Mary Michele Nidiffer, Master Style Coach and Founder
StyleFinder Boutique
www.ShopStyleFinder.com
Book your personal/virtual style session with Mary Michele here:
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@shopstylefinder
Being fashion savvy in terms of travel doesn't have to be
complicated. I want to share with you my top guidelines for packing
light and dressing well. These can be game-changers not only when
it comes to travel, but in how you think about your wardrobe beyond
your next trip.
My Best Tips:
1/ Choose a Color Capsule
Select a Color Capsule of 3-4 colors including at least 2 neutrals and
1 color to pop. Don't forget to choose a metal too, for your
accessories.
Limit prints to just a couple for maximum versatility. Think beyond
black! While black is easy, it may not be your best color. What else
could you wear instead?
Black/Camel/White – leopard print, pink, red, green to pop?
Camel/Navy/White – stripes?
Navy/Pink/White – polka dots?
Turquoise/Green/Royal/White – floral?
Camel/Yellow/Cream – lace?
Then choose pieces that are in these colors and mix and match them.
Layer them, put things together in new and unexpected ways, and
see how much mileage you can get from just a few pieces.
2/ Shoes First – You could easily pack an entire suitcase of nothing
but shoes, but who wants to lug them around? Shoes can often be
the bulkiest items you'll pack, so efficiency is key.
3/ Build a Wardrobe Capsule – Don't Assume you need 7 outfits for
7 days. If you choose 3 outfits that can mix and match, you'll wind up
having much more to wear than you thought.
Packing List (starting point)
Neutral Pants (2-3 pairs)
Jeans that fit well
Neutral Skirt (wrinkle free)
Tops in bold and neutral hues (tanks, tees, etc that are wrinkle-resistant)
Dressy tank
Neutral Cardigan
Anorak
Denim Jacket or Relaxed Blazer
Large Handbag that can double as Tote
Clutch
Chic Sneakers
Sandals, Wedges
4/ Secret weapons -
I call these secret weapons because they expand my wardrobe
choices without taking up much space, and pack a big punch.
1. Kimonos
2. Scarves
3. Anything Reversible
5/ Go Wrinkle-Free – Ideally, everything you pack should be wrinkle-
resistant and in a fabric that you can easily wash out in the sink if you
need to. Many of the fabrics in StyleFinder are just that, and you can
roll them up into a small bag and pull them out to look gorgeous!
Who has time for ironing?
In fact, with just 8 pieces you can get at least 14 different outfits and
these pieces would easily fit into a carry-on. But this doesn't even
take into account adding in a kimono, scarf or other pieces such as
fun tops, shorts, jackets, etc.
1. Cardigan/tank 1/skirt
2. Cardigan/tank1/pants
3. Cardigan/tank 2/skirt
4. Cardigan/tank 2/pants
5. Cardigan/dress
6. Shrug/tank/skirt
7. Shrug/tank/pants
8. Shrug/dress
9. Top/Skirt
10. Top/Pants
11. Cardigan/Top/Skirt
12. Cargidan/Top/Dress
13. Tank/Dress
14. Shrug/Tank/Dress
6/ Final Edit
Once you have your pieces selected, now it's time to make your final
edit. Take one piece and see how many outfits you can make with it.
Take pictures along the way or write down what you're pairing. This
is where you'll edit like a pro, leaving out anything extra and only
keeping those items you love and know you'll wear.
7/ Create Your Style File
So you've made your final selections and taken your pictures. I
recommend you download them and print them out. Having a Style
File to refer to that's printed will make it easy to get dressed at a
moment's notice and will help you feel polished and put-together,
even if you're rushed. Print it out, tuck it into your suitcase and rest
assured you'll look chic no matter what you're doing.
**Checking your bag? Place a copy in your carry-on too, so if
something happens to your luggage you have a record of all your
outfits for insurance, or if you need to replace anything.
Looking great while traveling can be easy when you follow these
guidelines. A wardrobe capsule will assure that you have many great
options with only a few pieces of clothing. Wrinkle-free fabrics will
assure that you look great even after a long day on safari or
sightseeing. You'll be surprised how many looks you can create
using these methods, but the best surprise of all is that you can now
get away with a carry-on! Bon voyage!
I'd love for to leave me a 5-star review! Tell me what you loved, what
you'd like to hear more of and your biggest takeaway. Many thanks,
sweet friend! XO
