SPY Guide: 6 Travel Outfit Essentials for Him & Her

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* Easy to pack travel essentials to wear with anything
* Comfortable and versatile enough for a range of activities
* Stylish, no matter the destination
Without the right items, packing for a trip can be a nightmare. Your travel clothing has to be comfortable enough to wear on long walks and longer flights, and versatile enough to go from sightseeing straight to dinner. And on top of that, stylish enough to make you feel good, and avoid looking like an obnoxious tourist (sorry, convertible pants-shorts).
Finding the right clothes for your trip is a daunting task (even when you’re not scrambling to organize your whole trip), so we found these travel essentials to make your suitcase lighter and your outfits better, no matter the destination or the season.
1. A Casual Button-Up
If you could only bring one shirt on a trip, a classic, somewhat casual button-up is your best choice (extra points if it’s gingham). These shirts from Lacoste and Stateside are just that, and they’re Oxford material, so they won’t wrinkle in your suitcase.
2. A Versatile, Reliable Watch
Flights, time changes and unreliable smartphone service make having a good watch essential. We like these because Nixon provides stylish, durable watches that aren’t so expensive that you’ll be worried about them getting lost or stolen while traveling.
3. A Comfortable, Stylish Backpack
Backpacks are ideal for air travel, road trips, sightseeing, beach trips and almost any other travel activity. This highly-rated, compact backpack from Fjallraven is a great option. It’s lightweight, weather-resistant and super durable. The straps sit secure on your shoulders and strapped to your back for safe carrying, too.
4. Dark Chinos
Because they’re comfortable and stylish with anything, a great pair of slim-fit dark chinos can be worn all day while traveling, especially if they’re stretch twill like the pair below from Naked & Famous.
This women’s pair from Vince functions in the same way. Easy enough to take for your day trip but classy enough to wear out for dinner and dancing at night too. There’s enough stretch in the material to make these extra comfy for repeat wearing.
5. A Neutral Pullover
A neutral colored pullover sweater can be cozy for long flights, easily thrown on for summer nights out, or brought as an effective layering tool during winter travels. For this maximum versatility, we recommend the Raglan from AMI for men, and this rib knit Grey Jason Wu for women.
6. Comfortable, Premium Sneakers
For the majority of travelers, long, frequent walking is unavoidable. A pair of comfortable sneakers makes it doable, and a premium pair such as these ones, make sneakers versatile enough for sightseeing, dinner and anything in-between. SPY tip: opt for a leather sneaker over a canvas one.
