Tripping the Light Fantastic

photo the style bar 2011

Transeasonal travel is a peculiar animal. One the one hand you still need some kind of jacket, scarf and covered shoes to keep your extremities warm – but not too warm – but on the other you don’t want to find yourself sweltering in jumpers by day or shivering in sundresses by night.

When travel is added to the mix that’s when it really gets interesting. You can’t just throw in a few extra ‘in-case-of-emergency’ items because you simply don’t have the space, but at the same time you don’t want to rely on good weather to get by with a few light tops & the famous – yet highly optimistic – sundress & strappy sandals combination. After all, when the sun goes down you want to be shivering with delight at the company & surrounds, not because you haven’t brought enough to wear.

So as I strolled the European high streets recently (with enough buds on trees and sea air wafting by on the breeze to lull one into a completely false sense of spring security), I was quite pleased to see that my picks for spring started to form themselves quite nicely into exactly the sort of smart, stylish, practical yet fun capsule wardrobe that would be perfect for a weekend away.

photo the style bar 2012

Herewith my choices for the perfect spring overnight bag:

1. BRIGHTLY COLOURED AMERICANO – no, not a long black coffee (although that is actually what it’s called in Spain!) but Spanish fashion-speak for a single-breasted blazer. This old favourite has made a comeback this year in fun, look-at-me colours like red, turquoise, fuschia pink, white – even spots and pin-striped! Okay, and the ubiquitous black or navy for the colour or pattern-shy…

Travel-worthy because: A smart option for in-between temperatures and equally at home by day or night. And because it’s not bulky you can take it on and off with ease as the need dictates – stick it into your overhead locker en route to your destination or pop it on if it gets cool in the car/train/cabin. Then, once at your destination, you can sling it over your arm or the back of your chair as you walk around or enjoy an alfresco lunch, or pop it over your shoulders when you feel a chill in the air…

2. WEDGES – of course no wishlist of mine would be complete without a pair of new season wedges! But they are well and truly with us for the long-haul, and there are tons of options about in everything from pastel suedes to primary patents. For me, I am going for a raffia-trimmed slingback  in colour-blocked cream, navy and orangey-red.

Travel-worthy because: Totally comfortable, easy to slip on and off, and perfect for an afternoon spent walking about on cobblestoned streets or for strolling along the beachfront at sunset…

3. SOMETHING SPOTTY, FLORAL or STRIPED – to add some pop to your weekend outfit that will work for day or night, go for big or small polka-dots in a blouse, a striped tee or floral dress. Whatever works for your style and shape and colouring – but make it colourful!

Travel-worthy because: you are only away for a day or two so won’t get sick of something with a pattern, and this smartens up a plain blazer/pant or skirt combo nicely whilst boosting the spirits at the same time…

4. PENCIL SKIRT – Mad Men is back & these sexy babies from winter have luckily not gone away. Great for just about any shape, by day they work really well with flats or wedges, and at night you simply swap the more casual shoe option for a pair of pumps or high-heeled boots – smart and stylish!

Travel-worthy because: very smart & figure-flattering and the perfect ‘what-the-hell’ item – & just because you are away from home doesn’t mean you have to be sensible or casual! And surprisingly easy to mix & match…

5. METALLIC BANDOLERA – this is simply Spanish for a small shoulder bag with a strap that fits across your body. The new season metallics, python and croc prints and studded leather mean there is something out there for just about every taste and budget.

Travel-worthy because: not only stylish and compact but pretty much mugger-proof! And leaves your hands free for almost any short-break activity eg. rummaging through market stalls, balancing a drink and some cheese in each hand in a local bar or whilst wine-tasting, or should you decide to hit the dance floor at night!!

photo the style bar 2012

So there you have it – the perfect transeasonal travel capsule wardrobe. Add to this a few trusty basics – a plain tee, a singlet top, your favourite pair of jeans (coloured denim is HUGE this season too!) or denim skirt, a pair of ballet flats or lace-up sneakers (Bensimon-style) & a trusty scarf et voila!!! – baggage handler proof! Will all fit into carry-on or on your person or into the boot of the car…

Happy (travel) styling!

Rubi

Travelling Light

 

photo the style bar 2010

As regular readers of this blog will already know, I was completely without my suitcase for the duration of my recent visit to Paris. It was certainly a rude shock after many years of incident-free travel, but as a result I was unceremoniously reminded that no matter how light you mean to travel, it is of paramount importance that you keep in mind that your luggage may not arrive at the same time you do, if at all, leaving you travelling very light indeed.

And, just because the plane ride may be short, what you take on board with you is just as much for backup later on as for possible use during the flight. (Long distance travel veterans beware).

