Your accommodations are booked and your itinerary is set, but the one to-do on your travel checklist that you can't forget is your vacation attire.
No matter where your travels are taking you this upcoming summer, it is easy to over-pack. In fact, what we deem as necessary, might simply be taking up space in our luggage (guilty). It’s also never the easiest task to figure out what to wear to and outside the airport.
Stylist Jasmine Snow recently shared with TODAY some wardrobe essentials to include in your vacation attire. Some of her recommendations consist of everyday basics you might already own, and that might save you room in your bag (and time from outfit planning).
So put down those extra pair of shoes — these are the travel wardrobe basics to pack in your bag, according to a stylist.
Best travel capsule wardrobe basics, as seen on TODAY
Comfortable shoes
Cushionaire Women’s Voyage Slide Sandal
A traveling hack is packing a shoe that can pair with all of your vacation attire, such as this comfortable find from Cushionaire. “These aren’t just cute — they take up minimal space so they’re easy to pack,” says Snow. “They are perfect for daytime comfort with memory foam footbeds, arch support — so yes, you can actually walk around in them all day.”
Vacation accessories
Lanzom Women’s Packable Sun Hat
“This hat is both fabulous and functional — wide brim for sun protection, and it easily packs in your bag,” mentions Snow. “It’s a timeless neutral, so it works at the beach, pool or even walking around town while on vacation.”
Dresses
Soma Lounge Square Neck Midi Dress
The perfect summer dress might not have existed until now. For those vacation days when you've run out of picks to wear, Snow raves that this Soma dress "feels like your favorite loungewear" with a polished touch. "You can throw on sandals during the day or a pair of heels and jewelry for an evening out — easy, versatile, done!"
Button-downs
Universal Thread Women’s Gauze Long Sleeve Collared Button-Down Shirt
Snow says that button-downs "are your go-to travel layering pieces." For the pick above, the stylist recommends wearing it over a bathing suit, tied at the waist or open over a tank for casual styling.
Goodfellow & Co. Men’s Short Sleeve Slub Camp Button-Down Shirt
Those same styling tricks can apply to men. This short-sleeved top is a good transitional piece from the beach to dinner, and can easily be dressed up for special summer nights out.
Breathable shorts
Quince Women’s 100% European Linen High Waisted Shorts
Linen is one of the most breathable fabrics to wear in a warm climate. This pair of shorts from Quince is made from 100% European linen, according to the brand, for a breezy fit and feel.
Quince Men’s 100% European Linen Drawstring Beach Shorts
Quince offers a similar option for men, too. This pair features an adjustable drawstring for easy wear.
Vacation accessories
Bodysurf Surf Packable Beach Bag
This packable beach tote bag is made from ripstop nylon, which helps the bag stay dry and durable, according to the brand. It weighs less than a pound and lays flat in your bag (or can be folded), so it shouldn't take up the space of all of the souvenirs you might be bringing back.
More travel capsule wardrobe basics to shop
Havaianas Women’s Top Tiras Flip Flops
If your travel plans include a sandy beach and warm water, be sure to have these Havaianas on hand to add some charm to your beach attire.
Baggu Medium Nylon Crescent Bag
We ranked Baggu's Medium Nylon Crescent Bag as the "best travel purse" in our Travel Gear Awards. It's equally practical as it is stylish, with ample room to store essentials, a versatile way of wearing (crossbody or over-the-shoulder) and a convenient machine-washable design.
Quince Tencel Jersey Fit & Flare Dress
"This dress is super cute and easy to style,'' boasts writer Emma Stessman. "I could 100% picture myself throwing this on under a jean jacket for a casual day walking around or wearing it with a nicer leather jacket to dress it up for dinner. It comes in so many different colors and the price is great." And the best part? The dress has pockets!
Birkenstock Florida Soft Footbed
Associate editor Sierra Hoeger said in our best sandals coverage that Birkenstocks are one pair of shoes she has in her spring and summer rotation. “These are my favorite style of Birkenstocks, so much so that I buy a new pair whenever the old ones break," she raved. "Birkenstocks are durable, comfortable and truly stand the test of time. Once your feet mold to the footbed, they’re truly the most comfortable sandal you’ll own.”
Halara Flex High-Waisted Wide Leg Stretchy Jeans
It’s never easy to figure out what to wear to the airport. Although jeans never seem like the comfiest option for the plane, the Flex High-Waisted Wide Leg Stretchy Jeans from Halara look like denim, but have the feel and stretch of athleisure.
Everlane The Everywhere Pant in Stretch Linen
Prefer a pant? Enjoy the perks of linen but in a pant style with this editor-loved pick from Everlane. "These are easy to wear anywhere, from work to errands, and I can even see myself wearing them to the beach this summer," production associate Audrey Ekman previously mentioned.
Meet the expert
- Jasmine Snow is an on-air fashion expert and stylist.
How we chose
The Shop TODAY editors and writers search the internet to find the best products out there. We interview expert sources, comb through customer reviews and even use our own personal experiences to make shopping easier for our readers.
As an editorial team, we independently create content and determine coverage based on research, reporting and what we think TODAY.com readers would like to read about. The goal of our content is to provide a service and inform readers who are on the hunt for the latest products to help make their life better. Items are sold by retailer, not TODAY. Pricing and availability are accurate as of publish time.
