A celebrity stylist helped me pack for a luxury train trip with a dress code. I used a backpack and never repeated outfits.

• I took a 30-hour trip on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express sleeper train.

• The train has a strict dress code and encourages passengers to wear their finest attire.

• Celebrity stylist Kim Appelt helped me pack a light, elevated travel wardrobe for the trip.

I took a three-day trip to Europe in November 2023, spending two nights on sleeper trains. One was a 30-hour ride on one of the world's most luxurious locomotives — the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express.

From fine-dining cars to an upscale bar and the most luxurious cabins and suites I've ever seen, the Belmond train is made up of vintage carriages from the historic Orient Express fleet of the 1920s and 1930s.

I booked the cheapest accommodation on board — a $9,000 cabin for a one-night ride from Paris to Venice, Italy — and learned that the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express has a strict dress code to match the train's elevated vibe.

"You can never be overdressed on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express," the company's website states, detailing that "smart attire" is required in common areas during the day, jeans are prohibited, and passengers are encouraged to wear their finest outfits at night.

Once I booked the trip, I received an email with more rules — no T-shirts, shorts, or sneakers. This overwhelmed me as someone who lives in athleisure and packs with just a backpack.

At first, I thought I'd have to buy new clothes and accessories that fit the luxury vibe. But in order to save money, I decided to do my best with what I had.

So I called Kim Appelt, a celebrity stylist who wrote a book about fashion basics called "Style for Everybody."

Appelt eased my fears as she helped me pack a light, comfortable, yet elevated wardrobe with versatile neutral pieces and pops of color.

First, I laid out some neutral options and pops of color.

Before calling Appelt, I learned from her book that having a neutral color palette with pops of color creates a versatile wardrobe because everything goes together.

Since I was traveling to Europe in November and temperatures ranged from 40 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit, I included sweaters, jackets, hats, and scarves in my array to show Appelt.

I ravaged my closet and selected a mixture of comfortable and elevated pieces in gray, navy, black, and white. Then, I pulled out some colorful accessories like scarves and hats.

Appelt helped me narrow my choices down to nine articles of clothing.

Appelt said it's best to start with neutrals when packing for a trip.

For my three-day adventure, Appelt suggested I bring two pairs of pants. We decided on two pairs of black slacks — a looser, straight fit and a stretchy pair that feels more like leggings than formal pants.

We packed three shirts that could be layered differently — one tight white thermal with floral detailing on the sleeves, a tight black collared shirt, and a dressy white button-down for a more formal look. I also packed a black tank top to layer underneath and wear to sleep.

Then we moved on to sweaters. I packed two. One was a thin, long-sleeved black cardigan; the other was a navy blue sweater vest.

The last article I packed was a deconstructed black blazer with an oversize fit — a key item, according to Appelt.

"It is not only a wardrobe essential, but it can be styled in so many ways," she told me.

Since I had multiple layers and would spend most of my trip inside trains, Appelt suggested I skip packing a jacket to avoid bulk.

But before committing to these items, Appelt suggested arranging and trying on outfits.

"Lay all the outfits out like it's a person on your bed, and take a look," she said.

Seeing my outfits together made me feel more prepared for my trip and excited to look chic and sophisticated.

For accessories, she suggested mostly neutral items and one pop of color.

Since the trip was so short, I told Appelt I only wanted to bring one pair of shoes.

After establishing a neutral, mostly black color palette, Appelt suggested comfortable black boots that could be dressed up or down. I wore a leather, Chelsea wing tip that looked good with both pairs of pants.

We selected a black leather crossbody bag to match the shoes.

For my pop of color, we decided on a scarlet scarf. It was essential for keeping my neck warm while adding a bit of flair to my looks.

Appelt also said I should bring plain black socks and a hat of the same color. To Appelt's surprise, I didn't own either of these things.

And to my surprise, a neutral hat or sock with a graphic or pattern wouldn't make the cut.

"Let's keep everything super clean. I want you to feel like you're elevated," she said. "Part of the trick is that you know your socks are dressy. It's not just a visual thing. Everything needs to be cohesive and flow."

I trusted Appelt and ordered the items. They arrived just in time for my trip.

Clothes took up such a small portion of my bag.

Once I put everything in my backpack, I was stunned to find that even with my cameras, lenses, laptop, snacks, toiletries, and chargers, the bag was less than 75% full.

Since I wore at least half of my pieces at all times during the trip, I only had a tiny packing cube of the remaining clothing.

On the trip, I could use the same clothing articles to make completely different outfits.

With so many matching layering pieces, I made two unique outfits a day. For lunch in the dining cars, I could wear any of my shirts layered with one of my sweaters, the blazer, or a combination of the two.

Save for one person in a T-shirt during lunch on the second day, other passengers seemed to interpret the dress code as I did. I spotted travelers in polos, blazers, dresses, and knitted sweaters.

For a formal dinner, I wore a suit.

When nightfall came on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, I made a suit with my straight black slacks and blazer. Underneath, I wore a white button-down.

I typically feel uncomfortable in nice clothes, but this outfit felt great, and I appreciated how the dress code curated the vibe of a special occasion aboard the train.

I also found that when it came to feeling confident and elevated in my looks, Appelt was right about my black socks and hat.

The hat felt much more sophisticated than my graphic beanies at home. Although no one could see my plain black socks, knowing I was cohesive from head to toe made me feel like I belonged in the elegant setting where most passengers dressed in suits, ties, and evening gowns. I even spotted a couple of tuxedos.

I didn't lack comfy outfits for the in-between moments.

Not every moment of my trip was a dressy occasion. There were times when I chilled out in my luxury cabin.

I also followed my Venice Simplon-Orient-Express ride with a standard overnight train trip on a rail line that didn't have a dress code. And don't forget those long-haul flights to and from my home in NYC.

Luckily, Appelt and I planned for this by packing a comfy thermal, a tank top, slacks that felt like leggings, and a deconstructed blazer. It wasn't as relaxing as sweatpants and a hoodie — my typical travel-day attire. But I was comfortable enough in these pieces that I didn't miss my signature flight look.

And when I had to go outside, I wore nearly every article of clothing I brought.

The best thing about my travel wardrobe was that I could layer nearly every piece of clothing I had when I was out in the cold.

I wore my leggings underneath my slacks. On top, I wore my tank under two layered shirts, a sweater, and the blazer.

During my trip, I was grateful for Appelt's advice and tips. And now that we've packed together, I'm confident I'll be capable of selecting a versatile wardrobe on my own for my next luxury adventure.

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