Packing for a winter holiday is a tad more challenging than packing for a summer vacation, particularly if you've chosen the hand-luggage-only route that so many of us do these days for reasons of a money and time saving nature. Winter clothing has the inconvenience of being much heavier. To stay warm in the great outdoors we all love layering on our chunky knits, leather accessories, fur collars and alike.

When it comes to packing for that winter weekend away or longer seasonal escape, there are a few practical choices we can all make to make life easier and avoid having to repack at the airport, having to put on an additional three layers "thanks" to luggage weight restrictions and arriving at our destination looking completely bedraggled.

Layering

Instead of wearing a thick and heavy woolen jumper, invest in a few thinner but warmer layers. Work your way up starting with thermalwear as the base layer. From then onwards opt for natural fabrics such as cotton or cotton blends that will let your skin breathe. Choose stretchy T-shirts or polo necks to keep you cosy.

Top it off with a cashmere or mohair layer. These lovely natural materials are so light yet so very warm, and look great. Another feature is their versatility. A simple jumper or cardigan can be dressed up or down with jewellery and accessories such as scarves and shawls.

Make sure your top level layer is easy to remove. Ideally, it should feature buttons or a zip so that you can slip it on and off easily when splitting your time between the indoors and the outdoors where temperature levels can vary greatly.

Lower Body

Instead of bringing heavy trousers, pack tights and leggings or lighter trousers to pair with them. This simple layering trick is one that most ladies in northern climates will admit to over the winter months. It's amazing how much difference a pair of tights can make. For evening hours, you can throw a light skirt on over the leggings, or a jumper dress for a classy, French chic look.

Outerwear

If you can get away with bringing just a single pair of leather boots, that will save you so much space. Just make sure they're fully water-proofed and treated for salt that gets scattered on pavements to dissolve ice. Ideally, bring some polish along. It's lighter than an extra pair of boots!

A womens winter coat should be stylish yet fully practical for chilly climates. Choose a style that reaches down to the knees for extra warmth around the waistline and below. Trendy styles include coats with asymmetric front and back hemlines. This adds a touch of fun to winter holiday wardrobes.