20 Road Trip Looks!
A few months ago, when my husband, Chris, looked at me and said, “You realize you’re going to have to pack for two to three months in one suitcase, right?”, I tried my hardest not to freak out. So I started packing and was very strategic. I was able to talk Chris into letting me bring an extra bag for camera gear, and of course, I have my huge Think Royln wingman bag for toiletries that really helped. I also snuck a few things into the kids’ suitcases. I’m sure you can imagine how challenging this task was for a style lover like me.
Worth noting before I share the style scoop… I ditched and dontated a few things along the way. I also ordered a few new pieces. Below.. is what I packed and how I’ve styled the pieces.
If you’re interested in our cross-country road trip details, make sure you check out this post.
Tips for Packing For A Long Trip
My biggest tip for packing for a long trip is one I’ve shared before here. Stick to a color story! In essence, you are packing your very own mini-capsule wardrobe where everything mixes and matches seamlessly. In the photos below, you’ll see that I stuck with a neutral story and added in a few pops to make it fun. This meant I only had to pack neutral pieces. Plus, the fun pops of color or prints seamlessly go with all the neutral pieces so I can wear everything again and again.
In case you missed it, I shared my in-the-car travel day outfits in this post.
V-Neck Sweater & Matching Shorts
This is the ultimate travel day outfit. It’s SO comfy and you can mix and match the shorts and sweater with other pieces. I’m also wearing a comfy crop top underneath that I’ve been wearing with pretty much all my other shirts because…you don’t have to wear a bra with it! MAJOR WIN!
Same Sweater & Denim Shorts
I wore the same sweater from above and paired it with denim shorts. You’ll be seeing a lot of these denim shorts throughout the trip! They’re by Moussy Vintage and they are SO good, maybe even better than last year’s favorites by Agolde. I’ve done a post on how to find age-appropriate denim shorts here that’s a must-read.
White Tee & Denim Shorts
Keeping with the neutral color theme, I packed three of my favorite white tees to go along with my denim shorts. I actually brought 2 white tees…one balloon sleeve V-neck by Nation LTD (I have it in black and white), a long ruched sleeve crewneck tee by Free People, and my go-to ATM v-neck tee. They’re all great basics I can layer under jackets or wear on their own.
Rails Button Down & Denim Shorts
Another shirt I brought to wear with my denim shorts and jeans is my Rails white cotton button-down. It’s cotton so it’s lightweight and breathable. I’ve also worn it with baggy jeans you’ll see again below…
White Ruffle Sleeve Tee & Denim Shorts
The next white top I packed was this cute ruffle sleeve top by Nation LTD. I have three tops by this brand and really like them. They have great, high-quality elevated basics! Notice a theme here…? LOTS of elevated basics.
White Ruffle Sleeve Tee & Red Skirt
I took the same Nation LTD top and paired it with this gorgeous red vegan leather skirt by Alice + Olivia. It has an asymmetrical hemline and the billowy fit keeps you cool. If you’re interested, you can see more photos of this skirt in this post.
White Ruffle Sleeve Tee & Embroidered Skirt
In case you couldn’t tell…I really love this top! I paired it again with a really chic skirt by Alice + Olivia. The embroidery is gorgeous and I know it’s going to look gorgeous in Spain!
Black Free People Bodysuit with Printed Pleated Skirt & Jean Jacket
This bodysuit is a sexier option but I really love it. It’s a wired v-neck style and the fit is great. I wore it with a gorgeous printed, pleated skirt. It’s so funny…I don’t usually wear skirts and for this trip, I packed three! If you want to see more of this skirt, check out this post. The jacket is by Retrofete and comes in a few other colors.
9seed Top & Moussy Jeans
Next up is the blue 9seed top. I took this top with me to Mexico. If you missed my post on the only 23 items I took on our 2 week trip to Mexico, make sure you check that out here. This top doubles as a coverup, it’s lightweight, and the color is so pretty! I also wore this top with denim shorts to Mount Rushmore!
White Blouse & Moussy Jeans
I wore the same Moussy jeans with this gorgeous white peasant top by a fellow influencer, Shalice Noel! This look was one I wore in DC while we did some exploring!
Blazer & Baggy Jeans
I swapped the Moussy skinny jeans for a pair of Moussy baggy jeans and paired them with my crop top and blazer. This blazer by Express is super chic and stylish. If you missed my post where I styled it with a skirt, you can check that out here.
Dresses
In addition to the three skirts I brought along, I also wanted to bring some dresses that I could dress up or down. The first dress is by Acler and I’ve worn it with sandals to Glacier National Park. I’ve also worn it with espadrille wedges to dinner. The second dress by Sundry is a casual racerback style that I’ve worn for site-seeing. The third dress by Rails is the perfect mix of casual and dressy. I’ve worn it with flat sandals and wedges. The fourth dress I’m wearing is actually one I didn’t pack but bought while we were in D.C. It’s a showstopper… I love every single detail on this dress! Including the eyelet puff shoulder, belted waist with gold hardware, trench style buttons, cool collar, and the flounce skirt.
Activewear
We have done quite a few things outdoors, including going to Yellowstone. So I did pack a few activewear pieces for those days…you can find them all linked below. Luckily, they didn’t take up a lot of room and I can wash and wear them every time we do something where I know I’ll want to wear activewear versus nice clothes.
Swimwear
When you are packing for several months… you will likely want everything in your suitcase to be functional (of course), but also special. This white, beaded, swim cover-up is a perfect example. It doesn’t wrinkle. It’s easy to get on and off. It covers your arms. The tie waist and slightly flared skirt create a flattering shape, and it is super chic and unique! Underneath I’m wearing a white Vix bikini (top & bottoms) I’ve had for a while!
For more swimwear, check out this post.
Accessories
All of my accessories seamlessly go with everything I packed. My white Bottega Veneta handbag goes with everything. If you’re interested in if I think this bag is worth it, you can find my honest review here. I brought three pairs of shoes I’ve been rotating…my Sam Edelman sandals that are super comfortable for walking around, my See by Chloe wedges for dressier occasions like dinner, and my glittery Golden Goose sneakers to mix it up. If you missed my review of the Golden Goose sneakers, make sure you check that out here. I also linked all of the jewelry I brought below.
Make sure you check out our epic road trip post to see where we’ve been and where we’re headed!
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Thank you for stopping by!
Hi Erin, I just recently “discovered” you and am thoroughly enjoying all your videos! I have a question about your most recent LOFT try on video… I have that white geo lace top and I really like the Sheln lace cami you have on underneath. However I am not familiar with that company and I looked at the sizing chart for that particular item and I’m kind of in between a M and a L in the bust measurements. I’m usually a size 6 and a small or medium. Did that cami run true to size for you? The reviews are kinda mixed.
Hi Jackie… I check the size chart for every piece on that site. There is NO uniformity of sizing. I would always size up if between sizes.
The quality is always so-so.. and the price reflects that. It’s a gamble. I can vouch for that cami being decent, but it’s definitely not high quality.
I think if you like the way it looks, and you are looking for a cami that is super affordable… this is a great opion. Otherwise, I can recommend higher quality options. Erin xo
Thank you for the quick reply Erin. I’m going to go ahead and order the size up. For the price I think it’ll be fine…I have other good quality cami’s but liked the v-neck and more sheer coverage look under this top.. Plus, less is more sometimes in this Texas heat! Thank you for your help, I appreciate it. Jackie