Actually it's a combination of annual leave and a celebration of a major birthday - I won't tell you which one. But suffice to say as I rushed home last night to wash, and clean my clothes and sort out my suitcase it occurred to me how hard it actually is to "capsule pack" as we in the business like to call it - or maybe that's just me?

Anyway, there I was in the middle of a Sydney winter hauling out all my Summer clothes to make sure they were stain-free and still fitted - I had intended to do a bit of a de-tox to slim down of course, but that's for another blog - when I realised the degree of difficulty I was facing.

Packing at any time can be hard work, but packing in the middle of winter for a High-Summer holiday is just horrendous.

So as I was getting out my third pair of jeans - black, denim, white (as you do) and trying to work out how many pairs of heels I needed, if any, it occurred to me that I wasn't paying attention to my own advice. I was over-packing in a big way and with luggage limitations being what they are these days it was sheer stupidity.

So seriously, here is what you need for a week's summer holiday - you can take my advice or ignore it at your peril but at least I know I wont' have a repeat of last Summer's holiday where I lugged a 30kg bag up 54 steep stone stairs in Croatia and only wore a swimsuit and a sundress the entire time!

Packing for fun in the sun (safely of course)

First things first - keep your main pieces neutral with blacks/beiges and whites and add colour in your tops or dresses

• 1 x Black full -piece swimsuit - ok, you can include a bikini as well if you want as they don't weigh much
• 1 x Black shorts - length to suit your shape
• 1 x Denim jeans or light weight trousers
• 1 x A gorgeous sarong - embellished if you have as it will double for a beach evening out
• 2 x Long-sleeved floaty shirts that can be worn with shorts for day or jeans and jewellery at night
• 4 x tees or singlets - simple block colours or neutrals are best
• 2 x Summer dresses
• 1 x light weight casual jacket - you can dress it up with a belt for evening if it turns cool
• 1 x Light weight cardi
• 1 x Light weight pashmina - I don't care what they say these never go out of fashion and are fabulous travelling companions
• 1 x Kaftan or beach cover-up - this can double as a dress with a belt for evening
• 1 x Pair of espadrilles - my fave travelling shoes as they can be teamed with a pretty dress for evening, worn with shorts in the day or give jeans a
• 1 x Non-crushable beach hat - the bigger the better
• 1 x Pair of jewelled or detailed flats
• 2 x Belts - simple tan or beige for day and a more dressy embellished style for night
• 1 x Beach bag - that doubles as day bag
• 1 x Evening bag

And that truly is all you'll need. Of course, I'll probably throw in an extra thing or two - but hey I'm the one carrying the suitcase.

Speak to you when I get back

Lee-Anne

What item can you not live without when you go on holiday? Share with other New Idea readers below