Too much of the advice I read about what to wear while traveling is misguided. Certainly, you can ignore anything suggesting that if you dress a certain way, people in [foreign country] will think you’re a local. Even when we do blend in perfectly, most of us are given away as visitors as soon as we open our mouths. “Blending in” is a fool’s errand.

When I travel, I like to look like the best version of myself, especially when I’m abroad. After all, the moment we leave the country, we all become ambassadors for the United States. It can be quite esteeming to defy assumptions of how Americans dress. Plus, I suspect it’s more instinctual to provide good service to someone who looks put-together.

Since I travel incognito, I like to have fun with my clothing choices, often selecting pieces that are more fashion-forward than what I’d wear at home. For example, I might toss on a lightweight scarf to elevate a T-shirt and blazer. (Scarves are also a great defense against aggressive air-conditioning in airplanes and restaurants.) But we editors aren’t the only anonymous globe-trotters. Since you’re leaving your hometown, you’re probably traveling incognito, too. Will anyone know your usual look where you’re headed? A vacation is a perfect time to experiment with something different.