Are you ready for some travel? I think one of the things I'm looking forward to most in a post-vaccine world is getting away. And with the start of summer upon us, I thought some tips for traveling in style sounded like a great idea! From comfortable but chic travel outfits to suitcase choices, it's time to get back on the road!

I don’t know about you, but I have a pretty standard uniform that I wear when I travel. The elements can vary slightly, depending on the destination, but the one consistent aspect is stylish comfort. My uniform starts with a pair of my favorite joggers or jeans, a lightweight sweater or white tee shirt and a jacket ( or my favorite black cashmere blazer), or cardigan, and comfortable shoes. Usually lightweight tennis shoes. Everything I wear gets utilized again , especially the shoes and jacket. There is an age old rule that always goes through my head and that is to wear your heaviest jacket or sweater and your heaviest shoes. I still use that rule, especially when traveling in the winter and boots are involved. It makes for much easier packing. And lastly, I always bring a cashmere wrap/scarf in my carry on. Plane temperatures vary and it’s nice to have that extra layer, sometimes it’s just the comfort of having it on your lap. Plus, it will come in handy on cooler evenings while you’re traveling.

I’m in the process of refreshing my luggage after my long time standby’s zipper broke and I decided to retire it. It has served me well for a long time, and really I want something more modern and smaller. Like the photo above. I found some great options ! All at different price points. I’ve also added some wonderful travel accessories that make keeping everything in their place, so much simpler. I love this Madewell overnight tote bag and this classic. Another piece I think would be great to have on hand is this Tumi “Just in Case” bag. It’s a packable nylon tote that’s perfect for slipping into your carry-on or suitcase to have as an extra bag for purchases you might make during your travels. Last year it was available during the Nordstrom Anniversary sale, so it may just be there again this summer! Also, in the photos below, specifically the coral purse with the hat attached to it, the feature is the hat hook that attaches to your tote bag. I think it’s brilliant. In the summer, I always travel with a hat, so this would be ideal for me instead of carrying it.

The biggest dilemma for me in packing is always the shoes…I have to edit , edit, edit. Luckily I start packing a day or so before I actually have to do it to make sure that everything I want to bring is clean and ready to go. I lay everything out in outfits, complete with shoes and jewelry, and then edit again. I’m a big fan of rolling my clothes up, so once I’ve done the final edit, everything goes in the suitcase. I find that if I do this process last minute, I always bring more than I need. Which has definitely happened. Something else that really works for me - I keep a basic packing list on my laptop that I use to make sure I’m including all the essentials that I take every time I go away. For me, it really helps to have that on hand just for double - checking myself.

Happy travels ! I hope you have some amazing adventures this summer!

Until next time,