The season for constant travel and finally taking a breather to live your best life is finally here - it’s summer baby! So, if you’re looking for travel and packing tips for fashion and function, look no further - that’s what we’re talking about in this post.

This summer I actually bought a house, so I’m limiting my trips a bit as I settle into my new home, but just booked a week-long trip in Sedona, AZ! I’m going to rest, resort, and rejuvenate as I start planning for the rest of this year - what I want it to look like for me, my business, and my personal life. I’m hoping to find some delicious new inspiration as I go on this trip and hope your trips do the same for you this summer.

Most of my clients, on the other hand, are headed to places like London, to attend Wimbledon, Eastern Europe to explore Belgrade, or going to Napa, Mexico, and Thailand to name a few.

I planned out all of their looks based on their itinerary, and trust me, it is time-consuming to think about how to be both stylish and realistically functional.

Nobody wants to end up walking around Europe wanting to go home when they really should be enjoying themselves, all because their feet are blistering or their clothes are uncomfortably hot due to poor outfit planning.

I also want you to live your absolute best life on your well-deserved trips, and that doesn't include uncomfortable clothes or shoes. However, I also don’t want you to sacrifice looking cute for being comfy - it’s possible to have both.

Here are a few tips that I would recommend as an expert personal fashion stylist, to think about when planning your outfits.

Travel And Packing Tips For Fashion And Function

Let’s get into the tips I use whenever I plan out my travel outfits, and also the tips I follow when planning my clients’ travel outfits.

Plan Your Outfits Around Your Shoes

First, start with your shoes. Think about what you will be doing the most and bring the shoes that match that vibe, but are functional.

If it's walking around, then plan comfortable walking shoes first, and your outfits around those.

The worst thing is when you have a super cute outfit in mind, and then don't have the right shoes to go with it. That’s why I always love to plan my outfits and my clients' outfits with both flats and/or comfy heels in mind.

I think it's always great to have a pair of chic flats.

PRO STYLIST TIP: If you're wearing wide-leg pants, you can wear a chunky sandal or chunky platform sneaker for walking around. I normally require my clients to have a pair of good, sturdy sandals that go with all of their outfits if they find that they want to opt for a comfy yet chic flat.

Remember, shoes take up the most room in your suitcase, so having fewer shoes with more versatility is key.

Or, if you only care about the total looks, you can always travel with a separate suitcase or carry-on just for your shoes.

Plan Your Outfits Around The Weather

I know this may seem obvious, but this is one of the first things that I check whenever I'm planning my own outfits or outfits for my clients.

If the trip is far away, look up the typical weather for around that month and plan your outfits accordingly.

If it's going to be potential for rain, wear close-toed shoes, and plan your outfits around that.

Also, make sure to know how hot or cold it will be, so you know how many layers you need. There’s nothing worse than arriving at your destination and realizing you’ll either be freezing or melting, because you chose the wrong outfits for that climate.

Plan Your Outfits In A Complementary Color Palette

I always plan my outfits with 3 colors that all complement each other.

That way, if the weather changes, or if I want to change up some looks to dress based on my mood, I can easily update my outfit without worrying about it.

So, what does this entail? This can mean bringing all neutrals to your trip and playing with the texture and silhouettes. Or it can look like bringing neutrals with a few pops of complementary colors to spice up some of your looks.

Experiment With Versatility

I love challenging myself to style things in a way that's different and unique - something that other people may not think about when styling that piece.

But I also love seeing how much I can maximize all of the pieces that I’m bringing.

This may mean taking an oversize button-down and seeing how many ways I can wear it.

I just styled my client for her 40th birthday trip to Eastern Europe and I styled her striped oversized button-down a few ways - buttoned all the way up tucked into her cute little fit and flare skirt which was a play on the masculine and feminine (which my clients love), and after that look, she wore it opened up as a bathing suit coverup. 

I could have even added an a-line skirt underneath the button-down and added a chunky belt for a completely different look too. I can think of about 5 other ways to wear that thing, which is amazing if you’re wanting to pack lightly, have limited space, or want to maximize the pieces in your wardrobe in general.

I challenge you to go into your closet and pull out 1 or 2 pieces that you’d really love to bring on your next trip, and allow yourself to just play with them. Start pairing them with different bottoms, try on your outfit creations, and if the outfits don’t work, don’t get discouraged. Just laugh it off, and try a different piece on, but keep on the piece that you love and want to bring. There are no right or wrong rules here, just allow yourself to play in your closet, and maybe try a different piece or even a shoe that you wouldn’t normally put with that outfit. Challenge yourself to pair things differently than your norm, it might surprise you what ends up working!

It's so fun to just play in your closet and experiment with pieces, it keeps things fresh. I always do this on a trip - and it makes it even more fun when you blast your favorite music when you do it. 

The more you play with your clothes, the more fun they become, and the more fun you will have when you get dressed. 

Tips For Packing For Trips

Okay, to sum it all up - here are things you need to consider when packing for your trip, if you want to think about both fashion and function:

• Plan your shoes first - think about what shoes you want to wear (flats, heels, etc.), and plan your outfits around those.

• Think about the weather - there’s nothing worse than packing cute outfits and realizing you’ll be too hot or too cold. So, check the weather, and plan your outfits around that.

• Use complementary colors - using a few complementary colors will make it easy to make changes to your outfits when you’re on the trip, as everything will go together well.

• Experiment - don’t be afraid to experiment with versatility, it will make you love your outfits that much more!

Use these travel and packing tips for your next trip, and have fun - no matter if you’re traveling to a city next to yours, or across the world!