Wondering why your holiday outfits never turn out the way you planned?
Take some tips from Toronto and New York City-based personal stylist Kim Appelt, who are revealing the real reasons why the travel ensemble you dream of just doesn’t work.
The personal stylist has revealed the biggest mistakes people make when preparing their outfits for a trip – as she shares her perfect packing formula that she says creates perfect ensembles for any occasion.
Speak Unpleasant InsiderAppelt noted that — while trendy pieces may catch your eye while packing — it’s actually a lot easier to create outfits on the go if you stick to the items you know work for you on a daily basis.
New York and Toronto-based stylist Kim Appelt has revealed the biggest packing mistakes people make when going on vacation
The fashion expert also shared her top tips for putting together ensembles on the go – and revealed why people should focus less on trends when planning a trip
“For example, if you are someone who likes sportswear, you are a very casual dresser… It is not the time to unpack those pieces in your closet that are extremely feminine and full of flowers,” Appelt explains.
It may be tempting to imagine an Instagram grid full of fantastic vacation photos, but make sure you bring outfits that you already know how to style.
The fashion content creator, who has amassed more than 60,000 Instagram followers for her sage style advice, guided attendees on how to dress for both the environment they visit and the “vibe.”
The celebrity stylist recommended “edgy” all-black outfits in New York City, including combat boots and black jeans.
However, just because you’re dressing for the environment doesn’t mean you have to eschew all your old favorites when it’s time to hit the road.
Appelt, who wrote the book Style for Everybody: A Guide to Curating Your Essential Wardrobe, admitted that she still wears her white linen blazer while traveling around Manhattan because it’s a wardrobe staple.
The author of Style for Everybody advised people to bring basic wardrobe staples, like her favorite white linen blazer, which she can wear in multiple ways.
‘Avoid clothes that only match one specific outfit, which will limit your options. Each piece should be able to be worn three ways,” the style pro shared
The style expert and author urged everyone to ask themselves a few quick questions before they start packing, including: ‘What is your personal style? Is it athletic, is it preppy, is it casual?”
Once you find the answers, Appelt says, it’s easy to put together a perfect capsule wardrobe for travel that won’t cost you a lot of money or burden your back with a heavy suitcase.
One of the stylist’s best packing tips is to make sure each item can be worn three different ways, noting that a linen blazer is easy to pack and just as easy to style.
She guides people to start with versatile basics, creating a foundation such as “classic jeans, fitted T-shirts and neutral lightweight sweaters” before mixing and matching, which “maximizes outfit options with the smallest number of pieces.” It helps to start with a neutral color palette, which makes it easy to mix and match.
Appelt is an expert in creating a capsule collection that is actually wearable, and wrote a book on creating an ‘essential wardrobe’
Instagram commenters loved the content creator’s fashion advice, which helps them travel without checking their luggage
However, one Instagram commenter read her advice after traveling with two extra suitcases because they hadn’t had access to her packing tips
“The biggest mistake is trying to pack all those clothes you bought on IG while you were scrolling, or on sale that you’ve never worn,” Appelt told DailyMail.com.
“This is not the time to try to get your money’s worth.” These unreliable items may not fit properly and you probably don’t know which shoes will go best with them.
The personal stylist shared her expert tips on Instagram and commenters were quick to share their thoughts.
‘Good advice! Dang, I just arrived with two oversized suitcases plus my carry-on for a week trip lol. Too late,” one follower opined.
“Know your WOFs (without fail) and head out with a small suitcase,” another agreed.