I Shoved Spring Into a Suitcase—Every Beauty and Fashion Staple I Packed for L.A., Miami, and Palm Springs
How I tailor my look for different locations without losing personal style.
I’ve long held the reputation of being a relatively Type B person when it comes to travel. That is, until it’s time to plan outfits and makeup looks. I wait until the last minute to dig out my suitcase from under my bed, I look up restaurants once I get to my destination (a little too late, Alyssa), and I’ve even been scammed trying to buy tickets to Versailles 20 minutes before boarding a flight to Paris. (True story!) But when it comes to planning looks, you’d think I ran the Navy.
Ever since discovering the magic of Canva in college, I routinely mood-board my outfits and beauty looks before trips (and have even employed these skills on behalf of my friends). After developing a unique, but highly effective planning strategy—where I look up pictures of the interiors and atmosphere of every hotel, restaurant, and activity on my itinerary—I record every lipstick, item of jewelry, shoe, and bag necessary, plus the different ways I can rearrange them throughout the duration of the trip. This doesn’t just make packing easier; it gives me a delicious new project every time I crack that suitcase open.
Now that I travel to chic places quite regularly for work, I’ve gotten this routine down to a science. So it’s not surprising that in the four trips I’ve taken this spring, I’ve found myself reaching for several of the same things when I get to packing (though seldom styling them the same way twice).
Article continues belowI packed spring into a suitcase several times over the last few weeks to visit Los Angeles, Miami, and Palm Springs. Keep scrolling to see what went inside.
In My Suitcase: Los Angeles
My several trips to Los Angeles found me between West Hollywood and downtown L.A., staying at the recently reinvented Sun Rose West Hollywood and the Soho Warehouse. I was in town for different things—a trip to the 2026 Grammys and to experience Sephoria, Sephora’s top-of-the-line beauty convention—but the planning process for both trips involved several of the same pieces from my overstuffed wardrobe and makeup collection.
As someone who grew up romanticizing L.A., I wanted to lean into the dreamy silver screen fantasy of it all. I wore ruffly, tiered tops that fluttered as I walked, pairing them with everything from lace-trimmed skirts to breezy linen pants. Each look had a dramatic, yet sweet detail—from mesh scarves tied around my waist to period-piece jackets (like I stepped off a movie set, no?), and deep, Hollywood starlet pouts. I’m nothing if not extra.
L.A. Outfit Essentials
This knee-grazing skirt instantly makes any warm-weather outfit look chic.
A closet staple I can't go anywhere warm without.
A pair of linen pants that I bought for this trip and now cannot be parted with.
The tan version of this jacket (my purchase) is out of stock, but I adore the upscale sheen of this faille iteration for spring.
I can't stop wearing these sunnies on my trips.
My original lace top is also out of stock, but this striking, tiered design from Aje looks awfully similar.
L.A. Beauty Essentials
I keep this moisturizing, glassy oil in my travel bag at all times.
This deep lip liner gave me the retro-inspired pout of my dreams—perfect for a chic dinner outing in Hollywood.
I tried this beauty editor-loved serum sunscreen from Ultra Violette for the first time on this trip and immediately understood the hype. It's lightweight, breathable, and gentle on sensitive skin (ahem, mine).
Everyone raves about Eadem's glossy lip balms, and after trying this Y2K-esque shimmery version on this L.A. trip, I now keep it in a travel purse at all times.
I nabbed this liquid blush after an L.A. interview with Selena Gomez (celebrating Rare Beauty's launch at Ulta!), and it became my unofficial Californian vacation blush.
My secret weapon for glowy, West coast skin, even if I was only there for three days.
In My Suitcase: Miami
I flew straight from L.A. to Miami on an extended work trip this spring, so much of my Californian wardrobe bled into my Floridian one. However, as I mentioned earlier, I tailor my looks to the environment around me—and vibrant Miami could not be more different than the breezy Western digs I was coming from.
My Miami ensembles blended classic silhouettes with breathable fabrics; loud, layered necklaces with ‘80s-inspired animal prints. (A stark deviation from the romantic lace pieces and structured shoulders I was working with in L.A.) Beauty was a bit more intentional here, as well: I focused on plush, glowing skin by mixing bronzing drops with Isdin’s Fusion Water Magic Sunscreen, plumped my lips with Wonderskin’s viral lip stain and a dewy gloss, and scented my skin with a mix of summery fragrances and body creams.
