What I Actually Wear When I Travel
For most of my life, I wasn’t someone who traveled often. Growing up in Kansas, vacations weren’t a regular part of life, and even after I started working, travel usually meant airports, meetings, and getting home as quickly as possible.
That changed when my job began taking me overseas and my best friend since birth finally convinced me that Venice had to be our next adventure. Somewhere between wandering quiet canals, lingering over morning cappuccinos, and realizing I could walk ten miles without thinking about my feet, I caught the travel bug.
The outfits you’ll find here aren’t trendy vacation looks I’ll only wear once.
They’re the pieces I reach for again and again because they work—whether I’m walking through Venice, playing tourist during a Las Vegas staycation, or catching an early morning flight.
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My Travel Style Philosophy
I’ve reached a point where comfort feels a little like my favorite pair of slippers. I don’t want to spend my vacation tugging at clothes, breaking in shoes, or wishing I’d packed something else.
That doesn’t mean giving up style.
Comfort for Miles
Instead, I’ve learned to build outfits around comfortable pieces that still feel like me. Wide-leg pants instead of stiff jeans. Sneakers I can walk miles in.
Ignore Gender and Sizing Suggestions
Overshirts that work for cool mornings and chilly restaurants.
Hands-free Heaven
A crossbody bag that leaves both hands free for shopping bags, cameras, or the occasional gelato.
Remix…
I also love mixing high and low pieces. One day that might mean H&M leopard pants with a designer handbag I saved years to buy.
and Miss-Match
Another day it could be a Walmart overshirt layered over something more polished.
Travel Wisdom Summarized
Travel is one place where I’ve stopped worrying about matching price tags and started caring much more about how an outfit makes me feel.
If I can walk all day, stop for dinner, take a hundred photos, and still feel comfortable, I’ll happily pack that outfit again.
What You’ll Always Find In My Suitcase
Comfortable Walking Shoes
White Nike Air Max shoes have become my travel MVP. They’re comfortable enough for long sightseeing days but still work with dresses, wide-leg pants, or casual outfits.
Wide-Leg Pants
My H&M drawstring leopard pants have survived countless travel days. They’re lightweight, easy to wash, dry quickly, and somehow look good with sneakers, sweaters, jackets, or simple tees.
Lightweight Layer
A thin overshirt or utility jacket is perfect when temperatures change throughout the day. I tend to look for men’s wear for loose fits and juxtaposition styling inspiration.
Crossbody Bag
Hands-free always wins when you’re carrying shopping bags, navigating airports, or hopping on water taxis.
Instant Coffee
I keep these in my suitcase because they’re lightweight, travel easily. They’re a simple option for hotel mornings, early flights, or road trips.
Fresh Flowers & Local Stores
I stop at a local market for fresh flowers, local cheeses, and cured meats for my hotel room or apartment.
Animal Print era
Walking European Cities
If you had told my twenty-something self that I’d someday own leopard pants, I would have laughed. Now, somewhere in my fifties, I’ve fully embraced my animal print era.
The outfit usually reflects that mindset too. A little more polished than my everyday look, but still comfortable enough to spend the entire day walking the canals and jumping on and off the vaporettos (public water buses).
Sugar & Spice Moments: Little Things I Loved About Venice
One of the things I loved most about traveling wasn’t on any itinerary. It was slowing down enough to notice the little things that made everyday life feel more intentional. These are the moments I found myself wanting to recreate long after I came home.
Aperitivo Hour
Every afternoon, the cafés around Venice filled with people stopping for an Aperol Spritz, a glass of wine, or something sparkling before dinner. What surprised me most wasn’t the drinks—it was what came with them.
Every cocktail seemed to arrive with perfectly salted potato chips, giant meaty olives, or a small plate of snacks. People weren’t rushing through happy hour. They were sitting outside, talking, watching boats drift by, and letting the evening unfold.
I still laugh because now, whenever a cocktail arrives in the U.S. without chips and olives, it somehow feels incomplete.
It’s such a small tradition, but it’s one I’ve happily adopted at home.
Grocery Store Adventures
Some people shop for souvenirs. I head straight to the neighborhood grocery store.
One of my favorite afternoons in Venice was wandering through the local markets looking at cheeses, cured meats, fresh bread, pastries, and produce. The green grapes were honestly some of the best I’ve ever tasted.
I’d grab a few things, stop for fresh flowers, and head back to the apartment to put together an easy charcuterie board. Even the drinking glasses became little vases.
