A Mediterranean holiday asks a lot of a suitcase. Mornings on the beach, long lunches in the shade, a boat day, then dinner somewhere with a view, often all on the same day, and usually in 30-degree heat. The answer is not more clothes. It is fewer, better-chosen pieces that all work together and survive being folded into a carry-on.
This is how we pack for the Riviera, the Greek islands or the Amalfi Coast: a small capsule of crinkled-cotton resortwear where every top matches every skirt, and nothing needs an iron.
Why crinkled cotton is the best holiday fabric
Crinkled cotton is woven and finished so the texture is part of the fabric. That means the creases you would normally fight with an iron simply blend in. You can roll it, pack it and pull it out of your bag looking exactly as it should. It is also light and breathable, which matters far more than people expect when the afternoon heat hits.
Almost all of our pieces are made from crinkled cotton, and many from OEKO-TEX certified cotton, so they feel soft against skin that has spent the day in sun and salt water.
The 8-piece Mediterranean capsule
Choose one colour family, cream, pink or blue, and everything below will mix freely.
Three skirts
- A long ruffle skirt for lunches and evenings. The Gabriela ruffle wrap skirt is our most-loved piece: it ties at the waist, so the fit adjusts as the week of pasta and gelato goes on.
- A skort for active days. The Alaia ruffle skort looks like a mini skirt but has shorts underneath, so boat ladders and sandy steps are no problem.
- A mini skirt for beach clubs and hot afternoons, such as the Bianca crinkled mini skirt.
Three tops
- An off-shoulder top that feels dressed-up with almost no effort, like the Elena off-shoulder rosette top.
- A strapless top to wear over swimwear or with a long skirt at sunset: the Giselle flower tube top stretches to fit from XS to M/L.
- A top with sleeves for evenings and sun protection, such as the Valeria ruffle sleeve wrap top.
One dress and one layer
- A dress you can wear from day to night. The Sofia halter ruffle mini dress works with flat sandals in the morning and gold jewellery at dinner.
- A light layer for the evening breeze or the plane: an undyed kimono or a cotton shirt over any outfit.
How the capsule makes a week of outfits
Three skirts and three tops already give you nine combinations. Add the dress and the layer, and you have more than enough for seven days without repeating a look. A few of our favourites:
- Beach morning: bikini, Alaia skort, Giselle top in your bag for lunch.
- Long lunch in the old town: Gabriela skirt with the Elena top and flat sandals.
- Boat day: Bianca mini skirt, Valeria top, and a hat that will not blow away.
- Dinner by the sea: the Sofia dress with gold earrings, or the Gabriela skirt with the Giselle top for a matching set.
Packing tips that actually help
- Roll, do not fold. Crinkled cotton rolls into a tiny space, and rolling keeps the texture even.
- Stick to one colour family. Cream with cream, or cream with one accent colour, means everything matches in the dark of a hotel room.
- Plan for coverage. Churches and some restaurants expect covered shoulders, so pack one top with sleeves or a light layer.
- Wash in the sink. Lightweight cotton dries quickly overnight, so a mid-week rinse means you can pack even less.
Ready to pack?
Browse our best sellers for the pieces customers pack again and again, or start with skirts, tops and dresses to build your own capsule. Shipping is free, so the only thing left to plan is where you are going.