Traveling is an exhausting business. You are hauling heavy luggage around train stations, sitting on long bus rides, walking under the hot sun, hiking through the woods…It’s hard to not look like a sloppy Joe after all that right? I’ve flipped through my old travel photos and cringed at how tired and messy I looked in some of them. Oh those ratty old sneakers….yikes! In recent years, I have been able to find more balance between comfort and still looking decently cute while on the road. You know those stylish travel photos you always see on Instagram? You too can step up your game! In this post, I share the wardrobe pieces I always turn to, to feel a bit more put together in photos.
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Stylish Travel 101
I am a big believer in affordable fashion. I don’t think you need to spend a lot of money and buy a lot of clothes. It’s all about owning some classic pieces that you can mix and match again and again. That’s especially true when it comes to travel wardrobe because ain’t nobody got room in their suitcase! So are you ready to slay travel fashion? Here we go ladies! (Sorry for the guys who wandered upon this post but this one is pretty much for the girls. <3)
A pair of nice Sunglasses
This is my number one item. A pair of cool shades instantly makes me feel glamorous, like I’m a celebrity who is trying to travel incognito from the paparazzi. They are especially perfect for days I want to hide those dark under eye circles from sleepless nights on the road. Most of you probably have a pair of sunnies already, but it’s important to invest in a pair that flatters your face shape. It took me a long time to find sunglasses I like. You’d know the right pair when you find it. It’s like a wizard searching for a wand. You don’t choose them, they choose YOU. Can you tell I’m a Harry Potter dork?
A Red lipstick
Nothing like a red lip to make a girl feel sexy AF. Adding a pop of red instantly brightens up the face, and make any simple outfits look glamorous. I always carry my lipstick with me in my bag and slap them on when we are about to take photos. It’s such an easy trick!
P.S. You may notice that I like red a lot in general. It’s just such a powerful and bright colour. Adding some red will always make a photo stand out in my opinion!
A Structured Jacket
I believe in always carrying a nice jacket when traveling. Not only is it a great thing to have when you feel cold, a jacket adds an air of put together-ness to your outfit. When I say nice though, I don’t mean expensive, but well designed and structured. I personally alter a lot between my jean jacket and faux leather jacket currently.
Another secret is that you can use your jacket as a prop when posing. Sling it over the shoulder or let it hang casually down your side… Bam! Hello supermodel shot!
Some items you may like
A Cute Hat
I was never a hat person for the longest time. But I decided to give them ago a while ago and now I love them! In addition to providing protection from the sun (which is the number one factor for speeding up aging by the way), it can hide bad hair days and up the chic factor of your look majorly! I have two must haves right now.
1. A wide brim hat. Every time I wear this hat, I’m channeling Samantha from Sex and the City 2, when she wore that crazy huge hat in Abu Dhabi. If you haven’t seen this movie yet, go watch it! It’s so fabulous.
2. A newsboy hat. This hat makes me feel o-so-classy, as if I’m always in Europe.
A Maxi skirt
Well I have always hated pants, which is a part of the reasons why I love love love a maxi skirt. It’s the ultimate item that provides comfort and beauty. Honestly I feel kind of like a princess when I wear one, especially if it’s flowy. Seriously though, a maxi skirt gives your legs room to breathe on a hot day, yet provides some coverage when it’s a bit chilly. It’s just amazing!
P.S. While traveling in Asia, I sometimes DIY a maxi shirt with my sarong, which I also love! Isn’t a sarong the best? It can be a scarf, shawl, skirt, dress, bag, beach cover up…So versatile!
Some items you may like
A pair of stylish sandals
Ok let’s talk shoes. Do you still wear flip flops when you are not on a beach? If the answer is yes, it’s time for an upgrade. I know it’s hard to find sandals that are comfortable enough for travel. I did a lot of searching online and the brand that other travelers continuously recommended was Ipanema sandals. So I bought a pair and after trying, I agree! I can walk for a long time without feeling sore feet in these. They are super easy to clean and look great! No more buzz kill with a nice dress but ugly shoes!
Bonus advice:
Fix Them Hair!
I find that hair makes or break how I look in a photo. Even if the outfit is on point, a hot mess hair would ruin the picture. BUT who has time to worry about hair on the road right? It’s just silly. On days you can’t pull off the perfect shiny curls look (which is never for me), try some easy dos like a messy top bun, or a cute pony. Check out these quick cute hair styles on Marie Claire. Or! Rock a hat! *See point 4 above.
If all else fails, get the classic back shot.
Even the most awkward human beings (may or may not be referring to myself) can get some points for being mysterious and cool with a back shot. On days you really feel and look like crap, bring sexy back by turning around. Look into the distance and ponder about life’s important questions for a second. Damn you’ve never looked better!
This shot of me was taken on Alishan Mountain in Taiwan at 6 am. We were waiting for the sunrise. It was cold, dark, my eyes were super tired and I felt barely alive. But you can’t tell in this photo can ya? 😉
I rarely buy any physical souvenirs while I travel. I think my photos are the best things I get to take home from my trips. They always bring back so many memories, and I’m not mad about building a pretty Instagram feed either! P.S. If we are not friends on Instagram yet, follow me here!
Want more travel fashion? Visit my new little Shop My Looks page to see the outfits I’ve worn in my Instagram gallery and shop for similar pieces. Now go out there and #slay those photos!
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18 comments
I need to step up my fashion game. I travel VERY light.(with like 3 shirts for 3 months) so it is a little hard, but I can definitely work on my hair and some sunnys.
I desperately need tips like this! I’m great at travel photography, but when it comes to getting in front of the camera it all goes downhill. I am not self conscious, just totally unfashionable!! haha
Great tips!! I’ll keep these in mind on my next trip!
The red lipstick, hat, and sunnies are definitely my essentials for my travel photos too! Your photos are gorgeous and you look super stylish in them!
haha you are so right – when all things fail, back shot! I do this so much more now because it’s easier and less effort. Sunglasses are an essential for me too!
Such good tips! I’m not very stylish so tip number 6 “the classic back shot” is my easy way out haha
My favourite…bring sexy back by turning around!! Love it. I also love the lipstick trick…I just picked up a few different coloured lip gloss and use them to add a pop of colour when I have to have my picture taken (which isn’t often, that’s what my kids are for!).
lol ohhh that classic back shot. SO TRUE! These are all awesome tips, and ones that I religiously abide by. Another one is having a mini-arsenal of statement necklaces – they instantly class you up 😉 Awesome post!
That’s a great tip Christina! Thanks for the new inspo! 😉
Love these tips! Especially the red lipstick – that’s definitely a go-to!
I have been trying to travel light for such a long time and being fashionable at the same time is quite challenging! But I agree with you, you don’t need much to be fashionable just some really classic pieces and accessories that can make one outfit stand up! Great job on the article and love your photos!
You look great in that pic! Thanks for the tips
That’s a great list of essentials. Thanks for sharing
Oh wow! I’m not always confident featuring myself in photos during my trips, but thanks to your useful tips, I think I can now snap better photos with myself included. 🙂
Thanks for the sandals rec! Always looking for stylish and comfy sandals, which can be so difficult. I’ll have to order these and see how they work out for me!
Hi Rowena! Yes I know! They are the comfiest sandals I’ve purchased so far. Let me know what you think if you give them a go 🙂
Hey viola love your suggestions post! and your photos are really stylish!! thanks for sharing with us!!
Love the structured jacket idea. Gotta get one of those myself!