We are back from our trip to Ashville, NC, and I am ready to share with you some travel outfits that mix & match. I’ve found that if I can pack a few essentials, like a good pair of jeans and a blazer, and I can style them numerous ways! Also, when I stick to a color theme, this ensures lots of easy outfit combinations.
All of my outfits from this trip fell into the neutrals category. Since I love minimalist styling, it was simple to pull pieces straight out of my closet for our vacation. No need to spend lots of time and money online shopping or hunting for various ‘outfits’ at the mall! Literally, I bought one item for our trip! Everything else, I already owned.
In the outfits here in the post, I’ve used different styles or brands for each look so you could have more styling ideas. However, the point is to pack as few pieces as possible! Yet, you should still have plenty of pairing options since they theoretically could be used in multiple outfits.
For example, I packed two pairs of denim, one white tee, one pair of sneakers, one pair of chelsea boots, one pair of leggings, a sweatshirt, one crossbody bag, one belt, and two sweaters. Then I mixed and matched these pieces, and had more then five days worth of outfits! (FYI: We were very casual this trip. No fancy dinners, or dressy clothing needed.)
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Travel Outfit #1
This first look includes a basic black blazer, straight leg denim, a classic white tee, and accessories. I’ve kept it casual by adding a white and black sneaker and crossbody bag with a woven strap. All of these pieces could be reused in another outfit combo during our trip! Also, remember to pack shoes that are appropriate for the activities you’ll be involved in! No one wants to be stuck walking around for hours in uncomfortable shoes!
Sizing: The blazer runs oversized, but that’s the trend right now. So, I stuck with my regular size. The straight leg denim runs small. Size up one size. Mine are still a little snug though. The white tee its slightly fitted, but runs true to size. I sized up one for a roomy fit.
Pro Tip
Pro Tip: Layers are the way to travel, especially in these midlife years! Also, you never know when the climate might change and you might end up too hot or cold. I remedy this by wearing a couple of layers of clothing. Things that are easy to get on and off in tight spaces, like an airplane, or car. For example, I wore lightweight athletic pants and a zippered jacket over a cotton white tee and sneakers on the plane to and from Ashville. Both ways I was able to remove my jacket when I got too hot without much fuss. It’s easy to include a lightweight jacket since it doesn’t take up much room because you are wearing it!
Travel Outfit #2
This second outfit is also a classic style. I’ve reused the denim from outfit #1, added a lightweight sweater (mine was a light grey shade), white button up shirt, and my sneakers. Again, this is a casual, yet polished look. I used the same crossbody bag and belt from look #1, but I love this quilted crossbody with the adjustable strap as well! The bag brand is very trendy right now, and I can see why!
Sizing: The sweater runs true to size, but I wanted an oversized look so I sized up one. The button up shirt is my FAVORITE! It’s stretchy, and always looks crisp. It is fitted, but runs true to size.
Travel Outfit #3
I’m obsessed with this third outfit option! The long rain jacket from Chico’s was essential for our trip to Ashville, NC. The weather was mostly rainy, but I didn’t care since I had this hooded jacket! It’s fully lined, extra long, has a hood, and zips all the way up the front! I love that you can cinch the waist in with the elastic drawstring, or let it out when you’re wearing bulky pieces like this sweatshirt! Also, I don’t go anywhere without these Headland Hybrid leggings/pants from Athleta!!! They have traveled to a lot of places with me over the past five years, so I am sure to include them in my suitcase. Furthermore, a pair of water resistant boots like these Chelsea boots were a winner with all the rain. My feet stayed warm and dry. Lastly, I always include a cozy, oversized sweatshirt. It pairs with just about any outfit, and is a nice layer in case it’s unexpectedly cold. Finally, don’t miss this fun crossbody hybrid body bag! Again, it’s from that super trendy brand, MZ Wallace. It has plenty of room for the essentials, but also easy to conceal underneath your jacket for safe keeping.
Sizing: Rain jacket runs true to size. I can easily wear my sweatshirt underneath mine without it being to snug. The Headlands leggings run true to size. They are a true legging, so they run snug. They also have several zippers on them, but I haven’t ever had a problem in security at the airport with them. Next, the sweatshirt runs large. I still got my regular size for a roomy fit.
Pro Tip
Pro Tip: Another great idea is to only take a few basic jewelry pieces. Jewelry can be tricky on trips, especially if it’s expensive or something that has great sentimental value. My rule of thumb is to leave at home anything that I would be devastated to lose. The risks of losing things increases during travel, and I’m just not willing to take those odds. So, I typically take one or two inexpensive pairs of earring. Generally, I will wear a pair of studs that go with everything. Then I wear my wedding ring and band, and and also a necklace that goes with all of my outfits. This trip I also wore a couple of inexpensive bracelets as well. Finally, if there is a piece(s) that are valuable and you aren’t going to wear them the entire trip, make sure to store them in the vault at your hotel or on your person during travel.
Travel Outfit #4
My final outfit option is this striped sweater and girlfriend slim straight leg denim from Chicos. The sweater is soft and roomy, and the denim are stretchy and super comfy making it the perfect choice for a trip! Also, it’s a little bit more dressy than the other outfits, so I feel confident wearing it to a nicer restaurant, museum, or event. Adding this black blazer, suede loafers, and leather crossbody bag completes this leveled up look. However, note that I wore this look with the rain jacket and Chelsea boots from look #3 to the Biltmore Estate since it was cloudy and rainy. So, there are multiple ways to style this sweater and denim.
Sizing: The sweater is roomy. It runs true to size. The denim is a more relaxed slim style jean. It is super stretchy as I mentioned before. They run true to size. The suede leather loafers run a little snug at first, but they stretch out some, so I bought my true size in them.
The hubby and I had such a great time on our little adventure, and I felt totally well packed with these outfit options! Honestly, I struggle when it comes to packing for most trips, and typically just end up throwing a bunch of random pieces into my suitcase right before we leave. But, actually taking the time to plan the outfits made it very easy to pack and gave me peace of mind as we traveled since I knew I was prepared!
Final Thoughts
This is the first post in a series I’m devoting to “travel”. I intend to share some travel tips, tricks and hacks that have helped me. Also, a couple of posts about Ashville, NC specifically! Our hotel was FABULOUS, and downtown Ashville was lots of fun, and of course the Biltmore was a “must-see” while you’re in the area! So make sure you have subscribed to the blog so you don’t miss a thing!
Plus, I’ve partnered up with my sweet friend, D’Arcy Vandenberg, who is also sharing a “travel” post on her website! Head on over a take a look at all of her great tips, tricks, and hacks! Dear D’Arcy is linked here.
Lastly, if you are looking for more fashion inspiration, head on over to the SHOP MY LOOK tab. I have everything linked there! Or perhaps you’re looking for some new makeup ideas or a ‘clean’ beauty inspiration. Then head on over to the BEAUTY tab .
Finally, I hope you’ve found this post valuable, and if you have any suggestions for future post topics, I’d appreciate your input! Please drop your ideas in the comments below.
Happy shopping!
XOXO,
Cindyh
