Tips on Traveling Style

This bag was actually a pain to travel with. Go for a more malleable bag with a shoulder strap for comfort and ease.

[Tara Subkoff for Bebe blouse, Louis Vuitton handbag, American Apparel tights, Aldo wedge heels]

I've read a bunch of articles on traveling in style and I'm sure you all have too, so I'll keep this one an easy read.  Traveling in style requires walking a fine line between comfortable and fashionable.  Here are some tips to ensure your easygoing, head-turning traveling experience.


-Always wear makeup, even if you have an early flight.  Just because you might not run into anyone you know on your traveling excursion doesn't mean that is reason enough to slack off on your appearance.  You never know who you are going to run into or meet randomly, and you want to put your best face forward when you are going to be exposed to hundreds of travelers.


-Never wear sunglasses going through security or customs. It makes you an instant red-flag, and you will get searched every time.


-Wear shoes that are either a.) easy to slip off or b.) cover your feet and require you to wear socks.  You should choose which one is more important to you: going through the security checkpoint with ease (slipping your shoes off easily and quickly - i.e. flip flops) or protecting your feet from the dirty and disgusting carpeting that thousands of other people walk on every month - i.e. boots.  I personally am not completely grossed out by taking my shoes off and walking for a couple of feet, so I tend to go for the easy-off wedge heel for speed (glamorous me still prefers a comfortable 4-inch wedge, lol).  However, there is something to be said for wearing shoes that cover your entire foot on the plane, because I tend to get very cold on board.  I waver between the two depending on my mood.  Men- covered shoe with socks only please.  And I'd say no Uggs.  Save those for running errands on a rainy day.


-Again with my favorite: bring and wear a scarf!!  A scarf will be very helpful because you can take it on or off depending on which of many microclimates you have encountered (and you will), and you can also use it as a blanket on board so you don't have to use that nasty old felt thing provided by the airline.


-Don't forget to spritz on your perfume/cologne...it will provide a nice little fresh microhaven amongst the heards of smelly people you will encounter, and a pleasant surprise for your seat-mate on board.  It's the little things.


-Wear comfortable bottoms.  You are going to be cramped into that little seat for who knows how long; you want to be wearing pants, jeans or leggings that are going to give you adequate coverage from the seats of a million butts, but something that's not going to cut into you uncomfortably the entire flight either. My favorite are my lululemon wunder under leggings.  They are stretchy, warm and make my butt look fab.  However, the main goal is to keep your legs and butt covered up and not exposed to random disgusting public surfaces.


-Always bring a jacket.  You can always take it off if you're hot, but it's better to be prepared.


-Be generous with drinking a ton of water.  It combats the dry, pasty complexion you get as a result of persisting in that dry, recycled air.  I get goosebumps just imagining it. (shudder)   Also, be generous with the facial lotion that night after the flight, and a nice steam doesn't hurt either to set things straight.


-Consider not checking any bags, and if you absolutely must only check one piece of luggage.  Checking a bag forces you to a.) get to the airport at least an hour and a half before your flight b.) stand in line at the counter to give your bag over to them and c.) retrieve your bag from baggage claim after the flight.  This process adds about an additional 2 hours to your traveling agenda.  Only check if you really need to, and other than your main piece of luggage, keep it limited to one on-board personal item (including shopping bags of knick knacks, magazines, candy ect that you purchase at the airport - it should all fit your two bags...believe me it will make your life easier).  Also, keep in mind that each bag costs about $25 nowadays, unless you're flying Southwest.


- Check in at home.  This way, you can arrive at the airport an hour before your flight and whisk right through security on your own, without ever having to deal with that s l o w airline counter (seeing that you're referring to the previous post above).  Also, I always store the flight conformation number as an event in my smartphone's calendar so that I have easy access to all my reservation information, both going and returning, preventing me from searching my archived messages for the original flight conformation email.


-Last but not least: traveling in your pajamas with a pillow in-tow is the number one traveling crime that a woman can commit.  Never ever, ladies...no matter your age.  Terrible on multiple levels.


Happy travels!


xo,
Genevieve