Miami Outfit Essentials
Bug-eye sunglasses are so back, and this chic style screams Miami.
Snakeskin is the print du jour, and it took me some convincing to get back into the scaly accessories (most still feel too dated for my taste—and not in the cute way). But these Aldo slingbacks? I’ve never beelined a pair of shoes faster.
It may not the first skirt you’d think to pack for Miami, but something about the contrast between fluttery lace and black satin felt very New Yorker-in-Florida.
My go-to flip flops, hands-down.
I bought this crepe matching set specifically for the Miami Open, but have since styled both separately in a handful of different ways.
The matching skirt, both of which are from Isalis: an IYKYK boutique in New York’s West Village.
Miami Beauty Essentials
The perfect citrusy floral perfume. It’s Miami Beach in a bottle.
I’ve waxed poetic about this multitasking sunscreen, but it really does it all (and ensures the best product application when I use it as a makeup primer).
Honestly, I could have skipped perfume after applying this heavenly scented body butter from Josie Maran, but where’s the fun in that? It’s sweet, fresh, and a little musky—in all, my ideal beach scent, with ultra-hydrating results to boot.
This liner stain is my secret weapon for a stay-put pout during long outings that involve dinner and drinks.
The ultimate instant tanner, formula tinter, and bronzer. Need I say more?
I’m a Prada Beauty devotee, but I’m not just saying the brand’s eyeliner is the best due to bias. I’ve tried over 50 pencils, gels, and liquid liners, and I can confirm that this long-wearing, buttery smooth formula is god-tier.
In My Suitcase: Palm Springs
Palm Springs Outfit Essentials
It’s a bit embarrassing how much I wore this boho-chic rope belt in Palm Springs. Between festival outfits (its swinging tassels were the finishing touch on every look) to chic skirt outfits for dinners, this belt was the accessory that took my ‘fits from cute to instantly cool.
I don’t purchase many new bikinis per year, but this shell-studded pick from H&M drew me in from across the store. I’ve since worn it under sheer tops, layered it under open cardigans, and, of course, used it as a swimsuit.
Festival bags are a tough category to nail, but this chic hobo bag from Guess nails it on all fronts. Relaxed enough to fit casual ensembles but decked out in enough hardware and pebbled leather to kick things into higher gear when necessary, this bag hits a home run on exteriors—but the interior is where this bag really excels. It’s equipped with several interior pockets for easy organization and a roomy main compartment for every electric fan, portage charger, snack, camera, and any other piece of festival equipment necessary. Plus, it fully zips to keep your belongings safe. No notes.
I fell in love with this vibrant yellow sweater from first glance, and it quickly became a Palm Springs hero. Light enough to wear in the desert and perfect for layering, this quickly became a travel staple.
These bloomers were the biggest compliment-earners of the trip. I lost count of how many people asked me for the brand that makes them. (Free People, of course.)
What started as a last-minute, heading-to-checkout purchase ended up being one of the best (albeit, small) investments I’ve made all season. This square scarf adds a fun detail to any outfit—looking extra cool when tied around the head and paired with sunnies and extremely chic when slung across the waist.
Palm Springs Beauty Essentials
I relied on SPF-infused makeup the entire time I was in the desert sun, and I’m glad for it. Between my Isdin sunscreen base and this Clinique foundation, protected with SPF 45, my skin never suffered a whisper of a sunburn.
My favorite palette for elevated glitter looks. Add yourself to the pre-order list to make sure you snag one of these hard-to-get compacts.
If Phlur’s Honeymoon was Miami Beach in a bottle, Discotheque’s Call For a Good Time is strobe lights, glitter, and headliner sets. (So, Coachella in a bottle!) My friends kept saying how good I smelled whenever I sprayed this citrusy concoction.
This Rare Beauty blush has a chromatic pearl that offers your skin the most luminous glow that shifts under sparkling festival lights.
The perfect Y2K-inspired gloss for my dramatic festival makeup looks.
Every single one of my friends (plus myself!) wore this sunscreen every day before heading into the festival or hanging by the pool.
Aside from the aptly named color, this eyeliner was perfect for the desert. It glittered like a sandy mirage and could be blended out into the perfect earthy smoky eye, which condensed the amount of products I needed to pack.
