STYLEnosh

DO YOU GO SHOPPING BEFORE YOU TAKE A TRIP?

Why do we spend hours of time running around town before we take off on vacation or for a weekend jaunt? Weeks before I'm due to travel, anywhere mind you, I have no need or desire to go to Target or run into the mall to see what may be lingering on the racks. But a couple of days ago, three days before my trip, I had a burning notion to buy a pair of Tory Burch flats. I did feature a pair of Tory Burch flats in my blog post on Monday but surely that action didn't send me into a must buy shoes now kind of frenzy. Or did it?

I wasn't able to find the pair I really want. Sold out everywhere. Really, people? However, I did find this pair of Guiseppe Zanotti ballet flats for under $100 at DSW. Now I'm trying to decide if I should keep them or just hold out for my Tory Burch Reva flats I really want.

 

 

 

I decided to venture out to a different DSW yesterday and I uncovered the shoe motherlode! I love these white flats with the gold embellishment. Made by Tahari, they were only $42!

Decisions, decisions.  Should I keep them both?

 

So, I can't be the only person who indulges in this kind of craziness. Do you find the need to shop for clothes or shoes BEFORE you take a trip? 

GRAB YOUR SMALL SUITCASE - HELLO LONG WEEKEND!

Please note the emphasis here is on a small suitcase. My goal is to encourage or maybe even cajole you into not overpacking. Again. 

Life is stuffed with things to do, people to call, and everyone's favorite, bills to pay. Wouldn't it be lovely to actually relax and enjoy your weekend away without spending half of it digging through your gynormous suitcase looking for something to wear? Yeah, I thought so. Here's an easy example of what to pack for a long weekend trip.

This small animal print bag holds a dress, a pair of shorts, 3 shirts, 2 camis, 1 bathing suit (just in case there's a pool party on the weekend agenda), a pair of pumps, a jacket, and a tiny beaded bag for a night out. I'd wear the jeans, floral top, and thong sandals as my travel outfit. And my tablet, journal, and pens can be stashed easily in the white hobo bag. The simple choices allow for mixing and matching the tops with the shorts and jeans without expending an inordinate amount of thinking. It is a long weekend for goodness sake. Spend it enjoying friends and family and the fresh air. Not rummaging through your suitcase.

 

 

 

TODAY SHOW VIDEO: LIGHT PACKING FOR VACATION

Planning a trip? Check out these tips from the Today Show and Shape magazine. You'll find ideas on bathing suits that slim the body and what to pack if you're only taking a carry-on bag.  Watch the clip and save yourself the irritation of over packing for your next trip.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

HOW TO DRESS FOR A CROWDED AIRPORT, THE WEATHER, AND THE TSA

Image: morguefile.com

Ah, the TSA. The most discussed acronym in the last week. People love to hate them. I recently flew out of Hartsfield Atlanta and I found the TSA to be thorough and rather polite.  I believe one of the keys to getting through the harried airport experience (especially during the holiday season) is to wear simple, comfy clothes. And while comfort is important, I don't think you should limit yourself to sweatpants or any other lounge around the house type of clothing. I usually go with jeans that aren't too tight and a soft t-shirt and jacket. Here are some other things I've noticed that can help make your airport travel much smoother.

Jewelry  Don't put on jewelry before you go through security. The security scanner always beeps when if I go through it with earrings on. Now I just put my accessories on (earrings, rings, bracelets, etc) once I get to the gate. No beeping. Life is good.

Wear hosiery  I often manage to wear shoes with no socks when I'm traveling. Which leaves me standing on the cold, dirty airport tile waiting to walk through security. Yes, it is gross. The last time I flew, I got smart. A simple solution is to purchase those little nylon footies. I grabbed a pair from Nordstrom Rack for $2.97. I slipped them on before I removed my shoes. And took them off after leaving security.

Wear simple shoes  I chuckle every time I see someone struggling in the airport security line with a lace-up boot or shoes with intricate buckles. The shoes are usually quite fashionable. But is it worth the hassle and angry looks from other travelers. No, I didn't think so. It's so much easier to wear slip on shoes when you're going through airport security.

Don't forget the little things  You'd be surprised how adding one thing to your outfit can totally tank your easy airport security experience. Especially something that may not be visible like a belt. If you wear a belt, you have to take it off before you go through the scanner. And if you don't remember to take it off, the machine starts beeping and you'll quickly find yourself going through the process all over again.  Also, try not to wear a jacket or sweater because you'll have to remove it too. I usually keep my jacket in my tote bag and whip it out later at the gate.

And that's how you get through security and manage to still look good while traveling.

If you have a travel tip for getting through the airport security line in a breeze, share it!

 

 

THE KEY TO PACKING LIGHT AND SMART

Many of you know my commitment to not over-packing. I love having various wardrobe options during my travels but I get so frustrated wading through a suitcase (or two) of stuff. Do you want to enjoy your trip or spend a third of it deciding what to wear on your trip? So it's one bag for me whenever possible and definitely when I'm flying. (I hate checking luggage.) And with baggage fees and strict weight restrictions, I'm extremely motivated to only pack one bag.

