How I Travel Light—and Keep My Looks Inspired
Artist Maayan Zilberman shares a 4-day packing list that’s equal parts creative and practical.
Don’t miss: M.M.LaFleur is having a big Warehouse Sale this weekend!
Maayan Zilberman is an artist living in New York with her husband and six-year old daughter Freddie. She recently started her own Substack called Red is Best, where she has started diving deeper into fashion and beauty.
As an artist working in New York, most of my days are spent in-studio, where I have a uniform. In the evenings, I often get dressed at work and go directly to events, so I keep a rack of “fun” looks on hand. This means that my process of getting dressed is either very straightforward or quite spontaneous—unless I’m traveling, that is.
Of course, packing inherently requires planning ahead, which presents me with a puzzle I’m not used to solving on a daily basis. Over the years, though, I have gotten quite good at curating an efficient suitcase that both feels easy and effortless and also keeps my personal style and inspiration fully intact. The key is to pack a handful of easy-care essentials that serve as a canvas, infused with some unexpected colors and accessories to make my looks come alive.
My Approach
Before I go on any trip, I think through my looks well in advance so I have a basic plan. I like to work through the turmoil of styling at home so I can be fully present on my travels. It’s such a relief to just grab a look out of my suitcase and go.
As with all my creative endeavors, I also like to keep an easygoing mindset, in case my plans or the weather change. At 46, my weight fluctuates from day to day (water, hormones, etc.), so I also like to give myself the grace of having some elastic-waist pants on-hand.
I always like to dress up on vacation. I know many people would prefer to embrace their more relaxed, free-spirited side for a coastal weekend getaway, but I see it as a nice occasion to feel my best. For me, this means feeling put-together and sharp.
For a recent family trip to Cape May, NJ, I packed items that were comfortable, wrinkle-resistant, and elegant. As luck would have it, the weather did not cooperate, so we ended up staying in for most of the weekend. Of course, this was a bit of a bummer and certainly presented fewer opportunities to show off my looks in town, but it did give me more time to play on the steps of my in-laws’ jacuzzi!
LOOK #1
As I get older, I like to dress in more body-conscious shapes. I feel good in my body and don’t feel the need to hide in voluminous pieces. This skirt is such a “me” silhouette; it flatters your curves and has a nice slit in the center front that makes it super comfy to walk in.
For my first outfit of the trip, I paired it with this lightweight sweater in a lovely blue that you might expect to see styled with another light color in summertime. I like to go for something less expected, so my black skirt was the perfect counterpart.
The Details
A lot of people think necklaces are meant for spicing up an open neckline, but I like to pile on pieces with a tight crewneck. Doing so adds interest to an otherwise simple shirt. Here, I layered a ball-chain necklace with a red beaded lip necklace (similar), which is one of my daughters favorites. I love how she gets a kick out of it, and it creates a really dynamic hard-soft contrast against metallic pieces.
For my earrings, I went with a pair of silver hoops, which is my default. Any outfit feels styled as soon as I add a hoop. Yes, I even wear them to the beach, especially ones like these that are very lightweight and don’t weigh down your ears. Finally, a red nail and a red lip will always pull any look together!
Look #2
It rained really hard just as we were leaving for lunch, so I threw on this nice crisp trench. Any New Yorker will tell you that in turbulent weather, your coat is your “outfit.” I love how long this one is and that it doesn't have too many frills. It feels minimal and classic, and it kept my entire outfit dry. Push up your sleeves with a trench to avoid looking dowdy and sad!
These M.M.LaFleur pants are made from a fabric they call OrigamiTech, which is so comfy and dries really fast—perfect for volatile weather. The color picks up a bit of the green tint in the blue shirt. Don't be afraid to mix up colors!
The Details
To fill in this look, I went with my Rothys—another one of my rainy-day essentials because you can toss them in the washing machine—and some layered chunky bracelets. Of course, I got lipstick on my collar, so this is your reminder to watch out for that.
I got these sunglasses at a vintage shop, and the graphic lines go perfectly with this crisp collar. I looked them up and they're $5 on Amazon—go figure!
Look #3
For a clear-skied evening at the boardwalk carnival, I reached for my beloved skirt again! It works so well for day or night, which is funny to say these days because haven't we all established that they are one and the same and there are no rules?! I think I love it so much because it reads as trousers, and I don’t wear a lot of pants yet crave mensweary tailoring. This skirt does both for me.
I decided to pair it with a vintage lace camisole, a black bra (I always love the look of black peeking out under white, and my vintage starter jacket (similar). I've had it for 15 years, so it’s sort of my signature.
As you can see, my daughter loves wearing red as much as I do. We both feel like red brings out our personalities and makes us feel safe. It’s why I called my Substack Red is Best.
It’s important to know what to do with your jacket if you take it off—no tying around the waist! I like to tie mine diagonally across my chest so it functions like more of a sash and you can still see my outfit. Sandals with a low heel give it all a bit of party.
Look #4
I knew we’d have at least one night out at a nicer restaurant, so I packed this dress as a blank-ish canvas I could really accessorize. Since it's a pretty body-conscious cut, I saved it for an evening where I wouldn't have to sit on the floor with my daughter or get on any rides. I’ve always loved a fabric belt, it reminds me of the vintage dresses I have from my old friend Ilona who lived to be 100.
Shoe-wise, I love low-stacked heels like this animal-print pair for a fancy dinner. They’re also comfy enough for a walk along the beach afterward.
The Details
I always pack a few little items that can switch up a look without taking up a ton of space in my suitcase like flirty socks that can go with a heel, an extra necklace, or a headscarf. It gets quite humid in Cape May, so this headscarf did double-duty, playing up the look’s vintage vibe and covering my hair that, by now, was quite frizzed up. Plus, the sheerness of both the socks and scarf add a bit of youth to this look and make it less formal for the relatively laidback seaside setting.
For jewelry, I went with my ball-chain necklace to add a bit of an industrial edge to this otherwise delicate, feminine outfit. Always remember that you don't have to see the entire necklace to know it’s there! Sometimes, seeing just a bit of it is more visually powerful. I like to tuck this one into my neckline.
Look #5
On the last day of our trip, we stopped at Dia Beacon because the sun came out, and it was perfect for seeing some of my favorite Earth works. Freddie brought her picnic basket, and my lightweight culottes were perfect for sitting in the grass. Typically, I reserve Pants Days for during the week when I’m at my art studio or picking up my daughter from school. Otherwise, I’m mostly a skirts and dresses kind of person. That said, I do make exceptions to this schedule when I come across deliciously flowy pants like these ones.
For a breezy underpinning for my jacket, I wore this camisole, which is made from a lightweight washable silk. If you’re like me and you’re on a lifelong hunt for the PERFECT camisole, this is her. It’s dainty and sexy, but the neckline is high enough for me to have brunch with my in-laws. My wardrobe MVP!
Bonus Looks
I tend to include some extra looks, so I have plenty of options. While I didn’t end up wearing this shirt on the left—rain and white shirts don’t mix well, in case you haven’t heard—I consider it an essential I like to keep in tow. It looks like poplin but is actually made from a super-compact knit, so it doesn’t crumple and is so cozy.
This blouse-skirt combo on the right is another go-to. Together, these pieces would be great for a meeting or date-night, and apart, they’re polished pieces that you can break up and wear in all sorts of outfits like I did throughout this trip!
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The inseam on your pants is 25 3/8. Did you lengthen them? They look full length on you. Is there sufficient fabric to do that?