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What to Read, Listen to & Wear on Holiday this Summer

July 29, 2024

This summer may have got off to a soggy start, but there’s still plenty of time to enjoy the sunshine whether you’re staying at home, staycationing or heading abroad. With the weather being so unpredictable, packing a couple of pieces of knitwear seems like a more sensible option than ever – even if you’re heading somewhere hot. Ahead of the official start of the summer holidays (as a mother, I always see the beginning of the six-week holidays as summer truly beginning), I thought I’d share what I’m planning on wearing this summer – as well as the podcasts and books I’m planning on listening to/reading. I’ve also asked friend-of-the-brand, writer and photographer Emma Lavelle to share her recommendations.

What I’ll be wearing this summer

I took an early summer holiday as it is our last year before our oldest starts school and we get caught up in restrictions of when we can travel together as a family. The Greek islands are my favourite place for relaxing breaks with the most amazing fresh food – I could eat Greek salads for breakfast, lunch and dinner. 

For our trip, I naturally had to pack my new viscose collection. I loved how much wear I got out of each item, especially as I usually end up living in a swimsuit and shorts in Greece. The Aster kimono was perfect for poolside lounging at cocktail hour, then layered over a slip dress in the evenings. It allowed for instant elegance and brought a lot of versatility to my holiday wardrobe. You can effortlessly dress up shorts and a t-shirt just by layering the kimono

I also got a lot of wear out of the kaftan dress, which was perfect to slip over a swimsuit and head out for lunch without feeling too casual in your swimwear. I wore it with flat sandals in the day and added a touch of glamour with a pair of big earrings in the evening. Finally, the Aria t-shirt was the perfect lightweight top for balmy evenings. I paired it with my denim shorts for nights out. 

I’ll be at home for the remainder of the summer, with a short staycation in Suffolk coming up. I’ve been living in my GS cardigans for much needed warmth in this grey drizzly weather. They’re the ideal light layer when the weather is so hit and miss; they are versatile and can be styled with any outfit and are the perfect weight to avoid being too hot when the sun does make an appearance. My Aria t-shirt and skirt are also getting plenty of wear at home this summer. I pair each with basic separates, helping to make my summer wardrobe feel fresh and interesting with their subtle shimmer.

What I’ll be reading this summer

With juggling running a business and looking after the kids, I don’t get to read as much as I would like but I’m hoping to complete two books over the summer. I still pack four or five books in my suitcase if I’m going away, and I actually managed to read one in full while I was in Greece (thanks to nap times!)

I’m currently reading Rooted by Sarah Langford, and am completely hooked just 40 pages in. The book discusses how the landscape of being a farmer has changed over the past 70 years, and how farmers have been perceived by both the public and the media over that time. I’m really looking forward to finding the time to finish it over the next few weeks. Next up, I’ll be reading Wilding: The Return of Nature to a British Farm by Isabella Tree of Knepp. Keeping with the theme, I am dipping in and out of Rewilding: Bringing Wildlife Back To Where It Belongs with the kids.It has beautiful illustrations and is keeping both myself and the children entertained and educated.

I am also hoping to take the time to read and catch up with authors I follow on Substack, such as Alice Vincent.

What I’ll be listening to this summer

I find it much easier to make time for Podcasts than for reading, as I can listen in the car, when I’m at work or while I’m cooking. I listen to several business Podcasts and often refer back to older episodes. My favourites include Conversations of InspirationWomen’s Business and We Are Makers.

My absolute favourite Podcast is The Ins and Outs – each episode makes me giggle and I also learn so much. I also enjoy Unruffled (a great parenting Podcast), Why Women Grow and the monthly Ffern Podcast.

EMMA’S summer knitwear recommendations

I’ve already enjoyed my summer holidays abroad, as I love travelling when it’s quieter during shoulder season. Over the next two months I will be enjoying a couple of short breaks within the UK but mainly staying at home to enjoy my garden and favourite local wild swimming spots. 

On my trip to Greece back at the beginning of May, Genevieve’s jacquard lace knitted long cardigan was one of my most worn pieces I packed in my suitcase. It proved to be the perfect poolside cover-up to layer over my swimsuit, and is such a versatile piece that you can also dress it up for evening wear by draping over a simple vest and pair of trousers. I opted for the olive green colour, as I’m always drawn to green tones. I can also imagine myself wearing this during cooler climates during the day, with jeans and a light knit.

I’ve just got back from driving around the Swiss Alps in a camper van (my idea of heaven!) and couldn’t resist packing my favourite GS Alloa cardigan despite the promise of hot weather. I’ve been wearing this with everything from jeans to black linen pants, but my favourite outfit I created with the Alloa was pairing it with shorts and a vest top when I was travelling. Its lightweight knit and cropped silhouette made it the perfect piece for sitting outside the van in the evening and admiring the mountain views. It also came in handy during three days of rain and storms. I particularly love the softness and unique marl of the yarn with its dove grey and putty twists adding interest to the vibrant lime wool. 

Another piece I’m considering adding to my summer wardrobe is the viscose jacquard skirt in the same beautiful olive green as the long cardigan. I love versatile garments that can be worn day to night, all year round and could see myself wearing this long beyond summer holidays. For summer, I’d pair it with a loose silky or cropped linen vest in a neutral colour for aperitifs (whether I’m in Italy or sat at home in my own garden). 

Emma’s summer reading recommendations

I’m a big reader, and always pack more books than I think I’ll read in my suitcase as I can’t bear the thought of running out of reading material on holiday. Subsequently, my suitcase is always incredibly heavy. Here are five new releases I have either read recently or have waiting to read next beside my open suitcase:

Glass Houses by Francesca Reece – I just put this down and it is easily one of my favourite reads of the year. If you’re after a more summer-tinged read, Reece’s debut Voyeur focuses on a summer in the South of France, while Glass Houses is based in the North Wales valleys. The story flips between time periods, from protagonists Gethin and Olwen meeting as children to them reuniting as adults – all centred around the magical modernist glass house beside a lake that adult-Gethin is the caretaker of and political events in Wales in the 1980s. 

The Unwilding by Marina Kemp – I adored this beautifully written book that introduces its reader to two compelling protagonists: a young woman invited to join a large family for their annual summer trip to a Sicilian holiday home and the youngest member of that family, reuniting decades later with the stranger who spent that fateful summer with them. I was hooked by the plot and the extended cast of intriguing characters – but mainly by the wonderful descriptions of their summer in Sicily and the big, beautiful house they stay in.

Spoilt Creatures by Amy Twigg – This reminded me of The Girls by Emma Cline. A dreamy, ethereal read focusing on a young woman who decides to leave society behind to live off-grid with a group of women in a rural setting. Everything seems idyllic to begin, as they tend to their garden, swim in a stream and she begins to develop feelings for one of the other women – but there is a dark undertone lurking beneath. 

The God of the Woods by Liz Moore – I love a literary thriller, especially when you’re looking for something to keep you hooked beside the pool in the summer. This is the story of the disappearance of two children from the same family, fifteen years apart at a summer camp deep in the Adirondack mountains. It’s just been released and I’ll be reaching for this during my next trip away.

Wild Ground by Emily Usher – The words “as addictive as Normal People” adorning the front of this debut novel sucked me in. The story focuses on Neef and Danny, growing up together while suffering hardships in their Yorkshire town – before jumping ahead to the present day when Neef must confront her past. Early reviews are outstanding, and I can’t wait to linger over every word. 

Inspired by our summer recommendations? I would love to hear your favourite summer reads and listens too.
If you would like a little more inspiration, discover our last journal, How to slow down the way you travel.

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