A summer hat is a very personal purchase. While a vinyl bucket hat might be this summer's go-to, they tend to make us a) look like an unwilling fisherman and b) hot and bothered as the vinyl steams up 30 minutes into our sunbathing session. Eliurpi deals predominantly in timeless straw hats that are fashion-led but functional. Made in Barcelona, their oversized brims and gargantuan bows are romantic but contemporary. The brand also makes straw bags so why not double up?

Tipping is a point of sensitivity. In the US it's a must, in the UK 10 per cent should cover you (and often a service charge has already been applied to your bill). If you're going abroad, avoid a cultural faux pas and download Tipster for a briefing on tipping like a local. There's nothing worse than coming off scabby or too flashy (your waiter might disagree with us on that point). Refine your search for variants depending on the service provided - tour guide, taxi driver, waiter or bellhop - it's most comprehensive tipping database we've come across.

If you've been lucky enough to nab a stay at Heckfield Place, then you'll likely have tested Wildmsith's luxe all-natural skincare. Following our stay, two products we can't put down are the Active Super Eye Serum and the Active Repair Copper Peptide Serum. Taking up permanent residence in our carry on makeup bag, the former is loaded with paracress buds and elderberry flower extract. The latter, which contains kahai oil, is of godly stature. Protecting from environmental aggressors, just a couple of pumps will leave your skin feeling hydrated and perfectly plump.

Wildsmith, Active Super Eye Serum - £125

Active Repair Copper Peptide Serum - £130

As seen on chic ladies you'll pass in Parisian boulangeries and the local markets in Provence, these medium-sized hair sticks are just the ticket for whipping your hair up into a nonchalantly "undone" style. When the humidity wreaks havoc on your head, these handy pins will sort you out pronto.

Is it too much to travel with candles? We don't think so - and neither does Earl of East. Its hand-poured soy candles are inspired by far-flung places - we're loving Jardin de la Lune that takes its cue from the Grand Trianon in Versailles. Light yours up as soon as you check in for an instant feeling of homeliness (and a whiff of Versailles, naturally).

Public announcement: a trip to the beach just got a whole lot cuter. Sunday Supply Co.'s parasols have been freshly pinned to our Pinterest boards, delighting us in a myriad of pastel hues and peplum edges. Suddenly, being the palest person on the beach has a plus side.

While donning a pair of tights has in the past felt far too much like sausage stuffing, Heist have reinvented humble hosiery. Waistbands don't roll or twist and can be worn low to sit or your hips or high to cover your stomach. They're also seamless with no sag and far better investment than a five-pack that will wear within weeks.

Wearing leggings on the plane is no revolutionary concept (hello elastic waistbands catering to our in-air swelling) but that doesn't negate their worth. Ernest Leoty does a particularly good (erring on stylish) pair. We're opting for this prune shade, rather than black, for a kit less ordinary.