7 Tips for Traveling Light While Staying in Style
Whether we are traveling to a tropical island for beach hopping or spending the holidays in a snowy country, there is one dilemma that many of us have to face: how do we travel light while staying in style?
This concern has been quite a challenge for many travelers, in addition to the hassle of long-haul flights, heaving our luggage around, and jet lag. While bringing bigger suitcases can enable you to fit all your pre-planned outfits and achieve your OOTD photo goals, they won’t surely make your travel convenient. On the other hand, traveling light can make you feel more comfortable and mobile, but your wardrobe will be painfully limited.
There’s good news though! Traveling light without sacrificing style is possible—and the best way to do this is to learn how to pack smart. To help you with this, we have listed down the best packing hacks to organize the perfect capsule wardrobe for your next travel!
Traveling light and in style: best hacks
Here are some travel tips and tricks to help you make the most out of your suitcase space and style.
1. Pack separates
Instead of thinking of your outfit set per day, think of your clothes as separate pieces that can be mixed and matched. By packing separates, you get multiple looks out of each piece of clothing while saving suitcase space.
If you think you are only going to wear a piece once, consider replacing it with another that can be worn multiple times and can be complemented by another piece of clothing. Bring clothing pieces that are versatile enough to pair with your other pieces and still look fashionable. Some great basics you can consider are denim skirt, wool coat, cardigan, little black dress, white turtleneck top, black skirt or pants, leather boots, and neutral-colored sneakers.
2. Stick with neutrals
Bring your neutral-colored clothing pieces but throw in some color to make it pop.
These neutral colors, which include white, black, navy, tan, and denim will tie your wardrobe together. With simplified color combos, it will be easier for you to mix and match pieces without compromising style.
If you want to keep it simple yet aesthetic, opt for a tri-color palette. For this, brown, yellow, and beige make a perfect combination as they complement each other. Yellow becomes the primary tone that will accentuate your style with brown and beige as supporting hues to spruce up your looks.
3. Wear your bulkiest pieces on the plane
Free up your suitcase space by wearing your bulkiest clothing pieces on board. If you’re traveling to a country with chilly weather, you can opt to wear your big wool jacket or trench coat, bobble hat, and chunky boots as well as carry your bulky items so you don’t have to worry about fitting them in your suitcase. Besides, you can delayer your clothes and shove them in the overhead bin to lighten your clothing load.
4. Minimize the shoes
Shoes, as we all know, are heavy and space-consuming. To keep your luggage load lighter, make sure to narrow your shoes down to one to three pairs on any trip, ideally, ones that balance aesthetics and functionality. Opt for lightweight shoes and those that serve multiple purposes like sneakers, flats, sandals, and loafers.
If you’re heading to countries like Europe, you’ll probably encounter cobblestoned streets that are lovely to stroll along. However, if you’re power walking, consider comfortable shoes to save your feet from fatigue. If you’re visiting beaches, opt for slippers or sandals that are durable and waterproof.
5. Accessorize the Right Way
Keep your accessories and makeup in sleek pouches that can double as evening bags to also save luggage space. Select only pieces of jewelry, hats, socks, and other accessories that will jazz up the clothing pairs you have in mind.
6. Pack the must-haves, not the nice-to-haves
Think long and hard about every item you wish to bring, and then eliminate anything you think won’t be functional and multipurpose. After all, quality is more important than quantity. By opting for the former, you also reduce your luggage load, making your travel more comfortable and convenient.
Pack only the pieces that you love, and need the most. If you don’t have much space, resist the urge to bring clothing for the sole purpose of “just in case” because you can always buy an extra piece of clothing in the stores. If you are on your cycle, consider also wearing period underwear for leak-proof protection while traveling.
7. Bring a multipurpose bag
Bags also take up much luggage space. To make your travel load lighter, make sure to bring a multipurpose bag that you can also wear on the plane. It can be a mini backpack, tote bag, sling bag, or handbag. To optimize your luggage space, bring a bag that can serve different purposes rather than bringing different kinds of bags that might only be used once.
Versatility is the key
To travel light, being versatile is a must.
The clothes, shoes, and accessories that you aim to insert into your suitcase should be as versatile as possible and can serve multiple functions throughout your trip. By doing this, you can have seamless and convenient travel while staying stylish.
Hope these tips help you get and stay organized and stylish while traveling! Let me know in the comments what trips you’ve got coming up in 2022!
About the Contributor
Sophia Young recently quit a non-writing job to finally be able to tell stories and paint the world through her words. She loves talking about fashion and weddings and travel, but she can also easily kick ass with a thousand-word article about the latest marketing and business trends, finance-related topics, and can probably even whip up a nice heart-warming article about family life. She can totally go from fashion guru to your friendly neighborhood cat lady with mean budgeting skills and home tips real quick.
