When it comes to mastering the art of the travel wardrobe, it’s no surprise that our favorite fashion insiders also moonlight as packing pros. In My Packing Style, we tap some of the most well-traveled people we know for a peek inside their travel bags and vacation wardrobes to see how they take their style on the road. You’ve bookmarked the trip, you’ve screenshotted the outfits; now, a look at how it all comes together.
From fittings to shoots to shows, the day-to-day of a model is one of constant transit—no surprise, then, that Taylor Hill has her travel routine down to a science. The backdrop of this story proves our point: We intercepted the model and founder of jewelry brand Stone Fruit in the middle of a whirlwind itinerary, following a wedding in Malaysia and a few days’ downtime in Thailand, and right before a multi-city tour of London, Milan, and Paris for fashion month. It’s enough to send even the most Type-A packer into a tailspin; so how, exactly, does she plan for an on-the-go wardrobe that has to cover this much ground?
The answer is a combination of tried-and-true essentials (athleisure on the plane, always), practical tools (her dual-voltage steamer is never far from reach), and smart planning. Not only does she map out each outfit in detail ahead of time but she creates dedicated photo albums to reference once she lands, making getting ready at the destination is a breeze—even with jet lag.
Shop Taylor Hill’s Suitcase
Ahead, we asked Hill to share her go-to vacation wardrobe pieces, the designers behind her favorite travel sweaters, and the one item she always over-packs.
Are you a pre-packer or a throw-in-and-go type?
I typically start packing about two days before the trip. I like to pre-plan outfits for each day I’m gone and according to what type of trip it is—I feel it helps with over-packing to do it this way.
Do you pack in outfits?
I usually pack full head-to-toe outfits but I try to apply the same few pairs of shoes and bags with multiple looks. I even like to take photos of each outfit I created and add them to a photo album for reference when I arrive. If I can’t see something, my brain immediately forgets it exists.
I also love using packing cubes. I’ll either pack them by item (like pants in one, tops in another) or by outfit. That way I know where everything is and what I was planning to wear together.