Capsule wardrobe for travel

Ready for your next big adventure? Even when we’re super organised, packing a holiday wardrobe can be a last-minute whirlwind.

    1. We polled 2,000 Brits for some inspiration on how to pack smart without compromising on style.
    2. On average, holidaymakers spend £135.20 on their travel wardrobe. The biggest spenders are people in Glasgow (£164,).
    3. People return from holiday with an average of 2 outfits they never actually wore.
    4. Over a quarter (28% ) of holidaymakers (and 54% of 25-34 year-olds) have paid extra luggage fees at airports.
    5. More than three-quarters (76%) of Gen Z (16-24) say they consider social media when packing their holiday outfits.
    6. More than a quarter of Londoners (26%) say they ‘pack double’ just in case, while Bristolians are most likely (26%) to pack two outfits (day and evening).


Packing pressure is real

Prepping for a holiday is always exciting. But once you’ve planned the itinerary and sussed out the food scene, there’s the small matter of packing your bags. And let’s be honest – squeezing our life’s possessions (and a grand piano) into one suitcase is no simple task. When it comes to packing for a big trip, our respondents said their top challenges were remembering everything they need (33%), fitting it all into one bag (30%), and choosing outfits that work for multiple occasions (23%). As we plan an unforgettable holiday, those packing essentials are easy to…well, forget. But as our survey shows, we don’t all have the same packing priorities.

    1. 27% of females told us their biggest challenge is choosing outfits for multiple occasions, compared to 19% of males.
    2. Younger holidaymakers are more wardrobe conscious. 31% of Gen Z (16-24 year olds) said choosing outfits is their biggest packing struggle, compared to 16% of Baby Boomers (55+ year olds).
    3. Cardiff was the capital of forgetting holiday essentials (47%) compared to 23% of people in Bristol.


Are baggage charges starting to bite?

Once you’ve packed your clothes, zipped the travel docs and flip-flopped over whether to take sandals or slippers, you’re good to go. But hang on: that travel bag looks WAY too tight. And for many travellers, those pesky luggage fees are lurking around the corner. In fact, 28% of people admitted they’ve had to cough up for extra luggage at the airport, with 10% saying it’s happened more than once. On the flip side, 51% pride themselves on packing within the limit, while 9% avoid the issue entirely by sticking to hand luggage only.

Across the generations, younger millennials (25-34-year-olds) were the most likely (54%) to have paid extra for their excess baggage. In fact, a quarter (25%) of this age group said they’ve paid these fees more than once.

But change is afoot, as the EU are introducing a guaranteed minimum size for under-seat bags – 40cm by 30cm by 15cm – which has led airlines like Ryanair to increase their free carry-on limit volume by 20%. Could the days of fretting about that metal baggage sizer be over?


The price of packing

The big squeeze comes at a cost, but few of us are letting our bag become a drag. Holidaymakers told us they spend an average of £135.20 on their holiday wardrobe.

Whether we’re looking for beach dresses, men’s summer clothes or maybe some designer sunglasseson our holiday wardrobe. holiday wardrobe.

    1. Glaswegians spend the most on average (£164) on their travel wardrobe.
    2. Younger millennials (25-35 year-olds) are the biggest spenders by age – £191 on average – while Gen Z (16-24) were just behind on £151. Baby boomers (55+) spend the least on their holiday wardrobe – £100 on average.
    3. Meanwhile, males typically spend more than females on their holiday wardrobe – £148 versus £123.


No substitute for style

Even if we’ve perfected packing down to a fine art, going ‘small’ can still be stylish. Many of the holidaymakers we spoke to will go the extra mile to look great – both online and offline. Around 40% consider social media when planning their holiday outfits, with 15% carefully curating looks they want to post, and 25% doing so if they know they’ll be taking photos.

    1. Almost half (49%) the males we spoke to said they factor in social media when packing their holiday outfits, compared to 32% of females.
    2. More than three-quarters (76%) of Gen Z holiday packers said they take social media into account. In contrast, 7% of Baby Boomers think about social media.
    3. Regionally, people in Greater London were the most likely (66%) to be influenced by social media in their packing decisions, while the South East and Wales had the highest response for ‘no’ (71%).


Every inch counts

Whether we’re stuffing a suitcase or filling a backpack to the brim, it’s nice to have our creature comforts while on the move. We asked people how they make sure they’re packing not just light, but right.
It turns out packing strategies vary: 24% say they re-wear and rotate key pieces, while 19% go for two outfits a day – one for daytime, one for evening. Others take a more flexible approach, with 18% admitting there’s no real method to their packing, and 15% packing one outfit per day. Another 15% prefer to play it safe and pack double – just in case.

    1. Females were more likely than males (29% to 19%) to say they re-wear and rotate key outfits. Baby boomers were the most likely (30%) age group to do the same.
    2. More than a quarter of Londoners (26%) say they ‘pack double’ just in case.
    3. Bristol was the city with the highest rate of respondents (26%) who said they pack two outfits (day and evening).


How to pack like a pro

Whether you’re travelling by plane, train, or just chucking bags in the boot, packing properly is squeezier than you think. Think carefully about what you’ve got planned, and which items you’ll actually wear. On a typical holiday, travellers told us they return with 2 outfits that never saw the light of day. For younger millennials, this was even higher – an average of 2.36 outfits they never wore. Ready to fly, fly away? In the race for bag space, here are some ways you can ace it.

    1. Make a list. Decide what’s essential, and what’s a nice-to-have.
    2. Roll with it. Instead of folding clothes, try rolling them. Less wrinkles, more room!
    3. Minimise. Travel-sized toothpaste and toiletries are your friend.
    4. Use shoes. They’re ideal for stuffing items like socks and underwear.
    5. Plan ahead. Keep a smidgen of space in your bag for any treats you might buy on your travels! And if your current suitcase isn’t quite up to the task, it might be time for an upgrade, explore our quality luggage options.