The flights are booked, the accommodation is sorted, you’re fully insured… 

Whether it’s Lisbon, Dubrovnik, Barcelona or Palma, holiday season is here and while booking flights, accommodation and travel insurance are certainly necessary precursors to jetting off on a break in one of Europe’s chicest cities, we believe that packing the perfect holiday wardrobe is just as critical to the success of the trip. 

We will shortly be launching a new Sloane Street Private Shopping service to make sure all of your wardrobe requirements can be handled by a team of professional stylists. So, we asked one of them, stylist Angie DeSouza, to put her skills to work in curating two ultimate summer city break capsule wardrobes for men and women, so that wherever you find yourself this summer, you can trust that you’ll be looking your best and be ready for whatever occasion comes your way. 

From exploring galleries and long leisurely lunches to cocktails and nights out dancing, read on for Angie’s expert advice on packing for a city break and see her Sloane Street shopping picks…

STYLIST ANGIE DESOUZA ON THE ART OF CITY BREAK CAPSULE WARDROBES

The key to any great – not just good – wardrobe is a good foundation. That’s especially true for holiday wardrobes. That’s why it’s worth investing in a timeless capsule edit. It’s those pieces that are like a best friend; the ones you can always count on, wherever you are. 

Sure, they may not be the dopamine purchases we love to love (the feathered or printed items, say), but these are the items that you will wear time and time again, whether you’re on vacation or back at home.

When it comes time for packing for a vacation, there’s something inherently chic about being able to pack lightly, knowing that you are prepared with a curated collection of versatile and timeless pieces. Items that can be mixed and matched effortlessly, ensuring you have a range of stylish ensembles for any occasion.

For women, this means sticking to a pared-down colour palette of no more than four or five colours. I like classic black, white, tan and navy, but you could try blush pink or khaki with white, beige and navy. Just keep it simple and accessorise wisely to elevate your look. 

If you’re going for a drink on the terrace at the Gritti Palace, overlooking the Grand Canal, you could team Brunello Cucinelli’s sequinned LBD with trainers or a pair of sandals for the day or heels in the evening. Wear it with the white blazer when you want to dress up or pop on the Louis Vuitton bomber for a more relaxed vibe. 

Valentino’s elegant tie-neck blouse will look great with a classic pair of Dior jeans, or tailored shorts if you’re somewhere quite warm. And gold jewellery adds a polished note at any time of day. 

Gents, it’s all about functional style and sartorial ease. A selection of wear-anywhere polo shirts will see you effortlessly segue from sand and sunshine to sundowners, and can be paired with neat Bermuda shorts, chinos or jeans.

A proper collared shirt (or two) is essential to hit the right note at dinner, and a pair of trainers in shades of white are smart enough to wear anywhere, from exploring the cobbled streets of your destination to dinner at L’Avenue in Paris. 

One other note on footwear: if you want to pack sandals, choose an elevated classic like Hermès’s Antigua espadrille (a twist on the timeless Izmir style), which will work with both your chinos and your swimwear. Avoid anything with complicated straps using velcro or made from nylon webbing (unless it’s Prada) at all costs. 

And don’t be afraid to shop from the women’s collections to find unexpected gender-neutral finishing touches. Fendi’s Astrology necklace would look great with Prada’s Breton T-shirt, or worn over the collar of a buttoned-up white shirt. 

Here are two capsule wardrobes made up of my favourite finds on Sloane Street this season. Bon voyage!