UPTOURIST

Why should your style be limited by the confines of a suitcase? There are many ways to travel stylishly on your next trip to New Jersey, especially if you know how to pack. Here are five ways to pack for maximum effect.

Pack Smart, Not Light

Rather than trying to pack light, the first step to packing stylishly is to pack cleverly.

Instead of packing a variety of colors, coordinate your travel wardrobe around a grouping of three colors that look good when worn together. For example, any combination of white, navy, charcoal, and black is an excellent choice for an urban vacation.

You’ll also want to pack clothes you can wear two or three times, so it’s best to pack fabrics that won’t wrinkle easily, like wool or cotton. However, if clothes do get wrinkled, hang them in the bathroom while you take a shower and let the steam work out the creases.

It’s also a good idea to take a look at the clothing requirements of the area you plan to visit, including the weather forecast. A stay in Livingston is different from a trip to Passaic River Great Falls, though there are enough lovely places in Livingston that you may want to stay put.

Minimize Your Shoes

A girl with the right pair of shoes can conquer the world, but shoes are the one area where you do want to pack light. In general, women can get away with three shoes on any given trip: Comfortable walking shoes, exercise sneakers, and low boots or sandals.

Men generally need only two pairs of shoes — loafers and exercise sneakers. However, if you know you’re not going to exercise while on vacation, there’s no reason to carry sneakers.

Accessorize the Right Way

If you love to wear color, fear not. A basic outfit can be spiced up with jewelry, a belt, or the right scarf. Plus, the right jewelry is a super easy way to take an outfit from a daytime stroll to a night on the town.

Rather than packing a dozen jewelry options, pack two or three essential pieces of jewelry that work well with a variety of clothing combinations.

Bring One Dressy (But Flexible) Outfit

Whether you’re male or female, bulky suits aren’t your best choice for a formal occasion while traveling. For women, a slip dress, high-heeled sandals, and statement earrings are foolproof. For men, loafers, a white shirt, a multipurpose blazer, and slacks are equally foolproof.

The key is to choose dressy clothes you can combine with other clothes, so you can wear them outside of your formal occasion.

Don’t Be Too Sensible

Finally, don’t be so overly sensible in your packing that you forget to have some fun. After all, that’s part of what makes a stylish traveler stand out from a crowd.

Ask yourself: Do these clothes give me maximum happiness? If the answer is no, pack something else.

Ready to Travel in Style?

Now that you know how to pack and travel with style, it’s time to hit the catwalk (or the airport). And if you visited any cities in New Jersey that you can’t wait to share with your equally fashion-forward friends, let us know in the comments!