Your flights are booked, hotel confirmed, and dinner reservations made for your upcoming summer vacation—now all that’s left to do is put together a packing list. But just because you have a trip planned doesn’t mean you need to run out and buy a whole new vacation wardrobe. Instead of packing a suitcase full of trendy pieces and statement outfits you’ll only wear once, it’s wise to invest in reliable staples that can be mixed and matched into summer travel outfits you’ll live in all season long. Whether you’re headed on a beach vacation in Turks and Caicos or sailing through the Amalfi Coast, the right outfit staples have you covered from morning coffee to evening cocktails.
To help get you started, I pulled together an edit of summer travel outfits worth adding to your suitcase. My tried-and-true method to avoid overpacking is choosing neutral basics that can be reworn with a variety of outfits—saving me space in my suitcase every time. Think simple tanks you can build every look around, linen shirts that double as cover-ups, and lightweight dresses that can be as fancy or casual as you need them to be. Pack smarter and a whole lot lighter with these summer wardrobe essentials.
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The everyday tank
Hot summer days mean you’ll need a few basic tanks. This is the base layer you’ll be wearing with everything from denim shorts and flip-flops by the pool to midi skirts and kitten heels at lunch. I always pack a solid white tank, like this one from Gap, to fall back on when I don’t know what to wear. (A soft tank top like this can even double as a pajama top in a pinch.) A simple tank top isn’t the most exciting thing in your suitcase, but it just might be your most worn.
