Overnight {Without The Baggage}

[trip style = quick weekend getaway]

Baggage weighs us down {in more ways than one}.

Lately I've been doing a lot of overnight-cations, a travel dance {of sorts} where two days tango with one night. Last week alone, I took two separate overnight getaways with only the clothes on my back. In other words, I didn't pack {except for any toiletries and undergarments that could fit in my purse or pocket}. In lieu of a multi-option travel wardrobe, I layered, downsizing my overnight duffel for a my purse.

Trip Styler Tip: maximize your trip style = weekend getaway {and your dollars} leaving early Saturday morning and returning later on Sunday night. Cutting out a hotel on Friday night means you just saved $150+.

I realize the no-pack overnight-cation sounds crazy. First we told you how to pack 50+ items in one carry-on, and now this? The self-imposed 'efficiency' challenge sounded a little nutso to me too, but once I tried it on for size, I realized it wasn't a challenge at all. Layering right meant I could go from day-to-night without the fuss of packing or lugging a bag!

In part, I drew inspiration from my artsy Grandma {aka, "Gram"} who used to pick outfits in two-day blocks. Once I asked her why she wore the same thing two days in a row, to which she responded "if I'm going to take the time to craft a great outfit, why wouldn't I wear it twice?" Sound advice from a well-traveled woman.

Making It Work :: Overnighting Sans Baggage:
1/ Choose your trip style, check the weather, and plan your outfit accordingly.
2/ Pick shoes and bottoms {pants, a skirt or a dress} that can go from day-to-night with ease.
3/ Layer your top half to 'reveal' a whole new look at night.
4/ Think of your clothes as the canvas and your accessories as the color.
5/ Want to bring a bathing suit too? No worries, throw it in your purse with some flip flops.

*When I was away, the weather hovered between a breezy 15 - 22 Celsius, so I chose a midi skirt and cashmere-blend sweater for day, accented by a scarf to combat the early morning and late night chill. In the eve, I ditched my sweater for a tank top, adding a belt and a necklace to switch the look.

Trip Styler Tip :: Believe it or not, as we move into fall, the no-packing weekend becomes MORE and MORE possible with the layering-potential cool weather affords.

More Packing Tips
Men's Packing :: The Go-Anywhere Chambray Shirt
A Sky-vival Kit
Packed :: A Summer Urban Weekend
Fashionable Flashpacking
Fitting 50 Garments Into A Carry-On
Q&A With “How To Pack Like a Rock Star” Author
Packing 103 // Packing 102 // Packing 101
Size Matters
Travel Essentials for Any Trip Style
High Rolling :: To Roll or Lay Flat?
A Summer Weekend Packing List
The Art of Carry-On TravelGoing Away? Packing and To Do List

[photo by @tripstyler]

Men's Travel Style :: Summer-To-Fall Packing Inspiration

[trip style = any]

Dare I say the uber-versatile, chambray shirt is to men what the LBD is to women? And since I'm making bold statements, here's another: both garments are above seasonal wear {read: fall is coming "weather" you like it or not}, and provide a neutral enough palette to be dressed-up or dress-down as a key transitional travel piece.

Recently I saw this bout of outfit advice from Indochino, a Vancouver-based custom tailor for men, focusing on the timeless chambray shirt and the many ways to wear it. The visual mix and match translates perfectly into packing inspiration for men.

My husband has mastered the art of packing fashionably and light with the chambray shirt. There isn't one trip style we've taken, from long beach days in Thailand to winters in Portland, he hasn't packed his trusty chambray shirt. I'm not saying every man should dress like my husband---though if that were the case, it would be a well-dressed world---but the point is, it goes beyond trip styles and seasons as a go-to travel wardrobe essential.

Trip Styler Tip :: In addition to planning your travel wardrobe around your trip style's itinerary, choose a double-duty do-all piece to set-up/ground your travel wardrobe. Men, in case this isn't redonculously obvious, may we suggest chambray shirt?

Related Content Fashion Friday :: Shoulder Season Crush :: Clare Vivier Carryalls Celeb Travel Must-Haves Airport Style Seven Ways To Beach Chic Summer Style With Heidi Merrick Oh Mr. Sun

[photos via indochino]

Packed :: Summer Urban Weekend

[trip style = urban + adventure + weekend getaway]

Right now I'm in Francais Canada, Montreal exactement, trying a melange of trip styles: urban AND active + adventure---a doozy for packing. And here's the kicker: I've just stayed in three different hotels over three consecutive nights {...an assignment for Jetsetter.com}. Double packing doozy!!

Always striving to encourage all trip stylers of the world to pack 'more' in 'less' space, I timed myself packing the day before I left. It took me an hour to select my clothes and fold them into my carry-on along with doodads {hats, camera, chargers, etc...} from my travel bin and always-packed travel toiletries {note to self: hire an Olympic coach to improve my packing time}. Knowing I'd be unpacking and re-packing a total of eight times, I tried to keep it chic and simple---after all, Montrealers are serious about le style!