Those simple evenings turned into some of my favorite memories of the trip.
It’s a reminder that travel doesn’t always have to be packed with activities. Sometimes buying groceries in another country is the experience.
Scarves Everywhere
Before Venice, scarves weren’t really part of my wardrobe.
Then I started noticing them everywhere.
Women tied them around their necks, wrapped them around handbag handles, tucked them into ponytails, or wore them loosely over sweaters and jackets.
They looked effortless in a way that immediately made me want to try it myself.
I bought one, started experimenting, and now I catch myself reaching for scarves at home too.
That’s one of my favorite things about traveling. Sometimes you don’t come home with a new outfit—you come home with a completely new way of wearing the clothes you already own.
Desert Oasis
Vegas Staycation Style
Even though I live in Las Vegas, every once in a while I like to pretend I’m visiting.
I’ll book a staycation, make dinner reservations somewhere I’ve been wanting to try, wander through beautiful hotels, and give myself permission to enjoy my own city the way a tourist would.
One of my favorite combinations has been my H&M leopard pants with a crisp white shirt, comfortable sneakers, and a structured crossbody bag. It’s proof that you don’t need uncomfortable clothes to feel dressed up.
Sugar & Spice Moments: The Little Things I Love About Living in Las Vegas
One of the best things about living in Las Vegas is that I can become a tourist whenever I need a reset. A staycation at one of my favorite hotels, dinner somewhere I’ve been wanting to try, a morning hike, or simply wandering the Strip without an agenda reminds me why millions of people vacation here every year. Sometimes the best getaway is appreciating what’s already in your own backyard.
Dressing Up Just Because
One of my favorite parts of a staycation is having a reason to get dressed again.
Not because I have to—but because it makes the whole experience feel different. There’s something fun about putting together an outfit for dinner reservations, a rooftop cocktail, or wandering through beautiful hotel lobbies.
Sometimes changing your scenery starts with changing your clothes.
Living Like a Tourist
It’s funny how easy it is to overlook the city you live in.
When I stay at the Wynn or another favorite hotel, I suddenly notice details I’ve driven past hundreds of times. I browse shops I usually ignore, stop for coffee instead of rushing somewhere, and linger over dinner without watching the clock.
Those little shifts make home feel new again.
Mixing Luxury With Nature
One of the things I love about Las Vegas is that you don’t have to choose between outdoor adventures and city life.
A morning hike at Red Rock or Mount Charleston can turn into an afternoon by the pool, followed by dinner at a beautiful restaurant and live music that evening.
That mix of nature, comfort, and a little bit of indulgence feels very much like me.
Fits For Flights
Airport Days That Don’t Feel Like Airport Clothes
I’ve learned that the clothes I wear on travel days often determine how I feel for the first day of the trip.
I like wide-leg knit pants, a lightweight button-up layered over a soft T-shirt, comfortable sneakers, and a crossbody bag that keeps everything within reach.
The goal isn’t looking polished for the airport. It’s arriving feeling comfortable enough to head straight into the day instead of immediately wanting to change clothes.
What’s Always Within Reach
Travel essential for women who still want to feel like themselves.
Electrolytes
I always pack electrolytes because travel days usually leave me dehydrated. They’re an easy way to stay hydrated after flights, long walking days, or spending time in the sun.
Stanley Water Bottle
An insulated water bottle is one thing I never leave behind. It keeps water cold through long airport days and reminds me to drink more while I’m traveling.
Under-Eye Patches
A pair of under-eye patches helps me look a little more awake after an early flight or late arrival. They’re a small luxury that makes travel days feel like self-care.
Crossbody Bag
Hands-free always wins when you’re carrying shopping bags, navigating airports, or hopping on water taxis.
Instant Coffee
I keep these in my suitcase because they’re lightweight, travel easily. They’re a simple option for hotel mornings, early flights, or road trips.
SPF Lip Balm
Lip balm with SPF stays in my carry-on because airplanes, dry climates, and sunny days seem to dry my lips out. It’s one of those little essentials I end up using every day.
My favorite souvenirs aren’t always what comes home in my suitcase.
I didn’t grow up traveling much. Now that I finally have the chance, I’ve realized my favorite souvenirs aren’t always what comes home in my suitcase. They’re the little routines I pick up along the way—the scarf tied on my bag, morning cappuccinos, grocery store flowers, and outfits comfortable enough to wander until I don’t know what time it is anymore.
That’s the kind of travel I’ll keep packing for.
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