Happy July, and Independence Day Weekend! 

This past week my little family and I took a mini vacation to one my favorite places in the world – beautiful Sarasota, FL to spend time on the beach and relax among the palm trees. It’s not as busy there this time of year as during their “Season”, which is technically through April – so it’s a great time to come down. The ocean is soooo warm that it’s actually cooler outside than it is in the water! Charlie loved playing in the sand and searching for shells, and I loved soaking up the ocean air, rejuvenating for the months ahead.

I tried to practice what I preach on this trip, and packed very minimally – using the “capsule wardrobe” concept of outfit building – where a few different pieces can be put together into a variety of ways to create multiple outfits. I also packed tons of light-weight items, like rompers and shorts – as they can create a multitude of looks and don’t take up a lot of space in your suitcase.

I’ll be sharing a few capsule wardrobe pieces in some upcoming posts, so stay tuned, but for today’s post, I wanted to highlight a great travel outfit idea that works across Seasons – plus or minus a few elements.

The ingredients to this look are:

1. The High-Rise Wide Leg Jean. Typically, lightweight jogger pants or leggings are a bit more soft/stretchy and comfortable than jeans, but if you opt for a high-rise straight-leg jean, you’re actually going to be just as comfortable. This style is making a major comeback, and the pair I picked for this outfit – the Rag & Bone Maya High Rise Ankle Straight is super comfortable as it fits a little looser around the legs. The wide cuff also makes the jeans really casual yet put-together.
2. A pair of Neutral-Colored Ballet Flats. If you want to be comfortable on the plane, you’re definitely better off with a pair of shoes you can slip right off – but that also have a closed toe, so you are not freezing if the cabin air is on high. These Josefina’s flats were actually a gift from the brand as a “Thank You” for featuring them in the British Airways NYC Hidden Shopping Gems a few years back – they used to have a cute little store on Elizabeth Street in Nolita, that had unfortunately closed since, but they do still sell online and in Portugal, which is where the brand is from.
3. A Structured Blazer. A layering piece like a blazer serves several purposes: it’s a great way to stay warm at the airport and inside the cabin, it makes the look put-together and polished and it’s something you can take off and neatly stow away during the flight to put back on when you land — adding instant chic to your look as you’re walking off the plane. For this outfit, I chose this Dinah Dickey Blazer by Veronica Beard (LOVE the name!!) – and if you’re not familiar with the brand, the best thing about their blazers is that you can zip in these “dickeys” – to make the blazers really urban-cool as they give the look of a hoodie or sweatshirt, or jean jacket underneath the blazer. It’s an amazing way to give your blazer a few different appearances with or without the dickeys – and is a great travel companion too (Hello, Hoodie!). I’ve tagged a few of them below that you can check out! 
4. A Sleeveless Button-Down. This Claudia Shirt from Sézane is the perfect balance of chic and practical. You can tuck it in or tie it in the front. You can also pair it with shorts — and you can change into those once you get off the plane if you’re traveling somewhere warm to look equally cute and stylish as with the jeans.
5. A Pair of Fun Earrings. They will add a touch of positivity to your travel. Bonus points if they’re lightweight! This pair is yet again by Kingston Jewellery (#addicted).
6. Chic But Practical Handbag. Can’t beat a Chanel Jumbo in being able to keep all your travel essentials in place and in style.
7. A Pair of Cat-Eye or Oversized Sunglasses. This last finishing touch will make you look like a celebrity while helping your eyes adjust to the outside as you emerge into your destination. These shades are from Anthro and are sold out – but I’ve included a few similar styles you can shop below!

As I mentioned, this look works well across Seasons – plus or minus a heavier coat – which can be used in place of the blazer.

I hope this inspires you to try this outfit formula in some of your Summer travels! Please feel free to share the outfits you create via Instagram, using hashtag #ModnitsaOutfit in your posts, and I’ll be sure repost them on my stories!

Photography by Leslie Moncada