But what if you actually never like your looks when you are traveling? What if you are a horrible packer? Then what?! Then... read this. Because I will guarantee that using this method will make you feel so much better on vacation. So much so that you will want to use the suitcase method in real life.

I had a client this week who was talking about looks for an upcoming trip and admitted she was a notoriously bad packer. I asked, “What kind of bad? Do you overpack? Do you pack the wrong things? Do you feel like you are missing things? Or is there just too much?” and she simply said: Yes. All of it. So this is for her and for you. If you feel like you always bring a massive suitcase but never have the right pieces, if you feel like you try to be edited but the result is boring or lacking, if you feel like you panic shop before you go on a trip, if you feel like your suitcase does not reflect your actual style… this is for you.

And at this point, I have been doing this for a while. I have been espousing the same ideas for years, so this is a tried-and-true practice. I can say with one hundred percent certainty that I have seen firsthand how following this process can take the stress out of packing and limit last-minute panic purchasing. How we dress impacts how we feel and interact with the world, and when traveling, feeling confident and well-prepared in our clothes can help us ease into our new environment.

It is almost like I say this in every newsletter. If this was a Bravo show, they would roll a clip package of every time that I suggested creating a moodboard. But I really believe it to be such a powerful tool when we need to get focused. It is pretty impossible to do anything without having a vision of what you want. So if you want to look “cute” for your trip, what does that really mean? What feels cute to you? Create a little folder of about 5–15 (or more! Whatever is helpful!) images of how you want to look and feel. I have said it a million times, but I’ll say it again: the best place to find these images is actually on your own phone. Find screenshots and inspiration and looks that you have loved before, without the lens of your trip. This helps us if we feel like we often get too “themed” when we pack and travel.

You are gathering images that align with your style through the lens of the location, not just images that feel “right” for the location. Here is an example of a little collection I made for going home to Michigan for the 4th. I take into consideration that we basically just hang at home and take walks. So the vibe is different, more relaxed, but still me. None of these photos were pulled for the making of this moodboard; they are all from past screenshots and moodboards. But it is all about seeing them together. It’s about the context.

And here is how it looks on my phone in the folder but for the sake of this newsletter, I also created a cuter version so you can see all the images better!

And here is one that I made for NY. Not a single one of these was pulled FOR this moodboard. They were all on my phone already because they are all my style. But putting them together in this context gives me a great direction for NYC in the summer. Do you see what I mean?

And now for funsies, let’s say I am going on a beachy vacation. This is what my vision is. Again, from my phone which means that it is my style and probably means I have things in my wardrobe that align with this vibe.

And here is how it looks on my phone in the folder!

So while we don’t need to be Justin Bobby wearing combat boots at the beach, we can still maintain our combat boot energy while embracing the environment.

For me, I have regrettably been both the metaphorical-combat-boots-at-the-beach person, but also the opposite, which is also bad. I have packed a suitcase with things that are PERFECT for the environment but not reflective of me, myself, or my style. Sparkly dresses in Vegas that I both hated in the moment and sold the moment I got home — I have had a few!!!! But ever since I have started being more focused and creating these moodboard folders, I have not only felt cooler on vacation but also spared myself from buying things that are location-specific (more on that below).

Another important note: give yourself some time to marinate on this. Take a few weeks. Take out images, add more. Live with it for a second. This is a PROCESS. This isn’t an assignment to check off a list.

Let me just start by saying this—if you think, “It’s not that serious. I am going to be whimsical and throw everything in a suitcase,” then I guess that is fine. But.

But…. Not to be like Miranda Priestly in The Devil Wears Prada, but there is a ripple effect. Getting dressed, in general, helps us express our identity and authenticity while shaping the way we move through the world. And when we travel and find ourselves in new spaces, we get to thread that needle of both being ourselves but also allowing ourselves to be inspired. We want to be in harmony with our environment, but not at the cost of our style.

So, make notes. Look at the moodboard folder and the images that you collected. What do you see? This is where the Moodboard Literacy comes in. If you notice that you have a lot of photos of Zoë Kravitz in The Row, does that mean you need to go to The Row and get the exact things she is wearing? No, silly! If someone on your moodboard is wearing a white kaftan, do you need to buy a white kaftan too? Probably not, actually! But in this stage, we are simply jotting down our noticings. We can be broad and/or specific. For example, if there is a lot of one color, that is a great thing to note. But also, if there is a specific piece or silhouette or item, that’s also worth documenting. We also want to register the styling in these photos too—we want to notice what is being worn, but also how it is being worn. Let’s use one of my moodboards as an example here. I am going to use the NY one.

