In light of Lucy William's jewellery collaboration with Missoma, which launched this week, Grazia spoke to the founder of Fashion Me Now to get the lowdown on her holiday tips, packing advice and travel essentials:
Fashion Me Now is a great destination for holiday inspiration, do you have any top tips for dressing on holiday?
While everyone thinks colour and brights when they think of summer, I think neutrals can look amazing. White cotton dresses and shirts, washed out denim, browns, tans and soft stripes are all go-tos for me. I like keeping everything a little oversized on holiday; I feel like loose shapes and easy, throw-on staples look and feel so much more laidback than tight or strappy dresses.
I also love anything off the shoulder or backless - the kind of things you don't get to wear that much at home maybe. For me, the most important thing on holiday is to feel relaxed and let that come across through the way you dress. I always take a selection or soft leather and braided belts to tie round things to make dresses more relaxed and vintage denim jackets to thrown on at night.
What are your travel essentials?
My Olympus Pen camera, sunglasses from Rayban and Toms, a big pile of bikinis, a straw or raffia basket for the beach, leather slides and lace-up espadrilles, dresses and tops from Faithfull the Brand, vintage Levis cut-offs and plenty of SPF and aftersun. I also load up on podcasts and books I want to catch up on – airports and planes are so much nicer when you have something to immerse yourself in.
Can you share any packing tips with us?
I'm a roller through and through, apart from jackets which I lie flat on top of everything. I'm a chronic overpacker and have had to pay excess luggage charges far more times than I'd like to admit! But when I have time beforehand to prepare a bit, I'm always more organised. Laying everything out a few days ahead of time and slowly taking things away is a great way to truly assess what you want with you and thinking in threes is a good way to start.
So for a week, three dresses, three trousers, three skirts etc etc is a good way to be succinct in your packing – just make sure your threes go together and work as outfits. I always check the weather before I go to try and plan too – make sure to check the temperature in the evening as it can drop a lot so it might be more jeans than skimpy dresses and you don't want to spend every evening freezing.
Are there any items you take away with you to create that 'home from home' feeling when you're travelling?
This Works Deep Sleep Pillow Spray makes anywhere smell like home and then a silk eye mask and ear plugs means I can zone out wherever I am. Cashmere socks and a favourite hoodie always come with me too and make long flights so much more comfortable.
Do you have a favourite holiday moment?
Seeing tigers in the wild on safari in Rajasthan, India was a real highlight. There are so many little great memories though; swimming at dawn in Spain, dancing in a castle in Croatia, cycling round Isla Holbox in Mexico, scootering around Spetses in Greece and bodyboarding in Sri Lanka are all up there.
What rituals do you have when you're travelling or before you set off on holiday?
I always buy at least one bikini before I go – it just gets me so excited and I'm a little bit addicted to swimwear. A bit of fake tan really helps with those first few days on the beach too and I inevitably regret it if I forget to do before I go; I like Herbivore Botanicals scrub followed by James Read Overnight Sleep Mask or L'Oreal Sublime Bronze.
I always wear zero makeup when I fly and use a good facial oil or moisturiser on a long haul flight. Caudlie's face spritz is amazing too and I always take a big bottle of water and a few snacks like popcorn and fruit help keep me going too.
What key pieces form your holiday wardrobe essentials?
Vintage denim is always in my suitcase, both as cut-off Levis that I've had forever or ripped jeans that are great to wear out in the evenings with silk spaghetti tops or embroidered shirts. I love loose shirt dresses for heading to the beach too, the sort of things that are easy to pull on and off and don't feel uncomfortable in the heat.
I'm not really a flipflop person but take loads of leather slides, lace-up sandals and espadrilles for both day and night. I'd be lost without a Hamman towel or white Kikoy too to take to the beach and wrap round you if you want to go and grab a drink, and always take a big straw hat by Lack of Colour or Janessa Leone with me.
You're known for layering delicate pieces, like your jewellery collection with Missoma. How do you do holiday accessorising?
When we designed the original Lucy Williams X Missoma collection, it definitely had summer in mind – Brooke Shields in Blue Lagoon was a big feature on our moodboard! I love gold hoops with a bit of a tan on holiday so that was one of the first things we designed along with the large horn necklace.
I love fine chains that just shimmer a bit on hot skin and wanted lots of fine pieces that could be mixed and matched. I like jewellery that has a bit of a bohemian spirit but is still refined and minimal, the sort of pieces that you rarely take off but can add colourful market-finds to when you're travelling somewhere.
What are your favourite pieces from your Lucy Williams x Missoma and Lucy Williams x North Star charity collection?
I love all of the necklaces and wear them non-stop, especially the long pendant and star necklaces layered up together. I feel like rose gold looks amazing on every skin tone and is softer, and more flattering than yellow gold or silver sometimes. The large bobble hoops are a real favourite of mine too. Anything bobbled basically!
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