The other thing it illustrated was that, after spending valuable time beforehand planning and putting together outfits for lunches, dinners, museum visits and general strolling-about-Paris-in-the-springtime, if you don’t have these things, it actually need not make the experience any less enjoyable.

Of course, having your favourite things with you on your travels is always lots of fun and can be a source of great comfort as well. But it is also very liberating (in a scary, who am I without my objects kind of way) to discover that they are not all that define you. In fact, it becomes more about the challenge of seeing if you can make the best of the limited things you are left with and still feel comfortable with who you are.

photo the style bar 2010

So, as a result of my brief yet extremely instructive ‘ordeal’, in future not only will I travel with about a third of the clothes I took with me this time – 3 outfits in 4 days absolutely proved that not only is it possible, it can be enjoyable! – here are the top 10 things I won’t forget to put in my hand luggage next time, with items 1 to 5 being what I wish I had remembered, and 6 to 10 being what I was thankful that I had!

1. Spare underpants
2. Some super basic travel-sized toiletries & perfume (how on earth did I forget to include even a crappy travel toothbrush??)
3. T-shirt
4. Sneakers
5. Basic makeup – tinted moisturiser with SPF, mascara, blush
6. Sunglasses
7. Cardigan, scarf or shawl
8. Umbrella
9. Spectacles
10. Camera, laptop & chargers

So there you have it. They may not be the most exciting of items, but they will certainly save an emergency dash to the Monoprix 15 minutes before closing time should it ever happen again!!

Happy travel styling,

Rubi

10 Tips for Stylish Travel

This is the the tip of the iceberg of travel tips, but start with these and there will be more to come!

1. Bags within bags. Use the protective bags that you get when buying shoes and handbags for storage of small items (jewellery, hair, bottles of sunblock that won’t fit into your toiletries bag) and for protecting delicate items of clothing from the rest. Also great for dirty underwear and, of course, for shoes and bags!

2. Roll vs fold. If taking a soft case roll your clothes, if you have a hard case then fold clothes in the middle and roll things like socks and underwear so they can go down the hard-to-fill sides. This also stops things moving in transit.

3. Travel size skincare. The days of taking your cosmetics bag onboard are gone for good. Every time you visit your cosmetic or skincare counter, ask for samples of your favourite products or things that you want to try out. And collect free samples by being on mailing lists of Myer and DJs and your regular beauty product brands: they all constantly email offers for freebies on new products.

4. Non tourist look #1 – a handbag that fits across your body (and fits your camera on the inside). Especially good in Europe where most women young and old have adopted this method, keeping you safe from pickpockets and leaving your hands free for gelato…

5. Non tourist look #2 – go straight to the local Zara or equivalent and buy a tee or top in the latest season colour or style. You will instantly blend in with the crowd.

6. Know where you are going. Study the map before you leave the hotel in the morning – then you will step outside and know exactly where you are going – walking in a business-like manner/looking like you are in a hurry is great too – esp on the transport system- everyone will assume you are as frazzled as they are on your way to or from work.

7. Dress up a little. During the day – jacket, nice pants, comfortable but on-trend shoes. If you were going out for the day at home to shop, have some lunch or see an exhibition, you wouldn’t be wearing a baggy sweater, chinos and sneakers, now would you? This will take you nicely into the early evening if you decide to stop and have an aperitif and a bite on the way back to your hotel, as you won’t feel underdressed or scruffy in your daggy daywear.

8. Neckwear. A beautiful shawl or big scarf is the most versatile item you can take. On your lap in transit, around your shoulders when the air-conditioning is running riot, and thrown around your neck and held together with a fabulous brooch when stepping out for the evening in your adopted town.

9. Trench. A trench is an all-weather and almost all-season item – rain, wind or shine. If it is warm wear only a tee and jeans or a dress underneath, if it is cooler just add layers of wool (think cardigans, roll necks and v neck knits). It is the stylish alternative to the puffy anorak or windcheater with toggled ties (don’t get me started), and they roll up and squash down beautifully for packing. Polar fleece is NEVER an option.

10. A refillable water bottle with filter. This is a great way to save on constantly buying water everywhere you go, especially now that you can’t take your water through customs with you. Take it on board empty and fill it up when you need to. Brita have a great and affordable range including the new Mygreenbottle

For other tips on the packing process and must-have added extras you can refer to my ealier post Travel Unravelled

Travel Unravelled

A week in the country is an inviting prospect for most die-hard city dwellers no matter what the time of year. A chance to breathe some cleaner air, drive down open roads, stopping along the way wherever the mood takes you to sample the local fare. And ideally wherever you are going will have some expanse of water in the mix; a lake, river or ocean upon which to gaze at any time of the day or night from the deck of your temporary residence. Packing for such a trip, especially if there are nights in a another city as well as at your destination, does require a little more thought than for those blissful holidays involving little more than checking in and hitting the pool in a tropical locale, where your only pressing concern is what kind of aperitif you might require come sundown.