5 Easy Ways to Transition Your Style from Summer to Fall
Can you believe summer is halfway over! I for one have been making up for lost time - hitting the streets, rooftop bars, pool parties and beaches with a newfound appreciation for summer fun. After the summer of quarantine in 2020 it feels like it’s time to soak up all the moments while we can, because you never know when the next lockdown will be!
It’s hard to believe we’ll be transitioning into Fall in the next month or so. My wardrobe definitely needed some updating after spending the better part of a year and a half in the house! But I am being more conservative with how I shop and how I spend, and making sure I can get decent mileage out of the items I buy.
If you are trying to keep your wardrobe relevant each season without spending a ton on new stuff every few months, keep reading for 5 ways to transition your summer favorites to make them perfect for Fall!
5 Easy Ways to Transition Your Style
from Summer to Fall
Layers are your friend
The easiest way to make a summer dress work for Fall is to pile on the layers. You take an easy summer sundress and top it with a denim jacket or cropped leather moto jacket and bring a whole new seasonal vibe to the look. You can even work in scarves - silky ones when it’s still warm out then thicker styles , like wool and cashmere as the temperatures drop.
Don’t neglect your accessories
The right accessories can completely change an outfit. It can take a classic casual look to the next level, or make a fancy dress low key cool. If you are trying to figure out ways to transition your summer favorites to fall, don’t forget your accessories. Keep your favorite summer bags and baubles in rotation, pairing them with fall essentials like jeans and a crisp white button down. It will be an unexpected touch and an easy way to keep the summer vibe going as temperatures cool off.
Yes, You Can Wear Pants and a Dress
Don’t be afraid to experiment with fashion! The slip dress is a summer staple, and one of the some of the most genius styling hacks I’ve seen on TikTok involve creative ways to style them. Why not tuck a summery slip dress into jeans and wear it like a camisole? Or pair a dress with dramatic side splits with a pair of leather skinnies and boots? Get creative with how you style and of course have fun!
Booties, Booties Rocking Everywhere
Booties are a fall staple, but you don’t have to wait until late September to wear them! Style them with your summer sundresses to keep rocking your favorites into the next season. I love ankle boots and Western inspired styles paired with a boho sundress and jean jacket.
Tone Down the Summer Colors and Prints
I love going bright and bold for summer, but as you are getting ready to transition to Fall, it’s time to start thinking about ways to tone it down. Stash away your tropical prints and anything that is peak summer; focus on the pastels, solids or more subdued florals to make the look work for Fall.
Check out some of my favorite pieces that will easily go from summer to Fall! Are you looking forward to Fall dressing?
Little Black Dresses for Summer and Fall
White Summer Dresses that You Can Wear Through Fall
Classic Accessories and Layering Pieces You Can Wear in Any Season
3 Tips You Need to Know to Look Amazing in Biker Shorts
I know it’s early Fall, but on the West Coast it still feels like peak summer! I’ve been working out a ton trying to get back in shape after all the gyms closed. So I find myself spending more and more time in activewear! My daily routine is pretty much workout at the gym in my apartment, get ready, then head to my desk to work from home for the rest of the day. Some days my “getting ready for work” is just putting on a new pair of leggings and a blouse that looks good from the waist up for Zoom meetings
I’ve been playing with new ways to have fun with activewear and make it work for more than just the gym. Bike shorts have become one of my staples for working out. They are perfect for the days when it’s too hot to wear leggings, and offer more coverage than a traditional yoga or running short. I personally avoid wearing too short fitness shorts. They are completely unforgiving and I find myself just was worried about how I look in them as I am about my form when working out! Biker shorts are the perfect compromise! They are versatile enough to work in and outside the gym, and you can find them in so many prints and colors. If you are wondering how to style biker shorts, stay tuned!
Here are a few ways to style biker shorts - from sporty to chic!
How to Style Biker Shorts
Biker Shorts and Crop Top
The sportiest way to wear biker shorts is with a crop top of sports bra. It’s the perfect look for a gym session, or if you just want to look like you worked out! The pair I’m wearing in this post is from Athleta, and they are sold out, so I’m linking similar ones below. The pop color is so fun, and was surprisingly flattering. Neon green definitely makes a statement, so I paired these with a simple black crop and my white Nike sneakers.
An all black bike shorts sports bra combo is also a great pairing! It’s way more subtle if attention grabbing, electric colors aren’t your thing. Plus black is the most flattering color and works on any skin tone.
Biker Shorts and Sporty Sweatshirt Combo
If you want a little more coverage on top, or it’s just too chilly to wear a crop top all day, add a sporty chic sweatshirt! Play with proportions to have some fun — a slightly fitted sweatshirt can look nicely pulled together, or an oversized boyfriend style for more of a cool girl vibe.
