Let me describe the shameful appearance of my bedroom when I’m in the midst of packing for an upcoming trip: there’s a suitcase, at the foot of the bed — and it’s overflowing. Pieces are all folded neatly, mind you. The problem is, stacks of clothing are towering out, not allowing the zipper to close — and there’s no way that I’m within the stingy 23kg weight limit set by British Airways.
I start panicking. With the suitcase already at maximum capacity, how will I fit in all of the shopping I plan to do on my holiday? There’s no way this will work. That’s when I make myself a cup of tea to calm my anxieties, sit by the heap of clothing and start to edit down. I know that there are some women who just pay for extra baggage and fill up a second suitcase, but really, I don’t need to take half my wardrobe with me on my summer getaway.
For a 10-day trip, there are some pieces that will prove to be especially useful, starting with a pretty white dress. Whether it’s a boho maxi or off-the-shoulder lace number, it’s nice to have one feminine day dress in your suitcase. As well, a cotton printed jumpsuit or romper makes a chic and versatile holiday outfit, and with some accessory switch-ups, can easily be taken from day to night. A pair of comfortable blue skinny jeans is another must-pack piece, along with three to four T-shirts, plain, graphic or striped – my personal favourite.
Make sure to include some prints – you may regret sticking to solids when opening up your suitcase to a dreary, lacklustre palette. A floral skirt is a summertime staple, and can be paired with one of the tees you’ve already packed. If T-shirts are too casual for your liking, pack two or three breezy button-down shirts that you can wear tucked in or out, or tied in a cutesy knot at the waist. A shirt dress or trendy tunic are versatile summer style staples, and can be worn with a straw hat over your bikini at the beach, or with a skinny leather belt and chandelier earrings for a casual dinner date or exploratory day trip.
Throw in a neutral cardigan or two for unforeseeable chilly evenings outside or heavily air-conditioned shopping malls, along with a light duster jacket (or trench, if you’re heading to London!) – they’re now available all over the high street, and won’t take up too much room in your suitcase. You can even wear one on the plane for a chic, jet-setter look.
On a related space-saving note, leggings are often overlooked while packing, and deeply missed when forgotten. Add in one or two basic black pairs in cotton and leather or lurex.
When eyeing your handbag collection and wishing you could take the whole lot, think about what’s practical. Crossbodies and clutches might look really cute, but are they really going to fit everything you need to carry? A foldable Longchamp on the other hand, makes a perfect daytime carryall. In terms of footwear, I like to travel in my Nikes, and pack a pair of comfy flats, poolside flip flops, wedge heels and two new-season sandal designs for the rest of the trip. You could throw in more heels, but I’ve found that they become a major waste of space – unless you plan on having an active nightlife on your trip, it’s nice to kick back and relax while on holiday, without having to book a foot massage at the hotel spa for your sore feet.
hlodi@thenational.ae
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Company name: baraka
Started: July 2020
Founders: Feras Jalbout and Kunal Taneja
Based: Dubai and Bahrain
Sector: FinTech
Initial investment: $150,000
Current staff: 12
Stage: Pre-seed capital raising of $1 million
Investors: Class 5 Global, FJ Labs, IMO Ventures, The Community Fund, VentureSouq, Fox Ventures, Dr Abdulla Elyas (private investment)
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About Karol Nawrocki
• Supports military aid for Ukraine, unlike other eurosceptic leaders, but he will oppose its membership in western alliances.
• A nationalist, his campaign slogan was Poland First. "Let's help others, but let's take care of our own citizens first," he said on social media in April.
• Cultivates tough-guy image, posting videos of himself at shooting ranges and in boxing rings.
• Met Donald Trump at the White House and received his backing.
What went into the film
25 visual effects (VFX) studios
2,150 VFX shots in a film with 2,500 shots
1,000 VFX artists
3,000 technicians
10 Concept artists, 25 3D designers
New sound technology, named 4D SRL
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
Six large-scale objects on show
- Concrete wall and windows from the now demolished Robin Hood Gardens housing estate in Poplar
- The 17th Century Agra Colonnade, from the bathhouse of the fort of Agra in India
- A stagecloth for The Ballet Russes that is 10m high – the largest Picasso in the world
- Frank Lloyd Wright’s 1930s Kaufmann Office
- A full-scale Frankfurt Kitchen designed by Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky, which transformed kitchen design in the 20th century
- Torrijos Palace dome
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
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James Mustich, Workman
Cry Macho
Director: Clint Eastwood
Stars: Clint Eastwood, Dwight Yoakam
Rating:**
How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
- Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
- Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
- Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
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Neymar's bio
Total club appearances 411
Total goals scored 241
Appearances for Barca 186
Goals scored for Barca 105
The specs
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Power: 620hp from 5,750-7,500rpm
Torque: 760Nm from 3,000-5,750rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed dual-clutch auto
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh1.05 million ($286,000)
The view from The National
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
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THE SPECS
Jaguar F-Pace SVR
Engine: 5-litre supercharged V8
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Power: 542bhp
Torque: 680Nm
Price: Dh465,071
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