If there is one thing every traveler needs, it’s a backpack. Whether you’re toting it through the airport or using it as your day bag in a new city, it’s the ideal companion for a hands-free day. The perfect backpack is comfortable, lightweight, and practical, yet doesn’t compromise style. Mini backpacks are particularly trendy at the moment, because in today’s fast-paced world, carrying around less means the opportunity to do more. Related: The Best Bag Organizers to Keep Your Purse From Becoming a Jumbled Mess There are all kinds of small backpacks that appeal to various style aesthetics — whether you’re looking for a sportier, more functional style you can take from city streets to nature trails or a more classic silhouette that lends itself to casual and dressy outfits. Then, there’s also the fashion backpack that functions as a key ingredient to your travel look. Some backpacks can even be worn multiple ways so you get a bag that’s 2-in-1. No matter your style, we’ve rounded up the best small backpacks to travel with.
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There’s a lot to keep track of while traveling — from your ID, passport, boarding pass, and baggage claim ticket, to bus and theater tickets, to different types of currency and credit cards. My routine of reaching into my bag for a rushed and stress-induced game of hide-and-seek is getting tired. A crinkled gum wrapper? No, that’s not what I was looking for, let’s try again. Train ticket to Boston? No, that was from last week. Where is my boarding pass!? Related: More travel accessories If this sounds familiar, then you’ll agree that keeping things organized for a stress-free commute is key. That’s why finding the perfect travel wallet that can consolidate and organize all of your travel essentials can be just as important as picking out the perfect suitcase. From wallets with multiple pockets and written-out labels to ones that can do double-duty as a wristlet or a cross-body bag to be worn throughout your trip, we’ve narrowed down the best travel wallets of 2020 that are both functional and stylish.
Stay stylish and comfy at all of your summer occasions with these dressy flats at every price point.
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At long last, it's finally time to start planning our summer travels. I’ve been telling myself that summer is around the corner for the last three months, but now it really is. With our flights booked, hotels confirmed, and itineraries in progress, what’s next? What to pack, of course. Packing for a trip is half the fun and shopping online for the perfect outfit for Miami, Costa Rica, Colombia, or wherever you're headed is a truly delightful part of anticipating your trip. (I mean, for what other reason can you justify buying a pineapple-shaped bag?) But let’s start with the basics. There's one staple item you simply can’t go on a beach vacation without: a caftan (or kaftan). Related:18 Comfortable Dresses That Are Made to Travel In Though the garment dates back to ancient Mesopotamian, the caftan's essence has largely remained the same: it's lightweight, breathable, and loose-fitting. It just so happens that these three characteristics make for the perfect piece to transition from a day on the beach to an afternoon exploring a new city — especially in the heat of summer. Wear it atop a pair of light linen pants for a day of shopping. Toss it on over your swimsuit as a cover-up by the pool. Belt it and step into a pair of heeled slides for a night out. You really won’t need to pack much else. But if you do opt for a pineapple bag to pair with your caftan, just know you have our full support.
When you’re packing for your first warm-weather escape of the year, you may realize that the search for the perfect summer footwear isn’t as simple as you may have thought. This quandary struck me when I was packing for Miami last month, and before I had even gotten to the clothing portion of my packing (shoes in first, people!), I had already filled my suitcase. I needed leather sandals and sneakers for walking around the Design District and Wynwood, Havaianas for the beach, and espadrilles for a night out or a nice dinner. I thought about how ideal it would be to have a warm-weather shoe that was all-in-one; this way, I could save room in my suitcase for all of the other frivolous accessories I insist on taking with me and the souvenirs I intend on bringing back. Related:12 Brands That Make the Perfect Breezy Spring Dresses As a result of inevitable vacation laziness, I ended up only wearing my leather sandals, which came back entirely destroyed from too much wear and contact with salt water. I swore this would be my last time traveling with a superfluous abundance of shoes to a beach vacation. After much research, I discovered Sea Star Beachwear, a line of lightweight, water-friendly espadrilles. “I was looking for a multifunctional shoe that would protect my feet in the water, but was also attractive and durable enough to wear to town, biking, and boating. No water shoe existed that combined fashion and function,” said CEO Libby Fitzgerald. “Water shoes are typically poorly constructed and purely functional. They don’t resonate with today’s more style-conscious and quality-demanding customers.” The neoprene shoes come in a range of casual and elevated styles and colors — some even feature embroidery — making them the perfect shoe for every moment of your trip. A rubber sole protects your feet from hot sand and rocky ocean floors. And post-dip, they'll dry super-fast in the sun (and sand shakes off them like magic once they're dry). Sea Star shoes fuse the functionality of a water shoe with the tropical sophistication of an espadrille. The result? A one-stop-shoe that’ll take you from the beach to walking around town then to dinner. One quick sizing note before you run off to buy five pairs, though: the brand doesn't offer half sizes, so definitely make sure to size up or the band that secures the shoe around your heel might feel too tight. Here, we've pulled a few of our favorite styles.