How I pack, by Nicky Zimmermann
As one of the founders of Australian beach and resort-wear brand Zimmermann, NICKY ZIMMERMANN knows how to plan an idyllic vacation spot – and the Greek island of Hydra, with its scattering of stone mansions and monasteries and little else, is the ideal destination. Here, she shares her packing tips for a chic escape
Try on outfits in advance
“I want to be relaxed on vacation and be able to get ready in five minutes. I don’t want to be worrying about what I’m wearing; I just want to be having fun! So I have a packing routine now and I start laying things out a few days before I leave. I think strategically about what I need: if I know I have to sit in a car for a couple of hours I’ll make sure I’ve got tracksuit pants and a cashmere sweater; if I’m flying, I’ll wear my Acne sneakers that have Velcro straps so that it’s easy to put them on and take them off. I also try all my outfits on – I used to find that I would be getting to places having taken things that looked awful on me or that didn’t fit, so I edit those out in advance.”
Layer your suitcase
“I’m a really organized packer – I’m a Virgo so it makes total sense. Often when I travel I’m going to multiple destinations or combining a work trip with a vacation, so I’ll roll everything and pack it all in layers in my suitcase according to where I’m going to be and what I’m going to need. It means that I can easily pull out the things I need when I arrive and it won’t look like there’s been a hurricane in my hotel room. My husband calls it the luggage cake – he’s always amazed at how much I can pull out of one suitcase.”
Don’t under-pack
“What you pack on vacation is so much a part of making your time away great. If I don’t feel like I have the right dress on or the right hat, I’m really annoyed. I take lots of different flat sandals and a selection of silk georgette dresses that I can roll up – they take up no space at all so you can take a lot. I always pack a couple of white cotton broderie anglaise pieces, usually a skirt and a dress; I quite like wearing a masculine, boxy T-shirt with the skirt, and either piece works for day or dinner. I always pack a selection of different scarves, lots of jewelry and at least three hats. I come from Australia so I know the importance of protecting your face from the sun.”
Be open to the unexpected
“Swimwear is such a personal thing and, for most people, wearing it is the closest to nude you get in public, so you really want to get it right. You have to try at least ten swimsuits to get the one that’s perfect, and I’ve learned over the years that I can be surprised about what will actually look good on me. Make sure you try at least three or four that are outside of your comfort zone, that you think are too low-cut or in a color that you really like but would never normally wear. You might find that you feel good in something unexpected.”
Always have a back-up
“I live in fear of losing my luggage, so I pack mini versions of literally all the cosmetics that I usually need in my carry-on, as well as a change of underwear and socks and, if I’m going somewhere sunny, I’ll have a dress and swimsuit in there too.”
Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize
“If I’m on a long-haul flight then I’ll put a face mask on before I get off the plane. That way I can freshen up before I have to see somebody or do something; a 14-hour flight can be very hard on my skin. A beautician told me to put moisturizer or face oil on and layer the mask over the top, and I find that this makes it more effective.”
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