waysofstyle on LTK

A reader is doing this exact trip this summer. So I built her packing list out loud. 7 days on a Mediterranean cruise. Then 4 days in Rome. ONE carry-on. Cobblestones, cruise dinners, beach stops, one slightly fancier evening at sea, nice restaurants. Very different activities, all in one bag. It's possible! The whole thing fits in carry-on with room to spare. Here's the strategy: ✅ 5 anchor pieces handle 80% of the trip ✅ 2 elevating pieces handle the dressier portion ✅ 3 shoes (really!) ✅ A few smart layers because Rome shoulder season is unpredictable and cruise nights at sea get cold. Full list in the slides 👉 Want your own packing list customized for YOUR trip? Grab it in the link in my bio. You just have to answer 2 questions! travelstyle carryonpacking cruisepacking mediterraneancruise italytravel romeitaly europetravel onebagtravel capsulewardrobe

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100% Organic Cotton Gauze Long Sleeve Shirt | Quince

100% European Linen Long Sleeve Shirt | Quince

Venice Polarized Stainless Steel Sunglasses | Quince

100% Washable Silk Slip Dress in Tiny Dot Black/ White | Quince

Weekend Collection Striped Easy Fit Wide-Leg Pant in Linen | Ann Taylor

100% European Linen Wide Leg Pants in Sky Blue Mariner Stripe | Quince

100% European Linen Pants in Flax | Quince

100% European Linen Pants in White | Quince

Boden Boden Pink Belgravia Linen Shorts | Next US

100% European Linen High Waisted Shorts | Quince

Women’s On The Go-to Square Neck Tank made with Organic Cotton | Pact | Pact Apparel

Cotton Modal Double Scoop Neck Tank | Quince

Italian Leather Platform Sandal | Quince

Women's Italian Leather Cutout Slide Sandal in Bone | Quince

Linen is my favorite summer fabric! Browse all linen styles from Quince and create your own matching set for summer!

#LTKTravel #LTKPetite #LTKSeasonal

A linen matching set is not just a cute outfit - you can mix and match both pieces with everything else in your suitcase!

1. Wear both pieces together
2. Style the shorts for dinner
3. Style the shorts casually for a full day of explorations
4. Style the shirt open over a tank top
5. Style the shirt with a front knot + linen pants

Get a customized packing list in my bio! Yoo just need to answer two questions 🧳

If you've ever finished a travel day feeling sweaty, frozen, wrinkled, OR all three at different points, this is the formula that fixes it.

Four pieces, that's it:

1️⃣ Base layer that breathes. Cotton, linen blend, or a good jersey. Your base pieces are your top + bottom (or dress, but NEVER a jumpsuit)

2️⃣ A pashmina. The hero of every travel day I've ever had. It's a scarf, a blanket, a wrap, a pillow, a privacy shield. You'll wear it during your trip a lot too!

3️⃣ An outer layer. A denim chore jacket. A relaxed blazer. A packable puffer if it's winter on one end of your trip. (sometimes you'll have no choice but to wear your thicker jacket)

4️⃣ Comfy shoes. Clean white sneakers. A loafer. A flat leather sandal in the summer. (bring socks if you wear sandals)

Follow for more travel and carry-on packing tips! My carry-on is my closet 😉

#travelstyle #carryonpacking #travellight #packinglight #traveloutfits #airportoutfit #whattowearonaplane #howtopack #traveltips

The question I get more than almost any other in summer:
"You wear linen so often. Doesn't it wrinkle in the suitcase?"

Yes. And no. Let me explain.

Linen wrinkles. That is the entire point of the fabric. It's a natural fiber. It breathes. It moves. It crinkles. The wrinkles ARE the look. Every European woman wearing linen in July knows this.

What pieces WILL wrinkle in a way you'll hate:
❌ Linen button-downs that need to look crisp
❌ Structured linen dresses with seams and shape
❌ Tailored, fitted pieces that are supposed to look pressed

What WILL look intentional wrinkled:
✅ Loose tanks and tees
✅ Pull-on wide leg pants (the drape hides everything)
✅ Anything with a relaxed cut
✅ Linen blazers

When the wrinkles do bother you, you have three real options.

1. Steam in the bathroom while you shower.
2. Hang it on a real hanger for an hour and let gravity work.
3. Or use the hotel iron on low with a damp towel between.

With options 1 and 2, you'll still see the wrinkles. Option 3 is the best option.

