A personal stylist says it's a mistake to reinvent yourself when packing for a trip

• Personal stylist Kim Appelt said reinventing your style for a trip is a huge packing mistake.
• Consider the environment you're traveling to, but don't deviate from your personal style, she said.

When I began my career as a travel reporter, I always packed the coolest things I owned for my trips.

Stuffing a floral maxi dress in my backpack for a trip to Rome and folding up a floppy sun hat in my carry-on for a Caribbean cruise seemed like good ideas at the time.

But once I arrived at my destinations, I found myself longing for the clothes I usually wear, no matter the location: hoodies, joggers, and baseball caps.

According to personal stylist Kim Appelt, everyone does this — including her. Since it's so easy to fall into the habit of experimenting with fashion when traveling somewhere new, Appelt said the key to packing for a trip is to stay true to your own personal style.

"If you're someone, for example, who loves athletic wear, you're a very casual dresser," Appelt told Insider. "It is not the time to break out those pieces in your closet that are extremely feminine and full of flowers."

Consider the environment, but stay true to yourself

It's also important to consider the environment you're traveling to when packing for a trip, according to Appelt. For example, pack light fabrics if you're going somewhere hot.

Consider the vibe of the location you're visiting too, Appelt said, using New York as an example.

"When I come to New York, I'm typically always in black. New York is a very edgy city. So I will wear my combat boots and my black jeans," she said, adding that she'll wear her white linen blazer on top. Even though it's the opposite of black, it's a staple of her wardrobe, so wearing it makes her feel true to herself.

Appelt, who recently released a book called "Style for Everybody" to help people identify and stay true to their personal style, said there are certain questions you should ask yourself before packing.

"What is your personal style? Is it athletic, is it preppy, is it casual? And then what's your lifestyle? How do you wear these pieces?" she said. "The book is great to read before traveling for that reason. Because once you know those things, you can pack a wardrobe that actually curates to your own personal style."

Versatile clothing is key

Another key packing tip Appelt shared with Insider is that each article of clothing in your bag should be able to be worn three different ways. That means that each piece should be versatile enough to wear with the other pieces in the bag.

For example, Appelt frequently packs that white linen blazer in her carry-on because it's lightweight and can be styled with many things.

"It is not only a wardrobe essential, but it can be styled so many ways," she told Insider. "You can throw it over your shoulders with a dress and runners. If you like athletic wear, you could wear it with bike shorts. You can throw it on with jeans."

So find your version of Appelt's white linen blazer to inspire your packing process. For me, it's definitely not that floral dress I wore in Rome. And when I boarded that cruise ship in my floppy sun hat, I didn't feel like myself.

After two years in this role, I've learned that no matter where I'm traveling, I often find that the environment I'm in is new enough. So with the right clothes in my bag, I can give myself that comforting sense of home I always end up craving.