meli elena

This is where I keep all the little things that make my world feel a bit more curated, a bit more me. Think pieces that aren't trying to look like everyone else's version of "aesthetic," things that feel personal, intentional, and a little bit rare. Some of it I've stumbled on during years of travelling solo through Latin America, tucked away in tiny shops or markets I almost walked past. Some of it is just stuff that caught my eye scrolling late at night and made me think "okay, I need that." Either way, everything here has a certain quiet confidence to it. Nothing loud, nothing trendy for the sake of trendy, just genuinely cool. If you're the kind of person who likes finding things before they blow up, or who wants gifts and finds that feel like they were picked with actual thought, this list is for you. I'm constantly adding to it as I discover new pieces that make me pause mid scroll or mid market stall. Consider this your permission slip to skip the algorithm favourites and go for something a little more unexpected instead. **This is a list I am ever adding to because the wishes do not stop**

Okay so after three years of backpacking through Latin America, I'm finally making it to Europe!!! Latin America taught me to pack light and move fast, but Euro summer has its own whole vibe. Everything I linked here is what I'm actually wearing on this trip after tons of research of what will be chic but comfy. Pieces that go from train hopping in the morning to an aperitivo by the water at sunset without missing a beat (and include what I'm wearing to my friends wedding in GREECE!) Comfortable enough to walk 20,000 steps in, but put-together enough that I don't look like I just rolled off a sleeper bus (been there). If you've ever wanted a travel wardrobe that actually works in real life rather than just looking good in flat lays, this one's for you. Save it, shop it, remix it your way.

Developing my Travel Creator starter kit took a lot of trial and error and I soon realized that creating content on the road didn't have to mean lugging around a massive camera setup. These are the tools I actually use to film and edit on the go, whether I'm on a moving bus or setting up a quick tripod shot before sunset. Everything on this list is compact, beginner friendly and worth every penny. After 3 years of solo travelling through Latin America, I've filmed in some pretty unpredictable conditions. Humid jungle heat, dusty overnight buses, crowded markets and cobblestone streets that are not tripod friendly. That experience taught me exactly what gear holds up and what just takes up space in your bag. Growing my TikTok to over 12k followers was built almost entirely on lightweight, packable equipment that I could pull out and set up in under a minute. The truth is you don't need thousands of dollars worth of gear to make content that connects with people. You need the right tools that work for your lifestyle, and as a solo creator there's no one else to hold the camera for you. Everything on this list is something I have personally tested on the road and would pack again without hesitation.I also got into scuba diving during my travels and underwater content comes with a whole different set of challenges. Visibility, water clarity and buoyancy all affect how your footage turns out, and figuring that out took some serious trial and error. Whether you're diving crystal clear cenotes in Mexico or murkier open water, having the right housing, a red filter for colour correction and a buoyancy arm to stabilize your shot makes all the difference between shaky unusable clips and something you actually want to post.

3 years of solo travel through Latin America taught me what actually matters in a bag. These are my real, tried and tested must haves for travelling the world on your own as a woman. Travelling solo through Latin America as a woman means you learn pretty quickly what makes you feel secure and what just adds unnecessary stress. From navigating busy markets in Colombia to taking overnight buses through Peru, I've been in enough situations to know that the right gear genuinely changes your experience. These aren't just products I've seen recommended online, they're things I've personally relied on when I was the only person looking out for myself. Comfort matters just as much as safety, especially when you're spending long stretches of time in hostels, on buses or in places where you can't always predict what you're walking into. The small things add up fast, whether that's finally getting a decent night of sleep in a noisy dorm or not having to stress about your bag in a crowded street. Solo travel as a woman is one of the most rewarding things you can do and having the right tools with you just means you can focus on the experience instead of the anxiety around it.

I don't always splurge at Sephora since I don't wear makeup everyday, but these are things I truly reach for EVERY time I do my makeup and go out to repurchase as soon as I finish (or lose) them!