How to be a Fashionable Jet Setter

One of my major obstacles while traveling is deciding what to pack for my vacation. I’m naturally an over packer. I used to be that girl at the airport who’s trying to move things around in her suitcase because she was just told that she would have to pay crazy overage fees. But during my 9-day trip to Peru last year, I made a conscious effort to be a fashionable jet setter without over packing. I found a few key tips that worked perfectly and helped me fulfill my goals.

Pick a color scheme. Deciding on a color scheme helps planning your clothing choices a breeze. It prevents over packing and keeps you on track while packing. I picked earth tones and even narrowed that down to 3 color primary colors and some prints, like this leopard print dress, to balance things out. For my outdoor gear, I went with all black because I knew I was going to get down and dirty. Because I chose the same color scheme, I paired individual pieces together and created new looks everyday with the same clothing.

Check the weather of your destination and plan for the worst. I knew that Peru would be experiencing rainy weather when I arrived and cooler temperatures. I wasn’t sure how cold it really was going to get due to the higher altitude, so I packed light layers of clothing. A tank top under a long sleeved shirt and topped off with a hoodie or a sweater worked a lot better than packing a large coat. As I was doing walking tours and checking out the local dives, removing or adding a light layer was more convenient than lugging around a heavy jacket.

Choose your shoes wisely. Depending on what your activity level will be while on vacation, your shoes can really make a difference. Comfortable, but chic, should always be the rule. Because I was traveling with only this boots doubled up as my hiking boots and my walk about shoes as well. They were waterproof so I could throw them on during the rainy days. I also packed a pair of leopard print flats and some day boots. They were all super comfortable and could transition well with all my looks.

Don’t be afraid to mix and match. If you’re going on an extended vacation, the idea of packing a new outfit for each day sounds ideal but in reality, can be overwhelming. There’s nothing wrong with wearing the same piece of clothing more than once. You can always utilize the washer and dryer in your AirBnB, like I did, or ask for laundering services at your hotel once you’ve worn your clothing a few times. It’s a lot cheaper than over packing and possibly having to pay overage fees or checking in another bag.

Realistically plan your wardrobe around your activities. It sounds like common sense but overthinking this step will leave you either with too much or not enough clothing. I knew for sure that I would be doing some hiking while in Peru, so I had to pack comfortable outdoor gear. I also knew I would be doing a lot of walking around to check out the architecture of the different cities in the country, so adequate day wear was necessary. The idea layering helped out on days when my itinerary and weather changed.

Leave your jewelry at home. While on vacation, there’s no need to draw extra attention to yourself by wearing a lot of bling and jewelry. This is especially the case while on an international vacation. Pack nondescript and simple jewelry. I even chose to leave my FitBit at home as well as any necklaces. I just rotated three earrings. A fashionable jet setter is stylish but also smart.

Don’t forget the accessories. Pack a fun hat like this one. Grab some inexpensive sunglasses because you would hate to loose your good ones. Leave your large purse at home and bring along a small cross-body bag. I chose to use this convertible waist bag that can transition into a cross-body and it matched my color scheme perfectly. It easily stored my necessities and I could easily access things I needed without having to dig thru a backpack or large purse. I also packed an oversized scarf and it really came in handy when the temperatures dropped at night. Asos has the best extra large scarves.

Being a fashionable jet setter is not as difficult as it sounds. It simply involves putting a bit more effort into your daily looks, packing with intention, and just having fun with it all.