Finding the perfect gift for the travel-loving friend, partner, or parent in your life is no easy feat. To me, the secret sauce is gifting them something they don’t already have and probably would never buy for themselves, but will appreciate and use regularly on their travels. And this year, I’ve found all of that and more in this gorgeous and luxuriously soft cashmere travel set from Ralph Lauren. I got my hands on this set a few months ago, looking for an upgrade to my old, sad, and tired eye mask and travel blanket. And an upgrade it is! I’ve been especially grateful for this travel set as a passenger on road trips when I want to get some shut eye and on chilly train rides when I need something to keep me warm. I adore it so much that I plan to gift it this season to a few of my favorite fellow travelers—here’s what to know if you’re considering the set, too.
What’s included:
Made with woven, cable-knit cashmere, this ridiculously soft travel set includes a matching eye mask, blanket, and zip storage pouch, which also doubles as a travel pillow. I love that the throw blanket is made with 100 percent cashmere, making it so soft to the touch and warm while still being light enough to travel with. The eye mask is also made with cashmere and features two elasticized straps that offer a secure fit without being at all restrictive. The material is incredible—it looks and feels expensive and will definitely last for years to come.
Why I love it for travel:
It’s surprisingly small and compact for a set with multiple travel essentials—all of which make it the perfect companion on any long-haul flight, road trip, or train ride. The cashmere blanket is my favorite component of the set—it’s cozy, warm, and lightweight, so you can always have a blanket on call without the bulk in your carry-on. When unraveled, it’s the ideal size for one person to snuggle up with. (I even regularly wrap myself in it while lounging at home—it’s just better than my other throw blankets, okay!)
The sleep mask is great, too—it gently covers your eyes so you can catch some ZZZs on your next red-eye and is nice and slim, fitting into any small bag if you want to take it with you separately. When the blanket is tucked into its convenient storage pouch, it becomes a cloud-like pillow that has you covered and comfortable during layovers, shuttle transfers, and anything in between for travelers on the go. The reason I don’t always travel with a pillow is because they are usually difficult to pack, taking up lots of space and precious weight in my suitcase. Hot take: I often find that travel pillows aren’t worth the hassle. But here’s a pillow that can be folded down in half to be made smaller and easily packed in your carry-on or duffel bag. I also love that it pulls double duty, making it more worthy of a spot on my packing list.
And to state the obvious, it’s really pretty and really chic. I feel so elegant every time I whip this set out, and it’s rightfully earned me more than a few compliments from friends and strangers. The more I travel, the more I realize how worthwhile it is to invest in the essentials I bring with me trip after trip. From durable luggage to functional weekenders to—you guessed it—well-made travel accessories, having gear I love using and can count on to last makes all the difference. Sure, that $10 eye mask might work on your next flight, but I don’t know that it will hold up for years to come—or that it will make a particularly special or thoughtful gift. Ralph Lauren’s cashmere travel set ticks all the boxes, from functionality to aesthetics.
Colors available:
I have the set in Natural, a light tan hue, but you can also snag it in Cream, Heather Gray, Modern Charcoal, Polo Navy, and Midnight Black.
Why I’m gifting it this season:
It really is the perfect travel gift, offering your giftee an easy way to elevate their go-to travel accessories. They probably wouldn’t splurge on a luxe eye mask or cashmere travel blanket for themselves, but they’ll thank you when they have one on their next flight. It’s so cozy and comfy and makes me feel like I’m curling up with my favorite blanket at home—which is just what you need on a long, stressful travel day.