I just published the most comprehensive travel clothing guide I've ever written — and honestly, I've been wanting to write this one for a long time.

Not a generic "pack a white tee and call it a day" kind of guide. A real one. The kind that actually tells you which categories of clothing matter for travel, which fabrics work for which climates, and exactly which pieces to buy — with brand names, real opinions, and no fillers.

Ten clothing categories. Three specific picks each. No BS.

Today I'm sharing the highlights right here - but if you prefer to read the whole thing, then go straight to the blog post.​

If not, just keep reading.

Tops — keep them simple

Not just any top. A travel top has to pack small, dry fast, and work with everything else in your bag. Fabric is everything here — the wrong one and you'll be sweaty and looking messy by 10am.

☀️ Warm weather: Quince Linen Tank Top — breathable, gets softer every single wash, goes with everything.

🍂 Cooler trips: Quince Cashmere Short Sleeve Tee — looks like a basic tee, feels like a quiet luxury upgrade.

🌍 All year: Unbound Merino V-Neck Tee — regulates temperature, resists odor, works in every climate.

Button-down shirts — the most underestimated piece you'll ever pack

One shirt = a top, a light layer, a beach cover-up, and a way to turn any dress or jumpsuit into a whole new outfit.

I never travel without one of these.

☀️ Warm weather: Quince Linen Button-Down — my most-traveled piece, hands down.

🍂 Transitional weather: Quince Chambray Shirt — more structure than linen, none of the heaviness of denim.

🌍 All year: Quince Cotton-Gauze Button-Down — breathable like linen but wrinkles significantly less.

Shorts — lightweight, versatile, and worth packing

For years I didn't travel with shorts. And then I found the right ones and now I don't travel without them. The key is fit, fabric and finding the right length for you.

☀️ Hot weather: Quince Linen Shorts — lightweight, easy to dress up or down, dries fast when you're washing on the road.

🍂 Mild weather: Madewell Perfect Vintage Mid-Length Jean Short — a touch of stretch, broken-in feel, works dressed up with sandals or casual with sneakers.

✨ Dressier option: Spanx Stretch Twill Short — the "looks polished, feels like nothing" short. Wrinkle-free, four-way stretch, wear it to a nice lunch without looking like you're in athletic wear.

Pants — the foundation of every outfit you'll build

Pants are the foundation of every travel wardrobe, and honestly? It's the hardest category to get right.

Too stiff and you'll be uncomfortable all day. Too casual and you can't go anywhere nice. When you finally find the ones that fit perfectly and travel beautifully, everything else clicks into place.

☀️ Warm weather: Quince Tapered Linen Pants — flattering, breathable, and somehow look polished even when it's a million degrees out. I own these in five colors. No regrets.

🌍 All year: Quince Ponte Wide Leg Pants — wrinkle resistant, hold their shape all day, go straight from exploring to dinner.

✈️ Travel days & more casual explorations: Albion Fit Destination Joggers — comfortable enough for a 12-hour travel day, cute enough to wear out. Also gorgeous in the wide leg version and non-cropped version.​

Skirts — lightweight, packable, and secretly one of the most versatile items you can pack

Midi length is the move for travel — long enough for religious sites, breezy enough for hot days, polished enough for dinner. Prints are your best friend because they hide wrinkles beautifully.

✨ Elegant & packable: Quince Silk Midi Skirt — packs tiny, machine washable (tested personally!), and looks great straight out of your carry-on. (silk wrinkles, but printed styles hide them really well)

🌺 Fun & colorful: Farm Rio Printed Midi Skirts — bold prints that feel like vacation and hide wrinkles really well too.

🍂 Cooler weather: Quince Cashmere Midi Skirt — cozy, chic, and very travel-friendly.

Dresses — one piece, zero decisions, complete outfit

I'll be honest — I pack very few dresses. But when I do, it earns every inch of suitcase space.

