Matching sets are one of the easiest things to pack. No styling math, no digging through a suitcase for pieces that work together — just a top and bottom that immediately feel like a complete look. That’s part of why they make up so much of my vacation wardrobe, the styling can go in so many directions. A printed silk set for hotel breakfast and a walk through town. Crochet shorts and the matching top for poolside lunches, beach clubs, or anywhere with tiled floors and wet hair. A fringed knit skirt and tank for sunset dinners, or embroidered cotton pieces for market mornings that turn into an afternoon of shopping.

Bring a few base pieces along and a set becomes more than one outfit. Wear it together when you want the full effect, then split it up later in the trip with a simple tank, linen pant, or white shorts. That’s what makes them such a good packing move — complete right away, but still room to play.