Summer is officially over!! But it’s not all doom and gloom…… Cheer up those winter blues and get yourself a great last minute deal for some winter sun.

There are plenty of places to go whilst the UK freezes over. The most likely choice is a long haul flight to far away lands of sunshine. However if you don’t fancy such a long flight or want to save on the pennies, you may also want to consider places such as the Canary Islands or the Costa Blanca. With flights of 2 - 4 hours, it’s only a stones throw away.

Wherever you decide to go, the next question is “What shall I pack?”

A great way to ensure that you get the best out of the limited of space in your cases is to pack a few small summer dresses. Two or three dresses would be enough for a whole week as they can be dressed down with flip flops during the day or dressed up with heels, belts and accessories for nights out. Maybe add some leggings/ jeans or a cardigan / small jacket to give variation. Dresses are very versatile garments and most importantly, take up very little space in your case!

Now, the question is “What dresses should I bring along?”

Here in Part One of my step by step guide I am going to make sure that you get the most out of your garments! Let’s dress for body shape.

Full figure

Dark colours tend to be more flattering for fuller figures and it may be best to go for block colours to create a more streamlined silhoutte. Try floaty fabrics and cuts that skim your body allowing for lots of movement. This will compliment your figure in all the right places.

Tall and slim

Best to avoid vertical prints that will make your body more elongated. Try bandeau dresses or floaty dresses that you can nip in at the waist with a thick belt. By adding a belt, you can add more definition to your figure, as this will draw the eye across the body.

Hourglass

You have your curves in all the right places so you're lucky enough to be able to carry most dresses off, though styles with a nipped in waist, empire line or wrap design will flatter your figure most.

Small bust

Go for printed dresses with ruffles, detailing on the chest area and tiered sections of fabric to help create the illusion of a fuller bust.

Large bust

Avoid horizontal patterns or stripes that accentuate your bust and go for wide v-neck dresses, slouchy necklines or cross-over/wrap dresses that slim your top half but still make the most of your assets.

So we now know what style suits our figures. In Part Two, I will be handpicking some gorgeous dresses for each occasion, be it on the beach, hitting the dance floor or simply heading for a romantic meal. You’ll find all you need when you take a look.