I did a little tuck with my sweatshirt so it was ever so slightly cropped in the front. Just tuck a little bit of the hem into your bra and fluff. The elastic should keep it in place all day, and that’s an easy way to give your sweatshirt some shape.
Biker Shorts All Dressed Up to Go Out
I had a lot of fun styling this look! I paired the same set of neon green biker shorts with a semi-sheer silk blouse and strappy heels. I kept the other elements in a simple color palette because the shorts are so loud and this was already an adventurous fashion look.
If you are wearing a pair of biker shorts in a more neutral color or black, play with a fun pattern or color on top. You can even layer on accessories or grab a nice bag with a sophisticated shape to finish the look.
Hope you love these style tips! Are you into the biker shorts look? I know you may not think this is the most user-friendly look, but trust me the formula works. Give it a try if you are bored with your current wardrobe situation.
The exact pieces I’m wearing are no longer online, but I found these super cute and affordable options below! Click below to shop the look and let me know how you style it!
The Best Wedding Dresses Under $500 for Every Type of Bride!
Bridal shopping is equal parts fun and downright annoying. Gorgeous dresses, fancy salons, and personalized attention is great. But restrictive sample sizes, astronomical prices, and long lead times for production are the worst! The biggest thing I’ve learned as I start my wedding dress adventure is that it is very much a process! There are so many steps, elements to consider, and of course financial implications before you can say yes to the dress. If you want to skip over some of the dramatics and/or keep your budget in check, you may want to consider going the nontraditional bridal route. In my research I found a ton of great wedding dresses for every style, all at reasonable price points. If splurging on a dress you’ll only wear a few hours isn’t your idea of a good wedding investment or you just want to keep your budget reasonable, I rounded up some amazing wedding dresses all under $500. From sexy mermaids, to Cinderella worthy ball gowns, stay tuned for my favorite affordable wedding gowns for every type of bride!
Ball Gown Wedding Dresses Under $500
If you’ve been dreaming about that Cinderella moment but don’t have a fairy godmother wallet check out these ball gowns all under $500! They range from super princessy, to modern glam, to even a bit edge with color coming into play.
Mermaid Wedding Dresses Under $500
Show of your curves and play up the drama in an affordable mermaid wedding gown! I found some options that are sexy glam, and some that are a little more toned down depending on your style, and included the one I wore in my engagement shoot that is only $250!
Boho Wedding Dress Under $500
For the beach babe or boho bride, these wedding dresses are simple, beautiful and downright fun! There is even one from Amazon for less than $100! Don’t judge it by the awful photo on site though. This was one dress I purchased as an option for my engagement shoot since it offered Prime shipping and free returns. I was surprised by how beautiful it was in person! The fit was great and beading just lovely, and the fabric did not feel cheap at all. The only thing I didn’t like was the elastic in the neckline since it is an off-the-shoulder fit, but that is something that can be fixed with alterations.
Non-Traditional Wedding Dresses Under $500
If you want a wedding dress that looks bridal but is nontraditional, here are a few fun ones I found. From short and playful to unexpected and embellished, check them out! Depending on the overall style of your wedding you may not love them, but they may work for your bridal shower, rehearsal, or post wedding festivities.
The other great thing about most of these dresses is the ease of ordering! Traditional wedding dresses can take months from the time you order them and are almost always nonrefundable once you put a deposit down. If you love the idea of these dresses but haven’t seen one here that is what you’ve been dreaming about, keep browsing these sites and check out the refund policies. Buying a wedding dress online can be scary so check reviews, do some research and read the fine print so you know what you are getting into!
6 Ways to Get Ready for Spring
April is the best month! Not just because it’s my birthday month, although that’s a good part of the reason why! Spring is in the air, the city starts waking up, and flowers start blossoming everywhere you look. Here are a few ways I get ready for my birthday and to kick off the Spring season!
If You Haven’t Already, File Your Taxes!
You know what time it is! 2019 taxes are due April 15th this year, so don’t mess around! I usually do them in March because it takes a while to get all my paperwork from assorted blog campaigns together to file. I also like filing in March because I usually get my refund right around my birthday, so it’s always a nice little treat! Obviously I save the majority of it, but I do leave a little bit for me to plan something fun. Which brings me to my next point . . .
Schedule Your Spring Beauty Treatments
There are a lot of treatments I do on a regular basis to keep things in check! Laser hair removal is a big one, and you need to get those touch ups before summer so you don’t risk discoloration due to sun exposure. I always get my touch-ups in April so I have plenty of time to heal and protect my skin before sundress/bikini season kicks off.
