The Fashionable Girl's Guide to Backpacking around the World.

*Edit 8/4/22. Let me just say real quick, that this post was written in 2013. This was almost a decade ago. Long before the days of Instagram influencers, and specifically, travel influencers. Girls were not dressing up in floor length gowns to stand on a mountain to get that perfect insta picture. The most common traveler was the backpacker wearing cargo pants and beat up sneakers. So when reading this, just know the time I was in. I think this article was ahead of its time, and helped pave the way for stylish travelers!*

I love clothes, and I love traveling.
Usually, it is very hard for these two to go together.
Especially if you're going somewhere that isn't an all-inclusive resort, and that's off the beaten track (which let's be honest, are the most fun places).
But I am here to tell you that these two can go together! 
So listen up for my advice on how to be a fashionable traveler.
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Torch Lake, Michigan

When I go places, I usually take waaaay too much with me. Because I need different shoes for different outfits, different hair accessories for different moods, and about a million different outfits for any kind of weather, mood, or occasion. I feel comfortable knowing that I have everything that I need, and have numerous different outfits for numerous events and and anything that could occur. You fashionable gals (and guys!) know exactly what I'm talking about.
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Louisville, Kentucky

But when I'm actually traveling, I pack light! Because when you're traveling multiple places, and not doing luxurious traveling, you need to pack light. You pretty much just need to have a backpack to carry with you, because you can't be pulling rolling suitcases through dirt roads in villages, or carrying a giant awkwardly shaped suitcase through a train station.
If you do pack very heavily for these kinds of trips, you will be miserable. This is why, when you see the typical 'backpackers', they have one (very large) backpack, and they are always dressed (no offense to backpackers) very plain (and in my opinion) not attractive. You know what I'm talking about, they always wear plain t-shirts, those horrible cargo pants that zip off into shorts, and ugly sneakers! The girls wear this too, and don't even bother wearing any sort of makeup, or doing anything to their hair. Now obviously, I haven't seen every backpacker everywhere, but this is the majority of backpackers that I have come across.

I know that a lot of people might take offense to this, and say that I'm just vain and judging people on appearances, but let me explain myself! I have 3 reasons, why when you travel, it is better to take the extra time and effort to look nice.
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The first reason is, when you take a once-in-a-lifetime trip, you will definitely be taking pictures. Loads of pictures. And everyone knows, that the best pictures, the pictures you are going to treasure forever, are the pictures with YOU in it! You on the great wall of China, you with local villagers you met, you on the beach, you in front of the Eiffel Tower, you get my point. Well, my thinking is, since you are going to be treasuring these pictures forever; putting them on facebook, blowing them up and putting them in frames, and showing all your friends and family, then wouldn't you want to look your best? Of course you do!
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The Bahamas

Reason number two. People are nicer to you when you look good. I am dead serious. I know you probably think I'm crazy, but trust me, this is true! Let me explain; Most people (in Ohio anyway, I'm not sure about the rest of America), don't ever really dress up. They dress up nice for weddings, and maybe one or two other events of the year, but the majority of the year, it's jeans and t-shirts, and even sweatpants/yoga pants and t-shirts! Now I admit, every once in a great while, if I'm sick or just really tired, and need to run to the store for two seconds, I'll go out in sweatpants and a hoody, but for the most part, I try and look good. Going to the movies with the boyfriend, hanging out with our friends, and even just getting groceries and doing errands, I dress up. And you know what I discovered in all these years of making an effort to make myself look nice, and presentable in public? People treat you different! A good different! Not only do I have people (guys AND girls), actually walking up to me (all the time!) and telling me that they love my hair/outfit/shoes, but I get special treatment! People are polite to me, smile at me, are nice to me, and go out of their way to help me! When I go to the grocery store and look nice, if I need help finding something, people are happy to help me. I can notice a CLEAR difference when I just throw on something comfy and rush out the door, to when I put on a cute outfit, and do my hair and makeup. I think a lot of it has to do with how I feel when I look nice; I feel happier, more comfortable, and more put together, which makes me more approachable, pleasant, and makes people want to be nicer to me! And of course, all guys (and a lot of girls too!), just want to be nicer to a good-looking person!

Still don't believe me? Go out and try it!
So, I said all of that to say this; the second reason to look good when you're traveling, is because people are nicer to you when you look nice, and when you're traveling, you will most likely want people to be nicer to you and help you out. I have saved so much money at the airport on overweight bag fees, and changing of flights last minute, simply because the combination of a pleasant, good looking, put together person can't be beat! People always think that airline workers, and just people at the airport are mean and don't help at all, but I can't even tell you how kind and helpful people are to me at the airport, not to mention all the friends I've made at the airport! I have made so many great connections and contacts just meeting people at the airport, people are always offering to help me carry things, giving me helpful hints, and doing everything they can to make sure that I am happy. So in my opinion looking nice is a must for travelers.
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Mui Ne, Vietnam

My final reason for looking good when you travel, is that when you LOOK good, you just FEEL good! Try it today; take a little bit of effort and invest in your looks, and you will feel so much happier!  :)
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​So there you have my 3 reasons why you should want to look good when you travel. And now I'm telling you that it is possible to both look good, and travel light!

