My Tried-and-True Travel Essentials

After years of traveling for work, leisure, and now with a little one in tow, I’ve refined my packing philosophy down to a thoughtful mix of beautiful, functional pieces that truly earn their place in my suitcase. From lightweight luggage that maximizes every pound of your allowance, to the in-flight essentials that keep me comfortable and polished from takeoff to landing, these are the travel staples I rely on again and again. Whether I’m heading off on a long-planned adventure, a cozy autumn escape, or a quick weekend away, everything below has been tested, loved, and thoughtfully chosen to make travel feel a bit more effortless and a lot more chic.

Luggage - I've tested many luggage brands and always opt for as lightweight a suitcase as possible so all the weight allowance can go towards what you're packing. I've used and loved this Mark and Graham luggage set for several years and it's such a chic look for the price. I recently upgraded to a set of Bric's luggage (30-inch checked bag, and 21-inch carry-on, which is what I carried on my honeymoon over a decade ago! It's twice the price of the Mark and Graham set, and a similar look but Bric's is more refined. I also like that Bric's has a solid tan interior, the Mark and Graham set has stripes! But again, great value for the price. I love that the Bric's suitcases come with a cover so they are a bit more protected in the hold. Bric's roll a bit better when overstuffed, and the checked bag can expand to take home treasures from your trip. I've also had Away Luggage in the past, and it's very good, but has gotten so popular people have taken my bag and walked out of the airport thinking it was theirs. Twice! So make sure you use a luggage tag, sticker, or other very noticeable addition.

Personal Item - This piece varies from destination to destination, but I have been loving this plaid tote and this suede tote for autumn and winter getaways. When traveling with a large leather tote like the one above I put it in its dust bag, then slip it into one of the aforementioned totes to protect it. Another great and more affordable bag is this leather weekender bag that zips at the top. You also can never go wrong with a Longchamp Le Pliage tote.

Travel Pouches - It's so much easier to access everything you need if things are organized into travel pouches. I have one for tech, another for beauty and a slim little leather pouch that holds documents. I rotate between a few favorites, but almost always have one or two of these monogrammed bags, this leather pouch set (I've had for 8+ years!), and this slim pouch. I also love this little jewelry case for short trips, and this for fancier or longer trips. I have most of my pouches in ecru leather, but the documents pouch is colored so I can find it in a flash!

Passport Cover - I prefer to cover my passport as I move through airports and hotels. Just a little more discrete, and you can tuck your tickets into the pocket, I currently have this one and this one is so handsome for men!

Compression socks - 2 years ago I was pregnant in Paris and my ankles were HUGE after the flight. I was supposed to shoot photos for a shoe campaign the next day. We were staying with a friend and she gave me a pair of these compression socks and my ankles were back to normal in about 12 hours. I now love wearing them when I know I'll be on my feet all day cooking or when I fly/travel because they really do improve circulation and minimize swelling in a tangible way. I feel so much more comfortable overall when I wear them, I truly never get on a flight without them. You can buy different levels of compression from light to medium to heavy, and they come in lots of fun colors and patterns, though I like the medium compression, neutral ones best personally. They make a great gift for the traveler or friend who is always on their feet. I just bought a few pairs of their merino wool socks for winter. (Get 25% off most styles with code "Wellness25".)

Toiletries - I am obsessed (Obsessed!) with these chic little travel capsules. They're leakproof, adaptable to different sizes, and magnetize as they stack which is so space efficient. They also are discreet for anything you don't want to broadcast at TSA. I have their spatula for getting every last bit of product, and own their parcel pouches but find I like putting them in this more. This overnight lip treatment is a lifesaver for dry planes, this hand lotion is my go-to, and I love how this brush helps combat oily travel hair. (You can find all my everyday makeup routine details and products here.)

My go-to travel outfit - I love wearing the outfit you see above when I travel. It's classic, casual yet elegant, washable, and easy to add or remove layers depending on the temperature. I always travel with two of this white button up, which has a perfectly pop-able collar and slim cut that tucks into jeans beautifully. I wear a cashmere cable sweater either tied over my shoulders or over the shirt, and these jeans that have a lot of stretch in them but don't look like it. If I have an overnight flight I might bring cashmere pants to change into, but usually don't do that when I'm traveling with my son because things can get messy and they are more difficult to clean. I always travel with a cashmere shawl for chilly planes, and if I'm on a winter trip I'll wear my biggest boots on the plane, otherwise an easy slip on flat like these ballet flats are so comfortable.

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