Tracee Ellis Ross Only Packs Two Pairs of Underwear When Traveling—But Is That Really Practical?
Tracee Ellis Ross is known for her glowing skin, quirky confidence, and effortless style—but her latest travel confession has left some fans raising their (perfectly tweezed) brows.
While speaking at Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Summit on July 15, the Black-ish star shared her ultra-minimalist approach to packing, and let’s just say… it’s not for the over-packers among us.
“There’s always one bathing suit, a flip flop and one little dress I can roll up. And there’s always two undies,” Ross said onstage. Wait, two?
Naturally, T+L Editor-in-Chief Jacqui Gifford asked the question we were all thinking: “Two undies, that’s it?”
Tracee, 52, calmly explained that she often hand-washes her underwear in the hotel sink, using a bar of soap and a little towel rack action for drying. Old-school, sure—but also a little high-risk, no?
The Internet Reacts
After a few headlines raised eyebrows (and jokes), Tracee took to Instagram on July 18 to clarify: “This is hilarious. I pack two pairs in my carry-on… in case my luggage doesn’t make it.”
Okay, that’s fair. Having an emergency pair or two in your carry-on is smart. But that’s not quite the same as… only packing two total.
Ross added that if she’s going on a longer trip, she still keeps it minimal. “If I’m gone for a month on this trip, you can’t pack a month’s worth of underwear,” she said. “How do you do that? They take up a lot of space.”
And that’s where some people are starting to question things.
Let’s Talk Logistics
Sure, underwear technically can be washed in a hotel sink. But the question is: should it have to be? Between busy schedules, unpredictable drying times, and the general “ick” factor of hanging damp undies in your hotel bathroom, this method isn’t for everyone.
For a two-day trip? Maybe it works. But for a week—or longer? Doing laundry every other night while on vacation sounds like… well, the opposite of relaxing. And while space-saving is valid, most modern packing cubes or compression bags make it pretty easy to fit a week’s worth of underwear in your luggage.
Also worth noting: underwear doesn’t exactly take up a ton of space. A couple more pairs won’t exactly make or break your suitcase.
A Chic Flex or a Misstep?
To be clear: Tracee Ellis Ross can do no wrong in the style department. But when it comes to travel advice? This one feels a little out of touch for the average traveler—especially for women who may not feel comfortable wearing, rewearing, or constantly scrubbing their undies abroad.
Packing light is aspirational, yes. But practical? Not always.
And let’s be honest—most of us aren’t traveling with an assistant, a glam team, or the luxury of time to let our delicates dry overnight while still making it to a 9 a.m. tour. For many, a few extra pairs of underwear offer peace of mind, not just convenience.
Final Thoughts
Tracee’s travel minimalism definitely leans into that “cool aunt who’s been everywhere” energy, and to her credit, she owns it. But for the rest of us? Two pairs might be cutting it a little too close for comfort.
So while we love Tracee for her offbeat wisdom and effortless glow, when it comes to packing undies… we’ll stick with our five-to-seven-pair rule. Just in case.
UPDATE: Tracy has responded to teh backlash. Look:
