Sunlight in a Suitcase: How to Pack for an Endless Summer Escape
Packing for summer can feel deceptively simple. Until it isn’t.
Because yes, it’s hot — but it’s also humid. Yes, you want to be comfortable — but you also don’t want to look like you gave up. And suddenly, that "light and easy" suitcase starts to feel suspiciously heavy.
The secret? Fewer things, better chosen. Pieces that earn their place — that are light, soft, and versatile enough to take you from a sun-soaked morning to an impromptu dinner. Clothes that shift easily from beach to city, from barefoot to glammed up — all depending on how you style them. That kind of adaptability makes packing (and dressing) feel effortless.
Morning: Swim, stretch, pareo
The beginning of a summer day calls for the absolute minimum — and that's where tunics and pareos come in. Our organic cotton tunics feel like a second skin, made for throwing over a swimsuit with bare feet and a big pair of sunglasses. They roll up easily, dry quickly, and somehow manage to look like you meant to be this relaxed.
Pareos? They live in my beach bag. They’re the easiest throw-on when I’m in a swimsuit and want to feel a little more covered. Just tie and go. They work just as well layered with a white t-shirt for a quick lunch stop, and I love how the white background of our Palm Tree pareo seems to match everything without trying. It's soft, light, and always the right answer.
Afternoon: The All-Day Dress
This is when something like the Jasmine dress earns its place. It’s the piece I pack knowing it’ll do more than its share of work. The cotton is light but not see-through, the cut is breezy but not too loose, and the floral block print carries just enough story to make it feel special. Jaipur in a dress. It’s what I wear to the market, to lunch, to the shop when I forgot toothpaste — always with flat sandals and salt in my hair.
Late afternoon: In case of breeze
The Rainbow kaftan is one of those rare finds — effortlessly unique and full of charm. I never intended to include it in the collection; I found it in Mumbai and bought it just for myself, instantly drawn to its vibrant colours and the intricate embroidery, done in the traditional Lucknow style. The cotton has that perfect in-between weight — breathable on hot days, but comforting when the breeze picks up. I wore it back home and couldn’t go a day without someone asking where it was from. That’s when I realised it had to be part of Alvica. It’s loose, unfussy, and has just the right amount of character to make you feel like you’re wearing something truly special.
Evening: Timeless Ease, Naturally
Evenings can go two ways: barefoot at home, or “oh, there’s dinner.” For both, I always pack a Camellia or Dahlia dress. The cotton feels soft on the skin and stays breezy even when it’s hot — perfect when the day lingers into night. I usually wear them with flat sandals for an effortless look, and if I want to feel a little more dressed up, I just add earrings. The silk Dahlia is one of those pieces you wear when you want to feel a little more… done.
A quick note on beauty
Hot weather doesn’t ask for much — but it does reward the right details. I always travel with a few favourites that make the day feel a little more polished, even when I’m barefoot.
There’s an SPF I keep coming back to — technically for children (and I steal it from my kids), but I love it. It’s organic, and the apricot scent reminds me of my grandmother’s kitchen. It’s La Rosée Baby Sunscreen Milk SPF 50, and it’s the first thing I pack.
On days when I want a little something but not makeup, I use Westman Atelier’s Complexion Drops. I don’t wear foundation — especially not in the heat — but this feels like a second skin. Weightless, hydrating, and just enough to even everything out without covering a thing. And always, By Terry’s Baume de Rose — thick, hydrating, and somehow always perfect. It sinks in quickly and leaves the lips looking natural and soft, never sticky or shiny.
For evenings, when I want to go from beach to drinks in under five minutes, Guerlain’s Terracotta bronzer is my shortcut. It makes you look dressed up in a second. I used to steal it from my mother’s makeup bag, and I love that it’s still a staple today.
And when the day is done — salt, sun, sunscreen and all — I use Oskia’s Vitamin C capsules. They’re like a hydration reset. Just enough glow, just enough care. I use them before bed and my skin feels like itself again.
These little things — much like a perfect pareo — do more than they seem to.
