(Another) week in a backpack

Here's another a week of easy, comfortable, beautiful outfits that fit into one backpack, including a flattering swimsuit that can double as a bodysuit and stretch your outfit options even further. No, this is not fashion at its most creative or expressive, but if your time and energy are precious (they are), and you just want to look good so you can actually forget about how you look and be in the moment, the goal is that great both/and of simplicity and style.

Simplicity frees you—literally, of unnecessary stuff, but also of the internal clutter of having to manage stuff. Style frees you, too; the better you feel, the more able you will be to stop thinking about how you look and wholly immerse yourself in the present.

• Black pants: "but pants that are lightweight, flowy, stretchy, and polished just don't exi-"

• White vest top: I'm into this shape and cut that's so much more interesting and elevated than a plain tank, plus you can layer it for different seasons

• Palazzo pants: dreamy travel pants that strike a marriage of chic and comfortable—and look at those pretty tassels!

• Black sandal: designer-y minimalist style that looks way more expensive; these and these have similar vibes

• 18K gold earrings: I love the unique shape on these hoops that gives a timeless classic some personality

• Floral slip dress: you won't find anything more versatile or universally flattering than a slip dress - the beautiful dark floral on this one dresses up and down, travels across seasons, layers well, and forgives spills and splashes

• Black cardigan top: well-cut with fully functional buttons that make it super versatile

• Black swimsuit: a gorgeous, highly-rated, works-on-everyone, well-made piece with a feminine cut and perfect ruching that makes all the difference in swimsuit confidence - and it comes in tons of colors!

• Vegan leather white sneakers: these are technically men's, but my secret hack for wider, comfier shoes is buying a smaller men's size of unisex styles (women's sizes convert down about 1.5 from men's sizes, e.g. a men's 5.5 is a women's 7); this affordable pair looks identical to these and even this insane $480 pair

• Black raffia crossbody: perfect travel bag that wears as a crossbody or a clutch

• 18K gold French rope chain: just the right amount of sparkle that works with everything

• No show socks that won’t make you lose your mind with constant slipping  

• And of course, the perfect travel backpack that I refuse to travel without

Finally, remember these two more strategies for packing minimally, with versatility and style:

• Identify how you want to feel on your trip—casual chic? date-nightish? funky? colorful? minimal? fancy? sporty? If your trip will include special photos, try to identify how you want to feel in those, too. If you focus on how you want to feel on your trip, this will help you streamline and eliminate pieces that don't serve this end, as well as avoid random packing, overpacking, and unnecessary panic-shopping (aka overspending).

• Draw your potential packing list and then draw all the outfits you can make with those pieces. I make packing sketches for our trips, and I always end up taking several things out of my bags when I realize how little I need to make lots of great combinations. Bonus: your packing sketch will be a sweet souvenir.

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