The ‘just in case’ the weather turns cold, even though the lowest temp at the time of year you will be visiting is 45 degrees.

The ‘just in case’ I wear the 25 tea shirts I have already packed. Or the just in case I need more than 6 pairs of shoes.

Sound familiar? I even know a lady who had to pay for excess luggage going on holiday!   No it wasn’t me.

So what should you pack? Obviously the essential toiletries, but these can take up a lot of room & weigh as much as a small dog. Most chemists & drug stores sell miniature sizes of toothpaste, deodorants, body lotion & so on, also small plastic bottles you can decant your shampoo, conditioner, moisturiser into. Blag some samples from your hairdresser & the cosmetic counters, you will be surprised how far a small sachet will go.

Buy your suntan lotion at the airport as these can be heavy items, but after you go through security, this way it doesn’t add to your luggage weight & you can buy large sizes which normally won’t be allowed in your carryon pre security. If you don’t use it all up leave it  behind as sun preps normally only have a 12 month shelf life once opened. Unless of course you are going away again soon after.

Lay your holiday clothes on the bed. It is at times like these that Colour Coding really comes into it’s own as pretty much 90% of your wardrobe will mix & match. But if you have all the colours of the rainbow then it’s time to pick just a few. Whites or creams are always favourites & good basics for trousers, shorts or skirts. If you prefer to keep the lower half in darker shades choose a chocolate, navy or black. Use light or bright coloured tops. Oversized shirts, tops or kaftan style can be worn with either trousers or crops & if you are young enough or the tops are long enough, worn alone in the evening with  chunky necklaces or a bright scarf can look great. The next day they can be used over swim wear around the pool or on the beach.

A pair of gold or silver flatties look good day or night & take up little room.

Most hotels supply hairdryers (check before you go) if yours doesn’t get a lightweight travel one.

If you spread your packing over a few days make a list of what you have packed, then you will be sure not to forget something. So convinced was I once that I must  have packed my underwear I didn’t bother to check the suitcase, only to find when I unpacked it I hadn’t! So now I make a list of everything as I put it in.

Don’t forget to take an electrical adaptor if where you are going has different voltage.

The suitcase alone can often weigh a ton so try a large holdall instead. Personally I find the holdalls tend to come out first on the carousel, I don’t know but this may be because they are stacked on top of the suitcases in the hold. As black seems to be the most popular colour for luggage tie a bright tag, ribbon, something, anything around your bag so it is easily identified.

You don’t want to pick up someone else’s bag by mistake & end up delaying your onward journey, or having housekeeping in the hotel cut off ‘your’ padlock because clearly you  must have forgotten the code! Or find men’s polo shirts inside ‘your’ bag  & worst of all, shaving cream instead of your make up!!!!

Do you?

Sorry I was just reliving a rather unfortunate holiday incident from last year when my lovely husband picked up the wrong bag because it was identical to ours. I won’t mention that I had put a pink tag on it.  

But the most important thing to take, apart from your passport, is your sense of humour! Travelling is rarely fun & more often than not stressful so remind yourself you are going away to de-stress & have a good time, so don’t sweat the small stuff, as they say.

Bon voyage & have a fantastic time!  You’ve earned it!

E-mail your hair/beauty questions or your hints & tips to californiasecrets@mac.com

Okay but when hasn’t denim been in, did you notice people had stopped wearing it? It has changed it’s guise over the decades, been stoned washed (but that is best forgotten) coloured, skinny, boyfriend, baggy, frilly, ripped, used by designers, which didn’t make it any more special just gave it a hefty price tag. To interior designers like Ralph Lauren for house wears.

But the good news is we are all up to date & IN fashion. I mean who doesn’t already have several pieces, be it a jacket, skirt or jeans in their wardrobe? And just know if the cut of jean you bought last season isn’t in this season, stash them away & wait awhile as they will undoubtedly come back around.

Best not wear it head to toe, unless you are going to a hoe-down.

Now comes the question what do we wear with our denim?

Look no further than a recent edition of Vogue. For on the front cover Alexa Chung was wearing clogs, with denim of course. But love ‘em or hate ‘em clogs are said to be all the rage this season. Everyone from designers such as Chloe & D&G to high street shops like Top Shop have their own version. But unlike the 70’s/ 80’s style they now come with more of a heel, making you less likely to walk like a duck when wearing them.

They will look good with jeans, leggings (providing YOU do) cropped, shorts, whatever.

So a good basic when packing for your summer getaway. And if your calf’s are on the fuller side they have a flattering slimming effect – I’m all for that!

Keep up to date with Julie by subscribing to the Marc Young Newsletter: www.MarcYoung.co.uk

  LADIES DO YOU FAKE IT?
                              IF YES, ARE YOU ANY GOOD AT IT?

PERSONALLY I’M GETTING BETTER EVERY TIME. I’m talking about tanning of course. (What did you think I was talking about?)

But there are some basics to follow before you reach for the bottle.

First exfoliate – use either a body brush or scrub.

I know you have probably heard it before, but with good reason if you want a successful, realistic tan. Because if you have areas of dry or rough skin the tanning lotion / cream will stick more there than everywhere else making you look patchy, which is a dead giveaway that you didn’t get you tan somewhere hot & exotic.

Some companies make a mitt that fits over your hand and has a sponge like surface,making the tan easier to apply and thus not getting it all over your palms. You can use surgical gloves as they fit tightly and again eliminate hand staining.

But if you cannot get on with either & prefer to apply with your bear hands then just remember to thoroughly wash your hands after you apply, especially your nails, as once the tanning stains them it’s almost impossible to get rid of it & brown stained nails are definitely not a good look. This of course leaves the back of your hands (another giveaway if they are white).

For this you can use a make up sponge, found in most chemists & very reasonably priced, or you could ask your nearest & dearest to apply it for you along with your back. Just remember to tell them to wash their hands after. Or not, if you are feeling wicked! But don’t expect them to  volunteer another time.

Start applying tanner at your feet (not under them of course) and work upwards, making sure the smallest amount goes over your knees and elbows as the skin in both these areas crinkles making the tan look too dark.

The best time to apply your self tanner is at night so the colour develops as you sleep & if any does rub off it’s on your sheets and not your best top. But if you do want to apply it during the day then I would recommend loose clothing so none of your hard work looks faded in places, say where your socks have been round your ankle leaving two white stripes.

Usually most tanners will permanently stain bras where the fabric is nylon. So don’t wear your best undies, dig out that old grey set you have been meaning to throw away for ages. (See you knew they would come in handy).

Moisturise daily as this will help to keep your colour. You can get body lotions with a small amount of self tanner in them that are designed to give you a gradual colour so are ideal for maintaining your tan without the risk of looking like a satsuma. They are also good if you’ve never used a self tan before and so want to be cautious.

       HAPPY TANNING EVERYONE