If you are somewhat stuck in a rut, it can be extra-difficult to distill your sense of style come holiday time, when all your worldly wardrobe goods must fit into a single wheelie bag with no room for multiple fashion personalities. Perhaps one should look no further than one’s eclectic hippie friend? You know, the Athena Calderone/Sienna Miller lookalike who looks so stylish but comfortable all the time? There was a time (about 1990) she just seemed kinda kooky but now she’s the envy of the girl group, with not a bad haircut, beaded bag or dubious doobie in sight. The beauty of this look for hols is its hot climate versatility – cruise down the Nile, wander through the Roman ruins of Crete or pop into a supermarket in Marbella in your cool, voluminous dress and flats and you will seem unruffled, the hallmark of the haute hippie.

A modern take on the trend starts with a cotton or silk maxi dress or midi skirt, well-designed (flattering) and washable, in a vibrant colour. A dress needs only flats and jewels. Ankle-or-floor-grazing skirts look good with classic cotton or silk tank tops and camis but they look even better with an ikat or block-print kimono jacket like V De Vinster’s at Havana, Donnybrook. A generous dose of print-clashing can make everything more interesting, sure, but this is where some would-be haute hippies come a cropper: we say keep colours the same if patterns differ and add a contrasting fabric belt.

To do haute-hippie-at-work, try layering a shirtdress over trousers with colourful flats and pile on bracelets, including those dinky affirmation ones you have always secretly loved.

Main featured image via @maurakent

Green pleated poplin dress, Co, €845; www.mytheresa.com.

Blue linen top, Toast, €120, at Scout, 5 Essex Street West, Dublin 2.

Blue ikat cotton kimono jacket, V De Vinster, €315, at Havana, Donnybrook, Dublin 4.

Blue suede mules, Reike Nen €315; www.zalando.ie.

Tortoiseshell acetate-frame sunglasses, Prada, €279, at Arnotts.

18ct rose gold Beach diamond anklet, POA, at Boodles, 71 Grafton Street, Dublin 2.

Abstract-print dress, €49.95, at Zara.

Chocolate raime beaded top, €79.95, at Massimo Dutti, Dundrum Town Centre, Dublin 16.

Wicker minaudière, €49.95, at Zara.

Amber Enora resin hoop earrings, €23.50, at Oliver Bonas, 22 Exchequer Street, Dublin 2.

Rust embroidered-cotton skirt, €500, www.threegraceslondon.com.

Hope beaded bracelet, €70; www.lovebeadsbylr.com.