Aurora James doesn’t pack outfits—she packs color palettes. As a designer, founder of the fashion brand Brother Vellies and the Fifteen Percent Pledge initiative, and an author, she leads a life as busy as her many job titles suggest. She’s a pro at traveling with just a carry-on and knows how to stick to a style theme for her capsule wardrobes. With Memorial Day weekend coming up, she’s flying to Napa for the BottleRock music festival. “It’s a yearly trip I take with my work family,” she says. “A Napa music festival with your investor friends is a very different vibe from Coachella—but it’s fun in a more grown-up way.”
To match the theme, her color palette is mostly earthy tones with a mix of materials and textures: crochet shoes and raffia bags, suede and leather accessories in different shades of cognac, and a reliable pair of nutmeg-colored huaraches. There’s a bohemian feel—she loves Chloé and a trusty turquoise ring—along with a subtle nod to the beach. From a pair of Chanel mules with starfish charms to a mother-of-pearl shell hair clip, it’s clear this travel wardrobe is meant for a sunny destination.
Shop Aurora James’ Suitcase
The Plane Cardigan
The Elder Statesman cashmere cropped cardigan
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$1,395 NET-A-PORTER
The Restorative Skincare
111Skin Celestial Black Diamond Mask
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$140 AMAZON
The MVP Notebook
Louise Carmen Roadbook
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$153 LOUISE CARMEN
The Packable Tote
Bode Marsh embellished tote
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$450 NET-A-PORTER
The Beauty Staple
EADEM Le Chouchou Lip Softening Balm
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$24 AMAZON
The Summer Slip-Ons
Prada Chappal leather sandals
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$995 PRADA
The Warm-Weather Shorts
Saint Laurent shorts
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$1,550 SAINT LAURENT
The Designer Suitcase
Louis Vuitton Horizon 50 suitcase
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$3,000 LOUIS VUITTON
We talked to James before her summer travels (she’s heading straight to Venice after her short trip out West) to get a look inside her carry-on. Read on for her best packing tips, in-flight essentials, and why a versatile going-out top is so important.
Are you a pre-packer or a throw-in-and-go type?
It depends on the trip, but for a weekend away, I’m a throw-in-and-go person. Generally, I’m a carry-on girl—I avoid checked bags whenever I can.
Do you pack in outfits?
I usually pack by color stories. I also wear a lot of dresses, so the accessories tend to stand out.
Courtesy of Aurora James
What’s your go-to brand for vacation dressing?
I love shopping resort collections, both current and vintage. The playful designs from that collection are usually fantastic. Right now, I’m really into the Chloé À La Plage collection; the raffia, florals, and jelly sandals are perfect for a getaway.
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Chloé
Chloé jelly mules
$670 CHLOÉ
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Chanel
lambskin mules
$3,850 EBAY
What’s your go-to travel bag right now?
I’m pretty loyal to my Virgil-era Louis Vuitton carry-on. It reminds me of him in a way I appreciate when I’m leaving home.
Do you have a travel outfit formula?
I’m a huge Suzie Kondi fan; her velour and terry sets are all I want to wear on the plane. They’re chic and easy but not too fancy. I like to pair a set with vellies or my favorite Miu Miu sneakers.
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Suzie Kondi
Saba top
$295 SUZIE KONDI
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Suzie Kondi
Tosk pants
$295 SUZIE KONDI
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Louis Vuitton
Horizon 50 suitcase
$3,000 LOUIS VUITTON
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Miu Miu
x New Balance 530 SL suede sneakers
$1,270 MIU MIU
Courtesy of Aurora James
What are your in-flight must-haves?
My headphones, and every episode downloaded of The Daily, The Atlantic, and Pod Save America. Mine were a gift from Margaret and Katherine from Dôen, which I love for the plane because they’re easy to find quickly in my bag, and I don’t have to worry about an AirPod….falling to the floor and getting dirty. I also take my Louise Carmen journal everywhere. It has a zippered pocket inside where I keep my wallet and tickets—it can almost work as a handbag.
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The Elder Statesman
Cashmere cropped cardigan – $1,395 (NET-A-PORTER)
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Louise Carmen
Roadbook – $153 (LOUISE CARMEN)
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Dôen
x Le Pom Pom headphones – $68 (DÔEN)
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Joan Didion
Democracy – $37 (AMAZON)
Team travel scarf or travel sweater?
Travel sweater, from The Elder Statesman. I’m a germaphobe—a scarf is too much loose fabric for the plane. (Though I love the idea in theory!)
What are your vacation beauty MVPs?
I focus on skincare when I travel. I usually pack my Eighth Day serum, a great all-purpose one I use morning and night because it feels light and doesn’t clog my pores, along with my Shani Darden cleanser and moisturizer. I always treat myself after getting off the plane—a nice bath and face mask (I like these from 111Skin) really add to the vibe. I also love Control Corrective sunscreen, Augustinus Bader lip balm, and Eadem lip gloss for cocktails.
Finally, when I’m going in and out of the ocean—and maybe the pool too—I need to give my hair extra care. I swear by the Highbrow Hippie hair mask once a week; on vacation, I use it every other day.
