Packing a suitcase is rarely fun, but there are ways to make it work without having to check in the excess.

First, evaluate your needs. A regulation cabin bag is more than enough room for two weeks’ clothing. Any more is waste. You will not need two pairs of heels. You might not even need one. The same will probably be true of jackets and jeans, especially if the destination is sunny.

Discard any clothing that doesn’t work with several other items in your suitcase. Make sure that what you have is versatile. A sheer beach cover-up looks great with a simple slip dress underneath for beachside drinks. The same slip dress will be perfect with a light jacket for balmy evenings.

Stick to a colour palette that works for you. A good rule of thumb is two neutral colours and two accent colours. In terms of accents, pastels go with pastels and brights with brights. Use patterns to break block colour monotony. If you don’t want to be too matchy-matchy, that’s fine – have fun with it. Think of the colour palette option as a useful tool, not an absolute law.

There is one exception: if there’s a statement piece in your wardrobe or something knockout that you’ve been saving, bring it with you. Anything can happen.

Pack it up, pack it in
Now it's time to pack. Don't bother folding easy and flexible fabrics: roll instead. This may seem counterintuitive, but it will take up less room in a suitcase and drastically reduce the chance of wrinkling.

For T-shirts, place on a flat surface and vertically fold sleeves in towards the centre, then roll into a sausage shape. The outer thirds of a skirt should be folded in towards the centre to form a rectangle, then rolled. Fold trousers in half vertically, then roll. Wrinkles should be smoothed out as the garment is being rolled. Place the garments in the bottom of the suitcase. They should form a sturdy foundation layer.

Put easily wrinkled or delicate items in garment bags and lay flat on top of the rolled clothing. Tuck over the foundation layer if possible, as that will help to prevent anything from getting dislodged.

Finally, shoes. Stuff yours with underwear and socks. It will help to keep the shape intact. Sandals and flat shoes should be packed with the soles facing up to prevent dirt from migrating, or wrap the shoes in a garment bag before laying on top.

There should be enough room left for toiletries, sundries and some breathing space for souvenirs. Keep jewellery in a small, separate bag lined with tissue paper and tuck in an inner pocket.

If, after all that effort, the suitcase is too full, rip it out and start again. The alternative is checking in another bag.