Samantha Brown Recommends Throwing This Item In Your Luggage To Elevate Any Outfit

How do you want to look while on vacation? Sunkissed and stylish? Polished and chic? For us, it's all of the above. But many of us run into a snag: We also want to pack light. Samantha Brown, whose job is to look her best while on vacation, has the answer. Writing for the Travel Channel, Brown says the one item to put in your luggage to elevate any outfit is a pair of sexy heels. Dressy heels can add some pep to your step and make you feel much more put together than you really are.

Heels in a neutral color can be worn with dresses, skirts, jeans, and different styles of pants. No matter your clothing, heels will probably make it look better. However, we know what you're thinking: Sexy heels sound great for a vacation in Los Angeles or a similar driving-heavy city, but I can't walk on Europe's cobbled streets in heels!

We hear you! But plenty of women in Europe wear heeled shoes, and you can too. Look for wedges or shoes with block heels, as their larger surface area makes them easier to walk in than stilettos. Also, if you're wearing heels, take the opportunity to slow down. Stroll along and enjoy the sights instead of being focused on getting to your destination as quick as possible.

Don't stress. If you don't like heels or can't walk in them, a vacation isn't the time to torture yourself. There are tons of other ways to elevate your vacation outfits. For shoes, a nice pair of ballet flats will do the job. Leather sandals are also a stylish choice and appropriate for daytime and evening. Another of Brown's top packing tips is to bring a light sweater, as cooler nights can occur anywhere. If you want a sweater that can elevate your outfit, try one in cashmere. Cashmere is warm but breathable, wrinkle-resistant, incredibly soft, and looks luxurious, making it an A+ material for vacation clothing.

A scarf is another useful item to pack. A woolly one in winter will look stylish and keep you toasty, while a silk (or satin) one in summer is the ultimate chic accessory. A silk scarf can be repurposed as a belt, hair tie, or headband, meaning you can use one little accessory to look different every night. Speaking of hair, a headband can not only make you look fashionable, but also hides a multitude of holiday hair sins, like frizz and flyaways. It's an easy way to keep your hair looking beautiful while traveling.

You can throw more small items in your luggage to look put together on vacation, such as a nighttime purse. Many of us carry backpacks or large totes for daytime exploring, but they're not so stylish at night. A small purse can elevate your look for evening trips to a restaurant or bar.

Smaller accessories are perfect for spicing up an outfit while on a trip because they take up almost no space in your luggage. Vacations are the ideal time to try costume jewelry — think cheerful, cheap, and colorful (which will also help you avoid losing it). A belt can also smarten up an outfit — and it's not just for pants. Use a belt to cinch in a flowing maxi dress or an oversized T-shirt to transform those items from beachwear to barwear.

Finally, if you're really short on space, one tiny item anyone can fit in their luggage is red lipstick. Even if you have no other makeup on, red lipstick is classy, sexy and powerful. It's perfect for elevating any look.