The Travel Stylista

I have my (travel) life back!

Well, it's been a long, long while from December to May.  I presented "What to Wear, Where -- Outfitting the Stylish Traveler" at the 2009 AICI Conference in Irvine, CA This presentation is based on my new service for image consultants Your Style Passport (TM) which will be released very soon. Hence the cessation of blogging (and sleeping, cleaning my house, etc.) I did still find time to eat and take a few short trips. Oh and shop.

One of these trips was to the Travel Goods Show in Las Vegas. I got to spy out all of the fun, new travel stuff. This show was low on apparel, really heavy on luggage, with a smattering of improvements on the basics. One of my favorite new products is the GoToob (TM) made by humangear (TM). It is a soft, silicone tube with a no-drip valve for storing your liquid necessities - it is even food safe, in case you have a condiment dependency.

Since all travelers love items with multiple uses, I have to recommend the Rand McNally fabMAP which is a map made from a washable microfiber fabric. It fits easily in a pocket or purse, and can be used to clean your glasses or electronic devices. Fab! Map! Suitably named.

One Bag Does Not Fit All...

While the pack-one-carry-on-bag seems like a great a idea, the likelihood of it being a reality only applies to certain situations:

1. The short trip (lasting 3-4 days maximum).

2. The tropical vacation (It's amazing how many tanks and flip-flops you can cram into one bag).

3. The I can-wear-whatever-I-want and not care mentality.

4. When you know you will actually have to schlep your own stuff on public transportation.

5. The very disciplined traveler.

I'm sure there are many more, Since I inevitably tend to travel to places where it is freezing for a few weeks at a time, I always have to check a large suitcase, and either pray to the scale gods that it might actually come in under the 50 pound mark, or bring 2 medium size suitcases, and check them both.

Let's face it, I like choices. I may not feel like wearing one of the severely edited contents of my carry on day after day. For this, I am willing to wait the extra 30 minutes at the baggage claim. I don't like the challenge of  blow-drying my socks because they have not dried by morning. I like to bring more than two pair of shoes. I like to be stylish when it is appropriate to do so. Don't let the one-bag principle hold you hostage - we are each unique travelers with our own set of needs.

Applying Your Universal Style to Your Travel Wardrobe

Do you know about Universal Style? It is a system that helps you discover, define, and develop your personal style. The process begins with nine different Assessment tools that help pinpoint who you are, what you do, what you want, what you prefer, and what you physically look like. If you are a do-it-yourself-er, you can purchase the book StyleSource from www.amazon.com. It comes with four of the assessment tools. However, if you want the de-lux version, go to the "find a consultant" section of www.universalstyleintl.com, and hire a real-live-certified style consultant to help you find your Universal Style. (OK, this is shameless self-promotion - I contributed to the StyleSource text.)

So what does this have to do with your travel wardrobe? Once you know your style, it will be easier to develop your travel wardrobe from your own closet with only minor tweaking. What might change? Well, if you will be participating in specialized activities, traveling to a locale with a very different climate, or to a culture with a narrower vision of what constitutes "acceptable and appropriate" dress, you may need to adjust or fill in with some pieces suited for that environment. More to follow soon!

Travel: When our Private Wardrobe Becomes Public...

We all have our "public" vs. our "private" persona. While traveling, we have to be very public. Where else but in a hotel does some stranger enter your room to bring you food (and dessert if you're lucky?).This is the time to be wearing decent pajamas or loungewear. If you can bring work-out wear or a bathing cover-up that will double for pajamas, by all means do.

I have been in several hotels when the fire alarm has gone off. First, let me say how shocked I was by the total lack of concern my fellow travelers felt for abandoning their rooms. Post 9/11, all I can say that my flight out of my room was faster than an Olympic Gold Medalist on steroids. This is not the time to be worrying about what various stage of dress (or undress as the case may be) that you are in, but wouldn't it be great if you could have a stiff drink in the lobby, even in your "jammies" before returning to your room, and not be mistaken for a vagrant? Think black, think stretch, think coverage, think good condition.

Slip-on shoes with a sole such as ballet flats can double as slippers, and will compliment that black ensemble. Keep them next to your bed, especially if you are in earthquake country. Actually, keep them next to your bed, no matter where you are. Yes, it's good to be prepared in case of unknown calamity. Plus you never know how gross-out the carpet will be in your room.

So don't be a cheap thrill or a quick laugh for the entire Room Service Staff -- think stylish, even in the not-so-private-privacy of your hotel room.

Dressing to Blend In vs. to Stand Out while Traveling

If you're a fashion-conscious individual, you might to choose to dress to stand out, especially if you are an extrovert.  While bright colors, eye-catching looks and "blingy" jewelry might be fine and appropriate for some events and situations, there are some travel scenarios where it is best to avoid unwarranted attention. Remember, no desire to look hip or status conscious is worth compromising your safety.

If you are unfamiliar with the rules and customs of a destination, it is always safer to stick with darker neutral colors, in modest silhouettes, with knees and shoulders covered. Modesty is much more of an issue in many religious, conservative, or third world countries. Certain colors may be taboo in one area, acceptable in the next. If you are going on any type of adventure tour, always read the literature provided, and follow the instructions.

Fine jewelry, and anything that might be construed as such is better left at home. Having to bother with a hotel safe only wastes valuable travel time. Also, you are "out" in public so much more often, and may not know precisely what areas to avoid passing through. Why be a target? Blend in, dress like the locals, and enjoy!

