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Summer Travel Style: Editors' Must-Have Essentials for Comfortable Journeys

Naomi Campbell

Naomi Campbell

Iconic supermodel who has authored books on modeling and style, and advocates for diversity in fashion.

As summer beckons, the editorial team at Vogue reveals their indispensable items for stylish and comfortable journeys. This guide delves into the secrets of balancing practical travel wear with chic aesthetics, ensuring you look and feel your best whether jet-setting across continents or exploring local gems.

Navigate Your Summer Adventures in Style and Comfort!

The Core of Travel Comfort: Versatile Bottoms and Layers

Regardless of destination—from bustling cityscapes to serene island escapes—a common thread weaves through the Vogue team's travel philosophy: the paramount importance of comfortable legwear. Ditching restrictive options, editors favor lightweight, pull-on trousers, often in classic black, that offer both ease of movement and a refined appearance. These foundational pieces are not only ideal for transit but also pack effortlessly, minimizing luggage bulk. When the heat makes heavier fabrics unbearable, these breathable alternatives provide the perfect solution.

Indispensable Companions: Beyond the Basic Wardrobe

Beyond the core clothing items, certain accessories and outerwear prove invaluable for the well-traveled editor. Weekender bags, deceptively spacious, accommodate essentials for short trips, while oversized button-down shirts transition seamlessly from airplane attire to stylish beach cover-ups. Secure and easy-to-remove sneakers are a must for smooth airport navigation. This curated selection ensures that every item serves a dual purpose: functionality during travel and fashion versatility at your destination.

Talia Abbas's Curated Travel Ensemble: Practicality Meets Elegance

Talia Abbas, Vogue's shopping director, adheres to a tried-and-true formula for her travel attire. She prioritizes comfortable pants, like pointelle designs, paired with a soft long-sleeve top and an additional sweater for chilly cabin environments. Instead of sneakers, ballet flats are her footwear of choice, offering both in-flight comfort and destination-appropriate style. For accessories, a reliable claw clip and a spacious tote bag, like her Alex Mill favorite, are essential for carrying everything from personal items to unexpected souvenirs.

Elly Leavitt's Greek Getaway Garb: Adapting to Island Climates

For her August trip to Greece, lifestyle editor Elly Leavitt plans her airplane outfit around warmth and comfort, opting for jeans and classic sneakers that serve their purpose for the journey. Upon arrival, however, her focus shifts to a roomy knit, typically a navy cardigan from Sézane, which doubles as a stylish layer over shorts or dresses during cool island evenings, emphasizing adaptability for fluctuating temperatures.

Cortne Bonilla's Family Travel Strategy: Style Amidst the Chaos

Cortne Bonilla, a senior shopping writer, approaches family travel with a clear priority: comfort without sacrificing her personal style. Her go-to airplane ensemble includes soft terry track pants and a button-up shirt, often cinched with a knit for added flair. She openly embraces flip-flops for airport ease, a practical choice when navigating with two small dogs and a baby. This blend of relaxed comfort and chic elements allows her to manage the demands of traveling with her loved ones while maintaining a fashionable edge.

Minty Mellon's Polished Jet-Set Look: Reusable and Chic Essentials

Minty Mellon, a shopping market editor, believes she has perfected the travel uniform, centered on comfortable yet refined basics. Her ensemble features black pants from Cou Cou Intimates, known for their soft fabric and polished straight-leg silhouette. These are paired with a white tee and a grey cardigan, offering easy layering. For accessories, a statement bag, durable Salomon sneakers, and Ray-Ban Wayfarers are her staples, chosen for their reusability throughout her trip and their ability to fit into a carry-on effortlessly.

Kasey Busiel's Red-Eye Readiness: Maximizing Comfort for Overnight Flights

Preparing for a red-eye flight to Europe, Kasey Busiel, marketing and production manager, prioritizes comfort to ensure quality sleep on the plane. A hoodie is her essential item, serving as both a blanket and an eye mask. The rest of her outfit, comprising lightweight pants and sneakers, is chosen to maximize ease and relaxation, ensuring she arrives refreshed and ready for immediate engagement in her destination's festivities.

Andrea Zendejas's Post-Barcelona Ensemble: Blending Comfort and Personal Style

Andrea Zendejas, a shopping market editor, shares her ideal travel outfit, which she recently wore returning from Barcelona. Her preference for long journeys includes barrel-leg denim or loose, tapered pants, emphasizing a relaxed fit. She pairs these with a simple white tee and a crew neck sweater to combat the cold airplane cabin. Her non-negotiable travel companions are her Away carry-on luggage and a compact Cybex stroller for her daughter, along with a vintage Prada tote for her personal items, showcasing a mix of practicality and personal flair.

Fred Sahai's Multi-Destination Method: Celebrity-Inspired Airport Attire

Fred Sahai, an associate commerce producer, maintains a consistent travel uniform despite a summer itinerary that spans Canada, France, the UK, California, and Hawaii. Inspired by early 2000s celebrity airport style, he opts for flared yoga pants, flip-flops (with compression socks for the flight), and a layered tee or tank under a sweater. Dramatic black sunglasses are essential for a "paparazzi-dodging" effect, or more realistically, to conceal dark circles. His trusted Baggu Cloud tote, in its array of cute prints, is his go-to for carrying all his travel necessities.