduce UV transmission.
• Dyes: It is the specific type of dye (and the concentration in which it is used) that impacts a fabric’s UV transmission, not its color. Some dyes deflect more UV radiation than others, and some absorb none at all—including black dyes. How can one know what kind of dyes are used in individual garments? The only tip-off is if the garment carries a UPF rating. Clothing engineered for UV protection may use high concentrations of premium dyes that disrupt UV light. Such dyes include “conjugated” molecules that disrupt UV radiation. The higher the concentration of such dyes, the darker the garment becomes. But ultimately color has no influence on UV rays. Note: Pigment-dyed fabrics, which include a resin that creates a powdery look and feel, get high marks for UV protection.
• Treatments: Chemicals effective at absorbing UV light may be added during processing. Specialized laundry additives, which include optical brightening agents and newly developed UV-disrupting compounds, can boost a garment’s UPF rating.
• Fiber type: Polyester does an excellent job at disrupting UV light (due to hydrogen- and carbon-based benzene rings within the polymer). Nylon is good. Wool and silk are moderately effective. Cotton, rayon, flax and hemp fabrics (natural fibers composed of cellulose polymers) often score low without added treatments. However, unbleached or naturally colored cotton performs better at interacting with UV light than bleached cotton.
• Stretch: If a garment is stretched 10% or more beyond its normal dimensions, spaces between yarns are widened and its effectiveness against UV light may be reduced up to 40%.
• Wetness: A fabric’s ability to disrupt UV radiation is usually reduced when wet, though the reasons why are not completely understood. Wetness may cause a 30% to 50% reduction in a fabric’s UPF rating.
• Condition: Worn or faded fabrics are less effective against UV light.

Q: Before a UPF rating is assigned to a garment, how is it tested?

A: The first UPF testing procedure, developed in 1996, was the Australian/New Zealand test method (AS/NZS 4399).

Procedures were later developed in the United States: American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC) Test Method 183 and American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) D 6544. A UPF labeling guide (ASTM D 6603) has also been adopted. The European Committee for Standardization (CEN) has also created standards.

Typically during these tests, UV light is transmitted through a garment’s fabric and measured by a radiation-measuring device, either a spectrophotometer or spectroradiometer. In most cases, the fabric is tested dry and without being stretched. The fabric’s ability to absorb UV light is then calculated and a UPF value is assigned.

Q: Who regulates UPF clothing?

A: In the U.S., the Federal Trade Commission monitors UPF advertising claims. If a manufacturer’s claims are questioned, the FTC can investigate the testing methods that were used to ensure that they support the claim. Most manufacturers and retailers voluntarily follow one of more of the AS/NZS, AATCC and ASTM standards, testing methods and labeling guidelines.

REI uses an independent lab to test fabric samples from its apparel line according to the AS/NZS standard. To ensure accurate and representative UPF labeling, the lightest color of an REI garment style is always tested (since darker colors using higher concentrations of UV-absorbing dyes generate higher UPF values). Sometimes all colors of a particular style are tested.

Q: How does laundering affect UPF-rated clothing?

A: A study paper on the effects of repeated laundering of UPF-rated clothing was published in November, 1998, in Textile Chemist and Colorist, an industry journal.

The paper’s conclusions assert that “repeated home launderings (regardless of whether or not the detergent contains an OBA [optical brightening agent, the compound commonly found in household detergents, mainly to "keep whites white"]) does not reduce the UPF rating of a woven or knitted fabric of cotton, polyester, or nylon. On the contrary UPF ratings are enhanced or remain unchanged by repeated launderings up to 20 times.”

Q: Most people cannot recall ever getting sunburn on skin that was covered by clothing. So why wear UPF-rated clothing?

A: UPF-rated clothing can optimize any person’s protection against UV transmission. But is it essential that every person who spends any time outside wear such clothing? No.

“You might get fine UV protection from a regular piece of clothing,” says Dr. Martin A. Weinstock, professor of Dermatology and Community Health at Brown University Medical School and the chairman of the Skin Cancer Advisory Group of the American Cancer Society. “But with UPF-rated clothing, you’re assuring that protection.”

Your skin type and your location on the planet both influence your need for UV-protective clothing.

“The lower your skin type number, the more vulnerable you are to UV radiation,” Weinstock told REI.com, “and the more intense the UV rays, the more careful you have to be in protecting yourself.”

Any skin type, Weinstock adds, may benefit from wearing UV-protective clothing in equatorial regions, at high elevations, or on reflective surfaces such as snow.