Echo “Scarfs”: The Ultimate Travel Accessory

I have an absolute scarf fetish. Don’t look in my drawers – they’ll pop out like snakes-in-a-can. Just kidding, those are just the ones I don’t wear so much, but can’t part with. Once you find a scarf in your color palette, with a print that mimics the lines as your features, you will be hooked. Hint: If your features are more rounded, choose floral motifs, or fluid lines. If your face is more angular, geometric shapes will highlight the drama. A little bit of straight and curved lines? Go with a mixed motif, such as paisley.  No, I’m not smart enough to make this stuff up – read the “the Triumph of Individual Style” by Carla Mathis. Brilliant.

The average marriage lasts only half as long as your relationship with a truly compatible scarf.  Scarves are one of the few accessories that you can keep forever, do serious multitasking, and can make you look far more “Euro”, less “unstylish American” whilst traveling. They can be your guardian angel, by covering your sun-burnt spaghetti-topped shoulders so you can enter that choice cathedral. They can help brighten up your face after that long, exhausting flight, or simply cover your bird nested coif. They can add a bright and cheery note to even the most minimalist of black capsule travel wardrobes.

Echo brand always has fabulous and current-patterned scarves at the best prices. I was very happy to find out that they have an on-line store. Cute hats and other accessories as well.  And about the “scarfs”? Yes, I have an English degree, and spell-check. There’s a nicely detailed explanation at http://www.echodesign.com.

What You Should Not Even Think About Wearing on an Airplane

It seems that the days of the chic travel ensembles are over. Not that it has to be that way. With a little careful planning, you can exit the plane without looking like you’re wearing pajamas. Even in coach.

First off, there’s security to go through. Metal jewelry, buttons, belts or trims must all be removed. Shoes have to be taken off regardless, so if you have a cute pair with metal ornamentation go ahead and wear them. A closed toe, slip-on shoe with thin socks are ideal, as it’s nice to have something in between that cold, dirty floor in the airport, or the dirty airplane carpet and your precious tootsies. Oh, and don’t try the BluFly.com nudey-cutie routine and just wear Louboutins – spike heels will rip the rubber rafts in an evacuation.  If that’s not enough, you’ll also be arrested.

Second, light colors are out. If the plane hits turbulence during beverage service, you will be wearing somebody’s coffee (perhaps your own). Eating your meal from a greasy paper bag also tends to be hazardous to the health of your finer woven fabrics.

Any extra details on your garment, especially buttons, zippers, or garments that tie or buckle in the back can be excruciatingly uncomfortable, as can any type of belt. Epaulettes and extra buttons can get caught in your luggage strap, and “ping”, they’re gone! (I arrived at my image consulting convention sans two buttons – not a good way to make a first impression).

Finally, hosiery is a bad idea unless you need to wear compression tights. Pantyhose can actually melt in a fire situation – not to mention being very easy to snag on carts and luggage.  Pants are easier anyway, especially when you have to pull luggage around, or if you’re like me, and fall down a lot. Even before cocktail time.

Happy Flying!

What Not to Wear to Disneyland. Ever.

 Amusement park chic. Difficult for even the coolest mom. First there’s the shoe situation. Since you’ll be walking a gazillion miles, toting a child (or possibly even a spouse by the end of the day), you may have to sacrifice fashion for comfort. But PLEASE, only a little bit.

Lesson Number 1: White tennis shoes, socks, and Capri’s are NOT a fashion statement. As a reminder – if the pant does not almost touch the ground, it should be worn with a sockless shoe.

Lesson Number 2: If you’re wearing your beautiful Italian leather-soled flats, they will probably get wet, stepped on, or otherwise destroyed. Same goes for that designer bag. And don’t even get me started on cloth or suede…Find a rugged leather or quick drying mesh shoe with a rubber sole – you’ll be thanking me, I promise. Get a fabulous Pedi to go with, and you’ll still feel cute.

Lesson Number 3: Cargo pants are good -- lots of pockets. Jeans take forever to dry. Sweats are for the gym, no matter how much you paid for them. And if you decide you won’t live through the day without them, please don’t be a double slug and wear the rhyming slipper-boot.

Lesson Number 4: Bring your own stylish hat and jacket for later. You are way too old for a “princess” sweatshirt.

Lesson Number 5: Yes, it is perfectly OK to snicker at the couple dressed to the nines – she in 4-inch stilettos and tight pencil skirt, he in a suit. They don’t know any better.

The "Jiffy-est" Steamer for Travel

My absolute favorite travel item is the Jiffy Esteam(r) travel steamer. A steamer works so much better than an iron on knits, and won't leave any weird lines on fabric. Besides, I have absolutely ruined a garment when rusty water ran out of the steam holes in a hotel iron - Yuck! I also have a full size steamer for home use, but my husband always grabs the Esteam. It gives out a really powerful volume of steam for being so small. There is also an optional voltage converter available. I also use it to stash my jewelry in -- I dry it out, let it cool down completely, then stash my good costume jewelry in it (in a zip lock bag). Probably not the first place someone would look for valuables... If you decide you can't live without one, use "IMAGE 092" in the promotion code to get free shipping.

White Luggage – A Stylish Traveler “Don’t”

I was looking through a fashion magazine the other day and saw a spread on white WHITE! luggage. Oh My Gosh, who's brilliant idea was that? Though I'm not the queen of practicality, I know enough to know that THAT is not a wise purchase. Can you imagine the scuff marks and generally crudiness of a white bag? You'd have to wear a bottle of Soft Scrub around your neck to keep it looking half-way decent. I find that you just can't beat good old black Cordura esque luggage for great wear and tear. I picked up some Delsey luggage at Macy's for a great price -- keep an eye out for their sales and coupons. I bought some neon-colored neoprene handle grips at LAX to help me distinguish my practical black cases from everyone else's. Yes, my luggage is kind of having a bad eighties moment, but as long as I don't bleach my hair, get a tan, and don Dolphin shorts, I guess I'll be OK.