How Parker Thatch’s Creative Director Joyce Lee Packs for Vacation

When it comes to mastering the art of the travel wardrobe, it’s no surprise that our favorite fashion insiders also moonlight as packing pros. In My Packing Style, we tap some of the most well-traveled people we know for a peek inside their travel bags and vacation wardrobes to see how they take their style on the road. You’ve bookmarked the trip, you’ve screenshotted the outfits; now, a look at how it all comes together

How does the creative director of an accessories brand pack for a trip? Slowly, over the course of a few days—and with the knowledge that the accessories portion will always present the biggest challenge. “Accessories are where I have to edit the most. They’re what keep my wardrobe feeling fresh without overpacking,” says Joyce Lee. The creative director of Parker Thatch, Substack author, and general multi-hyphenate designer knows how impactful the right accents can be in your travel wardrobe—and ahead of her next trip, we decided to pick her brain about exactly how she gets it right every time.

Shop Joyce Lee’s Suitcase

The Comfortable Flats

Alaïa crystal-embellished ballet flats

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The Red-Eye Lifesaver

YSE Beauty The Overachiever Brightening and Depuffing Eye Patches

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It helps that Lee has a faithful arsenal of basics to build her travel capsule closet around. She sticks to neutrals (with the exception of a few zingy hues, like a lemon-colored anorak or a tomato-red fringe skirt) and items that she already incorporates in her day-to-day; that way, there’s more freedom to experiment with animal print bags and studded ballerinas. “Versatility is key—I think about color, texture, and how each piece can work across multiple outfits and occasions,” she says. And, a useful tip for the accessories devotee traveling on a strict baggage allowance: “I also nest the smaller bags inside my carry-on to save space.”

Lee is headed on a big family trip to Tokyo and Seoul, just in time for cherry blossom season. “It will be the kids’ first time,” she says. “I’m especially looking forward to the food, the shopping, and that feeling of being completely immersed in a different rhythm.” Ahead, discover how Lee preps for a long trip, how she picks the right bags each time, and how she avoids wrinkles when traveling—no steamer required.

Courtesy of Joyce Lee