The Art of Successful Packing: Travel Wardrobe Necessities

It’s that time of year again, the time when adventure rears its lovely head! We all feel the urge to take a journey sometimes, whether it is a quick jaunt, a road trip across the country, or an expedition across the world. Traveling can be stressful for a variety of reasons. For a girl who desires practicality while craving style in her travel wardrobe, the balance can be difficult, but a fashionista can have both! Here is a list of the travel essentials composed to make your life a little easier while you take the world by storm:

1. Blazer— Stylish, practical and versatile, a good blazer is a must on a long expedition. When traveling extensively, it is inevitable that you will come across different climates. Layers are essential when traveling, and a great blazer pairs with practically anything! In addition, you’ll look fabulously put together even after a 12 hour flight.

2. Denim— There are many reasons that denim is vital travel apparel. It doesn’t wrinkle much, and even if it does, they tend to shake out after a few minutes of wear. They can be worn repeatedly without washing and sometimes they even look better on day two. Finally, they go with almost everything! I recommend a pair that isn’t too super-trendy, something with a darker wash, and with a straight leg so that you can wear it with ballet flats, flip flops, sneakers, or boots. Take one or two pairs with you if you are backpacking so you have a pair to wear on laundry days.

3. T-shirts— The #1 rule of travel… Pack light! Nothing is lighter than a t-shirt. You can bring at least 10 different t-shirts without weighing yourself down, and in all the colors that flatter your skin tone. Look for poly-blends in order to avoid wrinkles. I recommend mixing it up with some v-necks, crewnecks, long-sleeved, short-sleeved, sleeveless and tunic length, of course. And they will look great under that blazer, or with our next item…

4. Leggings— They’re chic, they’re light and they’re oh so comfortable! You kind find them in different weights, textures and colors, and they can basically be rolled up and shoved in the bottom of your pack, so they’re a nice complement to the heavy denim that you’ve already packed.

5. Boyfriend cardigan—It’s bulky, it’s warm and it can be worn with jeans or leggings, so it earns a place on the list of travel essentials. Less formal than a blazer, and far less fitted, this layering piece lends itself well to those trips where we ate a little too much of the local cuisine.

6. Accessories— If you are going to pack such basics, accessories are a must! Luckily, they’re light, so pick a side pocket in your pack or luggage, and stuff it full of costume jewelry. It will spice up any outfit! However, DO NOT take any jewelry of value, either monetary or sentimental. Things have a way of going missing when you travel, so do not take anything you can’t bear to lose.

7. Scarves— This goes hand in hand with accessories, but packing a few scarves will allow you to add a touch of style and warmth simultaneously. And because there are a million different ways to wear a scarf, whether it be in your hair, around your neck, or belted to look like a vest, you can shake up your style with just a few small pieces of fabric.

8. Khaki shorts— A great pair of khakis will serve you well for the hotter legs of your journey (no pun intended). They are a multitalented piece of apparel because the right pair can be dressed up with heels and a white t with a bright scarf or colorful statement necklace, or can be worn everyday with a pair of flip-flops. Plus, they are always cotton or a cotton/poly blend, and so many retailers are doing flirty, feminine versions this season that you will have no problem finding a comfortable pair that you will love to wear!

9. Shoes— This is the most important wardrobe decision a traveler can make. Shoes are heavy and do not pack easily. So it is important to consider your destination and the activities that you are planning to do while you are traveling. Are you planning to do a lot of sightseeing? Hiking and camping? Hotel hopping? These are all important considerations, but having a well worn pair of ballet flats will ensure that you can dress up an outfit if you plan to visit the churches of Europe, and still feel comfortable if you spend the rest of the trip visiting the attractions. If you know you plan to hike and camp, or to travel to Iceland in January, buy a great pair of hiking boots and break them in before you leave for your trip. You’ll be grateful that you did. Bringing a pair of flip-flops is always a good idea if you are traveling in the summer or to a tropical locale.

10. The LBD— It is heartbreaking to travel to the world’s most fashion forward cities without your entire wardrobe on hand, but somewhere between home and your second layover, you will regret bringing every adorable dress you own and start tossing them out of your pack to save your bruised shoulders. If you can only bring one article of clothing that you can wear to the hot new club opening in Milan or to stroll down the Champs Elysees in style, what is more crucial than the little black dress? Choose one that is neither too formal nor too casual, and you should be able to stretch that dress across the European continent (with the help of accessories, of course!).

11. Black slacks— One pair of black dress slacks will come in handy, I promise. Plus, they are light, so they shouldn’t add much weight to your luggage, but will add polish to any ensemble. You just never know when you may find yourself in need of a “dress for success” moment, even on vacation!

12. Fanny Pack— This item is last on the list because it is not necessarily a wardrobe necessity, but it is a necessity, nonetheless. The fanny pack we’re referring to is not the fluorescent bulky ones that your grandparents wear on their vacation to Florida! The kind that we’re referring to is slim, worn under your pants and keeps your important documents safe from pick pockets. These can be purchased most notably at an AAA location in your city, and they are meant to house your passport, your credit cards, ID and any cash you may be carrying. They are completely invisible under your pants and are an absolutely essential piece of travel apparel if you are traveling abroad!

**In addition: Don’t be afraid to shop on your trip! If you want to buy a great cable knit sweater in Amsterdam, and then find you don’t need it when you’re in Italy, ship it home. That way, you won’t have to lug it around, and you get to come home to some stylish souvenirs! The same applies to shoes. If you know you’re starting your journey in a cool or rugged destination, bring the boots, and then ship them home once you ship off for sunnier shores! You can always pick up a great pair of Birkenstock’s in Germany, or a cheap pair of flip-flops at a kiosk in Greece.