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EADEM
Le Chouchou Lip Softening Balm – $24 (AMAZON)
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Eighth Day
Regenerative Serum – $325 (NORDSTROM)
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Augustinus Bader
Lip Balm – $47 (NORDSTROM)
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Control Collective
Oil Free Sunscreen SPF 30 – $48 (AMAZON)
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Highbrow Hippie
Instant Silk Vitality Mask – $68 (AMAZON)
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111Skin
Celestial Black Diamond Mask – $140 (AMAZON)
Courtesy of Aurora James
Do you have a strategy for accessories?
Fun, not fussy. A clutch, a classic, and a beach bag. Jonathan Anderson’s Diorly Bag is a favorite of mine—this new shape is amazing and so easy to wear. (The magnet closure makes it carefree enough for vacation, and I’m excited to see how my suede ages over time.) I also love a reliable basket bag, especially if you’re heading to a local flea market or farmers market. Sézane’s was handwoven in Madagascar.
For jewelry, I’ve been wearing this Dior turquoise ring non-stop this season—I love the pop of color and texture. My shell necklace is from Renata Q. I actually found the shell with barnacles at a flea market in Los Angeles and sent it to Renata so she could make this special necklace for me. I have many of her pieces that can turn any outfit into vacation wear. And this shell hair clip is perfect for messy, tousled beach hair when you want to clip it back.
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Sézane
June basket – $215 (SÈZANE)
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Dior
Dior Rocks ring – $610 (DIOR)
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Renata.Q
Oblon necklace – $395 (RENATA Q)
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Sézane
Lazare hair clip – $70 (SÈZANE)
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Dior
Medium Diorly bag – $4,500 (DIOR)
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Bode
Marsh embellished tote – $450 (NET-A-PORTER)
Travel steamer: Yes or No?
I usually end up somewhere that has a steamer. Sometimes, if it’s a new hotel, I’ll actually call ahead and ask them to put one in the room. But am I packing a Charvet shirt? No, probably not.
What has been your most-worn vacation item?
I’m a big fan of the Brother Vellies summer lace-up huaraches. I’ve been wearing mine for four summers in a row, every vacation. They’re super versatile and incredibly comfortable. I recently started adding charms to them that I’ve collected during my travels—they’re so fun, and I love finding special little decorations at the markets.
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Brother Vellies
Lace-up huaraches – $225 (BROTHER VELLIES)
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80s disco top – $50 (EBAY)What staple piece is always in your suitcase?
For me, it’s the huaraches. I can wear them with a linen dress at breakfast, and they work just as well on boats—whether it’s a fishing boat or a yacht. I also think it’s nice to bring something you can dance all night in that isn’t too precious, so I’m packing this vintage going-out top. I always want to have something I can jump into the ocean with if the night takes that turn.
Do you overpack or leave room for souvenirs?
I leave room, but I usually end up coming back with an extra bag if I’m visiting somewhere especially magical.
What’s the best packing lesson you’ve ever learned?
I was into rolling clothes for a while. But now I’m trying out the dark art of packing cubes.
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Saint Laurent shorts
$1,550 SAINT LAURENT
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Prada Chappal leather sandals
$995 PRADA
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Bode Sailor cropped wide-leg jeans
$680 NET-A-PORTER
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Chloé Summer Banana tote bag
$1,690 CHLOÉ
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High-neck cropped top
$2,990 CHLOE
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Shani Darden Cleansing Serum
$38 NORDSTROM
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs about the packing style of Brother Vellies founder Aurora James designed to feel natural and cover a range of interests
BeginnerLevel Questions
1 Who is Aurora James
Aurora James is a Canadian fashion designer and the founder of the luxury accessories brand Brother Vellies She is also known for creating the 15 Percent Pledge a nonprofit that asks major retailers to dedicate 15 of their shelf space to Blackowned businesses
2 What is her packing style like
Her packing style is minimalist practical and focused on quality She prioritizes versatile comfortable pieces that can be mixed and matched often relying on neutral colors and timeless silhouettes
3 What kind of luggage does she use
She is a big fan of Away luggage She likes that its functional durable and has a builtin battery charger She often travels with a carryon and a personal bag
4 Does she check a bag or just carryon
She almost always travels with only a carryon She prefers to keep things simple and avoid waiting at baggage claim
5 What are her goto travel shoes
She loves comfortable easytoslipon shoes For her that often means Birkenstocks or her own Brother Vellies designs that are both stylish and comfortable for walking
6 How does she handle toiletries
She keeps it simple She uses travelsized containers for her essentials and relies on multipurpose products to save space
7 Whats the one thing she always packs
A great pair of sunglasses and a cashmere sweater or wrap She finds a cashmere piece is perfect for layering on a plane or dressing up a casual outfit
AdvancedLevel Questions
8 How does she balance style and comfort when packing
She believes they arent mutually exclusive She picks fabrics that are comfortable to travel in but in shapes that look intentional She also layers strategically to create different looks from the same core pieces
9 Whats her strategy for packing for a business trip vs a vacation
For business she packs a structured blazer and a few key accessories to elevate her basics For vacation she leans into