Here in Australia, we’ve struggling through a freezing winter, and like many, the Marie Claire team has made European travel plans. What better reprieve from the mid-year slump than a Sicilian summer getaway or quick jaunt to Paris? While travel is a joy, packing for travel is a definite downside, as is tracking down travel essentials that can make or break a trip.
Suddenly, you realize your summer wardrobe isn’t fitting the way it used to, your favourite bags are taking up too much room in your suitcase, and the sandals you wore through the holiday season are falling apart. Most of us have already made our winter investment purchases, making the idea of splurging on vacation clothes unattractive.
Amazon Prime Day offers a somewhat overwhelming range of last-minute travel essentials. But, sometimes when there’s plenty of choice it’s hard to know where to start, and we want to find chic pieces we can use during the summer holiday after the summer holiday. So, we turned to the person we knew could find us our Amazon travel essentials: ELLE’s market editor Emily.
What’s a market editor? They’re like the ultimate fashion editor, spending time collating new releases and runway launches and monitoring trends to bring curated edits to ELLE readers. Essentially, shopping is their superpower.
So, we figured out who better than this expert shopper to siphon down the overwhelming world of Amazon and bring us summer travel buys we’ll reach for wherever we are in the world.
Here are her edits.
The Best Amazon Travel Essentials.
- Techshining Mesh Beach Tote, from $18.99 (on sale $15.19) at Amazon
- Crocs Women’s Brooklyn, from $64.15 (usually $99.99) at Amazon
- Hilor Women’s Swimsuit in Black, from $48.79 (usually $60.99) at Amazon
A Fashion Editor’s Amazon Travel Essentials
Techshining Mesh Beach Tote
from $18.99 (on sale $15.19) at Amazon
Best for: Carry all
The ultimate “carry everything”, This chic beach tote has a sturdy flat base so you can rest it as you sip a coffee, and it will carry beach towels, books, sunscreens and water bottles with ease. Super lightweight, it takes up minimal space in your suitcase.
Key features:
- Size: 36x35x17cm
- Durable nylon
- Machine washable
Crocs Women’s Brooklyn
from $64.15 (usually $99.99) at Amazon
Best for: comfortable height
Crocs specialises in comfort, and they’ve brought their signature Crosolite foam soles to these chic, minimalist wedges. They’ll give you some height without torturing your feet, as you skip from the gallery to the beach to the bar.
Key features:
- Comfortable wedge
- Lightweight for packing
- Secure backstrap
Hilor Women’s Swimsuit in Black
from $48.79 (usually $60.99) at Amazon
Best for: Coverage
We’re not all bikini girls, and this monokini from Hilor brings sleek Italian filmstar energy to lounging by the hotel pool or laying back on the beach. Pair with cat-eye sunglasses and you’ll feel like Sophia Loren.
Key features:
- Fully lined with mesh for flattering fit
- Asymmetric shoulder
- Removable soft bra padding for structure and support
Bsubseach Beach Cover Up
from $ 28.99 at Amazon
Best for: Lightweight Style
This coverup blouse blends fashion and functionality, making it easy to transition from the beach to a beachside restaurant. Throw it over your shoulders to protect from the sun or keep you covered as you head from lounging beachside to a cafe. It also ticks the “lightweight for checked luggage” box.
Key features:
- Classic V Neckline
- Drawstring Sides
- Button-down
- Bust: 59″ Waist: 54.3″ Length: 36.2″
SOJOs Retro Oval Sunglasses
from $27.99 (usually $29.74) at Amazon
Best for: Affordable UV protection
Bright out? These super flattering unisex oval frames also offer UV400 protection, making them a chic way to stop that longed-for European summer sunshine from damaging the delicate under-eye area.
Key Features:
- UV 400 lenses
- Multiple lens shades available
- lightweight
Barooga Turkish Beach Towel
from $30.32 (usually $37.00) at Amazon
Best for: comfort
Emily loved this tonal take on the traditional beach towel; no pineapples or aggressive neons in sight. Instead, there’s 100% cotton, quick-drying softness and a pattern chic enough to be repurposed as a throw or cover between seasons.
Key Features:
- 100% Turkish cotton
- Absorbant, soft and lightweight
- 90 x 180 cm
- 428g
Bagail Packing Cubes
from $62.11 (were $67.46) at Amazon
Best for: storing essentials
The right packing cubes will make destressing on your vacation 100% more achievable. This ten-set collection from Bagail has you covered for every travel essential and will save you money and time on MIA items. Emily’s tip? If you have a busy social calendar while on holiday use some cubes to keep planned looks together and save time scrounging for outfits when you should be relaxing.
Key Features:
- Pouches, zip cases and fold out makeup bags included
- 10 colours available
- Water repellant
Looking to save money on your Euro Summer trip? Check out our coupon codes for Emirates, Luxury Escapes and more.
This article originally appeared on Marie Claire Australia and is republished here with permission.