Children, who sometimes find sunscreen unappealing and resist its use, may accept the use of UPF-rated clothing more cheerfully. This can help minimize the accumulation of sun exposure during childhood years, which medical experts have linked to an increased risk of developing skin cancer later in life. The National Cancer Institute reports “studies have consistently shown that increased cumulative sun exposure is a risk factor for nonmelanoma skin cancer.”

UPF-rated clothing originated in Australia. Due to its proximity to the equator, Australia experiences some of the world’s most intense UV exposure. Other factors make Australians highly vulnerable to UV light: A generally clear atmosphere in the southern hemisphere; depleted ozone over Antarctica; a close pass to the sun during the earth’s orbit in January, the height of Australia’s summer. As the earth tilts at that time of year, sunlight coming through the Antarctica’s ozone hole lands on Australia.

In Florida, the state on the U.S. mainland closest to the equator, Dr. Susan Weinkle says she has seen fair-skinned patients experience pigment change on skin that had been covered by nonspecialized clothing.

Weinkle, an Assistant Clinical Professor of Dermatology at the University of South Florida in Tampa, says she has encountered visitors or residents who wear a standard T-shirt as a skin shield while playing in the ocean or a swimming pool. This leaves them, particularly if they have sun-sensitive skin, at risk for sunburn.

“It’s not a severe sunburn,” Weinkle says, “but the skin nonetheless does get impacted. I’ve kayaked in the middle of the day in July wearing UPF-rated clothing while using sunscreen on exposed areas of my body. Afterwards I could not tell the difference between the two areas.

“That’s just an anecdotal example,” Weinkle says, “but it’s helped make me a big proponent of sun-protective clothing. You don’t have to be a mole and live in a hole to stay safe in the sun. You just have to make good choices.”

To do so, Weinstock advises, know your skin and properly anticipate the level of exposure you’ll be giving it. “The best clothing to wear may depend if you’re fishing in Alaska or skateboarding in Hawaii,” he says.

Location indeed matters. A 2002 study by a National Cancer Institute scientist shows that is not unusual to see notable differences in UV intensity between two relatively close locations. New Orleans, for example, receives 20% more UVB each year than Atlanta.

“Even in Rhode Island,” Weinstock says of his northerly home state, “someone who’s out sailing all day may be wearing an old, worn T-shirt and have no protection on under the shirt. With the sun’s reflection off the water, he’s bathing in intense UV light all that time. I think he should be concerned about the exposure he’s getting.”

Still, Weinstock acknowledges, in many circumstances a standard T-shirt is adequate for shielding the average skin types from sunburn and other impacts of UV light. “You just might not get all the protection you want,” he says.

“Companies aren’t being devious when they offer UPF-rated clothing,” adds Weinstock. “They’re just offering you your best assurance of staying protected from UV light.”

Q: Won’t wearing pants and a long-sleeve shirt feel uncomfortable during warm days?

A: Think of the attire commonly associated with desert-dwelling people. Lightweight, loose-fitting, sun-shielding body coverings have been worn from head to toe for centuries.

Is it possible UPF-rated clothing may feel warmer, especially when you’re active? Yes, due to tighter construction and possibly its darker color.

Yet today’s modern fabrics—moisture-wicking, quick-drying, highly breathable, engineered for optimal ventilation—make it surprisingly efficient and comfortable to shield skin from UV light while you participate in aerobic outdoor pursuits.

Shop REI’s selection of sun protection clothing.

Researched and written with assistance from researchers and experts in the areas of dermatology, textiles and government regulation. Many advisors to this article declined to be quoted directly due to professional, governmental or academic restrictions.

Article by www.rei.com

I get to ask  a lot of women travellers what their number one travel tip would be and the top tip that comes up more times than any “my biggest tip is to always wear a pashmina when flying so it can double up as a blanket on the plane!” and personally I am a raving fan from light weight pashminas for hotter climes and summer evenings to toasty warm thick cashmere for snuggling into when the weather is freezing.

With so many gorgeous colours, I have over the years collected lots of pashminas from the palest cream to vibrant green , purple and shocking pink to glam up a plain outfit.

Pashminas are gorgeous, versatile and a joy to wear. They have become part of a modern women’s wardrobe and can be worn anywhere at anytime with just about anything and here are just a few of my favourite uses.

One Pashmina – 8 great uses

1. As a scarf, probably the most obvious use of all.

2. To keep you snugly warm on the plane when the air conditioning kicks in, there is nothing worse than hours sitting on a freezing cold plane, why do they do that?

