If You Want An Expensive-Looking Holiday Wardrobe, Make Sure To Pack These
The summer season is here, and I only have one thing on my mind: the sun-soaked getaways I booked earlier this year, and, more significantly, the outfits I’ll be wearing. For 2026, I want a holiday capsule wardrobe that’s wearable, easy to mix and match, and, most importantly, looks designer. But as someone with a luxury taste on a very high-street budget, I know I’ll have to work a little harder to make the pieces I invest in for my upcoming travels look polished, put-together, and more expensive than their affordable price tags.
For summer 2026, I’m all about elevated elegance—the kind of pieces that can be dressed down for a casual day exploring the town, then taken seamlessly into a fancy evening dinner with a few simple swaps. And after what feels like hundreds of hours scrolling online, I’ve collated a simple list of the thirteen staples I’ll be packing on my holidays this year. Think classic yet elevated basics that feel fresh for summer 2026, but are also guaranteed to last me for many years to come.
And the best part? I’ve rounded them up below, so that you, too, can follow my 13-piece holiday packing list on a high-street budget. Keep scrolling to see and shop the 13 rich-looking pieces that are making the foundations of my 2026 summer holiday capsule wardrobe.
13 Affordable Staples You'll Find On My 2026 Holiday Packing List
1. Throw-On Dress
Style notes: Dress season is finally upon us, and an easy, throw-on style that you can take from day to night with ease is a holiday must-have. Simply swap out your flip-flops and raffia tote for a pair of kitten heels and a statement clutch.
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Shop the Staple:
ZARA
Flowing Halter Dress
You can never go wrong with an LBD.
hush
Maris Linen Blend Mini Dress
Wear with sandals, ballet flats or kitten heels.
H&M
Linen-Blend Halterneck Dress
No one will believe this is from the high street.
2. Tank Top
Style notes: A tank top acts as the base layer for so many of my warm-weather outfits, and in my opinion, the high street has plenty of options that look just as expensive as their luxury counterparts.
Shop the Staple:
COS
Ribbed Cotton Tank Top
COS' tank tops come editor-approved.
This will go with everything.
I'd style this with white linen trousers and suede flip-flops.
3. Linen Trousers
Style notes: Breezy linen trousers serve me well all season long, but they especially come into their own on holiday, when I can use them to throw over my swimsuits or pair with an elegant blouse and sandals.
Shop the Staple:
COS
Tailored Linen Balloon-Leg Trousers
A pair polished enough for a formal evening out.
pull&bear
Wide-Leg 100% Linen Trousers
An easy throw-on style is perfect for days by the pool.
H&M
Wide Linen-Blend Trousers
This chocolate brown hue makes for a nice point of difference from black.
4. Sandals
Style notes: It’s toes out season! And the high street is filled to the brim with a myriad of designer-looking sandals this year, from classic styles that will never date to on-trend iterations that rival any luxury find.
Shop the Staple:
ZARA
Crossover Flat Leather Sandals
These sell out every year.
M&S
Leather Ankle Strap Flatform Toe Post Sandals
These look like so many designer options on the market right now.
Two-tone flip-flops are having a moment.
5. Button-Up Shirt
Style notes: A button-up shirt will serve you well this summer, whether worn thrown over a bikini or paired with some breezy shorts. Instead of the more fitted silhouettes I opt for at home, I’m turning to more relaxed iterations that give my holiday outfits an effortlessly chic, off-duty vibe.
