Traveling abroad can be a tad stressful. With the amount of planning involved, the mountain of paperwork to be done, and the wealth of knowledge to catch up on, it can be a lot. Thankfully, ORANGE Magazine is here to the rescue.

Story by Reilly Lawrence

Worrying about your passport is much more important than worrying about your fit, so here are five tips on how to travel in style, without the clutter or the worry. 

Versatility is Key

You might have that one dress that makes you feel like Beyoncé at Coachella, but ask yourself how many ways can you wear it out. If you like getting creative, there a lot of options. Try throwing your favorite crop top over it with some sneakers and you’ve got street style. Belt it up with a coat and you’ve elevated to a wine night with friends or a glam evening full of possibilities.

Quality Over Quantity

While Forever 21, Old Navy and H&M might be your go-tos for party fits, consider shopping at stores like Gap and Uniqlo for pieces that will actually last. Five sweaters for 20 bucks might sound great in the moment, but when you’re trapezing about ancient ruins and art museums, the last thing you’ll want to worry about is a hole-y, low quality shirt.

Mute the Tones

Creating fun looks abroad is so much easier when the suitcase you packed is full of items that could be worn together. While you might love a fabulous print on print mashup, it might not be the most practical move for your entire trip (unless of course the power clash is your go-to, in that case all bets are off, you do you boo boo). Keep in mind though, that neutral tones and colors don’t mean boring. White, grey, and khaki have their place, but feel free to experiment. The moral of the story is to coordinate.

Know Yourself So You Can Find Yourself

Planning before your trip will create the space you deserve to have the time of your life. Are you a well-known shopaholic? Great! Fit your favorite activity into your budget and travel with your bag half empty for those one-of-a-kind vintage finds. Leaving a little room in the suitcase is always advised, but knowing your spending and shopping patterns before you leave will greatly reduce your mental and financial stress.

Were Your Boots Made for Walking?

This may sound a bit like a concerned mother here, but listen up anyways: wear nice shoes. Whether that’s hiking boots for the mountains of Italy or quality sneakers for exploring the alleyways of Ireland, you won’t regret it later. Nothing is worse than holding yourself back from an activity because of sore feet from those cute, but impractical shoes you brought on a whim.

Getting started is 90 percent of the struggle. By planning now, you will be able to enjoy your adventure abroad fully and more happily knowing that your clothes are taken care of.