Quick question: does "vacation you" dress like "home you"?

Because for most women, the answer is no.

At home it’s leggings and comfy tops on repeat. Then a trip shows up on the calendar and suddenly we’re packing a completely different woman’s wardrobe.

And that gap, right there, is where most packing mistakes are born.

I know because I’ve made this mistake from BOTH directions. When I first started traveling full time, I wasn’t packing for me. I was packing for every possible version of myself:

✨ Fancy dinner me.

🥾 Adventurous hike me (I don’t even hike)

🛥️ “What if we randomly get invited to a yacht party” me.

My suitcase was stuffed with 8 pairs of shoes and outfits for scenarios that never happened. I literally packed things for a 6-month trip that NEVER left my suitcase. I didn't even know that was possible!

And you know what all those “vacation me” pieces had in common? I’d never actually worn them in my daily life.

Which brings me to the two traps hiding inside this home vs. vacation gap situation.

⚠️ Trap #1: Packing pieces "home you" never wears

When you live in soft, comfy clothes all week and then pack “fancier” pieces for a trip, those pieces show up to vacation completely untested.

You don’t know how that structured dress feels after 6 hours of walking. You don’t know that the cute new pants dig in when you sit down for a long dinner. You find out in the middle of your trip, when you can’t do anything about it.

💡 The fix: the comfort test. This is my rule, and I mean it.

99% of your travel pieces need to pass it. Wear the piece for one full day at home BEFORE it earns a spot in your suitcase. Sit in it. Walk in it. Eat a big lunch in it. If you’re tugging at it at the grocery store, you’ll hate it as you walk around Rome.

This is exactly why I love pieces that are secretly comfortable while looking dressed up.

Good examples of these pieces are white leather sneakers, a silk top and my beloved Ponte pants. (if traveling somewhere rainy, these Vessi sneakers are a better option)

⚠️ Trap #2: Assuming closet pieces are automatically travel pieces

Here’s the flip side. Just because you own it and love it doesn’t mean it should fly with you.

That bulky sweater you adore at home? It’s going to eat a third of your carry-on.

The heavy cotton maxi you wear all summer? Gorgeous, but it takes the space of three other pieces (a silk or Tencel one packs down to nothing).

💡 The fix: the bulk test. For every piece, ask: what am I getting for the space this takes? A chunky knit gives you one look and steals an entire packing cube. A thin natural fiber layer gives you the same warmth and packs down to almost nothing.

Warmth is about fabric, not thickness. I learned that "surviving" 7 BRUTAL Chicago winters!

✅ So what SHOULD you pack?

The sweet spot: the best of what "home you" already wears, edited for travel.

Not a stranger’s wardrobe. Not your entire closet.

The overlap: pieces you already reach for AND that earn their space in a carry-on.

And if you’re a leggings at home kind of woman? You don’t need to become someone else to travel well.

You need pieces that feel as comfortable as what you already wear but look a little more elevated. (if that's the look you're going for of course. There's nothing wrong with wearing leggings on vacation). Wear them at home first. That’s the test drive.

So I put together my overlap list below: pieces comfortable enough for a regular Tuesday, but stylish enough for vacation. These are the type of pieces I have in my little closet at my in laws'. And that's partially why packing feels easy for me. My entire closet is travel friendly.

The 🔎 lines are the search terms I’d type to find each one anywhere you like to shop, because I truly want you to be able to do this on your own.

One more thing before the list: always read the reviews before you order. They’ll tell you how a piece fits on every body, not just mine.

🛍️ The overlap pieces

Bottoms that behave like leggings: (or close)

✅ Look for stretch, a flat waistband, and a fabric that doesn't wrinkle when you sit.

🏆 My pick: Athleta Endless high rise pants, Ponte wide leg pants or Albion Fit Destination joggers (comfy enough for the couch, styled enough for most dinners)

🔎 Search for: travel joggers, Ponte pants, travel pants

Tops that upgrade the basics you already live in:

✅ Same comfort as your favorite tee, just a more intentional shape or fabric.

🏆 My picks: the cashmere short sleeve t-shirt (comes in over 10 colors), the split hem silk tee, and the waffle sweater tank for cooler days. (this tank is easy to layer and no-tuck)

🔎 Search for: cashmere tee, silk tee, sweater tank, merino t-shirt

The one and done piece:

✅ One zip, whole outfit. This is the category that makes you look “dressed” with zero effort on both a home errand day and a vacation dinner.

🏆 My picks: this tie waist jumpsuit and Quince's silk midi dress, in the sleeveless or strappy version depending on how much coverage you like.

🔎 Search for: silk midi dress, tie waist jumpsuit, knit midi dress, wide leg jumpsuit

The layer that isn’t bulky:

✅ Warmth comes from fabric, not thickness. A thin natural fiber layer works at home on the couch and packs down to nothing.

🏆 My pick: a cashmere crewneck (or browse all the cashmere styles to find your neckline).

🔎 Search for: cashmere crewneck, merino sweater, V-neck sweater, cashmere cardigan, alpaca sweater

Shoes you’d wear with anything:

✅ Two pairs, every outfit. If a shoe only works with one thing you own, it's not earning its space in your bag.

🏆 My picks: white leather sneakers that go with every single thing I own, my Italian leather platform sandals (size up if in between sizes) for when an outfit needs to feel a bit more polished, VIVAIA flats if sneakers aren't your thing, and my waterproof Birkenstocks, which I love so much (just read the sizing reviews, they usually run big).

🔎 Search for: cushioned leather sneakers, leather platform sandals, arch support flats, flat leather sandals, pointed toe flats, suede loafers.

🎯 Your homework this week

Pick ONE piece you’re planning to pack for your next trip (especially if it’s a piece you rarely wear at home) and wear it for a full day this week.

By dinnertime you’ll know if it’s a keeper or a suitcase squatter 😅

Every piece you test now is one less surprise on your trip.

"Vacation you" and "home you" shouldn’t be strangers. The closer those two women get, the better you’ll feel in your clothes, at home AND anywhere in the world.

Hope today's email gave you something to think about!

Thanks so much for being here! Hit reply if you have questions 💗

XO,

Aimara

>>> PS: hit reply and tell me the piece that failed YOUR comfort test on a past trip. I have a feeling there are some good stories out there, and your replies help me know what to write about next! Or if you have any recent winners, I'd love to hear too!