Here is what I am noticing:

• Kaftans

• Tunics

• Knit tanks

• Tees

• Graphic tees

• Long shorts

• White pants / jeans

• Simple black dress

• Silky scarves

• Silk skirt

• Eyelet

• Embroidered jacket

• Beaded jewelry

• Headscarves

• Expressive sunglasses

• Cowboy boots

• Ballet flats

• Flip-flops

• Simple looks interesting proportions and accessories

• Longer tanks / tunic with flowy pant

• Black and white

• Tonal but some graphic pops

• Items around the shoulders and waist

Want to know something cool? You basically just made a packing outline for yourself. Use this list of observations and go to your closet and start pulling the things from this list.

This is the fun part. Because we get to channel our inner over-packer. Get a rack, or use a little section of your closet, or use the bed, and pull out things that are on your list. If you wrote down “white” and you have a white sweater but you are traveling in summer, you don’t need to pull that. But the reason I think this is a fun step is because you can really go nuts. If you have “long shorts” on the list and have a few options, pull them all! We will make decisions later!

So, again, let’s use my NY example.

I obviously don’t have all of the things on the list, and I don’t have the exact things on the moodboard, but it’s pretty damn close. And want to know why? Because I made this moodboard with photos that inspire me in general. These are not random photos of girls walking around New York City that I found on Pinterest. These are images that I have been referencing for seasons, years even.

So here is what I have. You have probably seen this all before, and I have worn all of this in Los Angeles, but again, it’s the context and the styling that will change here. I also added some similar things because a lot is old or vintage

Using this broad selection, I want you to start making looks. Start with the pieces that you LOVE and you definitely want to pack. Make looks around those first. In this hypothetical, I think it would probably be my shorts and white pants. I have noticed that I personally use the proportion or tone of what I am wearing on the bottom to add interest to my look. And then I just pair that with a simple tee or tank. So I am going to start with the shorts, and specifically my Maria McManus shorts, because I love them, they are comfy, and they wear well for travel.

Then we do some styling. If you want to get fancy, you can actually try things on and take photos. That is going to make your life easier on your trip and for life in general (these looks can also be worn in your real life too. So it’s a win-win!). This is what we often think of as “over the top,” but it is more about doing the work on the front end so you can just enjoy your vacation. If you are packing things you wear all the time and don’t feel the need to try, you can also lay them out on the bed or floor and take photos.

Here is an example:

Remember my post about inventing the wheel and changing ONE THING. This is the perfect time to practice that. Switch out the shoes, the jewelry, add a layer! You can really make the most out of a few pieces!

In doing this, you will often find that you can do a lot with a little. As you begin to build looks, put the “YES” pieces that you have used on one side of the rack/bed/designated section and slowly add the pieces as you add them to the looks. Whatever is left over on the other side might not make the cut.

The things that you don’t use in the looks can go back in the closet. If there is something that you didn’t use but want to bring, now is the time to make some looks with it.

Here are a few questions I ask myself as I am narrowing this down and making looks:

1. Is there an easy go-to look that makes me feel comfortable? What are my go-to pieces? Is there something in this selection that I know I can throw on no matter where I am?

For me it is the below look—I love white jeans and I know no matter what I will feel good in them!

2. Do these looks reflect my three-words or am I just adapting too much to the situation or the location where I’m traveling?

3. Are there multiple use cases for each piece that I packed?

This is a big one for me. For example, if I am packing a sweater, is it a sweater that I can wear with many of the looks? Can I tie it around my shoulders or waist, or is it too thick for that? Does it need to be with a specific shape on the bottom, or can I wear it with any of the bottoms I brought?

Similarly, look at the rack/section/bed or look at the photos. Is there anything that feels redundant? Can you actually use your white shorts in the white pants look and therefore eliminate the pants? Maybe! And maybe that is a look you would have never considered and actually, maybe it looks great! Who knew?

I also find this is helpful with shoes. If there is a pair of shoes that you are only wearing with one specific look, you don’t need to bring them. Because I bet using a more “wrong” shoe looks great. We can actually force ourselves to be more creative and do a lot with a little.

