Familia! Es tiempo to talk about fashion, we’re long overdue for a focus piece on how to look and feel FABULOUS on any trip you take. So, lo que hice fue… I made you guys a packing guide. Yep! Una coleccíon of all of the items that I take on my trips that help me feel my best no matter where in the world I am.
Now, you may be asking yourself, “Pero, que tipo de items is she talking about”? I’ll tell you! They are my non-negotiables for every single viaje que I take. They range from hair protection (hats, scarves, etc.) to statement tees to my faux nose ring. Yes, you read that right. Faux nose rings are included!
Sometimes a girl just needs to feel empowered! Amiright?
I have found that cuando hablo con mis amigas, a lot of them are perplexed about the right things to take with them when they travel. They worry about over packing, or about compromising comfort for style, or about only packing what’s practical, ad even about whether or not they can “pull off” a certain style.
Y lo que yo digo es: you can look good and feel good in anything, all it takes is intention and attitude.
You folx already know, I’m a HUGE proponent of hitting them with that outfit of the day, making the most of your style while you travel but I would never compromise practicality for looking flawless. Well ok, I might 🙂 Tee hee. Pero for the purpose of este blog post, voy a concentrar on things that you can pack that are multifunctional and fun.
Things that give you that Insta-worth look while being verstaile enough for ANY location.
Y’all ready? Let’s talk fashion then….
“We only put on clothes because of how we feel or think it will make us feel. The secret to personal style is asking, ‘ How do I want to feel today?’ Personally, I choose FABULOUS.”
-Judith Gaton
1. Backpack Purse
Backpack purses are my jam! Son el unico tipo de purse that I actually use. Wanna know why? Welp, they are stylish and roomy. Simple enough, verdad? Real talk: I have a lot of shit I need to cart around with me. The list is endless: my lipsticks, my wallet, my sunglasses, my medicine, snacks for the kids, eyes drops for my dry eyes, feminine products… etc.
Yo necesito to be able to carry that laundry list of items with me at all times, to meet any given travel need. O SEA, I gots to be prepared, ya me conocen. Who’s with me on this?
There are single strap purses/ bags that are big enough to accommodate my “list”, pero lo que pasa es que my shoulders can’t handle all that weight with a single strap. Scoliosis, baby. Plus, single strap purses slide down your arm while you are busy moving and grooving along. No es ideal.
Enter the backpack purse. Glorious invention that it is!
Cute as all get out AND it provides for me without hurting my body. Its gets the job done, whilst giving my arms freedom! Ya feel me? #winning
In all seriousness, mi bolsa favorita is made by a woman-owned brand called “Modern and Chic Boutique” that is just slaying the game. First of all, the bags look like luxury con un budget price tag. Bien CHIDO! Each of the bags are well made, beautiful, stylish, and practical for everyday use. Me suben mi fashion game. For one thing, I cant even tell you las miradas que me dan la gente… looks of pure envy. Secondly, every time I walk out with my Brielle bag, I get allada compliments. I dont hate that either. 🙂
You might wanna check out the site and get one for yourselves, mi gente! Or just look into back pack purses in general.
- What do you carry your personal items in? Is it fashionable, practical, or a mix of both?
2. Kick Ass Sunnies
Yo no te tengo que decir que a pair of bomb ass sunnies are VITAL to any trip. That, I feel, should be a given. I think it’s pretty clear that sunglasses do the important job of protecting our eyes from the sun whether we are looking out at a beach in Florida, a mountain in Hawaii, or ancient ruins in Italy. Like, duh. Los necesitamos. We know we need them. Me especially, as I have super sensitive eyes.
I’m making a case for bringing SEVERAL. Ha! Yes, more than one!
Bring a FEW pair on sunglasses on your trips, friends!
Porque, you say? Pues… variety. For instance, a mi me gusta being able to match my eyewear to the experience that I’m going to have, the outfit I’m going to wear, and the level of comfort I need for the day. My Warby Parker aviators son la mejor opcion for fancier occasions and activities that don’t require a lot of movement. My wayfarer style sunnies are best for truly bright days or when I’m doing anything sporty (because they don’t slide down my face). Then there are the shades I wear merely for looks… I need them all.
Viva los lentes del sol!
Knowing that I’ll have a plethora of different experiences while traveling, informs the eyewear options I bring with me. And not only that, my style plays a role too. On the days I wanna bien chingona, I bring out my reflector sunnies. Style is always a factor, mi gente. It just is. I know I’m not alone in that thought. The best part is that you can have those options affordably, too. Digo, you can find cute sunglasses at Target for $12. There’s no excuse not to diversify!