But can you pack everything you need for a week long trip in one carry-on bag? That, my dear, is the fashionable, travel question. I believe I have the answer. And you're not going to like it.

You have to start planning/packing in advance.

Not two days before your trip. Try seven. And since packing a week's worth of stuff in a carry-on bag is my greatest travel challenge ever, I started packing 14 days in advance. Yes, I do have a life. And it happens to involve the joy of packing. (Hmm...potential book title?)

Anyhoo, you want to be mindful of the other important tips for successfully traveling light. (If you forgot those important tips, here's a link to my previous travel post.) But giving yourself plenty of time to pack affords you the ability to try on potential outfits and really see if all of your pieces work well together. Taking the extra time to contemplate your clothes before your trip, will save you a ton of time on your trip.

Another trick I use is to write down what I think I may be doing on my travels and the corresponding outfit for each outing. Here's a peek at my current travel wardrobe chart. It's just some notes scribbled on a notepad but it helps me focus my thoughts and visually see my packing plan.

Is packing two weeks before a trip smart or obsessive? Am I a genius or a mad woman? You tell me.

YES, YOU CAN PACK LIGHT FOR YOUR NEXT TRIP

Most people just assume you have to pack a huge bag to ensure that you have every wardrobe possibility available on your trip. After everything is stuffed in the luggage, the notion that you just packed way too much stuff typically sets in. Especially if you're sharing a suitcase with your husband and there's no room in the bag for his stuff. Sound familiar?

I received a message earlier this week with this very dilemma. We'll call this person the Overpacked Wife. After Overpacked Wife realized that her attempt to pack light left her husband with nothing but the clothes on his back, she contacted me. Her question can be summed up as- you talk about packing light on your blog. I tried but it's not working. Way to call me out OW. I welcome the challenge. Now, let's make it work. (I'm channeling my inner Tim Gunn from Project Runway.)

Start with the purpose of the trip. If you have an event to attend, pick that outfit first. The trick is to select pieces that can do double duty. The easiest multi-purpose pieces are jeans, jackets, cardigans, and of course, shoes. For example, if you're wearing a dress for the event, add a cardigan, jacket, or shoes that can be worn with other outfits on the rest of your trip.

Factor in your other activities.  Will you be doing a lot of walking? Fancy dinners? Planning to workout? You can make it all work. Have cute, comfortable shoes for walking. And be sure not to take too many clothes for working out unless you know you're going to really be working out everyday. I usually pack a pair of shorts and two tops for fitness. I hand wash them after use and let them air dry so they're ready to go again for the next day.

Stop packing all of your shoes!  I know people who have a separate bag just for their shoes. You can't travel light with six pairs of shoes, people. I think the simplest solution I've ever heard concerning packing shoes for a trip, came from The Lucky Shopping Manual by the editors of Lucky magazine. I've said it before but I'll repeat it since I know many of you continue to balk at the suggestion. But only take three, that's 3, pairs of shoes on your next trip. I usually do flats, heels, and some athletic shoes. Plan all of your outfits around these shoes and you're luggage needs will be instantly minimized.

If you still need extra space, use space saver bags. These bags allow you to push out the excess air in the bag, reducing the size to a flat packed item. It can mean the difference between bringing an extra shirt or two. You can find them at the drug store, discount store (like Target or Wal-mart), or online. I prefer the ones that don't require a vacuum because they're a simple, no equipment necessary solution to getting more in your luggage, while using less space. Packing light, accomplished!

UPDATE: WHAT I'M WEARING - HIGH SCHOOL REUNION

I'm back from trip and my one piece of luggage proved to be all I needed for a fashionable yet functional weekend. Here are a few of the outfits I actually wore.

Hanging out with high school chums.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WHAT I'M WEARING - HIGH SCHOOL REUNION!

Have you been eagerly anticipating your high school reunion but have no idea what to wear? The goal is to look good. No, the goal is to open those old gymnasiam doors as the spotlight shines on you and enter the room to the sound of your adorning old school chums. (I know, I watch way too much tv.)

But we all want to look fabulous when we return to our hometowns and get together with people who used to mean so much to us 5, 10, 20 years ago. My 20-year reunion is this weekend (uh yeah, I know I look good for my age) and it got me thinking about what the heck I should wear. I'm flying home for four days and I need everything to be my own brand of quirky chic and it all needs to fit in one carry-on bag. Doesn't this challenge sound like immense fun!

What to Pack

I simplified this travel challenge by packing pieces that will fit into one bag. There's enough here for a four-day trip and more.

 Many Outfit Options

For the flight, comfy and chic.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To see more weekend travel looks, click below.

