The six rules of summer holiday dressing for mums

Whether you’re off to the park, a day of exploring museums or a beach in Spain, there are a few summer rules you’ll need to follow to keep your clothes, and sanity, intact.

The summer holidays have rolled around again, and this year there’s a heatwave. Excellent news for the children, but there are now tons of rainy day activities that just won’t cut it. And when the activities won’t cut it, neither will your usual uniform of boots, black jeans and a jumper.

When days at the zoo, water park or fruit and vegetable picking are on the cards, there are certain things you can’t wear for the sake of ever being able to wear them again.

Avoid white dresses

White dresses often feel like a distant summer dream: we wait all year for some sun but when it does come out the pristine broderie anglaise dress tucked away in your wardrobe won’t last five minutes at a picnic with the kids or even on a trip out for ice cream.

There’s no way around it. When it’s 30 degrees you want to be rolling around in the grass with your children or doing a spot of gardening, not perched on a park bench sat atop a plastic bag.

Swap the white for moss green or a bold print and the grass stains will blend in seamlessly. An alternative to dresses are overalls. Grab a stylish denim pair like these from Topshop and layer over a t-shirt for a look that will make any unsightly marks, be they from ice cream, messy spaghetti or even just the dips you packed for the picnic, seem intentional.

Ignore the weatherman, take a jacket

While the current heatwave is set to stay all summer, we are experiencing some chilly evenings and there’s been a few flash-downpours. Don’t get caught out wearing just a strappy dress.

Before you head out, dive to the deepest depths of your wardrobe and pull out a thin linen blazer or denim jacket that you can fold up and stow in your bag, but that won’t weigh you down. If you’re out without the kids and opt to take a smaller bag, simply wear your blazer over your shoulders, à la Holly Willoughby, for a look that’s still stylish and practical.

Always carry a big bag

It’s just one of those things that comes with being a mum; you’re about to leave the house, all of your things are packed neatly into a small crossbody bag but the kids have the things they need falling out of their pockets or clutched in their hands. They look at you with big beaming eyes, you know, they know - that small bag just isn’t going to cut it.

Take your cue from the Duchess of Cambridge; at a polo match with George and Charlotte, Kate knew they’d need something to occupy themselves with. So, when they were getting restless the big bag opened up and out came the slinky - endless fun when you’re sitting on a hill.

Big, stylish, perfect-for-summer tote bags are widely available and don’t have to cost a small fortune. Take this shopper from & Other Stories: it’s £45 so won’t break the bank, is big enough to fit in everything the children find along the way, and is far chicer (not forgetting better for the environment) than the 5p grocery bag you’d have to buy if you left home without it.

Don’t go matchy-matchy

While it might be fun and make for cute pictures when the twins are dressed identically, steer clear of wearing matching block colours or prints with the little ones. Careful coordination, much like Angelina Jolie and her family, looks great - emphasis on careful.

Opt for colours that look good together like navy and red or yellow and khaki as opposed to prints that clash or different shades of lilac.

Be wary of linen

It’s by far the hottest material of the summer, and the one that will keep you the most cool, but linen isn’t all good. It’s a devil to iron, and when you’ve gone through the 10 minute sweaty ordeal of ironing your dress, the last thing you want is to be barely out the house and already looking like a creased up mess.

Instead, save linen, like this Mansur Gavriel jumpsuit, for a walk along the beach or a day of exploring the museums rather than a lazy picnic in the park or a trip to the theatre. You’ll look effortlessly stylish in your smooth linen look, and only fellow linen lovers will know of the steaming struggle that went into it.

Wear sandals with straps and they won’t go flying off

Even though slides are super chic and perfect for summer, they’re not practical when you’re running around the park playing games or exploring the great outdoors. Invest in some sandals with straps, be they patterned silk, cotton or leather, and they'll stay on no matter what you’re doing.

If you’re looking for more coverage, a pair of loafers like the ones Princess Diana often wore are great for outdoor activities and mean you won’t get home at the end of the day with dirt ingrained on the bottom of your feet.