3. To keep you covered when the setting requires. You really don’t want to have to miss out or cover up using something handed out that has maybe never been cleaned!

4. To glam up a simple outfit, a lighter colour like taupe, off white, cream or white will create that movie star “I haven’t bothered” look.

5. Or to simply add colour to a pair of jeans. A pashmina is a great accessory and if like me you are consious of your bingo wings it helps cover them too.

6. To keep the evening chill off, when the sun sets and the sea breeze means you need a little cover but a jacket is too much.

7. To use as a blanket to sit on for an impromptu picnic or to sit on the beach and watch the sun go down.

8. Or as the wrapping for a present it makes for an unusual cover and an extra gift.

If you don’t yet own one, myadvice; go buy one you won’t ever regret it. Check out our great value range.

No Way!

“I know lets have a couple of days away just us girls, fresh air, plenty of time to chat and great exercise to boot.” And that’s how it started …. two days walking on The Ridgeway – 33 miles and overnight stay in a pub, wine, chocolate … perfect.

On Sunday when it poured with rain all day there was a thought that we were slightly crazy but the forecast for Monday was to clear up and Tuesday to be glorious. We decided to carry a change of clothes in our rucksacks so that we were totally independent. This was a decision we were going to live to regret – the extra pounds might have been great for calorie burning but the pressure on our shoulders became really uncomfortable pretty early on day 1! And with hindsight we really didn’t need to change when we arrived. Next time a change of underwear and a clean t shirt and that will be it. When you stay close to a national trail you meet other walkers and it’s pretty relaxed and there really is no need to dress for dinner. The key is to wear lightweight layers, waterproof jacket and walking socks and well broken in boots, Sunglasses, compeed and a cap or sunhat.

The first day we walked 23 miles most planned some not – the detour down the valley for a superb lunch at The Village Inn, Liddington was longer than expected but we laughed all the way there and back. In fact that really is the key; go with someone you really relish spending time with and the miles will fly by in the laughter, sharing of secret fears and hopes and seeking and giving advice.

At the end of day one the muscles were sore but we were amazed how well we had fared, little did we know that the 11 miles we planned for day two would be so challenging. Blisters and fatigue from day one took their toll. Third piece of advice pack Compeed – this blister relief was the thing that got us through the day. Walking on blistered feet is no joke but at least we could once they were covered in compeed.

Highlights of the trip: spending “quality” time with a dear friend a cliché maybe,but this was a delight. Being told to put my t shirt on my head to stop sun stoke on day 2. I thought she was joking….. I looked ridiculous but I was glad I did – it was even worth the strange looks from other walkers. Realising we were both scared of cows but that she was braver than me. Encouraging each other to keep going when it got really tough and we wanted to stop ..we reached our destination and we were proud of ourselves. Maybe we’ll take some time out before we plan our next one, but there will be a next one.

To sum it up – Cover up

Dressing respectfully means no short tops, short skirts, tight or body revealing clothes and be sure that shoulders and legs are covered at all times.

This is so much easier for men as they can wear what they would wear to a western wedding; trousers, shirt, tie and jacket or a formal suit for a more elaborate occasion.

For women dressing is far more fun…. And a challenge.

Our advice would be to avoid both black and white. In different areas these are traditionally associated with funerals and it’s easier to avoid them altogether.Bright colours are popular at Muslim weddings so yellows, red, orange, bright green, pink ….. the choice is yours.

If you are attending a ceremony in a mosque you will be required to remove your shoes, so think about taking some socks or knee high stocking socks.

Generally it won’t be necessary to cover your head however if the ceremony is taking place in a mosque we would suggest popping a scarf or pashmina in your bag just in case.

Dressing suggestions:

• Trouser suit with long sleeved blouse (ensure that the neckline isn’t too revealing)

• Maxi dress with sleeves – again ensure that the neck is not too revealing. Jacket or cardigan (but be prepared to keep it on throughout the day if you opt for a sleeveless dress)

• Trousers under a long sleeved dress

Add in a long coat for cooler weather, small handbag, jewellery and the very versatile must … a Pashmina and you’re ready to go.

As we get ready for my favourite time of year – summer festivals we are getting our gear together making sure we’ve got all the essentials we could possibly need. Including a pair of  wellies or boots as flip flops won’t be enough even if there’s no mud! Once the sun goes down and the damp rises funky wellies will keep us toasty warm to keep on partying. This year I haven’t decided whether to go for leaopard print or psychedlic pink.

