The one self care item I always travel with

Like most frequent travelers, every inch of my suitcase is thoughtfully considered. On most trips I bring multiple items for self care from a sleep mask (link) to my Bose sleep headphones to yummy snacks that make me feel good. While these items change from time to time, there is one self care item I always travel with. The one constant is a blanket scarf.

For a long time I usually brought a scarf but didn’t have a strategy. Sometimes my scarf was thin and narrow, other times it was big enough to use as a blanket for naps. My haphazard approach changed when I found this delightful blanket scarf from Aritizia. It kept me warm and dry while walking around during blustery winter days. I used it as a blanket during overnight flights, no need to use the airline blanket or worrying about whether it was clean. After a long day, I curled up in it at the hotel, offering me comfort and a piece of home. During a conference it kept away the chilly air conditioned room at bay so that I could I focus. At the hotel I used it as a blanket for naps. I’ve also used it as a bit of a security blanket when the crowds get to me.

My blanket scarf keeps me warm and cozy so I stay healthy and gives emotional respite too. While traveling is mostly good for my well being, there are days when the stress of travel becomes just a little too much. Having a blanket scarf is always welcome on these days.

After a few trips with a wool version of this scarf, I found it to be indispensable, becoming my favorite self care item for travel. These days I never leave home without a blanket scarf, I have a collection to make sure I have one that fits for every outfit and time of year.

My favorite blanket scarves

Summer

For middle of summer and blazing hot climates, I take this soft linen scarf. My favorite place to get a linen scarf is Not Perfect Linen. The best part is that it’s affordable and an independent business, which I love to support. Another of my favorites for summer is an ultra light black cotton scarf with a bandana print. Though I typically prefer to take a scarf with just one color so that it goes with everything, I’ve found that simple prints like this bandana print or stripes go with pretty much everything.

Spring + Early Fall

For spring and early fall I typically bring a soft jersey cotton scarf. They’re ultra soft, and always feel good no matter how much my skin condition is acting up. They give me the most comfort of all the scarves I own. Given this, these blanket scarves are in constant rotation. One of my very favorites is a grey striped one from All Saints. It’s super old at this point but it remains a favorite. American Vintage also sells a really nice plain jersey scarf in various colors making it another good choice. Besides being super easy to travel with, cotton scarves are super easy to wash. If you can only invest in one scarf, I highly recommend the versatility and comfort of cotton jersey ones like these.

Late Fall + Winter

For cooler climates, fall and winter I have two choices. For deep winter and windy climates, I take an Aritzia scarf appropriately named, blanket scarf. This is the scarf that started the whole trend for me. I’m so in love with these scarves that I rarely wear anything else for cold weather, even when I’m at home, walking around New York City.

I bring this fleece scarf from Dudley Stephens. I have it in Natural Blush, which is super versatile and is super cozy for naps in chilly hotel rooms or a bit of warmth for a night out. Fleece is super cozy so I bring this one on trips when I’m not feeling well. I use a fleece blanket for napping at home so it makes me feel like I’m most at home even while traveling, bringing physical and emotional comfort.

Given their size, blanket scarves can get bulky, especially during the travel portions of your trip. While on a plane, train or other form of mass transit, I fold the scarf in half into a triangle and drape it around my neck. It looks super cute and makes it easy to move around. You can see how I wear it in the photo above.

While my original scarf is a bit pricey, you can find blanket scarves at a much lower price making them affordable. Given how many times you’ll wear this and the comfort it will provide, it makes this self care item incredibly well worth it, especially when you consider cost per wear.