What I'm Travelling With This Summer

This post is partly sponsored by SURI

I’m heading to France in a few weeks for my annual summer getaway. My husband and I are taking our car over on the ferry and doing a road trip, so I’ve been thinking about a) what I can take that won’t fill up too much of the boot (we’ll need that room for the French delicacies we’ll bring back), and b) what will serve me for multiple destinations around the country.

I’ll be honest, my summer packing list doesn’t differ too much year-to-year, except for maybe a few tweaks depending on where I’m headed. And this year (like most), I’m all about ease: beauty products that are excellent at what they do but don’t take a genius to figure out, big shirts that double as cover-ups, clothes that can be easily paired with others, and shoes that work for everything.

Beauty

SURI toothbrush

I’ve been a SURI user for a couple of years now and, honestly, I don’t think I’ll ever go back. Firstly, they look good: sleek, slim designs, colours that go beyond the usual white, and a magnetic mirror mount that keeps things neat and mess-free (no wires and gunk gathering, thank you).

Secondly, the clean it gives is exceptional. And thirdly, it’s great to travel with. It comes with a travel case that doubles as a charger when plugged in (if I need it — the battery lasts for at least a month), and has a UV-C light that cleans the brush of 99.9% bacteria in one minute.

It’s the toothbrush I recommend to all my friends. And now you can get 15% off any SURI order with code ANGHARAD. Shop SURI here.

Cadence bottles and travel bag

I used to pack full bottles of shampoo, conditioner, body lotion… you name it. This alone would take up most of the space in my suitcase (and weigh a tonne), so now I decant everything into small travel bottles, even when I’m not restricted by aeroplane liquid allowance. This kit from Cadence is one of the best I’ve found. The bottles (or ‘capsules’) are magnetic, modular, and interchangeable, so you can change up the size as needed. It also comes with a toiletries bag that fits them perfectly.

SPF

It goes without saying, but finding one you really like can be easier said than done. I like this one from Ultra Violette for the face — it also acts as a primer, so it’s good under makeup — and Merit’s tinted SPF when I want a little colour. For the body, this SPF50 oil from Coco & Eve helps fight signs of ageing, boosts your natural tan, and smells delicious.

Fragrance

I’m not really a floral perfume kind of person, but I still love seasonal perfumes that smell like summer. Beauty Pie’s Le Smash Santal has notes of almond, tonka bean, and sandalwood, and is very good value. It also comes in a discovery set, if you want to try it out before committing to a full bottle.

Easy makeup

The last thing I want on my face in summer is a lot of makeup that slowly and surely melts into my hairline or pools at my chin. I want quick fixes that do the job, stay put, and aren’t so much of a faff that they eat into precious aperitivo time. Here are a few of my go-tos:

• Jones Road face pencil. An easy concealer for covering up blemishes, redness, etc. I wear shade 6. I use this one under the eyes

• Merit’s the Minimalist. Lighter than a foundation, more substantial than a concealer, and very easy to apply. Perfect

• Jones Road lip pencil. I fill in my whole lips with nude rose, which is very close to my natural colour, only more pigmented. I add a bit of Sonsie lip balm on top, and it hardly budges

• Laura Mercier translucent setting powder. Because let’s face it, it’s about to get shiny around here

Clothing

Linen everything

Linen’s durable, it’s natural, and it has great breathability. What’s not to love? Most of my summer suitcase is packed with big linen shirts, dresses, trousers, and tops. And when they inevitably get a bit creased? That just shows they’ve been lived in. For my top 19 brands that do linen very well, cast your eyes here.

A sarong/pareo

I bought this from Etsy last summer and wore it a lot. It was about £16, so a real steal (allow a week or two for shipping, as it comes from India). It’s 72 x 44 inches, so there’s plenty of fabric to play around with — I wore it mostly over swimwear, but I also wore it as a skirt with a loose linen shirt or T-shirt.

Easy co-ords

I’m a big fan of a co-ord. It’s the ultimate ‘no thought needed’ outfit, a real saviour on hot days, and it always has high impact. Plus, you can wear them as separates just as easily. I’d wear the above skirt with a simple tank, while the T-shirt looks great tucked into the waistband of these linen trousers*.

Boxer shorts

It took me a long time to find a style of shorts I liked wearing, and a couple of summers ago, I finally found The One: the boxer short. They have a cut that is loose on the leg without being baggy, and a length that is short enough to be leg-lengthening without having to worry that I’m flashing my bum cheeks. Plus, they’re just very easy to wear. WNU’s are my favourite, and come in lots of different colours.

Accessories

Raffia bag/basket

Essentially, the only bags I take away on a summer holiday because they’re so useful, robust, and go with everything. I’m a bit of a loyalist to this basket (I think this is my fourth summer with it), but this raffia bag comes in at a close second due to its size and unstructured flexibility.

Straw hat

I don’t spend a hot, sunny day without a straw hat if I can help it; give me sun safety over sun damage any day. I love this one from Lack of Color for its wide brims and cotton neck tie that helps keep it in place on breezy days — plus, it comes in varying sizes, which is excellent news if your head is smaller or larger (guilty) than average.

Jewellery

Chunky bangles, colourful beads, cord necklaces… I’ll always take a few pieces of organic, summer-centric jewellery that I can wear with all the clothing I’ve packed. I got this anklet last summer and barely took it off, so I’ll be bringing it out again this year. I’ve got my eye on this string of red beads, too, as well as this tortoiseshell hair clip for throwing my hair up poolside.

Footwear

Wear with everything sandals

Shoes can be some of the bulkiest items in a suitcase, so I like to pack a few pairs that can do a lot of heavy lifting. Comfortable enough to be worn all day and night, and versatile enough in design that they go with everything. These A. Emery sandals are it for me, but I also get a lot of wear out of these classic fisherman sandals.

Flip-flops

Yes, I know, hardly revolutionary. But they are useful, and I’m not just talking about any old flimsy rubber flip-flop here. I’m talking proper arch support for those of us in our 30s (and above), who spent our formative years in extremely inappropriate footwear. I’ll be packing my go-to pair from FitFlop, but I’ve also heard good things about Archies, so I’m considering a pair in another colour.

Swimwear

Another obvious one, but hey, it’s a must for this Pisces. I wrote a big guide to swimwear here (think briefs that cover your bum, one-pieces for long torsos, bikinis that don’t dig in, etc.), but for speed, here are my top brands for swim:

• Left On Friday

• JETS Australia

• Matteau

• Youswim

I haven’t tried it, but the Eres Asia swimsuit got high praise in my subscriber chat.

Misc.

Clothing care

I’ve had this Steamery steamer for a good few years now and use it on an almost daily basis. It’s a gentler way to remove wrinkles from fabric and helps lift any odours from your clothes, cutting down on washing and helping your pieces last longer.

Another Day from byMATTER is a bio-active fabric freshener that contains probiotics that neutralise odour-causing bacteria (rather than merely masking them like other fabric fresheners). I use it when travelling to revive clothing that’s been worn a few times — or spent too long at the bottom of my suitcase.

Fan

Small airports. Airbnbs with no air con. A little handheld fan is a necessity, baby, and because I’m old school (and like pretty things), I’ll be packing this emerald green bamboo fan I found on Etsy. Cool and chic.

Any items marked with * have been gifted by brands. All thoughts, picks and reviews are my own.

This post contains some affiliate links. If you buy something through those links, I’ll earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.