I guess, lo que estoy deciendo is: consider bringing extra shades with you, friends. It ups your fashion game and it gives you practical options to change up your look while you’re traveling about. A small thing with BIG rewards🙂
- Do you ever bring a back up pair of sunglasses with you when you travel?
3. Stylish, Yet Comfy Romper
Limited room in that suitcase? I got you. Comprate un romper! YES! Get yo’self a jumpsuit, or romper, or whatever you wanna call them. They are EVERYTHING! A fashion 2 for 1, if you will. Yo se lo que te digo! Best item to bring while traveling, hands down.
Style + comfort in one piece!
First, they are hella popular right now, y por buena razon. To begin, they are flattering on almost every body type. Also, they can be dressed up or dressed down with just a change of shoe and jewelry. How’s that for versatility? Additionally, you can adjust the TYPE of romper you bring based on the weather. Cold? Well, bring one in long sleeves. Hot? Es muy simple, bring a spaghetti strap shorts jumpsuit. Got a fancy ocassion? Facil! Just switch the casual cotton fabrics for a jumpsuit in polyester or trimmed in lace… or dripping with bling.
The posibilidades son endless.
Another thing es que, they eliminate the need for heavy style decision-making. I mean, imagine you wake up late for a day of sight seeing, you’ve got a walking tour in 30 mins and need to look cute cuz there will be lots of pictures taken…. ROMPER time! Taking a cute one out of your bag requires zero extra brain power, y el resultado is just as fierce! This is where the romper really shines. IT saves the day cuando no tienes la energia or the time to style yourself. And bonus, you come out looking polished and super cute!
Now, these types of jumpsuits are everywhere. Literalmente, EVERYWHERE. In my opinion though, you can’t go wrong with Shein. Amazon (oddly enough) is killing the romper game, too. The one I’m wearing in this photo is one of 4 that I have in the same style but in different colors.
- Do you enjoy rompers? Have I convinced you to give them a second look?
“‘Just in case’ is the curse of packing.”
-Alexandra Potter
4. Hair Protector (hat, scarf, beanie)
Miren, as a woman of color with thick, curly, frizz-prone hair, I put un monton de tiempo into making my hair cute. I REFUSE to spend that much time into perfecting my coif just to have it ruined by foul weather. NOT gunna happen, ya hear me? NOPE! I come prepared where ever I go!
Hair protection is essential for me. As essential as underwear. Ha! No se rien. I pack multiple forms of protection (all cute btw) when I go anywhere because yo nunca se what exactly the weather will throw at me. Tengo gorras, silk scarves, beanies, and even sun hats. All so I can keep my hair looking great, rain or shine, while still looking intentional and cute. Take notes, fam! 🙂
But what TYPE of hair protection is best?
First off, y’all know I LIVE for a dope hat, I devoted a whole blog post to how important they are to my travel style. So many options: bucket hats, sun hats, fedoras, baseball caps etc. Todos son padres! Every single one can elevate an outfit while saving you from the elements. Believe it or not, mi gorra favorita es “the paddy hat” ! Son perfectas for any weather (no joke), they match with almost everything, and they are GREAT for protecting my do without giving me “hat hair”. Y ademas, they lay flat in a suitcase:) Get you one!
My other go-to is the hair scarf. “Wrapped Wonder” on Etsy is my favorite spot for lovely silk hair scarves. I’m talking excellent quality and beautiful patterns. Yo, and did I mention affordable? I only paid $11 for mine! La mejor parte de un pañuelo is that it can be used in a multitude of ways. Friends, I’ve used mine as a head band, as a head covering to enter a church, as a wind barrier, as a way to camouflage dirty hair y tambien lo he usado to save my curls while I sleep.
Don’t “sleep” on hair protection while you travel, my loves.
Essential aint even a strong enough word!
- What’s your favorite type of “hair protection”?
5. Statement Tees
Wanna know something? I am a big believer in the power of a statement tee.
I know that they speak volumes. Yo se que tocan a las personas. I know that they make an impact on those that see them, too. How? Well, because they have impacted ME. I have been blown away by the words on someone’s shirt more than a few times. Dicen demasiado. They speak to who you are, what you’re passionate about, and what you enjoy… without you ever having to open your mouth.
Palabras que impactan.
