Packing for a holiday used to feel like a logistical nightmare. Now I genuinely enjoy it, because I've worked out a system that means I take less, spend less, and never feel like I've got nothing to wear.

The best example of this was a week in Portugal where my husband and I each took just a backpack. No hold luggage, no Ryanair baggage fees, no waiting at the carousel. Just a backpack each and we had everything we needed for a week in the sun. It's absolutely doable if you plan it properly - and if you're new to the capsule wardrobe concept, the basic principle is simple: fewer, more versatile pieces that all work together. You don't need bulky layers, thick coats or scarves. A capsule wardrobe for a sunny week away can be remarkably compact.

Here's how I put together a holiday wardrobe that works without spending a lot.

What is a capsule wardrobe?

A capsule wardrobe is a small, carefully chosen collection of clothes where everything works together. The idea is that by sticking to complementary colours and versatile pieces, you can create multiple outfits from very few items. For a holiday, this means packing less, spending less and never staring into a suitcase wondering what to wear.

My actual summer holiday packing list

For a week-long summer holiday abroad, this is genuinely all I need:

• 2-3 t-shirts or vests (I find vests last longer between washes than t-shirts in the heat - if you want to pack even lighter, swapping t-shirts for vests entirely is a good move as they take up less space and tend to feel fresher for longer)
• A dress or two that can be dressed up or down
• 2 pairs of shorts
• 1-2 pairs of lightweight cropped wide-leg trousers
• 3 bikinis or swimsuits
• 1 cardigan for cooler evenings
• Sandals
• A pair of comfortable pumps
• Aqua shoes
• Sunglasses

That's it. Everything is mix and match, everything works together, and it all fits in a backpack if the colours are neutral or complementary.

I once fit my entire week's summer holiday clothes into this backpack, along with my toiletries, electronics, snacks and books!

Stick to a colour palette

The secret to making a capsule wardrobe actually work is colour. If your clothes all work in the same palette - neutrals like white, cream, beige, tan and black, or a simple two-colour scheme you love - then everything goes with everything. You're not packing outfit combinations, you're packing individual pieces that combine freely.

I aim for pieces where the tops work with both pairs of shorts and both pairs of trousers, and where the dress can be worn with sandals in the day and pumps in the evening. Once you've got that principle in your head, packing light becomes much easier.

Budget your holiday wardrobe before you buy anything

Before spending anything on new holiday clothes, go through what you already own. You'll almost certainly have more suitable pieces than you think. I have a lot of clothes already and rarely need to buy anything new for a holiday - usually only if something has worn out or broken.

If you do need to add pieces, decide on a budget before you shop and stick to it. A few well-chosen items in versatile colours will serve you far better than a bigger haul of mismatched pieces.

Buy secondhand first

Secondhand is always my first stop before buying new. You can find brilliant holiday pieces - sundresses, linen trousers, sandals, bikinis - in charity shops, on eBay, Vinted or Depop for a fraction of the new price. Buying preloved is also much better for the environment, which matters to me. The same approach works for building any seasonal wardrobe.

If you do buy new, look for quality basics in neutral tones that you'll wear beyond the holiday rather than something very trend-specific that you'll only wear once.

Vests instead of t-shirts to save space

This is a specific tip but worth considering. Vests tend to last longer between washes than t-shirts, especially in the heat - they feel fresher for longer and pack down smaller. I usually take t-shirts but if you want to pack as light as possible, swapping to vests only is a good way to save space. They can also be worn under a cardigan in the evening, so they work just as hard with fewer items.

Packing light is easier for summer holidays abroad

One thing worth saying: packing a true capsule wardrobe is much easier for a warm weather holiday abroad than for a UK break or anything with unpredictable weather. When you know it's going to be warm and sunny, you're not packing "just in case" layers, boots and a rain jacket. The certainty of the weather is what makes the backpack-only approach actually viable.

For UK holidays or anything where weather is uncertain, you'll need to add more layers - but even then, the mix-and-match principle still reduces what you need significantly.

Here's everything I fit in my backpack for a week in Portugal!

How to avoid hold luggage costs

If you're flying with a budget airline like Ryanair or easyJet, avoiding hold luggage can save a significant amount - often £30-50 per person each way. For a family of four, that's potentially £200+ saved just on bags.

The key is choosing the right bag. Most budget airlines allow one small cabin bag per person (under the seat, not the overhead locker) for free, but the dimensions are strict. Measure your bag before you pack and check the specific airline's current rules. If everything in your capsule wardrobe is lightweight and compact, fitting a week's worth of clothes into an underseat bag is genuinely achievable in warm weather. For more ways to keep holiday costs down, see my money saving travel tips.

You don't need to buy a new outfit for every holiday

This is something I feel strongly about. The culture of buying a whole new holiday wardrobe before every trip is expensive, wasteful and completely unnecessary. The clothes you wore last summer will work just as well this summer. Trends in holiday wear barely move from year to year. A good sundress, a pair of linen trousers, a bikini - these are not trend items. They don't go out of style.

Buy less, choose well, and your holiday wardrobe will serve you for years rather than one trip.