Case study shows packing light for a holiday is the way to go

As holiday season gets in full swing, packing that perfect suitcase is key. I have a stylist friend who recently dragged two gigantic cases to Paris Fashion Week. One case for her shoes and the other for clothes.

Yes, she might have looked better than the rest, but the thought of changing outfits between shows or stumbling on the cobblestones in my heeled Jimmy Choos has made me a pragmatist. It's paid off. My last holiday was two glorious weeks in Italy and Croatia and the only suitcase I took was a carry on.

I rolled my single Longchamp 50cm by 40 cm by 25cm case smugly past friends who I'd joined in Capri - friends who all had giant trunks filled with clothes, shoes and God knows what else - this was a fashion crowd after all.

The wonderful thing about being low maintenance on your holidays means there is less to fuss about when you could be having fun. You don't have to sacrifice style, either. No one wants to be in flip flops and a

T-shirt at a chic restaurant surrounded by folk sniffing at the traveller. There are tips to staying stylish yet lightweight when travelling, meaning that you won't have to forgo the floating evening dress, but won't stress about lugging your entire wardrobe around.

Brands such as American Vintage, COS, See by Chloé and T by Alexander Wang easily take care of the comfortable basics: casual mini dresses with a bit of a ruffle or cut-out, tanks tops and floaty knee skirts. Fabrics matter, so choose things suitable for your destination: lightweight and soft for hot, tropical destinations - and nothing that requires dry cleaning. Remember to tick off wardrobe staples you'll need depending on the nature of the trip; the striped dress or top, the flattering black shorts and denim cut offs are generally good calls for warm climates where there will be some physical activity involved. Don't forget the easy printed strappy top that you can dress up or down.