When you’re packing light—as you should be—you want to make each garment adaptable to several occasions. Accessories can help, and I have some ideas of which ones you should bring to get the most out of your travel wardrobe. Here are some good accessories for travel.
Scarves
My handy dandy Packing Book suggests bringing one that is 35″ or larger. This size makes it a potential head covering, shawl, emergency blanket, shelter from the sun, etc. If you drape it the right way it can help take a look from day to evening.
You might bring another that is a long rectangle. There are many clever ways to tie these for different looks. My favorite is the weave knot.
There are also many scarves these days intended to be worn many ways. For instance, I own the Vinyasa scarf from Lulu Lemon, which can be worn at least 9 ways thanks to the snaps along the short edges. I’m bringing it to Vancouver, BC, with me this week.
Belts
A metal belt can dress up an outfit for evening. Fabric belts are great for warm climates and more casual outfits. You might even find one with a secret pocket for money.
Jewelry
Lots of people will say you should only bring one set of jewelry, but if you aren’t concerned about losing it, bringing more jewelry is a great way to expand the versatility of a wardrobe. The same white T-shirt with a different necklace makes a totally different outfit. A bigger pair of earrings might be the thing that pushes an outfit over the edge from day to night.
Purse
Bring a small, packable purse with a long strap and don’t keep any valuables in it. It should be simple so you can dress it up or down. Your purse is for things like a comb, pen, money for the next few hours, a notebook, chapstick, tissues, etc. Keep all your important things in a money belt that never leaves you.
Hats
I am definitely a hat person, and while traveling hats can help in a number of ways. A hat will make it irrelevant whether your hair is styled—or even washed, for that matter. Also, fortunately for us, many people seem to be under the impression that they can’t pull off a hat, which makes those of us who choose to wear them seem a little bolder and more fashionable. There are a lot of options for packable hats, or you can just wear one on the plane.
Tights
Bring different colors of tights to spice up your outfits.