Now, tees are always una buena idea for travel because they are cute, comfy, and breathe well. Indisputably, they are a travel no-brainer. But switching from plain t-shirt to statement tees can mean la diferencia entre frumpy and fierce. As opposed to a plain ole solid camisa, a t-shirt with colors, patterns, and meaning can represent the fun vibe you wanna convey while you are out and about. Not to mention, they are more aesthetically intersante; they make for much more provoking photos.
I LOVE pairing a fun statement tee, with a pair of yoga pants, or a with a cute floral skirt and some white sneakers. They are adorable and hella empowering. I get to share my thoughts about social justice, represent my Latinx identity, or just remind people that kindness matters… solamente con ponerme una camiseta.
It’s amazing when you realize your voice is powerful!
There are so many amazing shops that create beautiful pieces with a meaningful messages. Click here para ver some pretty cool ethical clothing brands that empower women. You know that I’m always here for that kind of energy. 🙂
- Tell me, wha’s your favorite empowering clothing store? Where do you get YOUR statement tees?
“Overpack. Its why suitcases have wheels now.”
-Anonymous
6. Show-Stopper Earrings
Me muero for a pair show-stopper earrings. I think they can take a normal travel day and make it truly ESPECTACULAR. Son like confidence-boosting, good luck charms, amores. Who doesn’t want that in their overnight bag?
Now, lemme just say, no hay a single criteria for a pair “good luck earrings”. Nope, that’s all up to you. They can look come tu quieres, be any earring style, just so long as they are out of the realm of “normal” for you. They gotta pack a punch… Give you OOMPH! Estoy hablando de palabras like: BIG, BLING, COLOR, PATTERN, VIBRANT. Those are key words you should focus on when you are making your selections! 🙂
The goal is empowerment.
My best friend, Rachel, makes the ULTIMATE show-stopper earrings. Ella es una maestra in the art of knocking people’s socks off with just ear wear. Her brand se llama: ” Raree Deborah Handmade” and her whole collection is impresionante while still being totally affordable (YAS!). The earrings are expertly crafted with colorful clay in all sorts of fun, inventive patterns and shapes. The demand mucha atención, in the best possible way.
Allow me to add, that the point of packing earrings like these is so that you feel vibrant and fun. Also, so you look that way too! Especialmente para all those pictures you are bound to take. You are traveling, after all. 🙂
Let the world see you!
At the end of the day, no importa if earrings aren’t your thing. Pick an accessory that works for you… and GO BOLD with it. Puede ser bracelets, wrist bands, necklaces, chokers… whatever. The goal is just to allow that vibrant piece boost your sass levels to 100!
Why not POP? Why not STAND OUT? Porque no?? Give yourself some built in confidence for a day!
- What’s your favorite show-stopper accessory?
7. All Purpose Shoes
The harsh truth is that you just can’t bring all your shoes with you when you travel. Que pena, right? 🙂 Due to this sad reality, you gotta get economical about which zapatos you actually decide to pack. Sad, I know, but I’d like to make the case for bringing at least one shoe que hits both the fashion AND function mark in equal measure… a shoe that isn’t just for looking cute.
Cuando tu vas a un lugar nuevo, you never know what the weather will do. You need shoes that can withstand puddles, potential muddy surfaces, dusty dirt paths, slushy snow y lo que sea. You also have to know that the shoes que tienes contigo are gunna be comfortable for any kind of activity, be it hiking or strolling around cobble stone streets. On top of that, they have to be versatile enough to match with the majority of your outfits.
Be smart about your shoe choice, boo.
Now, you might think que the only kind of shoe that fits that criteria, es un sneaker, but that aint the case, fam. A good pair of hiking boots can also fit the bill. Me oiste? Yep, I said hiking boots. And no they aren’t all ugly and rugged looking. HAHA, trust me on this. Check out my favorite pair! My Newton’s Ridge hiking boots by Columbia hit all the marks, porque they provide comfort and protection with a healthy dose of ESTILO! Aren’t they bomb? O, y otra cosa, for hiking boots they are super reasonably priced too (only $89). #winning
Maybe they aren’t your style. If not, that’s cool. My point is: find you a shoe that works for you on a plethora of levels!
Consolidate the cuteness!:)
- What is your favorite versatile shoe to bring on all your travels?
“I say, dress to please yourself. Listen to your inner muse and take a chance. Wear something that says, ‘Here I am!’ today.”
-Iris Apfel
8. Nose Ring (Faux)
Who wants to look like an instant badass?