South Korean Airport

For example; When I took a two month long trip to Fiji, Australia, and Vanuatu, I took with me one backpack that weighed 12 pounds! This China trip, I took one backpack, and a purse!
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Xi'an, China

The clothes I took with me on this China trip;
​This should give you a good idea of the amount of clothes you can survive on. Hardcore backpackers would probably take less than this, but I'm not writing this for the normal backpacker, I'm writing this for the fashionable backpacker! I took these clothing articles with me, and I looked good, and only had one backpack and a purse to carry!
-1 pair of jeans
-1 pair of  yoga pants (for sleeping)
-1 hoody
-2 sweaters (I'm always cold)
-3 pairs of socks
-3 pairs of underwear
-2 pairs of leggings/tights
-1 pair of comfortable shoes (Vans)
-4 pairs of shorts
-1 dress
-2 t-shirts
-3 tank tops
-1 Bandana and 1 Scarf

What I took with me to China! And this is my secret on how I travel with so little luggage; simply roll all your clothes, then stack them into your backpack, it makes a HUGE difference (and if you want to get super crazy with it, after you roll them, put them into Ziploc bags, then let all the air out and seal it! Then just stack them into your bag!).

The Fashionable Backpacker's Essential Packing List!

Mohican River, Ohio

-A pair of cute sunglasses
Super fashionable, makes any outfit cuter, and keeps the sun out of your eyes! I looove my sunglasses.

Dominican Republic

-A Bandana, Scarf, and Hair Accessory
They're super light and take up barely any room! These things are a must for traveling! They're super cute and easy to use in your hair, especially good for when your hair's a little greasy! You can also tie the bandana around your bag if you check it, to help your bag stand out so no one accidentally takes your bag thinking it's theirs.
A bow, flower, bandana, or scarf in your hair instantly make you look cuter. And with so little effort! Click here and here for super easy headband tutorials I did!

Xi'an, China

-A necklace and a pair of earrings
Both take up very little space, yet add so much to an outfit! 
Hint, just wear them the entire time and you'll never have to even pack them in a suitcase!
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South Korea Airport

-Two light sweaters
Even if you're going somewhere warm, you will always have at least a couple times where you wish that you had brought one. Airports, airplanes, windy days, unexpected cold days, rainy days, or even on the beach at night. Bring one plain, and one patterned, so you can wear one with any outfit you have!
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Xi'an, China

-A pair of really comfy shoes
Because you are going to be walking a lot, and nothing can ruin a vacation more, than blisters and sore feet.
Normally I looove wearing high-heels and super cute shoes, but that is one cute thing that I have to cut from backpacking. At least my Vans are still cute!

Xi'an, China

-Makeup
It dosen't have to be a lot! And it dosen't have to take up a lot of room.
My makeup bag fits very neatly into my toiletry bag, and takes up hardly any room. You don't have to take a lot, but at least take some. I took; chapstick, foundation, mascara, eyeliner (you can use it for your eyes, and eyebrows), and brown eyeshadow. That's it! And I looked great! And for my hair; bobby pins, elastics, and a comb!

Xi'an, China

-One zip up hoody
More if you're going somewhere cold. But one is fine for anywhere else.
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-A couple pairs of socks, and a couple pairs of underwear
When traveling without the luxuries in life (a nice hotel, the knowledge of where you're going next, a wash machine), you have to learn to wash your clothes in sinks and showers, or else you'll be carrying around 30 pairs of socks and underwear!

Mansfield Reformatory, Mansfield, Ohio

So those were the basics. Now for the actual clothes, follow these steps! 
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​-Start with your bottoms; Skirts, Shorts, and Pants.
-Pack a couple of each, making sure that you have a variety (example; pack a couple pairs of plain bottoms, and a couple pairs of patterned).
-And then pack your tops, making sure that you have a variety of those too.
-The most important part of packing light is to make sure that almost every top you pack, can be worn with almost every bottom you pack.
-My advice is to pack a couple of dresses (I only packed one this time and regretted it), because then you don't have to worry about it being patterned or plain, or trying to match it with anything. Plus they're super cute!
-And I always pack a couple pairs of tights and leggings (some plain, some patterned, and some that are patterned but can be turned inside out and become plain!), because they're super light and easy to pack, and really frickin cute under shorts, dresses, and skirts.
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Punta Cana, Mexico

So there ya have it; my knowledge that I've acquired over years of being a fashionable traveler, passed down to you. I hope you liked it, and can use it!

*Leave comments letting me know what you think, and how you plan on using these tips on your next trip! Pin this, and like and share on facebook! Thanks!!!!*
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                                        Peace Love and Fashionable Traveling
                                                                Jess <3