How I pack by Georgiana Huddart
As co-founder of swimwear label Hunza G, Georgiana Huddart has traveled the world, but it’s Sri Lanka’s unspoiled beaches that she keeps coming back to – and she’s currently in the midst of booking her next getaway. So, what’s her secret for effortless beach chic? It’s all in the planning…
Have an outfit ‘plan’
“I’m not the most organized person when it comes to packing. I like to cram as much into my suitcase as possible – which is why I always roll, never fold, then you can fit more in. I always pack way too much. I am trying to get myself down to one case and one carry-on per trip but it’s a struggle. For me, there’s nothing more frustrating than going away and realizing you own a piece that would have looked great but it’s hanging in your closet at home. For weddings and festivals, I pre-plan my outfits – I actually met my fiancé at a festival so that’s reinforced my belief that you should be ready for anything. You never know who you might meet.”
Maximize your travel time
“The thing I love about flying is that it’s truly guilt-free time to yourself. You don’t have access to work emails or Instagram and no one can contact you. It’s so rare nowadays to have a few hours cut off from the world – which is why I’m not a fan of wifi on planes. I’m like a big kid, I refuse to sleep on the flight and try to watch as many movies as possible. For me, traveling is still a really exciting experience. I always buy a ton of interiors magazines before a long flight and spend the journey poring over them, which is something I’d rarely have the time to do at home. I find it incredibly cathartic and relaxing. In terms of dressing for a flight, comfort is key. I’ll usually wear silk jogging bottoms, a T-shirt, a big sweater and a scarf. I like to create my own little nest on the plane.”
Strong swimwear is key
“I am quite sporty and when I’m on vacation I want swimwear that I can actually swim or play volleyball or run down the beach in, but also that I can wear with a kaftan for lunch and still look chic. It’s a hard balance. Before I launched Hunza G, it just didn’t feel like there was much swimwear on the market that was really wearable and looked good. Our Gloria bikini is probably my favorite style. In the early days, when I was first making samples, I knew I was onto a good thing because, every time I wore a piece, people would approach me and ask about it.”
Keep it simple
“My vacation closet actually has a very similar mood to my day-to-day look. I tend to dress in quite a clean, practical way. For vacations, I’m a big fan of long summer dresses or silk shirts worn with denim shorts. Asceno does really great, flowing silk separates that make for an incredibly chic getaway look. I’m the same with jewelry; I wear quite a lot of delicate silver and gold pieces – fine chain necklaces, hoops and bracelets – that I never take off, even to swim.”
Go for the natural look
“When it comes to my vacation beauty look, I am one of those people who appears to be more low-maintenance than they really are. I always wear Sisley mascara, eyebrow gel and Nars’s amazing multi-use beach sticks. I am obsessed with lip balms and glosses – I always carrying a few – and for summer evenings, I love wearing body shimmer. I should really take better care of my hair, particularly in the sun – which I don’t – but I do always make sure to pack at least a few hair masks. I use Sisley SPF 50 every day, whether I am on holiday or not. Lately, I’ve become really obsessed with skincare. My mother always says that when you’re young, all you care about is getting a tan; but as you get older, your priorities flip and keeping your skin in great condition is your main concern. I can confirm that, unfortunately, I’ve just entered the second phase.”
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