ANOTHER TRIP! BUT THIS ONE INVOLVES A CARRY-ON BAG AND ALL ITS RESTRICTIONS

Now I know why I drive everywhere. I love the control!!! I can take what I want and how much I want. Not that I indulge in over-packing. But the carry-on restrictions create a quite a dilemma for me because I hate checking my luggage. Waiting on your bag to shoot out from the top of the carousel and work its way around to you is definitely a challenge for the perpetually impatient. Not to mention the annoying dance of knocking other travelers out of the way while you wrestle your bag off of the aforementioned carousel. And this is why I prefer carrying my luggage with me. 

Anyhoo based on all of that, I have to admit that I haven't flown in over two years. Today I'm ending my moratorium on flying. I've been studying the TSA flight rules and the airline rules too. I think I got it down to a science! I'm ready for a smooth carry-on security screening process. Ah, yes it's possible. 

Here's what I've packed to make it all work:

After I got everything in my bag, I thought it felt a little too heavy. I decided to eliminate a few items when I got to work this morning. Two dresses, a thick bangle, and an awfully weighty necklace were not necessary for this trip. Notice there are only 3 pairs of shoes in the picture, which is one of packing guidelines I like to adhere to. Isn't it oddly comforting to travel light?

TRAVEL TIPS: 2-DAY TRIP = 1 SMALL BAG

If you've been following this blog for a while, you know I absolutely adore the challenge of packing as little as possible, but having everything you need to make your trip a wardrobe success.  Well, I'm taking a jaunt to Miami today and I'm applying that same rationale when it comes to packing for a short 2-day trip. 

This pic on the left shows my travel bag with all my clothes in it. And the other one shows the actual contents of the bag. 

I have everything covered that could possibly come up: partying, beach launching, shopping, brunch. There's an outfit in this bag for every potential activity. Note there are only 3 pairs shoes for the trip (two chunky heels and 1 thong sandal). I subscribe to the Lucky magazine philosophy of only packing 3 pairs of shoes for your trip, any trip. This rule ensures that all of the that all of the items you've packed are coordinated and work well together. 

While I like the challenge of getting all of these clothing options in one small bag, there's another reason for packing simple and light. I can spend my time enjoying my friends and my trip. Instead of taking half the morning muttering endlessly, "What am I going to wear today?"

 

SMART TRAVEL TIPS: PACKING FOR A LONG WEEKEND

Ah, a long weekend is definitely in order. Between boot camp and work, I'm due for a break. If you've been following this blog for a while, you are well aware of my commitment to packing lite. Not backpack light. I just don't like taking multiple bags and I absolutely despise checking luggage when I fly. I typically drive for my trips, which gives me a lot of flexibility. But I still work hard to keep my packing to one piece of luggage. Here's my packing plan for my upcoming 5-day trip.
                                                                                                                                  The break down looks like this:

• 1 pair of skinny jeans
• 3 pairs of shorts
  
  • white shorts (can be dressed up or down)
  • brown shorts (to wear when driving)
  • denim shorts
• 5 tank tops
• 4 shirts (incl. 2 tank tops that can be dressed up)
• 3 dresses (1 to dress up and 2 casual)
• 2 sweaters
• 1 scarf
• 1 pair of flats
• 1 pair of wedges
• 1 pair of kitten heels
• 1 pair of flat sandals   
• workout clothes
• 3 bathing suits
• 2 handbags
• a bunch of undies

And it all fits in this bag. Well except for the yellow handbag, which I will be carrying. But other than that, everything you see above is in this bag.

Do I need all of this stuff for 5 days? Of course not. But I believe in having options. I just like to have those options fit into 1 one piece of luggage instead of 4. Having too many choices usually causes you to spend too much time on your trip figuring out what to wear.

If you're looking for specific tips on how to pack smart for your next trip, check out this post I did a while back. It looks pretty generic but it has a lot of good tips to help you pack smart and enjoy your trip.

PREPARING FOR THE INAUGURATION

I was planning to attend the inauguration but alas, I decided that I would not be making the trip. I know many of you are forging ahead anyway to next week's festivities; so I thought I'd pass on a little information that I discovered about how to prepare for this phenomenal experience. 

The first bit of helpful info I happened to stumble on was this inauguration article at Jezebel.com. Megan, the author, so kindly points out those little important details that may not be on your mind when you planning what you'll be wearing when you're rubbing elbows with the Obamas. I'm sure everyone realizes that it will be cold, but have you thought much about the fact that you'll be doing a lot of walking and standing around? You may want to leave the heels in the hotel room. 

If you're among the very fortunate group of people who actually have tickets to the inauguration, note that there are several prohibited items that you should be aware of. These items include backpacks, strollers, and umbrellas so pack accordingly.

After careful consideration, I've decided that attending the inauguration is, gasp, not the time to be cute. I know, I've never said that before but this situation calls for a realistic approach. Temps are going to be in the 30s and there's just no way to be outside in that weather without being bundled up.

Overall, the point is to have fun and witness this profound moment in our history. Human history. Oh, and don't forget to tell us all about it. Enjoy!