And by this I mean pieces that you can adapt to sitting in cars or walking around for extended periods, and then mix up for the evening’s entertainments. The country can often experience more extremes of temperature from day to night, meaning you can be sweltering during the day but find you need a jumper once the sun goes down over the distant horizon.

Location

If you are travelling somewhere for a festival or special event, as the style bar is doing next weekend for the MotoGP on Phillip Island (conveniently located just south of the fabulous wine region of the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria), where there will be long periods of sitting around in windy grandstands and walking around racetracks observing the fashions on the field as well as the many talents of the European racing fraternity, there is a greater need for comfortable yet versatile outfits. People do dress down outside of the city. Often just a notch or two, but what will work beautifully and look understated in the front bar of a inner city pub on a Friday night will look alarmingly flashy and quite possibly garish on the terrace of the local golf club. And so adaptability is key.

By all means you must still take what you are happy wearing right now, plus some old faithfuls that are classic, comfortable and go with everything (and do not require ironing!), but just remember to tone it down a little. A dressy top with jeans or simple tailored pants will work for a multitude of occasions, for example, with a cardi or shawl thrown over the top if the weather or dress code requires.

Trip Theme

A fun way I find to tackle all this is to pick a theme or, for shorter trips, a character that you want to be for the weekend/week. You can be a chic 60′s jetsetter in cropped cotton pants, neckscarves and cardigans draped off the shoulders if you are going to be travelling through wine country and getting in and out of your car umpteen times a day. Or you can channel your inner pinup in wedges, cute tees and jeans or dresses for a beach resort break.

This gives you a style of dressing that you can have in your mind when picking your clothing choices off the rack, and help in the all important packing question; “Does this go with at least two other items I am taking?”

What to Take

But the reality is that, apart from underwear and tops, you really do only need to take one of everything. I promise.

Black (or navy) and white are the best starting point for any trip and any outfit. A singlet top and a short or long sleeve tee in both these colours will go with everything and can be worn on their own and still look smart, as well as layering underneath other items. Then you can build your colours around these basic peices. One other colour is best with one more for highlighting, but they HAVE to go with each other and everything else you are taking.

Don’t take anything that you think you may need “just in case”. You will invariably only wear it once and probably only then because you feel guilty that you haven’t done so yet. A star piece is a different matter, as long as it can make up more than one outfit. After all, you don’t want to get bored with your sensible travel clothes only two days into the week long journey!

The same “two outfits plus” rule goes for shoes – the are too bulky and heavy to afford the luxury or your favourite strappy sandals unless they are versatile enough to wear day and night. And one pair of flat shoes is a sensible idea, but thankfully not a daggy prospect thanks to current trends (see my previous article Flat Out Fun on ballet flats for some ideas).

The Cull

The best way I find to test the mix and match theory once I have everything laid out is to divide all the outfits into day and night and do a check that you have a possible outfit option for each day and night of the trip. Things should overlap or that means you are not wearing anything more than once and you have too much! If two things do the same job remove one of them.

Essentials

Any fashion or travel editor worth their salt will tell you that a wool or silk shawl (or a combo of both) is an absolute must-have – it is a blanket, coat, scarf, windbreak, rug all in one tiny bundle – and a pillow too if needs be…

And to create a home away from home feel, take tealights, incense, travel candles and your favourite CDs along – and a cotton dressing gown as well and slippers if you have the room. (If not, thick socks will do nicely). These make for instant style and comfort in your temporary surroundings.

And lastly, on a green note, (and this applies especially if going overseas) be sure to pop a couple of green or calico shopping bags folded up at the bottom of your bag; not all places have recycling bags on offer (servos on the highway for eg) and if you are driving around picking up treats and pressies or even bottles of wine you don’t want to end up with an arsenal of plastic bags that you will only throw into the hotel bin.

And they can be used to carry home any gorgeous purchases you may make along the way that won’t fit into your suitcase…welcome to seasoned travelling!!

Rubi

Travel Teaser

“When preparing to travel, lay out all your clothes and all your money.

Then take half the clothes and twice the money.” Susan Heller 

Wise words indeed. But how is one to go about creating the ideal capsule travel wardrobe?

Be sure to stay tuned this weekend as the style bar’s resident travel guru Rubi de la Ropa explores the art of packing  as she prepares for a week in the countryside…