Everything I Wore In Edinburgh

And the one thing I wish I'd brought & my controversial packing hot take

I am not a good packer. Let me rephrase: I am not an economical packer. If I am gone for more than three nights, I unapologetically check my luggage. This is mainly because I have difficult hair, and I need products, hot tools, and aerosols to keep it looking somewhat managed.

For our trip to Edinburgh, I was determined to get it right. I ruthlessly cut items from my elaborate packing list, stuck to a color palette of black, grey, and beige, and opted to wear pants and a nice sweater for the fancier things we had planned instead of bringing a cute dress. This meant I’d also need tights, boots, and other things that would make my suitcase too heavy. Hot tip: Owning a home luggage scale has relieved so much anxiety for me.

Here’s what I brought:

Hard Pants (4)

1. Madewell Perfect Vintage Wide-Leg Crop (light wash): These were perfect paired with a sweater or a long-sleeved tee.

2. Madewell Kick-Out Crop Jeans (dark wash): I don’t want to be too rash, but I am reasonably sure that these are my favorite style of jeans. They’re comfortable, look pulled together, and don’t lose their stretch.

3. Democracy Trousers: I love these wide leg trousers and they looked fancy enough for tea when paired with a sweater.

4. Black Madewell Kick-Out Crop Jeans: I’d been dithering about what pants to wear to tea and nearly brought black trousers instead, but jeans were perfect because they were warmer and still looked nice.

Sweaters (3)

1. Quince Mongolian Cashmere Boatneck Sweater: This might be my all-time favorite sweater. When my first one stopped fitting, I re-purchased it in my current size because I couldn’t bear to be without it.

2. Quince Cotton Crewneck Fisherman’s Sweater: I love this sweater, and it was one of my favorite items for this trip. It was perfect under a jacket and warmer than I expected it to be.

3. Quince Mongolian Cashmere Crewneck: I wore this multiple times with jeans and brown trousers and it held its shape and didn’t take on an odor.

Long-Sleeved Shirts (3)

1. Nation LTD Loren Long-Sleeve: This is my favorite shirt. It’s more expensive than your typical long-sleeve, but it holds its shape, and its slight puff-sleeve is the perfect detail. I wore this several times and it didn’t look or feel stretched out.

2. AYR Early Mornings Tee: I am obsessed with these shirts. They’re heavy enough cotton to keep you warmer than a regular t-shirt. I’ve been wearing it paired with black pants or jeans (and did so on this trip, too!). As a frequent stripes-wearer, I find these shirts to be the best!

3. Athleta Uptempo Ribbed Henley: This is a perfect layering piece. I wore it under a sweater and on its own — it’s fitted enough to look elevated. Sadly, very few are left at Athleta, but I highly recommend them if you can snag one!

Shoes, Socks, & Accessories

1. Allbirds Wool Runner Mizzles: I brought these because they are waterproof. They were great to wear outside and walk through the rain. My only complaint was that the wool was far too warm, and hot feet mean that I overheat.

2. Vega Campo Sneakers: These were the true MVPs of the trip. I wore them nearly every day, including a day when we walked over 22,000 steps. I had zero pain or blisters the entire trip. When I was in Paris, so many people wore them, and now I get them. I could not recommend these more highly.

3. Blondo Waterproof Loafers: I brought these to wear with trousers and black jeans, and they were perfect. They look nice, are waterproof (noticing a theme?), and have much support!

4. Maison Miru Titanium Hoops: For this trip, I kept my jewelry simple—these Maison Miru hoops, which you can wear anywhere (including to bed!), and my trusty Cove Mini-Diamond Necklace (you can use code AE20 for 20% off if you decide you want your own—it’s the perfect necklace for literally everything)—and they were exactly right. Many years ago, I left a bracelet in a hotel room, and I am always paranoid about leaving things, so I prefer to bring as little jewelry as possible.

5. Bombas Frilly Rib Quarter Socks: I love these socks. They’re thin but feel like a hug, and look nice enough that I’m not embarrassed if they peek out.

6. Rivedroite Custine Bag: This crossbody bag was perfect for daily carry and fit my phone, wallet, hand sanitizer, and even my small Owala!

Pajamas (5)

I recently asked my Instagram close friends list how many pairs of pajamas they’d pack for this trip. The number of friends who told me they sleep nude IN A HOTEL truly shocked me. I’ve had the fire alarm go off twice on other trips, and guess what? It went off on this one, too! It stopped before we evacuated, reaffirming my choice to bring enough pajamas forever.

I brought all my Lake pajamas: a long-short set (1), a tank short set (2), two shorts sets (3-4), and a wide-leg short-sleeve set (5). I prefer pima cotton because it is so soft, and this material keeps me from sweating all night. I know they’re pricey, but they’re worth it if you, like me, are a hot sleeper (or perimenopausal).

For The Flight

1. Vuori Boyfriend Joggers: For the flight out, I wore an adorable PACT matching set that is no longer available, but for the flight home, I wore my favorite Vuori joggers — the most comfortable pants on earth.

2. Fjalraven Backpack: I bought this in a panic because the tote I brought as a carry-on was deeply uncomfortable. It has a laptop pouch, tons of room, and was much more comfortable than a tote.

3. AirFly: I loathe using corded headphones to watch movies or TV on flights, and this connects the seat TV to your headphones. I watched TV the whole time with my headphones, and it was delightful.

4. Mentos: Mentos are my must-have for every flight. They settle my stomach, help my ears adjust to the pressure, and are delicious. I never fly without them.

5. Bombas Compression Socks: I’ve long heard about the benefits of compression socks on long flights, and decided to try them. I felt far less fatigued than usual and didn’t experience swelling or joint pain.

6. Bose Quiet Comfort Headphones: These stayed charged for the entire 10-hour and hour-long connecting flights, were comfortable, and blocked out noise. They are a must-have!

Outerwear (and what I wish I’d brought!)

1. Lululemon Rain Rebel: I love this jacket — it keeps me dry and fairly warm. It’s served me for many rainy days without being too warm or thick.

That said, I also own the Quince Responsible Down Cropped Puffer, and it is warm and would have been much better, as I was cold most of the trip. I originally had it packed, but closing my suitcase was challenging, and I cannot bear to wear a coat on a flight. I wish I’d had it!

Clearly, I’m leaving out my toiletries and such, but this is everything I brought and wore! Everything matched and while I generally prefer to have more options available for outfits, this was great for this trip!

Here’s my packing hot take: I hate packing cubes. After years of hearing about the life-changing magic of packing cubes, I purchased compression cubes that a travel influencer claimed were the best! And I hate them. I don’t understand the appeal. I tried them again this trip, and instead of having small, evenly rolled or folded items, I had five lumps of varying sizes and shapes. I will light those cubes rather than try to use them ever again!