And if you really hate wrinkles and don't want to iron on vacation?

These fabrics might be better for you:

☑ cotton-gauze
☑ double gauze
☑ TENCEL or lyocell
☑ hemp
☑ jersey / cotton-modal blends

The carry-on rule most women break before they even start packing!

Most women start packing by pulling clothes out of their closet and laying them on the bed.

That's the mistake.

When you start with clothes, you pack with feelings. You grab your favorites. Your "just in case" pieces. The outfit you've never actually worn but keeps calling your name. And before you know it, you need a checked bag.

Here's the rule I live by — I've been traveling full time out of a single 20" carry-on for years — and the one thing that changed everything:

Start with your bottoms. Not your tops. Not your dresses.

✅ Your bottoms.

Bottoms set the tone for everything else. The style of your pants or skirt determines what shoes work. Which tops pair well. Whether your whole wardrobe reads as casual or polished.

Pick 2-3 bottoms that all match each other's style. Then build up from there.

Everything will be easier from that point on. I promise 💜

What makes a pair of shoes “travel friendly”?

1️⃣ Look for a slight texture or rubber on the sole. Even a little grip changes everything.
2️⃣ Comfort – test them extensively at home BEFORE your trip
3️⃣ Stylish (make sure they look good with your travel wardrobe)

🚫 And avoid a completely smooth flat leather sole (especially if visiting somewhere hilly).
I nearly ate 💩 in Lake Como more than once because of the wrong sandals!

Option 1 → White leather sneakers. My go-to for long walking days.
Option 2 → Casual leather sandals (I wear Birks or Quince’s Nappa Leather Slides). Once they mold to your feet, they go with everything.
Option 3 → A flat leather sandal with actual grip on the sole. For nicer occasions.

Check my bio for a full shoe guide for traveling in comfort and style!

#cobblestonestreets #europetravelshoes #travelsandals #packingforeurope #carryon waysofstyle travelstyle capsulewardrobe europesummer walkingshoes

Not all linen pants are the same. Here's how I think about picking the right ones.
Cut: tapered is my go-to for solid colors. Narrower at the ankle, relaxed through the hip, and in my experience the most universally flattering. Straight leg is clean and polished, same width all the way down, great with a tucked-in top and sandals. Wide leg is my pick for stripes and prints because the fabric moves and gives that relaxed, breezy feel.
Color: I always go neutrals first. Flax, white, black, navy. Everything in your wardrobe should match your linen pants automatically. Stripes and prints work too but they require more thought around your tops.
Fabric: 100% linen or a linen blend. Linen blends (linen + viscose or linen + cotton) tend to be softer and more forgiving. Both pack beautifully. Both wrinkle. That's the look, not a flaw.
For travel specifically: tapered and straight leg both pack flatter than wide leg, so they're my first choice for carry-on trips. Wide leg is worth it for longer trips when you want variety in silhouette.
Save this before you shop! 📌

#LTKTravel

A thin flat sandal on European cobblestones will have you miserable by noon.
What you actually need: a sole with grip and structure underneath. The platform is what makes a sandal cobblestone-friendly. You get height without the instability of a heel, and you can actually walk in them for hours.
The other thing nobody tells you: even great sandals need breaking in. Walk them around the house for at least a week before your trip. Blisters on day one can take out an entire itinerary.
Which sandal style do you default to when you travel?

#LTKTravel

The Sudoku packing method is the smartest way to pack for a short trip.
You pick 9 pieces that all work together in a 3x3 grid. 3 tops, 3 bottoms, 3 layers. Every single piece works with every other piece across the entire grid.
The result? 27 mix-and-match outfits from just 9 pieces.
And most people start with tops. That's the mistake.
Start with your bottoms. Bottoms set the tone for everything: your shoes, your tops, your whole vibe. They're also the hardest to get right. Lock them in first and everything else follows naturally.
Then layers. Then tops last.
9 pieces. 27 outfits. The whole thing fits in a personal item for a 4-5 day trip.

#LTKTravel

This is what "casual" actually looks like when you pack intentionally.
Not sloppy. Not overdressed. The middle ground most women miss.
One simple top. One great bottom. Sneakers that work for walking. That's the whole formula.
When every piece in your bag is chosen on purpose, even your most casual outfit looks like you tried. You just didn't have to.
Save this for your next trip! 📌

#LTKTravel

Someone emailed me describing this trip: a 7-day Mediterranean cruise, then 4 days in Rome.

Very different dress codes.

