Packing for a UK holiday means an outfit for every possible weather forecast and every type of activity planned. As a chronic overpacker anyway, this means I often take a full suitcase of clothes which equates to about a third of my wardrobe, yet only get around to wearing 10-15 outfits. Every year I promise myself I’ll pack less the following year, but this year I think is the most I’ve ever taken on our annual Cornish getaway.
I thought I’d create a post rounding up pretty much everything I wore whilst away on holiday, so as to serve up some holiday styling inspiration for you guys, but also act as a reminder for me when it comes to packing next year, too.
I knew I’d want a mixture of comfortable and stylish outfits, so I went for several old faithfuls and a few new pieces this year. Some outfits were packed with events in mind, while others were very much thrown in as ‘just in case’ options. From days in quaint towns and vineyard tours, to beach outings to evening dinners, here’s what I wore for 10 days in Newquay and where you can shop them.
Dress – Damson Madder, Sandals – FatFace, Bag – Marks and Spencer, Sunglasses – Amazon
Our first day of the holiday always sees us head into town to scout out any new haunts and see what’s changed. We’ve been holidaying in Newquay for over 20 years so have seen its high street change so much, and I always love to try out the latest coffee shop offerings. As it was on the cooler side of the weather forecast, I reached for the longer sleeve of my Damson Madder dress, which I bagged on Vinted, with my leather FatFace sandals (now on sale) and my trusty M&S crossbody to keep essentials close at hand. The sunglasses were a last minute panic order but ended up being my most worn pair of the holiday.
Skirt – Marks and Spencer, Top – Shein, Shoes – ASOS, Bag – Marks and Spencer
Padstow’s picturesque harbour town is filled with pretty pastel buildings so it very much called for something light and airy. I went for my white cotton midi skirt from M&S and paired it with a cornflower blue top with tie shoulder detail from Shein. To add a pop of pattern, I wore leopard print ballet flats from ASOS which I got for £10 on Vinted (a steal, seeing as they’re real leather), finishing the look with the same M&S crossbody but in tan.
Jeans – PrettyLittleThing, Top – Stradivarius, Blazer – PrettyLittleThing, Shoes – Adidas
Exploring the National Trust’s Trerice and later hitting the Cave activity bar required an outfit that was both stylish and practical for the cold, drizzly day. My PLT jeans with embroidered bow detailing were the perfect choice, paired with a cherry print baby tee from Stradivarius. I layered on a PLT houndstooth blazer from Molly Mae’s collection for warmth, while my Adidas Samba OGs kept the look nice and casual.
Dress – FatFace, Shoes – H&M
For a vineyard tour, I wanted something classic yet comfortable, and this red linen dress from FatFace was perfect. It was breathable and chic, making it ideal for a day of wine tasting under the sun. I love the back detail on this dress and the fact it has pockets, which is why it makes its way into the case year after year. I completed the outfit with black ballet flats from H&M, which are very much the IT shoe of 2024.
Dress – Amazon, Shoes – Pull and Bear
Dinner out called for something a bit more glamorous. I’d been after a slinky bandeau dress for weeks ahead of my holiday and couldn’t find one in a colour, style or fabric I liked until stumbling across this one on Amazon. This dress cost me around £15 and felt luxurious yet effortless. To make it feel more glam, I paired it with heeled flip flops from Pull and Bear for an understated finish to my evening ensemble – though truth be told these did give me some quite bad blisters.
Skirt – Primark, T-shirt – Vantastic, Gilet – Damson Madder, Bandana – Amazon, Sunglasses – Amazon, Sandals – Merrell
For a day spent on Fistral Beach, I went for a more layered look. While sunny, everyone knows it can still get a bit chilly by the sea, so I wanted a look where I could take off/put on layers depending on the temperature throughout the day. I went for this orange skirt from Primark, paired with a cream t-shirt from Vantastic, which I’d picked up in town the day before. I layered with a Damson Madder leopard print gilet for some added warmth and pattern contrast, completing the look with an orange bandana necktie, my retro Amazon sunglasses and Merrell walking sandals, which are, without fail, the most comfortable shoes I own and can withstand some serious mileage.
Top – Shein, Skirt – Neon Rose, Shoes – Adidas, Bag – Shein
Another beach day, another colourful outfit. This time we visited Towan Beach and I love the little beach huts here, so I went for a bright look to match. I wore a pink Margarita top from Shein and a Neon Rose gingham skirt with rainbow rik rak detailing, which I found on Vinted. The red and pink Adidas Spezials tied the look together, along with a red woven shoulder bag, also from Shein, making this outfit perfect for another sunny seaside day.
Swimsuit – River Island, Trousers – Stradivarius, Shirt – Damson Madder, Shoes – Adidas, Bag – TikTok
For an afternoon lounging by the pool, I kept things relaxed but colour coordinated. My Adidas SL72s are my current go-to trainer and I love the brown and yellow tones in it. I paired these with a brown one-shoulder swimsuit from River Island and cream linen trousers from Stradivarius for easy post-swim style. I threw on a yellow oversized Damson Madder shirt (another Vinted find) to keep the sun off, finished with a leopard tote bag from TikTok shop.
Top – Shein, Jeans – PrettyLittleThing, Heels – Lula Leek, Bag – Shein
For a date night out at The Headland Hotel with Jake, I re-wore my bow detail jeans from PrettyLittleThing, which are some of the best-fitting, soft and comfortable jeans I’ve ever owned, plus the embroidered detail really makes them stand out. I dressed them up with a leopard bandeau top from Shein, some biscuit-coloured open-toe heels, and my red woven bag from Shein for a pop of colour.
Skirt – Damson Madder, T-shirt – Shein, Bag – Shein, Shoes – Adidas, Scrunchie – Shop Oeuvre
On my final day, I kept things casual with a graphic tee from Shein featuring a fish and chips print, which feels very fitting for a seaside break. I paired it with a leopard print skirt from Damson Madder and a blue bubble bag from Shein, while Adidas Sambas and an oversized scrunchie from Shop Oeuvre tied the whole look together for a perfect day of exploring the town once more before heading home.
Whether you’re exploring a new city or enjoying a day at the beach, I hope these outfit ideas inspire your next holiday wardrobe!