Already bought a brand new fabulous mattress with built in pump and triple layers so no chance of deflating in the night and ending up sleeping on the ground this year! Plus new funky pink picnic chairs and picnic rug with waterproof backing…. really important when the damp rises or it’s been raining.

Packing lightweight layers will help as the temperature changes during the day, detailed festival packing list can be found at http://www.whattowearonholiday.com/holiday-wardrobe/music-festival-packing-guide.php and this is the perfect time to indulge your wacky side.

Whether you’re going away for a week or weekend, a fortnight or month, deciding what clothes to pack for your trip takes time and needs proper thought and planning. There’s nothing worse than throwing things into a suitcase in a rush before heading to the airport, or getting to your destination and realising you forgot to pack your favourite dress! In order to avoid wardrobe disappointments on your holiday, and also ensure that you take everything you need check out our destination specific advice. At www.whattowearonholiday.com

Once you’ve booked your holiday, be mindful of the weather patterns and season in your destination. I recently flew to a “wintry” South Africa from summery Europe and wish I’d brought more boots and jackets! Although the weather is mostly mild, the evenings get chilly and windy, so really do your research to determine what kind of clothes to bring and so you don’t over- or under-pack.

Travel insurance

So you’ve booked your trip and picked your outfits, but have you remembered to purchase a comprehensive http://www.essentialtravel.co.uk/travelinsurance/ policy that includes cover for baggage and valuables? Although this is considerably less glamorous than planning what accessories match your summer skirts and dresses, it’s essential for a stress-free holiday. No fashionista wants to lose their luggage which is full of new clothes and cute shoes, but if this inconvenience does befall you, at least you have a travel insurance policy to fall back on. And with the money that covers your lost belongings, you can even turn it into a good reason to go shopping.

Top baggage insurance tip: keep the receipts of all your valuables in case you have to claim on your travel policy. If your valuables are stolen, report it as soon as possible to the nearest police station.

I love going to the beach and I’m always looking for funky new ideas and this is one looks good and really does work. If you like me end up with flip flops, books, rocks and any other items you can find to keep your towel from blowing away this could be for you too.The beach towel clip is an ingenious clip made from polypropylene and comes in a handy pack of four. They snap apart and you simply push one end into the sand and the other holds down the corner of your towel in a choice of three summer colours: orange, blue and white ……. simple    http://www.thebeachtowelclip.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.product_details&product_id=1&aff_id=8&textad_id=1

The dreaded packing begins. Every year you try to plan your holiday wardrobe, remembering that you rarely wear everything you take and forget some things you had toyed with taking, but it seems no matter how many times you try it, it just won’t fit and you have to leave something behind, but it’s can’t be that pair of new shoes or the season’s must have hat. Whether you actually think you will wear them or not is irrelevant.

With baggage prices and restrictions increasing every year, it seems we are being forced to get better at packing. We are trying to get out whole holiday wardrobes into just 10kg of hand luggage, to avoid paying the extortionate baggage fees applied by some airlines. So savvy packing is becoming a fine art, hence why there are now websites devoted to it.

So, here are a few short and sweet packing tips that may just make all the difference.

Check the weather a day or two before you fly. Find out the average temperature, whether it’s going to be sunny, windy, rainy or a combination. You can then plan your outfits accordingly.

Plan out each outfit with the key trends of the season that you want to wear whilst on holiday, bearing in mind the previous point about the weather of course. There should be just three or four key looks you want to wear then for the days in between, you need to mix and match items from each trend. The only way to get this right is to try every outfit on in front of the mirror before hand.

Go for three statement pieces, which this summer should be a maxi dress or 1950s style capped sleeve shift dress, a pair of bell-bottom flares and boxy blazer. Luckily for you, this season there is a lot of cross over between styles, and the hippy chick fashions of the late 60s and early 70s seem to infiltrate every trend.

You should use accessories to differentiate these outfits. You can add a cropped denim waistcoat to the maxi for a relaxed daytime look or platformed wedges for the evening. For the flares you can wear a print t-shirt by day or tunic and floppy hat for a smarter city-chic look. The blazer can be worn with the bell-bottoms or with crisp, which denim shorts. If you chose a shift dress you can take this from day to night simply by changing your shoes from flats to platforms.

Don’t bother taking a week’s worth of individual items, mixing and matching is the only way to optimise your luggage allowance. House of Fraser has a huge selection of summer fashions including a huge range of summer dresses.