Bethenny’s Packing Tips for All of us who Can’t Wait to Travel

As we wave bye bye to 2020 and hope for a better 2021, many of us are excited to travel – near or far – for a day, a long weekend, or nice long vacation. Below are some of Bethenny’s packing tips from her book Skinnygirl Solutions, and here are a few comfy travel pieces to keep in mind as you read:

• Skinnygirl jeans in all shapes, sizes, colors
• Super comfy sets to travel in
• Great jackets for layering over (and over) an outfit for day or night

Have a color theme.

Stick to basic neutrals but add that pop of color and nobody will notice you’re wearing the same jeans you wore yesterday. For example, you might decide on black clothes with colorful accessories. Your color can come from jewelry combinations, scarves, and colored tank tops or T-shirts. This allows for infinite possibilities. If black is your theme:

• • Black jeans with a red tank top, colorful scarf, and black cardigan the first day
  • A black dress with a long colorful necklace, earrings, and black jacket the second day
  • A black skirt with the red tank top, cardigan, and a different scarf the third day
  • Black jeans with the black jacket, a white tank, and the colorful necklace the fourth day, etc.

It’s just like what I do with food: Today, turkey burgers. Tomorrow, pasta Bolognese. I’m not saying you have to wear black for the entire vacation, but just be sure every item in your suitcase can be worn in more than one way or go from beach to dinner. If it can’t, take it back out. This also goes for shoes, bags, sunglasses, and hats.

Have a hardware theme.

I also like to pick a hardware theme, especially if I’m only going somewhere for a few days. Is it going to be a silver trip or a gold trip? If your jewelry and handbag hardware all match, you can switch things out endlessly.

Go beach-to-dinner.

In warm weather, a sarong or tunic can be a cover-up over a swimsuit on the beach but can morph into a skirt with a nice beaded top or a tunic over white jeans for evening. A sun dress during the day can transition to night if you add a scarf and jewelry and a cardigan. Cute shorts during the day can look great at night with heels and a sexy top.

Pack light for the mountains.

In cold weather, a pair of black leggings, a black blazer, a turtleneck, and a selection of colored fitted Ts can last for days, in different combinations, if you change out the accessories.

Just the basics.

Truthfully, you could probably get through most trips with a pair of jeans, a T-shirt, and a blazer, just by changing out your shoes, scarves, and earrings. Go crazy and pack black jeans, a black skirt, a black dress, and a black blazer with a few tank and T options, and you could head to Europe for the summer. Just remember to bring enough clean underwear.

Excerpt From: Bethenny Frankel. “Skinnygirl Solutions.” Simon & Schuster.