Travel & Style

If you’ve ever been halfway through a scenic hike or strolling through a new city and suddenly caught in sideways rain with nothing but a hoodie—yeah, me too. One of my earliest travel blunders was packing light but forgetting to pack smart. I learned the hard way that weather doesn’t care about your itinerary.

It’s 7 a.m., and there you are—standing in front of your closet, coffee in hand, staring at the mountain of bags you’ve collected over the years. The question echoes like a drumbeat: backpack or tote?

Packing jewelry used to be one of my biggest travel headaches. I’d carefully place my favorite necklaces into a pouch, only to arrive at my destination with a tangled knot that took half an hour (and endless patience) to fix. Worse, I’d pull out earrings that had already tarnished from humidity or rings that scratched one another in the shuffle.

Let’s be honest—packing for a weekend getaway can feel like a mental tug-of-war. Do you go minimalist and risk forgetting something crucial, or do you overpack and end up lugging a bag that weighs more than you do? I’ve been on both sides of that struggle. After a few chaotic trips (including one where I forgot both my charger and my toothbrush—never again), I started keeping a personal list of tried-and-true essentials.

If you’ve ever stood in an airport security line silently praying the agent doesn’t pull out your favorite serum, you’re not alone. I’ve lost more than one beauty product to the dreaded bin of confiscated liquids, and each time it stung (literally and financially). After countless long-haul flights, frantic gate runs, and red-eye landings, I’ve learned a few tricks to keep my beauty routine intact—without breaking TSA’s 3-1-1 rule.

Travel is one of life’s greatest joys. Every new stamp on my passport feels like a small victory, but my suitcase has not always been quite as celebratory. More often than not, I’ve pulled out crumpled shirts that looked like they had survived a wrestling match. That’s when I started paying attention to “wrinkle-free” clothing—the supposed holy grail for travelers who want to look polished from airport gate to rooftop dinner.

Travel is a spectacular mix of excitement, exhaustion, and discovery. You’re racing through airports, wandering along cobblestone alleys, or maybe hustling between train platforms while clutching a suitcase in one hand and a coffee in the other. What you wear on your feet can either make these moments feel effortless—or turn them into painful memories you’ll never forget.

The season of change always sneaks up on me. One minute I’m living in breezy sundresses, and the next I’m reaching for cozy layers and boots. If you’re anything like me, you’ve stood in front of your closet at the end of August wondering, How do I make these clothes stretch into the next season without draining my bank account?

The first crisp evening of the season always sneaks up on me. One moment I’m running errands in a short sleeve, and the next I’m shivering in the grocery parking lot, wishing I’d thought ahead. Over the years, I’ve learned the difference between dreading those cooler nights and enjoying them comes down to one skill: layering. And no, it’s not just stacking random sweaters on top of each other—it’s a little more strategic than that.