How many times have you been through airports across the world and seen women, and men inappropriately dressed? Wearing uber high heels, extra tight denim, too short shorts and too low tanks? In addition to liquid restrictions, airports need to introduce cleavage restrictions. When we can measure the diameter of your nips through your top you need to be considered a security risk. That being said, I am always equally distressed by women who believe that its ok to travel in their husbands tracksuits. It absolutely is not! So how do you travel...and still look good?
The biggest style tip for travelling, in my book, is comfort. Flying is such a cumbersome business, rather like house cleaning. If it's done in the wrong attire it can lead to seriously hazardous levels of blood pressure, which we all know leads to crows feet, which is simply unacceptable if self induced. It always amuses me to see a woman with a four year old child is wearing four inch heels, and skinnies that are much too tight and much too low-waisted, dragging a 10kg carry-on around a busy airport, in the hope of having a pleasant airport shopping experience. And pity her as I might want to, it irks me...what could possess her to be so ambitious, bombastic even to believe she would NOT look a hot mess a the end of her journey? The only city to which it is permissible to fly to in heels is never never land.
Flat shoes, flat shoes, flat shoes. I can't stress it enough. Flat is comfortable, and comfortable is practical. And mind you when I say flat, I don't mean the really cute kitten heels which are almost flat, not the glassy loafers which are flat but pinch too tight. Flat and comfortable. The type you could do your housework in. This does not mean they need to look like the type of shoes you could do your house work in. A pair if clean white plimsolls or dark loafers, if paired with a pair of black leggings, a pale colored stretch tee and a dark boyfriend cardigan, together with a pair of flat studs, loosely pony-tailed hair and an infinity scarf can look darling...and its a getup almost designed for economy long haul. Its on trend, and comfy...it's accidental chic.
For the slightly more conservative traveler like myself...a pair of flexi-deck shoes, or driving loafers is perfect - flexible soles that say 'even a thousand feet above the fashion district, I'm still concerned about my grooming.' These can be paired with jeans, certainly not skinny ones because those are made for grinning and bearing. Rather, a loose, easy pair in a dark color, black or navy, paired with a light cardigan in a tone that matches your shoes, or hand bag. To take it up a notch on the chic-o-meter, throw on some pearl studs. Remember flat shoes, loose pants, a loose easy top and sweater. NB While I absolutely love them, I am yet to see crocs look cute on anyone above the age of 10. Frankly, I feel the same about Uggs in the summer.
When it comes to luggage, I'm most concerned with the handbag, the carry on and what's in it. I'm all for Longchamps but crucially their common Le Pliage is not compartmentalised which is an aboslute must! Any brand will do, but an airport hand bag should always be a slightly bigger tote or slouch bag. You need the room in there for your spray on rose water to hydrate, your lip and hand moisturizer, your toothbrush, your tube of mini toothpaste, your camera, your compact and all those other prissy little lady things. Like I mentioned it also needs to be compartmentalized so that your hand lotion doesn't leak onto your passport...and result in your being detained at JFK for travelling on a false travel document. Your passport should have its own leather wallet. Its truly worth the investment, it means you're not always fuddling in your Mary Poppins bag for it, and it doesn't eventually pop out with doggy ears and chocolate cookie stains. Kena Kai and Royce do some lovely colored leather travel wallets (even crocodile embossed, if you so prefer), and Tumi and Andrew Phillips do some plain economy black ones at different prices.
Carry ons. Oh dear...how do approach this without appearing to admonish the hundreds of women I see at airports with their monogrammed shoulder strap carry-ons? although I have been victim, in a past incarnation of both owning and carrying a monogrammed shoulder strap carry-on, I've always felt that with the amount of walking that's actually involved in flying, a wheeled trolley is always the more sensible bet...unless your soft beautiful leather LV Malletier contains only a sweater and a book. Otherwise, you end up with sore shoulders, in addition to the fatigue and jet-lag which takes an entire week of luxury spa therapy to repair (money that could be spent of a nice pair of Tod's driving shoes, see above). The usual brands, Delsey, Samsonite, Tumi, Victrinox...those will last years and years, and every classy traveler will recognize them, even without the loud monograms! For the more flash traveler, LV (preferably without the loud mongram), Bric's and Mandarina Duck and Hartmann. The point is...you can absolutely achieve style while travelling...but your primary concern should be comfort.
After all, that is one of the true secrets of style...fashion meeting comfort and utility. So, wise words from a wannabe fashion guru...wear flat shoes: avoid crows feet!
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