I'm lucky enough to be jetting off to Dubai next week for a relaxing break with my mum. Whilst I'd love to look as effortless as Olivia Palermo above, in a shoot for Emirates Woman magazine, there are some golden rules for dressing, and therefore packing, to go to the United Arab Emirates.

As it's my first time to the U.A.E I've been researching the dress code, reading the posts of Dubai and Abu Dubai's top bloggers, like Saba Atage, below left, a Dubai based model come blogger, with over 48K Instagram followers; looked at outfits of Deena Aljuhani Abdulaziz, below right, (former Editor in chief of Vogue Arabia) on Pinterest, and read other stylish posts from Dubai, like the one below from OhhCouture!

Refreshingly modesty is the golden style rule here. Shoulders and knees should be covered, sheer and swimwear is tolerated poolside only, in communal areas of hotels and public places like the mall, the stricter dress code is compulsory. If visiting places of worship, like the spectacular Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in the city of Abu Dhabi, there are further guidelines so make sure you're prepared. Click here to see Mosque Manners guide.

Todays outfit builder is something I would wear en route to the pool. I love the more tailored kaftan from Boden, with a bright lemon trim, and this Whistles fringe bag is versatile for both sightseeing and the beach. Stick to a mainly monochrome palette to ensure outfit building, my essential pre packing tip, is a breeze, so you don't end up cramming all those 'just in case' items into a second suitcase!

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The Bomber jacket is a trend that still rumbles on, after the beautifully embroidered Gucci reincarnation, for SS17, placed it firmly on the fashionistas radar. See my Wardrobe Wand Pinterest board for my favourites looks here. Depending on how you style it it's a hero piece that can elevate a basic day look or be worn in the evening as a lighter alternative to the fail safe leather biker jacket. 

So last week when I spotted this soft Chambray Bomber jacket, in the Gap outlet store, reduced from £44.99 to £14.99 I decided it was time to buy into the trend too!

I got it from the Gap in Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouth, as that's where I go to stock up on summer stuff for the kids. 

As I don't own a denim jacket (I know it seems an obvious wardrobe staple but I last wore one in my final year at university; so a very long time ago!) I thought this would be a good substitute and to be honest it was such a bargain I would have probably got it anyway.

Here I am on it's first wearing; 'Family Date night' at East Beach Cafe in Littlehampton. It's an all blue ensemble elevated by my Sandro navy silk and linen top!

It may not be a satin or embellished version, I tend to gravitate towards the plainer options, but I can already imagine wearing it a lot over the coming months. If you can't get to an Outlet store I've selected six of the best Bomber jackets available on the high street now.

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I hope you had a relaxing Easter break and got to enjoy some sunshine. Although I haven't had many lie ins over this holiday it was still a shock to the system to be up and at 'em for the school run this morning.

So I defaulted to this easy ensemble of H&M stripe top, which I've been wearing on rotation over the last few weeks, CK boyfriend jeans, now almost ancient, and my chilli red Adidas Hamburgs for a pop of colour. As I haven't bought a khaki Shacket I pulled out my Next Cotton jacket, again very old, for a lighter cover up!

Accessories are Gucci sunglasses, old, Reiss Navy leather belt, old, Coccinelle cross body bag, old, with my Alexi London plain kiss ring and my usual, everyday watch and jewellery.

In todays outfit builder I've shown the actual H&M t-shirt, I love the fit and feel of it, and chosen Boyfriend jeans from the new brand And/Or which is exclusive to John Lewis. 

If I was going to update my Next jacket I'd choose this Hush military jacket but if you wanted more pattern then check out their Camouflage Kafka Jacket £70 too, below left.

I've shown my Adidas Hamburgs over and over in previous posts so today I've picked yet another seventies sports styled trainer, the Brooks Vanguard, which was originally launched back in 1976. See the grey colour way below right, both available at Anthropologie, it's a subtler brand if you're not an Adidas addict like myself!

The Zara two tone cross body bag is both considered and affordable and I've picked out a shade of nail polish to match the sky blue, from Butter London, if you're feeling summery! Click on the links to shop, for a similar look, and thanks for stopping by.