☀️ Warm weather: Quince Tencel Fit & Flare or Tencel Wrap Dress — soft, wrinkle resistant, flattering on every body type.

🍂 Transitional weather: Spanx Ponte Midi Tank Dress — Ponte fabric holds its shape all day with zero effort.

🌍 All year: Quince Silk Midi Dress — I wore this on repeat for six weeks in Asia. Temples, rooftop dinners, everything. Easy to wear on its own and easy to layer. This version has more coverage if that's what you're looking for.

Jumpsuits — one of the most underrated travel pieces you can pack

Jumpsuits are one of those pieces that look intimidating until you find the right one. And then you wonder how you ever traveled without one.

One honest note though: save these for exploring, not travel days. Public restrooms are already an adventure on their own — you don't need a jumpsuit making things harder.

☀️ Warm weather: Quince Linen Jumpsuit — breathable, lightweight, and effortlessly stylish for warm destinations.

🍂 Spring/fall: Boden Laura V-Neck Linen Jumpsuit — more structured and polished, works for a full day of exploring and a nice dinner out.

🌍 All year: Spanx AirEssentials Tie-Waist Jumpsuit — buttery soft, wrinkle free, holds its shape all day no matter how much you move.

Jackets — where most people either overpack or bring the wrong one

The trick is choosing layers that work with everything in your bag — not just one outfit. One bad jacket choice and you're dragging a lot of dead weight for the whole trip.

☀️ Spring: Quince Short Trench Coat — protects from light rain, handles cool evenings, and instantly makes any outfit look polished.

🍂 Spring/summer/fall: Quince Denim Jacket or Chore Jacket — both casual, lightweight, and incredibly versatile. Pick whichever matches your travel style & destination.

❄️ Colder weather: Quince Lightweight Packable Puffer — compresses into its own pocket, takes up very little carry-on space.

(this one is good for colder weather - and this one works for legit cold trips)

Sweaters — the piece that ties the whole wardrobe together

The right sweater makes your jacket look intentional, your outfit feel complete, and keeps you actually warm. The key is matching your sweater fabric to your destination’s climate.

🍂 Classic & versatile: Cashmere Crewneck Sweater — lightweight, stylish, and works over literally everything.

🌍 All year: Cotton Cashmere Blend Sweater — cozy but breathable, perfect for unpredictable weather.

❄️ Cold destinations: Cashmere Turtleneck — the ultimate cold-weather travel piece. Warm, elegant, and takes up way less space than it looks.

Pashminas — my secret weapon. I will never travel without one

It's a wrap, a blanket on cold flights, and it can dress up the simplest outfit. It even works as a blanket for your kids (I used mine for my nephew a few weeks ago)

✈️ Lightweight & warm: Quince Silk Cashmere Blend Wrap — perfect for spring & fall trips.

☀️ Warm destinations: Linen Pashmina — breezy and packable, great for breezy nights and evening temperature drops.

🌍 Cold destinations: Quince 100% Cashmere Wrap — pure luxury, pure warmth, like a hug from someone you actually like.

One last thought before you go shopping for anything new...

Not everything you pack has to be "travel this" or "travel that."

A lot of these pieces are already in your closet. I'd even say the best travel pieces are already in there.

Why? Because you've already tested them extensively. You know which shoes are comfortable. Which pants don't lose their shape. Which dresses still work when you're bloated 😂

So look in there first. And whenever you do go shopping, shop with a travel mindset: aka pieces that are versatile, comfortable, and work hard. Do that consistently, and you'll eventually have a closet that's ready for pretty much any trip. That's exactly why packing feels easy for me now.

The full guide goes even deeper. More picks per category, real styling notes, fabric advice by destination, and a complete quick-reference shopping list you can save and come back to every time you need something for a future trip.

​👉 Read the full guide here.

Hope you like this one and that it takes you closer to your carry-on packing goals!

XO,

Aimara

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