You want to pack as little as possible, look as good as you can, and not indulge in any mind-numbing behaviour like shopping or ironing? Here’s the answer. How to pack for a six-day trip without pain.

A party shirt
A party shirt needs to be slim fitting and in a bold colour or colours – the fit allows you to wear it with smart trousers to a restaurant if you end up going out, and the strong colours make it perfect to team with jeans for any kind of party from a retro seventies disco through to an ambient techno rave. Buy the best you can afford – because the heavier the quality of the cotton, the easier it travels without creasing. When you get to your destination, hang it on a hanger on the end of the shower rail while you take a steaming shower – creases will disappear.

A plain black shirt
You cannot go wrong with a plain black shirt. It’s possible to wear this to a funeral or a barbecue without raising any eyebrows.

The extra shirt
Think of this as your substitute bench – you might not be able to get any laundry done while you’re away, so this third shirt is your insurance policy.

The T-shirts
Because they are simple to wear and acceptable in most places, T-shirts are your Wayne Rooney garments.  Pack two or three dark tees and two or three bright ones and you’ll be sorted.

The polo-shirt
A polo shirt with a collar bridges the gap between the formal shirts and the teeshirt – it allows you to look a bit more dressed up than a T-shirt does, without leaving you looking like an accountant if everybody else turns up in more casual clothing that buttoned shirts.

The feet
If you buy a pair of plain black leather trainers, they can double as formal shoes, so you only need to pack them, your favourite comfortable trainers and a pair of flipflops to have something for every occasion that your trip might throw at you.