The ultimate minimalist packing hack: Hailey Bieber only relied on this one piece in Seoul to create two completely different looks
The must-have versatile sneakers for every trip abroad!
Key takeaways
- Hailey Bieber arrived in Seoul in May for a brand event, and her minimalist off-duty looks earned more than a million likes on Instagram.
- The item that appeared most often in her suitcase was a pair of black heeled thong sandals, effortlessly pulling together two completely different looks: a retro street-style outfit for the convenience store and an intellectual blazer look for a high-rise observation deck.
When planning an overseas trip, packing is probably everyone’s biggest headache. You need clothes for relaxing at the beach, yet you also want a few stylish outfits for upscale restaurants, and your suitcase inevitably ends up stuffed to bursting. You really don’t need to bring that many pairs of shoes abroad. Hailey Bieber‘s off-duty looks during her recent whirlwind trip to Seoul offer the perfect lesson in minimalist packing!
- Related reading: Don’t want to bring too many clothes on your trip? This “333 rule” lets you create the most outfits with the fewest pieces
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Off-duty styling with a retro ’90s feel
Hailey Bieber was in Seoul for a brand collaboration event, yet her off-duty outfits drew even more attention than her official appearances. When she visited a Korean convenience store, she wore a simple white top under a black open-knit sweater, paired with low-rise pants. This seemingly at-home combination took on an instantly retro street-style feel with ’90s-inspired oval sunglasses and a baseball cap.
The most surprising highlight of the outfit was the pair of black heeled thong sandals on her feet. This style has appeared often in her everyday outfits since last year: it fits right into a casual daytime look and doesn’t feel out of place if she heads straight to a party at night. Having one pair of shoes that works for different daytime and evening occasions is so convenient when traveling.
An intellectual pairing of a blazer and heeled thong sandals
The worst part of traveling abroad is having to change outfits several times a day, yet Hailey Bieber proves that swapping just one piece can completely transform an outfit. As she took in Seoul’s skyline from a high-rise observation deck, she kept on the same low-rise tailored pants and black heeled thong sandals. She simply changed into a basic white tank top, casually draped a blazer over it, and added a matching shoulder bag. The street-style feel immediately became a sharp, intellectual city look.
These two completely different styles are tied together by the same pair of heeled thong sandals. Many people still think of flip-flops as something reserved for the beach or a trip downstairs to buy a late-night snack, yet the kitten heel gives the shoes an entirely different feel.
The retro shoe trend that had been building since 2025 has become mainstream by summer 2026. What makes heeled thong sandals so great is their minimalist design, which keeps them from feeling tied to any particular season. Invest in a quality leather pair, and you can wear them for years without worrying about them going out of style. Many women may worry that heeled thong sandals are difficult to walk in, but a kitten-heel style with a heel height of around 3 to 5 cm is much more stable than you might expect. The next time you pack for an overseas trip, take a cue from Hailey Bieber and add these versatile shoes to your suitcase. They’ll instantly make your vacation outfits more stylish.
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