Packed, Not Purchased, for a trip to Charleston

As a luxury travel planner who lives and breathes curated experiences, I’m the first to say that how you dress on a trip is part of the journey. It sets the tone, captures the mood, and often becomes a reflection of the destination itself. For me, packing isn’t just logistics, it’s a form of storytelling. So, when I recently prepped for a girls trip to Charleston, South Carolina, I surprised even myself: I didn’t purchase a single new piece.

That’s right. Not one new dress, not one new pair of shoes, not even a last-minute statement earring.

Instead, I shopped my own closet, and I’m so excited I did. I have been trying to be more mindful about not getting caught up in the feeling of needing something new every time I plan a trip for myself. I have a habit of overconsuming, and it’s one I am trying to break. With an influx of influencers sharing cute outfits on social media, and fast fashion creating pieces that are cheap and can easily be in your hands overnight, it’s harder than it sounds.

Charleston, with its pastel facades, cobblestone streets, and Southern charm, practically calls for feminine silhouettes and elevated ease. As I stood in my closet, I realized I already had exactly what the trip called for: a breezy off the shoulder eyelet dress, a favorite floral maxi dress that always makes me feel like I belong on a shaded porch sipping sweet tea, and the perfect sunhat I found in Paris.

What made this different wasn’t just sustainability or restraint, it was intention. Each item in my suitcase already had a story, a memory, or a feeling attached to it. That linen dress I once wore in France now gets new life walking down King Street. The vintage clutch that turned heads in Tulum? It felt just as chic at our rooftop cocktails in the Holy City.

There’s something empowering about realizing you already own your style. That refinement isn’t about more, it’s about better. And for a destination like Charleston, which oozes timeless elegance and grace, what better place to honor that than with pieces that have already proven their worth?

So, here’s to all the women curating their closets like they do their itineraries; thoughtfully, stylishly, and with a little Southern flair.

jenna swan