IN BETWEEN

For those in need of soulfood, inspiration, a good giggle

Fire that muscle bound baggage handler!

Continuing on the ‘traveling with panache’ theme…10 simple steps to looking fabulous AND packing smart.

Does the idea of ‘packing light’ leave you fearing for your famed fashionista future? The thought of wearing an item twice in one month have you twitching with angst? The idea of stowing less than sixteen pairs of Louboutin completely ludicrous?

 Well stop reading now – but not before enlisting the services of a gorgeous muscle bound baggage (of the traveling suitcase variety) carrier for that next sojourn to exotic locales.

For the rest of you – here’s 10 simple steps to looking fabulous while packing smart.

1) Research and note destination weather conditions, the local terrain (e.g. hills, steps, cobblestones etc) sightseeing ops, evening gigs and the actual number of days involved (see post ‘Three Trip Tips’)

NOW…

20140119-183449.jpg2) Select an essential item (e.g. A favorite pair of jeans) and assemble a complete outfit to go with that item; from shoes and belt right the way through to accessories.

3) Lay the whole ensemble out and take a photograph of it.

4) Using the same item, create another complete ensemble and repeat step 3.

5) Once you’ve exhausted all options with that item, select another favorite item and repeat.

Getting pretty creative aren’t you? Honing those photographic skills too. And I bet you didn’t know you could create so many ‘looks’ with so few items?

NEXT…20140119-183544.jpg

6) Print a copy of each ensemble. For the technically savvy you may wish to upload your photos to ‘Stylebook’ a handly little wardrobe management app OR create a folder in your Evernote app titled ‘My Travel Look Book’ or ‘My Kick Ass Uber Cool Travel Wardrobe’ on your phone and/or tablet and store the photos there.

7) Now review your agenda and match a ‘look’ to each occasion. More ‘looks’ than occasions? Do NOT use ‘potential catastrophic global warming event’ as an excuse to throw a ‘Look’ you wouldn’t wear at least twice into the bag ok? Eliminate! Laundromats do exist.

20140119-183557.jpg8) Weather conditions a tad unpredictable? Combat wet and cold by adding a down filled weather resistant puffer jacket, the kind that is feather weight and squishes down to nothing; and waterproof those ballet flats. Deal with steamy tropical with an extra lightweight Sarong or two; they can perform double duty as head and arm coverups when trawling sacred temples and as towels and neck scarves. The truly bohemian creative would also wear as a dhoti (an all in one outfit).

9) Select lingerie (matching of course!) sets that are appropriate to each ensemble.

10) Now put all the items from each ‘Look’ together in a pile and your almost ready to pack.

Next week…how to get that lot into your suitcase with panache!

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The simple pleasures…

My Mum and I spent this Christmas together. Just the two of us. On Christmas morning she presented me with a small stocking filled with my childhood favorites, to which she had added a small bright red pot housing a plastic sunflower with a sweet smiling face, knowing full well I’m not one for such nick knacks.

Each morning Mum checked to ensure the flower was fulfilling her solar powered swaying duties on the balcony railing and reported in accordingly, a sheepish grin on her face for I know she was reading my mind…just another useless piece of clu20140105-111145.jpgtter, geez! And every day we sat on the balcony sipping tea, gossiping, laughing, debating and generally reveling in the precious time we had together as ‘Lizzie’ the benignly smiling sunflower looked on.

Farewelled Mum today and returned home with a heavy sadness for she lives so far away and visiting requires so much more than a packed lunch. There, swaying gaily on the balcony railing sat the smiling sunflower. I smiled right back for here was the essence of my Mum, right here in my home. A woman brilliant and capable and with the enviable ability to find the time to stop and enjoy the simple pleasure a little solar powered smiling flower can provide. Lizzie, by the way, just earned her permanent residency in my home. Oh dear!

Love you Mum.

 

 

Plight of the traveling chick…

My travel buddy packs for overseas holidays on the assumption that laundromats don’t exist. We once evicted 15 of the 50 shirts she’d stashed for a 6 week sojourn and she wore less than half the survivors. I recently toted a dearly beloved heavy pullover and a fur hooded puffer jacket across five steamy summer destinations for just one month of cooler climate. Are you as crazy?

Much goes into selecting our holiday wardrobe and, unless mounting a Mt Everest expedition or a Congo line through the Congo, packing is half the fun as we plan for every possible luxurious scenario. Phone calls back and forth, ‘I’m taking just nine pairs of shoes and my pet yak, what about you?’ We rejoice when we manage to squeeze the lid closed and heartily congratulate ourselves when our bag weighs in to a gram under airline maximum. But think about this…

20140202-201652.jpgHistoric townships and cliff clinging villages are gloriously atmospheric, culturally fascinating and ever so quaint; but they’re also a pain in the ass to negotiate with luggage. Cobble stones with gaps so large, small children disappear; slopes so steep they should be serviced with an inclinator…and then there’s the steps. Slippery, rocky steps. Subterranean train platform steps. Trains themselves with steps! Centuries old buildings with dodgy lifts…and stairwells…and flight upon flight of STEPS!

Lug luggage up and down said steps and across crooked cobbles and within moments your back and shoulders are aching as if you’ve just gone six rounds with Mike Tyson. Your face is red and your parched colorless lips are muttering profanities you didn’t even know you knew for your haunted panda eyes have just caught sight of yourself and you notice your hair has now morphed from chic to shite. Mournfully pondering the bag lady mess while studiously ignoring the steady stream of sweat (yes I know, I know, women are said to ‘glow’ or ‘perspire’ or something while horses sweat, but it’s bloody SWEAT ok?!) ruining your gorgeous silk as it makes it’s way down the length of your body and pools in your brand new Gucci loafers, you manage to gasp just two words as you finally fall into the foyer…Alcohol! STAT!

Seriously darling…the whole sordid look is so très, très uncool when swanning from one foreign country to the next sans muscle bound male or soirée of servants don’t you think?

But what’s a girl to do?

Well unless your planning a holiday on a sunny terrazzo overlooking a sparkling azure blue ocean where a bikini, sarong, gorgeous beach hat, slick of gloss and a fruity red cocktail are the only de rigueur; stay tuned for my next post. It’s sporting a bunch of handy hints on what NOT to do for I have the answer to those packing woes!

 

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