Trish Wescoat Pound knows the power of a good capsule wardrobe—so much so that she founded a wildly popular brand, TWP, based on the very concept: from impeccably tailored slacks, to slinky slip dresses, to cozy cashmere sweaters, she’s developed a cult following of fashionable New York women. (It’s a race to snag your size on Moda Operandi before it sells out.) And this September, TWP is on the official New York Fashion Week calendar for the first time.

Before the brand’s debut NYFW presentation, Wescoat Pound and her daughter Jillian took a vacation in Europe that included stops in Tangier (where they stayed at Yves Saint Laurent’s former villa), Milan, the South of Spain, Lake Como, and Forte dei Marmi. The designer managed to pack for the entire trip in a single suitcase. That’s impressive for a journey that includes multiple continents and climates—and beyond so for one that mixed business with pleasure: the mother-daughter duo attended a wedding and a trade fashion show back to back. “My daughter and I went to Milan Unica, a fabric show, where mills showcase their upcoming collections—we were sourcing for our upcoming spring 2025 collection,” Wescoat explains.

The very act of travel is a perennial inspiration for Wescoat. “Packing for trips informs my design choices: What are my must haves? What am I missing? I design for what I want and need in my life,” she says.

So below, read her tips on how to lightly yet fashionably travel in style—as well as how she styled each piece throughout her travels. “Taking them on vacation gives me an opportunity to wear them in new ways,” she says of her basics.

Button-Ups