As you can see, a lot of what I pulled did not get used, so this is the time that I will really narrow it down and eliminate the things that didn’t get used in any looks or were only used once!

The way the world works now, we are encouraged to constantly be changing. Because that means that we will constantly be buying. We see a TV series about a chic minimalist and all of a sudden, we are all being pushed to buy a new turtleneck and a crisp button-down shirt. We travel to a tropical destination and boom, we are encouraged to buy a wardrobe that aligns with that environment. You don’t normally wear print and color? Well, you better get some!! This is how social media works, but this is not how real wardrobes work. Keep that in mind.

So, looking at your moodboard and your looks, is there anything that feels like it might be additive? Not just for this trip, but for your wardrobe in general?

In our example, it actually seems like I have most of what I need, which is great. A little sad for me because I like to shop, but I feel like I can make looks that align with my moodboard and my style. Again, this is why creating a moodboard out of references that you already have saved is great. Because these are not new things that you are only into because you have the trip and the location on your mind. These are often things that you have referenced before and are inspired by in general.

I often get overexcited when I’m thinking about a trip and want to buy a bunch of new things. However, the times I have done this, I have regretted it. I felt like I was wearing a costume and ended up wasting money on things that I never wore again (and didn’t even like wearing on the trip, TBH). Ever since using this method, I have been so much more streamlined in my shopping and have found that I have added things that truly align with my style.

• I often try to go as lean as possible on shoes. They take up the most space and usually having less makes more interesting looks. Wrong shoe!

• Same with bags. I typically will bring a larger travel bag and one smaller bag. Sometimes I will have my smaller bag just be a leather pouch that packs flat. THIS is my favorite!

• I will allow myself to be maximalist with jewelry and sunglasses. They totally change the look and don’t take up a ton of space!

• Even if you are going to a warm destination, bring a cozy sweater or a cozy layer. You are never mad that you have it. And you can wear it on the plane.

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I think trends allow us to participate, evolve, and feel modern in our style. I think where trends get tricky is when we really interrogate the reasons why we want something (or don’t). This is all about the WHO, the WHAT, the WHERE, the WHEN, and the WHY.

• Who is this piece allowing you to be? Who is this piece promising you you can be when you own it?

• What does owning this piece say about you?

• Where did you discover this piece? Are you being influenced by the algorithm?

• When no one else is wearing this piece, will you still want to wear it, or will you feel embarrassed or uncool?

• Why does this appeal to you??

What I always find really interesting is how one feels after they have seen something “everywhere.” I saw a funny note from Jess Graves in relation to this Conner Ives coat. Maybe you know the one, maybe you don’t. But on a certain corner of the internet, it is “everywhere.”

And please note, this coat is not even available to purchase yet!!

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I was going to eventually go on to list what I have purchased and say “do as I say, not as I do,” but I think it’s maybe important to explain… how I do. Because, while I am not perfect, I think I do pretty well. Of course, I make mistakes and buy things that I never wear or that just don’t feel right. But if I’m being honest (finally, after all of those lies!), it doesn’t happen that often. And I don’t think that’s just because I’m a stylist and it’s my job to shop (although that obviously plays a role).

I decided to sit down and figure out what makes somebody a good shopper because, as we all know, if you’re a thoughtful consumer, it is reflected in your wardrobe and your style. Knowing oneself is the key to personal style, and when you know yourself, you can shop for yourself. Not for who you wish you were, not for who you used to be, not for who you think you should be.

I can’t tell you who you are or what you should buy, but I can teach you how to approach shopping in a mindful way. These “10 commandments” are not necessarily a checklist I think about each time I am buying something (although my 7 shopping questions actually are more of a checklist—if that is what you are looking for).

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A few small housekeeping remarks before we get into the boys! Last month, I wrote all about my Denim Upgrade and I have an update. In addition to all of the denim I added HERE, I also recently added the Reformation Cary Slouch jeans. I had to keep myself honest and keep you abreast of the journey!!!

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This newsletter is going to focus a lot on external things; however, if you want to get a little more insight into the why and how I’m feeling postpartum, I’m gonna direct you to this post HERE that I wrote in collaboration with my wonderful friend Jayme.

So let’s jump in!

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This is all possible. And it actually does not need to be very hard at all.

I wrote a lot about this in MY BOOK. If …

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