The Best Travel Outfits For Summer

Summer is a great time to travel. Pools are open, the weather’s warm, and by June most people are ready for some outdoor fun in the sun.

Traveling light gets easier too, since a bulky coat or pair of boots usually isn’t needed. Still, it’s worth planning for the temperature swings a travel day can bring, from a chilly early flight to a hot afternoon at your destination.

Best Travel Outfits For Summer

Summer Midi Dresses

Dresses are ideal for travel: comfortable, but still put-together. A midi dress pairs well with either a fun sandal or a white sneaker.

They’re also easy to dress up or down, and a cardigan or denim jacket layers over one easily if the temperature drops.

Matching Sets

A matching set makes for great travel wear, comfortable and genuinely cooling in a warm climate. Tucking the top into the shorts gives the look a bit more structure.

White sneakers or strappy sandals round it out nicely, with a headband as a simple finishing touch.

White Jeans With A Duster

For anyone short on time to change once they land, white jeans with a duster jacket transitions easily from travel day to sightseeing, both stylish and comfortable.

White jeans pair with a wide range of tops, making them a versatile bottom to pack. Swap flats for slide sandals for a more relaxed look.

Athleisure Looks

Athleisure is a solid choice for a laid-back day of exploring on foot. A cropped sweatshirt paired with athletic shorts and a comfortable pair of walking or running shoes covers a lot of ground comfortably.

Linen Pants

White jeans and light-colored linen pants are both excellent staple bottoms for spring and summer travel. They’re light, breathable, and easy to dress casually with a simple top, or dress up a bit with a floral, puff-sleeved blouse.

Joggers

A good pair of joggers is a genuinely versatile travel piece, comfortable without looking overly casual. Dress them up with a nicer top, or keep it simple with a tank top or bodysuit and sandals.

Shorts

A fun printed pair of shorts captures spring and summer well, especially in a comfortable linen-blend fabric. Pair with a top that has some smocking or ruffle detail, or with a miniskirt or jeans for a different look. Statement earrings and a sun hat finish it off.

Packing Tips For Summer

Figure Out Your Shoes First

It sounds like an odd place to start, but shoes are really dictated by what you’ll actually be doing, so it helps to plan them around your planned activities first.

Three pairs, plus a pair of flip-flops for the beach or as slippers, is a reasonable target for most trips. For a destination involving a lot of walking, look for flip-flops or sandals with real arch support rather than flat, unsupportive ones.

Make Clothes Choices Based On Weight

Lighter clothing means a lighter suitcase with less bulk, which leaves more room for everything else. More lightweight pieces also generally means more outfit combinations for the same amount of packed volume.

Lightweight fabric is also easier to layer and dries faster after a wash. It’s worth looking for pieces designed specifically for travel, an ultralight packable rain jacket or a compressible down jacket can weigh just a few ounces and take up very little space.

Don’t Think In Terms Of Outfits

Instead, stick to one or two base bottom colors, then pack tops and accessories that work with each of them. Make sure every pair of shoes you bring pairs with more than one outfit.

Avoid packing pieces that only work with one specific combination, or shoes that only make sense with one particular outfit.

Think Through Various Possible Scenarios

Run through a few “what if” situations before you finish packing:

• What happens if it starts raining mid-hike?
• Will your dressier shoes still be comfortable if you end up walking further than planned to get to dinner?
• If it turns cool in the evening, does a light scarf or wrap work with that outfit?

Working through scenarios like these takes a bit of time, but it’s worth it once you’re actually on the trip.

Roll The Clothes

Rolling clothes instead of folding them saves space and cuts down on wrinkles. Packing cubes or zip-top bags work well too, keeping everything compressed so nothing shifts loose inside the suitcase. One bag for tops and bottoms, another for underwear, sleepwear, scarves, and swimwear, keeps things organized and easy to find.

Invest In Quick Drying Underwear

Three pairs covers most trips well: one to wear, one being washed, and one spare. Quick-dry travel underwear, brands like Ex Officio make popular options, can be washed in the shower or sink each night and is usually dry by morning.

Washing a top or two most nights also keeps more of your packed clothing clean and ready to wear throughout the trip.

On longer trips, a laundromat visit every 8 to 10 days keeps things manageable, and can even turn into a fun, low-key part of the trip itself.

Bring Only The Essential Cosmetics

Keeping this simple makes packing a lot easier. Travel-size, 3-ounce containers work well for shampoo, conditioner, and a bit of laundry detergent, all placed in a clear zip-top bag for airport security.

A small zippered case fits neatly inside most packable toiletry or travel organizer bags for makeup and other essentials.

Packing In A Carry-on

Hauling a large suitcase through airports, into cabs, or onto trains makes it harder to stay aware of your surroundings and your belongings.

Traveling with a single carry-on avoids a lot of that hassle, and tends to read as more “traveler” than “tourist” too.