The essential selection for a fashionable summer

Clockwise from top L: Paula Coulthard, Rebecca Wadey, Kristine Crabb and Kate Devlin. Pictures / Dean Purcell, Carolyn Elliott

As if Christmas wasn't stressful enough, it's also the annual what-to-pack crisis time. Tempting though it is to take just about every item of clothing you own on holiday with you just in case you're invited gorilla spotting or on to a private jet, it probably won't happen, so take only the essentials. We asked four fashionable types about the first five things they'll be throwing in the suitcase these holidays.

Paula Coulthard

Paula Coulthard was one of three designers who took part in the Style Pasifika show at this year's New Zealand Fashion Week with her label Coulthard. She wowed the audience telling the history of New Zealand's European settlement in her pieces with both Maori and colonial references. She's also well known for recycling old woollen blankets and whipping them up into something wearable.

1. My Aroha shirt from my winter 2005 collection. It's trans-seasonal and perfect in summer as well as winter as it keeps the sun off and is bright and cool. It's 100 per cent cotton and has a castaway vintage feel so the more sun sand and sea it sees the better it looks.

2.Revlon Certainly Red lipstick. It's all I need to feel dressed up.

3. The Open Sesame CD by Shaft for windows down and rockin' out in the car.

4. Scissors, needle and thread. I love visiting out of the way op-shops. There are often amazing finds in small towns. I always take a pair of scissors, a needle, thread and some safety pins with me to adjust any great clothing finds so I don't have to wait to get home to wear them.

5. My favourite blanket from my stockpile. This year it's an Onehunga Princess blanket and it's pink - great to snuggle up in at night round the fire and in the tent.

Rebecca Wadey

Rebecca Wadey has been Kate Sylvester's public relations and sales manager for three years.

1. The Mitford Girls: The Biography of an Extraordinary Family by Mary S. Lovell. This is the book that inspired the Kate Sylvester's Love in a Cold Climate Winter 05 collection and it paints such a compelling picture of this utterly fascinating family. I'm planning on going a bit Mitford mad this summer and lapping up all the books the assorted siblings wrote, such as Jessica Mitford's Hons and Rebels.

2. MAC tinted lip conditioner. It is just divine. So soft and nourishing. Plus it contains SPF 15 and comes in the most beautiful, subtle colours.

3. Games. I have a strict "no TV, no phones" rule while on holiday and subsequently I'm always pulling out games at the first given opportunity. At the moment Boggle is my favourite, but I'm also a big fan of Jenga, Cranium, 500 and Yahtzee.

4. Kate Sylvester Red rick-rack dress. I want to save this dress to wear on Christmas Day - it's so festive - but I don't know if I'll be able to hold out that long. Flattering on almost any figure this dress can be worn anywhere from work to weddings.

5. Pedicures. I always thought I was cursed with the world's ugliest feet until I realised everyone else was just getting pedicures. Now I too can wear open-toe sandals without looking like Shrek. And the paraffin pedicures at Lucy and the Powder Room are the ultimate in indulgence.

Kate Devlin

Kate Devlin is operations manager for designer Trelise Cooper. She was also one of three designers working on Cooper's Doll by Girly Temple, now defunct. This summer she is off to Koh Samui in Thailand.

1. Costume National Sunglasses. They've got large black oval curved lenses with low arms. I've heard stories of monkeys stealing sunglasses in Thailand, but I'll be protecting these. They're my favourites.

2. Trelise Cooper sequinned and beaded kaftan called Khan't Bead it. It's a fine white cotton kaftan top adorned with silver sequins and diamantes and is perfect for over my bikini or visiting temples.

3. Fluoro boardshorts. They're bright pink and great for hanging out at the beach.

4. Snorkel. I went for the deluxe Warehouse version. I love snorkelling, and can't wait to see Thailand's underwater creatures.

5. Trelise Cooper aqua-appliqued skirt called Carmen Miranda. It's a full-skirt appliqued with a tropical scene of coconut trees, huts and people. This is a true tropical holiday piece.

Kristine Crabb

Kristine Crabb sells her Miss Crabb label (previously known as Non) from her Ponsonby Rd parlour.

1. Bombay Sapphire gin. It's summer in a bottle really. Refreshing and relaxing all in one. Perfect for those hazy, hazy days.

2. The new Miss Crabb vintage prom dress lace bikini because of the jealousy it's gonna cause poolside. They are one size fits all and come in candy pink, lemon, turquoise, lilac, black and metallic silver.

3. A man. Keeping boy(s) on a leash is an essential summer accessory.

4. A summer haircut from Lucy at Stephen Marr on Ponsonby Rd - the kind that just gets better.

5. The Miss Crabb reversible crepe dress worn backless.