When it comes to mastering the art of packing for travel, it’s no surprise that our favorite fashion insiders are also expert packers. In My Packing Style, we ask some of the most well-traveled people we know to share what’s inside their bags and how they bring their style on the road. You’ve already booked the trip and saved the outfit ideas—now, here’s how it all comes together.
“I’m not a sweatpants person, but I do like to be comfortable,” says Melissa Morris, founder of Métier. “You can still look put together while feeling relaxed!” This philosophy carries over into her luxury leather accessories brand. Polished shapes and rich materials are key—but the pieces are made to be used. There’s the roomy tote that looks even better with a bit of wear, and the blue suede clutch that works as an evening bag or a handy organizer.
Naturally, her travel wardrobe follows the same approach. Everything is well-made, high-quality, and built to last, but comfort comes first, so she doesn’t have to be too careful with anything. It’s a delicate balance—and she impressively fit it all into a duffel bag for a week-long trip to the Cycladic island of Tinos. “My friend Isabelle recommended it to me last year; she has the best taste of anyone I know, so I booked right away,” says Morris. “I usually love to rent a house when traveling with friends, but this time we stayed at Odera, a really special hotel. It was such a treat.”
Shop Melissa Morris’s Suitcase:
– The Sun Hat: Toteme paper straw sun hat – $240, Nordstrom
РThe Catch-All Duffel: M̩tier V̩rit̩ weekend bag Р$5,450, M̩tier
РThe Slip-on Shoe: Le Monde B̩ryl Venetian mules Р$385, Le Monde B̩ryl
– The Plane Sweater: Auralee cashmere cardigan – $1,067, Auralee
– The Summer Sandal: Ancient Greek Sandals Irini jelly sandals – $205, Ancient Greek Sandals
– The Beauty Favorite: Westman Atelier Super Loaded Tinted Highlight – $75, Westman Atelier
– The Classic Swimwear: Eres Les Permanents Asia swimsuit – $515, Net-a-Porter
We spoke to the designer as soon as she got back home to London to learn how she packs for a whole week in just one weekender—plus, the brands she relies on to strike that balance between comfort and luxury.
Courtesy of Melissa Morris
Are you a pre-packer or a throw-in-and-go type?
If I’m leaving for a trip mid-week, I always pack the Sunday before. I don’t like to rush, and since my weekdays are usually packed (no pun intended), I like knowing everything is ready ahead of time. Packing should be fun, not a chore!
Do you pack in outfits?
Yes, always—it makes getting dressed on the road so much easier. I also add a few individual pieces that work with everything. For example, a vintage T-shirt that can replace a sleek tank top depending on my mood, or an oversized white shirt that can be worn open as a jacket, on its own for the beach, or with poplin trousers for the plane.
What’s your go-to brand for vacation dressing?
I know I’m not alone in loving Eres bathing suits. That said, my favorite vacation pieces are always the ones I pick up along the way. All my favorite cover-ups are ones I’ve collected on trips—on this trip to Tinos, I picked up an oversized, washed-out blue stripe linen shirt to add to my collection.
What’s your go-to travel bag right now?
Summer destinations are perfect for traveling light—no heavy coats or boots to worry about. I hate waiting for checked luggage, so I’m always editing down to fit everything into my weekender. The Vérité Weekend has been my constant companion on trips; I know I’m biased, but it really works.It really is the perfect travel bag. Inside, I keep all my beach essentials organized in packing pouches that stack neatly on top of each other to make the best use of space. As my personal item, my Chameleon tote is soft, slouchy, and easy to stow under the seat—I also brought it to the beach once I arrived in Tinos.
Do you have a travel outfit formula?
You’ll always find me in comfortable trousers—either High Sport or a simple pair of white poplin pants, like these from Comme Si—and an oversized T-shirt (usually vintage, but I just picked one up from Climax, a local London bookshop, that I love). I wear my Converse sneakers or a pair of Le Monde Béril slippers; their Venetian mules are so versatile, they work with everything from day to night. A forever favorite.
I also bring something for layering—either a sweatshirt or a cardigan. My current cardigan of choice is from Auralee; I’m a big fan of this brand.
What are your in-flight non-negotiables?
I put my passport in a leather envelope, along with snacks and a book. In my dreams, I would have been a rock star—I’m always listening to music, so I never travel without my AirPods. This summer, when I’m not traveling, I’m going to gigs—I have Grace Jones, Jack White, and The Black Keys coming up. I can’t wait.
Team travel scarf or travel sweater?
Team travel sweater, for sure. Scarves are too much fuss for me. In the summer, I swap a sweater for a long-sleeve tee—I love Flore Flore’s.
What are your vacation beauty product MVPs?
I’m always replacing my travel-sized bottle of Neroli Oranger from Matiere Premiere (it’s the perfect summer scent), along with my Westman Atelier tinted highlighter in Eau de Peony and their Lit Up highlight stick. Those three are my go-to for a quick, easy summer touch before heading out the door. I also use 111Skin face masks religiously—I don’t know what they put in them, but they work miracles.