{Trip Styler Tip: ALWAYS pack with your trip's itinerary in mind. Write out a day-by-day plan of what you're doing and where you're going as a means of building your list.}

My itinerary consisted of three dinners out avec fireworks and festivals apres, biking throughout the city's sights and stand-up paddleboarding {as well as a few meetings}. Packing accordingly, here's what I wore from day one to day four: {Forgive the poor quality of this photo--and the bike picture in general!!!}

Le Packing List {this is A LOT, I could've brought less} - two dresses - two skirts - 3 tank tops - blazer - 1 pashmina - 2 workout shorts - 2 workout tops - 1 light sweatshirt - runners/sox - wooden mid-rise heels - flip flops - t-strap sandals - booties - slippers - bathing suit {actually I forgot it, so I went SUP'ing in work-out spandex...classy}

{Trip Styler Tip: I know this sounds crazy, but other than adding a few more tops, this four-day packing list is MORE than enough for a week, or two, or three. Case in point, I brought the same size carry-on to Montreal for the weekend as I did to Aruba, Curacao and Bonaire for two weeks! For longer trips, pack for four days and just repeat/mix/match clothes.}

Related Fashionable Flashpacking Fitting 50 Garments Into A Carry-On Q&A With “How To Pack Like a Rock Star” Author Packing 103 // Packing 102 // Packing 101 Size Matters Travel Essentials for Any Trip Style High Rolling :: To Roll or Lay Flat? A Summer Weekend Packing List The Art of Carry-On Travel Going Away? Packing and To Do List

[photos by @tripstyler]

Bag A Beach Bag

[trip style = beach]

{Editor’s Note: Check out the contest we’re running in partnership with Expedia right now! Tweet a pic and the hashtags #freedom & #expediafindyours for a chance to win a trip to aruba or $250 Expedia travel voucher.}

The perfect beach bag is like the perfect pair of jeans, hard to find and has to fit your {preferred} trip style{s} and lifestyle.

Six months ago I was on a one-year mission looking for just this: a stylish, beachy-casual, fold-flat beach bag. I found the one in Portland, made by a company aptly named Baggu. Huge bonus: it's cool, well made and inexpensive {I paid $22 for mine}!

Baggus work for the everyday. Baggus work for the beach. Baggus work for the pool. Baggu is a NY-based company that started in 2007 as a sewing project by a mother-daughter duo. Five years later the company has expanded beyond the at-home sewing machine to produce: 1/ reusable do-anything/go-anywhere/fold-into-a-tiny-pouch nylon bags and small backpacks 2/ strong canvas bags {my fave & my beach bag} and small backpacks 3/ leather bags .....plus a bunch of other products to hold life's portables, all at reasonable prices.

Beach season is here, and winter vacation season is six months away. With this, here are four things to consider when trying to bag the right beach bag: 1/ Does it go from plane-to-pool in style? 2/ Does it fold flat? 3/ Is it washable? 4/ Is it casual enough that you don't mind mind getting sand on it?

Related Content Seven Ways To Beach Chic Summer Style With Heidi Merrick Crush :: Clare Vivier Carryalls

[photos of Baggus put together by @tripstyler]

Seven Ways To Beach Chic

[trip style = beach + sun]

{Editor’s Note: One of my fave things to do in Vancouver is attend the Vancouver Art Gallery’s seasonal FUSE events, and this summer’s edition is going to be BIG: think dance, DJs and world-class art… Matisse, people! Comment on any TripStyler.com post—and like us on Facebook if you’re not already a fan—FOR A CHANCE TO WIN two FUSE tickets for Friday, July 6th (8pm – 1am), a $50 value. Contest closes Wednesday July 4th at noon. Winner must be from Canada or the US, be over 19 and respond to the email with winner details by Thursday, July 5th at noon.}

First of all, happy Canada Day long weekend to our Canadian readers!!!

A few weeks ago I saw this Seven Steps To Beach Chic cheat sheet on NET-A-PORTER and LOVED it in theory and in practice. As summer beach season heats up, here's THE luxe fashion website's beach go-tos, plus a petite TS commentary:

1/ I go through bathing suits like sox, so why not find your local 'fast fashion' shop and suit-up in a scuba-style bikini or one-piece. Men: the trend for you is shorter, Euro-style boardshorts.

2/ I'm a huge fan of having a staple pair of high-quality shades with timeless frames and ultra UV protectant lenses---you just don't want to mess with the sun---but if you're on the lookout for new sunnies, check out last month's check out Fashion Friday installment all about sunglasses: Fashion Friday :: Oh Mr. Sun.

3/ Normally I like practical cover-ups, because let’s face it, when you’ve been in the sun all day and you're covered with 20 layers of sticky screen, the idea of a gorge garment on sweaty skin is gross. That said, this kimono cover-up could be worn down to the pool and at night. Win, win. {Trip Styler Tip :: If you're really serious about embodying beach-chic but don't want to get sun cream on your cover-up, bring a lose T or simply wear your towel back to your room at the end of the day. No one will notice, they'll be in a 'beach daze' anyway!}

4/ I'm not into jewels or costume jewelry beachside, but après-beach I'm in like gin. I only travel with a carry-on, so jewelry is a tried-and-true way to dress up or dress down the 'inventory' in my suitcase's real estate. For example, the same beach cover-up I wear to the pool in the AM can be dressed up with jewelry for a PM knockout.

5/ Even if you're into neutrals, you can bid adieu to beige with beachwear and be bold with color and prints. We all need a little color in our lives. Currently LOVING this belted one-piece.

6/ We just suggested some gorgeous double-duty travel carry-alls from Claire Vivier---perf for bringing to the beach or throwing into your beach bag.

7/ Keep sandals sweet 'n low at the beach or pool. 100% agreed. Please don’t wear high heels at the pool. Just don't.

[graphics via net-a-porter]