Cruise dinners and deck days on one end, cobblestones and cathedrals on the other.

One carry-on suitcase. And she asked me how on earth to pack for it.

This is the trip-within-a-trip problem and I get this question more than almost any other.

The internet treats every trip as ONE vibe. But most trips almost never are.

The shift that fixes it, the 3 anchor pieces I rely on, and the packing list I built for her are all in the slides 👉

#LTKTravel #LTKOver40

Create your own linen matching sets at Quince! These are perfect for summer vacations. Quince has gorgeous tops, bottoms (including skirts, shorts and pants) and they all come in dreamy summer colors! Linking my favorite ones here 💫

#LTKOver40 #LTKTravel

Don’t know what to wear on vacation? Create black and white outfits and accessorize. For summer travel is easy: linen pants + white tank top. Add the rest based on your personal style. You can do anything you want with a look like this!

#LTKTravel

I usually only pack one good cover-up for my summer trips. It’s enough! I just wear it on repeat and if there are other beach days I just wear shorts + cami or a dress or shorts + linen shirt. Don’t waste precious carry-on space on pieces you’ll only wear once 😉

#LTKTravel

Jumpsuits for travel… yes or no? Yes but not for travel days. They’re complicated when you have to go to small bathrooms, so I don’t wear them on travel days. If you pack one, make sure you can also layer it. Jumpsuits are a comfy one-and-done outfit 👏🏻 I’m linking this one below + my favorite ones from Quince!

#LTKTravel

Work out in style 💪 This little Mexican gym we found is not the most “stylish” but it did the job! No excuses.

#LTKActive #LTKdayinmylife #LTKfitnessgoals

Want to dress for summer but weather’s not letting you? Pair linen pants with a cashmere sweater! Quince has the softest cashmere sweaters at a very reasonable price. My favorite ones linked here!

#LTKOver40 #LTKSeasonal

My favorite summer vacation dresses for summer travel 🤩🏆

#LTKTravel

An easy and timeless early spring outfit 🌸 If too cold, just add an extra layer like a chore jacket, trench coat or denim jacket

#LTKSeasonal #LTKOver40

Loving these 2 colors together for a perfect summer evening in Mexico 💫 Linking similar pants from Spanx and Quince - these exact ones are sold out

#LTKSeasonal #LTKTravel #LTKOver40

All black for a beach vacation? Yes please! Keep it fresh with cotton and linen and you’re good to go 👏🏻

#LTKOver40 #LTKTravel

Mixing linen + silk 💫 love this for summer! This exact top is sold out but I’m linking similar ones. As for the skirt, this one comes in midi, midi and maxi lenght. Even though the mini makes me feel younger and it’s more fun, midi is my go-to lenght for comfort. I do love this one but you have to be careful on windy days 😂

#LTKTravel

I love wearing maxi dresses for shorter travel days! Sure, there are not many ways you can style them, and I generally don’t recommend them for traveling, but they’re fine if you’re going on a shorter trip (less than 10 days) - this one is super comfortable!

#LTKTravel

Mix fabrics if traveling somewhere with different climates. Here I’m wearing linen pants + cashmere sweater + pashmina. It’s the perfect outfit for days where weather is all over the place!

#LTKTravel

Don’t travel without a button down linen shirt this summer! Pick a versatile color that matches your bottom pieces and dresses! Bonus if you can style it as a cover up for the beach! 👏🏻

#LTKTravel

Love a printed silk dress for traveling. Prints hide wrinkles, silk packs into nothing and this style is easy to later with a button down shirt. It’s exactly what you want a travel piece to be! I’m linking both the strappy and sleeveless version here 💫

#LTKTravel

Europe in the summer 💫 bring linen, it gets hot! In this pic I’m styling one of my workout tops with 2 favorite linen pieces.

#LTKTravel

Check out my list of the best summer vacation dress for Europe 🤩

#LTKTravel #LTKOver40

This is what I wear when I feel like “I have nothing to wear” - linen pants + crop top or cami + sandals and accessories 💫

#LTKTravel #LTKOver40

An easy beach vacation outfit 💫
The boat neck tank top is sold out in white but I’m linking similar options ;)

#LTKTravel

Cashmere long cardigans are a game changer for travel! They’re warm and take very little space. I wore this grey one on repeat during my 6-week trip to Asia!

#LTKTravel

Create our own linen matching sets and dress head to toe in the same color to maximize every piece in your suitcase!

#LTKTravel