Do you have a strategy for approaching accessories?
I just want things to be as easy as possible—I never want to worry about where my things are. All my essentials are packed in my Stowaway, which clips into my weekender as a bag organizer and can clip out to be worn on its own as a crossbody during the day or as a clutch in the evening.
Similarly, I like to keep accessories simple and edited. For this trip, I pack my favorite sun hat from Toteme, a matching woven fan I got a few years back in Egypt when I was staying at Al Moudira, and a magic pair of Selima sunglasses that go with everything. I picked them up from my friend Laurel Pantin’s shop in LA last fall….and I haven’t stopped wearing them since. I also love adding a bit of color on vacation. This year, that was a bright tangerine clutch that somehow goes with everything, like it’s a neutral.
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Métier
Stowaway crossbody bag
$2,350 MÉTIER
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Métier
Glasses case
$690 MÉTIER
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Toteme
Paper straw sun hat
$240 NORDSTROM
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Selima Optique
Aldo sunglasses
$580 SELIMA OPTIQUE
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Etsy
Straw woven fan
$42 ETSY
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Métier
Edge clutch
$1,950 METIER
Travel steamer: Yes or No?
I definitely lean toward packing more relaxed fabrics. I’m not good with an iron, and honestly, who wants to steam while traveling? I don’t mind a bit of wrinkling when I’m away.
Courtesy of Melissa Morris
What has been your most-worn vacation item?
For footwear, I’ve been wearing these slippers that Laila Gohar designed in collaboration with Arket. I also get a new pair of Ancient Greek Sandals each season—they’re the best. This year, I went for a caramel-colored pair of jellies. The shape reminds me of something I had when I was younger, which made me happy. I’ve been wearing this linen dress from ZII Ropa—I love the brand and have picked up so many staple pieces from them, but this one is especially a favorite.
Also, it’s not something you wear, but I’ve been playing a lot of dominoes! It’s an easy game to master, even after a glass of rosé.
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Save to wishlist
Arket x Laila Gohar slippers
$129 ARKET
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Ancient Greek Sandals
Irini jelly sandals
$205 ANCIENT GREEK SANDALS
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Métier
Domino case
$950 METIER
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Ziiropa
Ley dress
$333 ZIIROPA
What staple piece is always in your suitcase?
An oversized white shirt. I’ll wear it as a cover-up at the beach, open it up to style as a lightweight jacket over a dress at night, or pair it with trousers for a smarter look on travel days. Charvet is the perfect option.
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Bergdorf Goodman
Super Panama shirt
$695 BERGDORF GOODMAN
$645 NEIMAN MARCUS
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Flore Flore
Sophie T-shirt
$160 NET-A-PORTER
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Dôen
Henri ruffled top
$305 NET-A-PORTER
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Attersee
The Sculpted dress
$795 ATTERSEE
Overpacking or leaving room for souvenirs?
Usually, I’ve edited everything so I have enough for each day, with one or two extras thrown in for those just-in-case moments. I also only do carry-ons, so that keeps me in check. That said, I love picking up something special when I travel. (My grandma Elinor used to do that, and I guess I picked it up from her.) In Tinos, I bought a striped linen button-down and found a beautiful gold bangle too. There’s a shop called Taxidi where we all found such special keepsakes.
What’s the best packing lesson you ever learned?
I’m a big fan of using travel organizers. It doesn’t matter how neatly you pack your bag—if you go through it looking for something, it’s an instant mess. Grouping things and packing them neatly into a range of different-sized organizers really keeps everything tidy, especially for a trip where you’re moving to different places every few days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs about My Packing Style Métier Founder Melissa Morris
Beginner Questions
1 Who is Melissa Morris
She is the founder and CEO of Métier a luxury travel brand known for its minimalist architectural bags She is also a former lawyer and a selfdescribed recovering overpacker
2 What is Melissa Morriss packing philosophy
Her core philosophy is pack with purpose She believes in bringing only what you truly need focusing on quality over quantity and using a strategic color palette to create multiple outfits from a few pieces
3 What is a capsule wardrobe in her context
Its a small curated set of versatile clothing items that can all mix and match Melissas version is often monochromatic or neutraltoned making it easy to get dressed without thinking
4 What is the single most important tip she gives for packing light
Plan your outfits before you pack She doesnt just throw clothes in a bag she lays out complete looks and removes any item that doesnt serve at least two purposes
5 Does she use packing cubes
Yes but she uses them strategically She prefers slim structured cubes to compartmentalize her bags rather than stuffing them full
Intermediate Questions
6 What is the Métier Method of packing
Its a system of organizing your bag by zones rather than just throwing items in You assign a specific pocket or compartment for each category so you can access anything without unpacking the whole bag
7 How does she handle shoes
She limits herself to three pairs max a walking shoe a dressier flat or loafer and a heeled boot or sandal She uses shoe bags and often wears the bulkiest pair on the plane
8 What about toiletries
She is a minimalist She decants everything into small uniform bottles uses solid toiletries to save liquid space and only brings multipurpose products