LE CATCH

Considering that my sister racks up 100,000+ airline miles every year for work travel, I assumed she could pack a suitcase with her eyes closed! Not the case. When we were in New York together last week, it took her hours (and my expert opinion) to pack TWO check-in suitcases for a FIVE-day trip to Sweden. What??? She deliberated and deliberated the weight of her outerwear, whether to bring a dress, how many jeans and which ones, whether it was more space-efficient to roll up her clothes or fold them, etc. The one thing that required no deliberation, however, was traveling with her new bow-trimmed penny loafers, above, that go with all of her jeans and a dress--or not. For certain, I know I'll be wearing these versatile cuties from now on, too.

I didn't let a sleepless red-eye flight to New York slow me down last week. Rather, I hit the ground running, first with a 3-miler up the West Side Highway, followed by shop-hopping downtown (Mayle, Clic, White on White). Yes, I felt groggy and upside-down, but that's not the reason I wore my new Merlette dress, above, backwards. I prefer the easy, breezy deep V-neckline for day. For dinner at a friend's home later, I turned it around for a whole new polished and elegant look. Hence, it will remain steadfast in my summer-on-the-go suitcase!

Memorial Day weekend swiftly sailed by--but, thankfully, its customary sales are still in full swing. I just indulged myself at MyTheresa, laden with gorgeous, getaway-ready Zimmermann, above and below, available in loads of sizes. There's also these summer-perfect cropped Frame jeans, this throw-it-over-everything Frankie Shop blazer, this Juliet Dunn mini-dress, this flattering Ganni cardigan, and this embroidered cotton Self-Portrait. Stop right here to see it all!

$39, h&m

Toteme vibes for $40. Yes, please!

1. Everlane top, $30, everlane.com

2. H&M skirt, $39, hm.com

3. Justine Clenquet bracelet, $68, shopbop.com

4. Gucci nail polish in Peggy Sunburn, $30, netaporter.com

5. Staud bag, $295, shopbop.com

6. Lafayette 148 New York sandals, $398, neimanmarcus.com

The iconic Birkenstock sandal has spawned too many copycats to count (hello Balenciaga and Valentino). However, this summer the German shoe maker is delivering its own designer-inspired sandal, taking cues from Bottega Veneta's signature padded slide. Called the Sylt, it is poised to become this season's go-to, plus it comes in a myriad of rich-looking colors. You can find it here for less here, along with more sizes here and here.

My new favorite (manifestation) mantra is: "What I am seeking is seeking me." Today, I found this lace Zimmermann dress on sale at Shopbop, and I gotta say, we are meant for each other! Truth be told, there are other deeply-discounted beauties I also see in my destiny, such as this Ulla Johnson pleated mini, this paisley-print Isabel Marant, this fringed crochet Sea sweater, this sculptural Aje clutch and this Ibiza-ready Chufy dress. You too can make dreams come true here!

So how exactly am I always able to fit my medley of vacation dresses, cover-ups, bikinis, exercise gear, sandals, sneakers, and so forth into my usual carry-on suitcase? Easy. I only pack styles that straddle the day-to-night gap: ones that can be worn with beachy essentials (i.e., swimsuit, flip flops) and concrete-ready extras (elegant sandals, both high and low). For my impending summer getaways, however, I must confess I recently got a huge assist from the style wizards over at Bergdorf Goodman. I am not exaggerating when I say they curated the most perfect packing list--as in I literally want to buy every single piece. Except they all won't fit into my carry-on! So, here's what I whittled it down to. For me and for you!

1. Jonathan Simkhai cut-out maxi dress (above)

2. Loeffler Randall beaded lace-up sandals (last pic, under $200!)

3. Tove bow-front dress (easy, breezy, endlessly versatile)

3. Rhode embroidered crop top (pictured below) and matching skirt

4. Rhode linen wide-leg pants (perfect for traveling/tourist-ing)

5. Johanna Ortiz bodysuit (I'd lay out by the pool in it too)

6. Ulla Johnson puff- v-neck cover-up

7. Valentino chic-but-comfy sandals

8. Veronica Beard one-piece swimsuit (doubles as a top!)

9. La Double J silk print day-to-night maxi

10. Loewe ruffled raffia shoulder bag (punctuates any outfit) or this less-pricey cutie by Arnaz

Introducing my summer's Spirit Bag: playfully laid-back but also utterly glamorous And poised to go everywhere with me from Menorca to Malibu!

Feels like summer's exodus to Europe is already in full-tilt! And, for some, it looks for

Of course, I've been wearing white jeans all winter long. However, every summer always ushers in a fresh new pair. This season calls for a roomier and more relaxed silhouette, as pictured here! I prefer a slightly streamlined (read: more flattering) version of this style, such as these by Veronica Beard (which also make my legs look a million miles long!), Goldsign, DL1961, and The Row (OG).