A Celebrity Stylist Told Me the 4 Packing Mistakes Everyone Makes—and What to Travel With Instead

I knew I had a serious overpacking problem when my sweet Dutch Airbnb host in Amsterdam lugged my gigantic, bloated suitcase up three flights of stairs, only for it to slip and come tumbling down. The worst part: It popped open to reveal three weeks' worth of clothing for my one-week trip. To avoid future embarrassment ahead of my upcoming summer vacations, I tapped celebrity stylist Ron Jefferies, who travels so often for work that he’s practically in the air more than on foot. 

His advice: K.I.S.S. (a.k.a. keep it simple, stars). "If you keep it simple, you’ll always come out on top,” he says. "The major error is in thinking that more is more, but actually, less is more." While Jefferies makes it sound easy, I still asked him to help me rehab my overpacking addiction by sharing a few wardrobe swaps to lighten my travel load without sacrificing my personality.  

More Stylist-Approved Packing Staples

• Under-$10: Hanes Tank-Top, $8 (Originally $10)
• Celeb Stylist Top Pick: Aritzia Effortless Pants, $133 (Originally $148)
• Go With Everything: Quince Italian Leather Lug Sole Loafers, $98
• 55% Off Coach: Coach Easton Tote Bag, $179 (Originally $395)
• Easy, Breezy: Cotton On Emma Babydoll Minidress, $50
• The Very Best T-Shirt: Madewell the Perfect Crewneck, $45
• Everyone’s Favorite Button-Up: Everlane Boxy Oxford, $69 (Originally $98)  
• Super Versatile: Topshop Lace Hem Cotton Maxiskirt, $80
• Airport Uniform: Quince Organic Cotton Straight-Leg Pants, $40
• Look Like Trousers, Feel Like Pajamas: Mango Cotton Pants, $42 (Originally $60)
• Instant Polish: Mango Stripe Button-Up, $49 (Originally $70)

Instead of: Jeans

Try: Leisure Pants

There are actually a ton of comfortable jeans—I know because I’ve tested them—but your wardrobe will get more mileage out of versatile leisure pants. From trendier options like balloon pants to soft, stretchy bottoms that look like trousers, non-jean options can add more personality to your travel wardrobe than denim, and are typically more comfortable. “Aritzia has a great pair of leisure pants—pair those with a basic and you can look very chic,” says Jefferies. 

Old Navy Poplin Balloon Pants

$50

$15 at Old Navy

Aritzia Effortless Pants

$148

$133 at Aritzia.com

Mango Elastic Waist Cotton Pants

$60

$42 at Nordstrom

Gap Easy Straight Pull-On Pants

$25

$18 at Amazon

Grapent Striped Wide-Leg Pull-On Pants

$32

$20 at Amazon

Anrabess Wide-Leg Palazzo Pants

$33

$19 at Amazon

Instead of: Bold Tops

Try: White T-shirts, Button-Ups, and Camisoles

I find it so tempting to dress for my vacation persona rather than my real life, but the cheesy adage is true: It’s all about the journey, not the destination. “Taking an outfit for each and every possible occasion that could occur limits your ability to be creative and find new looks on the trip—whether that’s in your own bag or with the locals,” says Jefferies. Instead of trying to predict what your trip will look like, pack the basics you know will work no matter what, such as a polished button-up or cotton tank top. Then, you can pick up inspiration along the way, like sartorial souvenirs. 

Madewell the Perfect Crewneck

$45 at Madewell.com

Everlane the Boxy Oxford

$98

$69 at Amazon

Hanes Tank-Top

$10

$8 at Amazon

Mango Stripe Cotton Button-Up 

$70

$49 at Nordstrom

Aritzia Reminisce Relaxed Linen Shirt

$98

$78 at Aritzia.com

Gap Favorite V-Neck Tee

$20

$13 at Amazon

Instead of: Tons of Accessories

Try: One Purse and Two Pairs of Shoes

This sounds like a funny combination, but these three items broaden your wardrobe more than a handful of mismatched scarves and jewelry, according to Jefferies. “The biggest mistake is packing too many accessories. When traveling, pick two pairs of shoes that work with everything, and try to limit yourself to one bag,” says Jefferies. For instance, I never travel without my comfy Birkenstocks that work with any outfit, or a functional crossbody. 

Coach Easton Tote Bag

$395

$179 at Coach.com

Quince Italian Leather Lug Sole Loafer

$98 at Quince

Kate Spade Carter Nylon Sling Crossbody

$299

$89 at Katespadeoutlet.com

Birkenstock Santa Clarita Mary Janes

$140

$90 at Nordstrom

Instead of: Silk and Linen

Try: Cotton

While Jefferies says cotton travels well, he advises avoiding silk and linen. “These bad boys will wrinkle if you look at them wrong,” says Jefferies. He adds that a slinky, poly-blend item is the “sweet spot” if you want something that photographs like silk without looking crinkled. 

Cotton On Babydoll Dress

$50 at Nordstrom

Intimissimi Cotton Top

$22 at Amazon

Topshop Cotton Maxiskirt

$80 at Nordstrom

Quince Straight-Leg Pants

$40 at Quince