This next addition to my essential packing list is teeny, y no es totalmente necessario, but it does hit hard! This one is all about impact. I’m talking about the nose ring. The faux nose ring!
Great things come in small packages!
First of all, I realize that nose rings are not for everyone… I get that. Hence, the faux part. It’s like a clip-on earring, perfecto por un poquito de emoción, without the commitment! To the inexperienced fashionista, this might seem wholly extraneous, pero escuchame… its about giving you a quick dose of “that bitch” energy on the go. Imagine you are traveling alone, in a big city, feeling overwhelmed by the sheer size and energy of the place you are exploring… well, that’s a perfect opportunity to pull out a little badassery and use it to your advantage.
Put that ring on and instantly, you are transformed into someone (a CUTE someone) who can take on the world. To onlookers and to yourself.
My faux nose ring es increible. Yo no sabia that there was even such a thing tbh, until I saw a friend wear one online. I asked where she got it and learned that a store name Mermaid Beads Jewelry and they sells them on Etsy. What’s especially great is that their rings are comfy and easy to use; you can literally pop them in and out at random. Vienen in gold and silver and in all kinds of different sizes and gauges. Imaginate, $7 for the pop of flava! YES PLEASE!
Even if it’s not your thing now… it could be. Piensalo! Think it over. 🙂
Everyone can benefit from an extra dose of FIRE!
- Would you ever consider trying a faux nose ring?
9. Fashionable Leggings
Listen, a great legging is vital to travel. Ya se, there is a whole army of people out there who think leggings are a travesty to fashion… but hear me out! I happen to believe they are a very smart choice for travel for a multitude of razones.
Primero, they are light and take up a minimal amount of space in your luggage. Second, you could pack 3 dope leggings in the place of one pair of jeans or even some sweats; that’s just genius ingenuity right there. Next, leggings no siempre son frumpy or athletic, they can also be super fashionable. Get some with a leather outerlay, with a funky pattern, or cool mesh cut outs… CHIC!
Y lo mejor es que they are comfy. Like hella fucking comfy. I mean, they are legitimately tailor-made to make your body look tight and beautiful (hello compression leggings) while providing you with the type of comfort that you can count on por horas! That’s not even including the fact that they work for lots of occasions and experiences.
Oh, and you can elevate them with minimal effort. ESO!
These days, I get most of my leggings from Fabletics (a company that I just love). Que puedo decir? I am a big fan! Their fabrics are great quality… like soft, stretchy, and not too thin. Their leggings feel substantial, not like some other flimsy feeling athleisure. Great for cooler weather, cuando you don’t want to freeze, pero also pretty great for warm weather because they are breathable.
And did I mention “cute” as a reason to pack leggings? Cuz… that too! 🙂
- Are you on “team leggings”? Yay or nay?
“You always get to choose how you show up in the world. I choose to conquer and slay.”
-Miss J
10. Confidence
Audrey Hepburn once said, “To pull off any look, wear it with confidence”. I can’t even begin tell you how much truth she laid down con ese quote! It really doesn’t matter WHAT you pack. Pack whatever fits tu estilo, use my tips as a jumping off point only. I lay them before you as a mere blueprint, you can add the rest!
La cosa importante is to just make sure that whatever clothes you wear while you travel… you wear them with a load of sass!
With pizazz. Con orgullo.
Walk around like the royalty que eres, my love! STRUT dammit! Not for others, pero para ti! You are worthy of fierceness. Confidence comes from within, but when it shines forth… it makes whatever you’re wearing, STYLE… your style! If you like wearing leggings all day everyday, haz lo. Own it, though! If you live for a crazy earring collection, showcase those babies! Solo camina adelante with zero fucks given about anybody else’s opinion, ok?
That’s the only thing that matters when it comes to fashion.
The more confidently you express yourself through your fashion choices, the more people will see that and be in awe. Confidence works like magical pixie dust… it takes ordinaryarticles of clothing and elevates them to glam status ( it’s true y lo sabes:). Not only that, but it begets more confidence. When we feel good en nuestro skin y en nuestro style, insecurity and competition go out the window, leaving room for us to empower and enlighten others.
So yea, usa esta lista if you need a jumping off place to start your travel fashion essentials list, but then make it all your own. Do that and then sashshay into world, dear one. Let todo el mundo see how incredible you are, and while yo’ure at it… sprinkle that magic to others along the way.
Make it spread like wildfire. 🙂
Los quiero mucho,
Joana
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