I’m not big on facials, but I do indulge them occasionally. Chemical peels are my preferred choice, and I always get them from a dermatologist, NOT a day spa. Not knocking spas as they can be an amazing experience, but when it comes to strong chemicals being applied to my face with the goal of actually burning off the top layer of skin, I want that administered by a licensed medical professional! My go to dermatologist in the city is Dr. Carlos Charles at Derma di Colore, who has been keeping my skin glowing for years. I also love Dr. Sinha at Pearlman Aesthetic Surgery!
I definitely prefer massages to facials, so I make it a point to get one every year the week of my birthday. I actually get them every 3 or 4 months, but usually they are pretty intense massages, aimed at working out tension and helping me recover from my strength building workouts. The birthday massage is designed to be a relaxing one, that just lets me get pampered!
Plan a Party or Social Event
I usually have multiple events the week of my birthday because, well why not! I’m so lucky to have a lot of friends and any excuse to get them all together and eat cake and pop champagne is much appreciated. I made my reservations for brunch and dinner a few weeks ago, so just putting the finishing touches on some small details. If you don’t like planning birthdays or have a group of friends that would love to plan it for you, definitely take advantage! I just tend to take matters into my own hands when it comes to the birthday, and my friends usually love what I come up with so the trend just stuck. This year will be way more low-key than last year’s pajama party, since I’m super busy, but I’m so excited! The next thing to do is take advantage of my Rent the Runway birthday rental and pick out an amazing look! Did you know you get a free birthday rental with an RTR Pro membership? Check out their site for more details!
Try a New Hair Style
New season, new look right? I start playing with my hair more for Spring and Summer, trying out lighter colors, playing with more fun wigs, or trying trendy braided styles. The energy of the season just lends itself to experimenting with a new look! I’m going to be testing out the new passion twists that are all the rage, so stay tuned to my Instagram to see how this look turns out!
Clean out Your Closet for Spring
It’s time to transition your wardrobe from winter to Spring, and before you can take advantage of all the Spring sales, you’ve got to make room in your closet for the new additions! I always go through my closet and audit everything that needs to go and decide whether to sell it on Poshmark or one of the resale stores like Crossroads or donate it to Goodwill. I also usually pull out a few pieces that I want to keep but need some extra love, like fixing minor tears, treating stains, getting shoes polished, etc. Once you know what you are keeping for the new season, you can carefully shop around to round out your looks and options!
Plan a Summer Trip
Give yourself something to look forward to! Summer is a great time to travel, and if you want to find a deal now is the time to start looking. Coordinate with your friends or significant other on a dream destination or affordable little weekends. If you aren’t sure where to go, sign up for fare sale alerts and emails on most of the big booking sites. They will let you know about flash sales and discounted travel that will help give you ideas to start planning!
Let me know how you get ready for Spring and what you are most excited about this season!
Curing the Winter Blues with Biore & John Frieda!
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #BioreFreeYourPores #RAWellnessBeauty #ForHairThatDemandsAttention #CollectiveBias
I know I’m not the only one who is completely over winter! It’s been pretty freezing the past few weeks in NY and the weather is really putting a damper on my social life. I’ve been trying to make the most of spending more time indoors waiting until winter passes, so that means lots of Netflix and Hulu, a few new good reads, and of course, my at home beauty treatments. Relaxation time is so important, especially after the hectic holiday season. After all of those weeks taking care of everyone else, it’s time to turn your focus back to yourself. If you want to indulge in a little self-care when it’s too cold to be out doing anything else, here is my routine for a quick and easy cozy spa night at home.
Now just grab a cozy knit throw blanket and turn on a movie for the perfect way to end a night of pampering. After nights like these I feel completely rejuvenated.
Starting 1/27 and 2/10, save 25% off any one Biore® item
Starting 2/10, look for BOGO 50% on John Frieda® products
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Let me know how you guys are surviving the rest of winter!
How to Mix Prints and Make it Work!
It’s my first post of 2019! I realized I haven’t done an outfit post in quite some time, so wanted to kick off my content for the new year with one of my favorite topics - fashion trends and how to wear them.
Hope you guys are recovering nicely from the New Year’s Eve festivities and are ready to jump into the new year. If you made any 2019 style resolutions, why not start kicking them off? I love experimenting with trends, and mixing prints has always been one of my favorites. It can be a tricky look to pull off, but when done correctly makes your look unforgettable.
There are a few things to know when mixing prints to keep from looking crazy. One thing to remember is to keep the color families similar and not too bold. Mixing both prints and colors can put you in the doing too much zone, and you want to keep it chic and stylish. I also prefer to keep the prints in a similar size/scale for balance. In the look above, I paired a grey snakeskin maxi dress from Zara with a vintage blue plaid coat. The grey and blue play nicely together and both prints aren’t too big or too small, so they work well when paired. Keep the rest of the look clean to let your prints stand out. I went for classic, minimal jewelry and simple black booties with a chunky heel.
Let me know how you feel about the print mixing trend, and shop the look below!
