Sunday, September 27, 2009

Style Secrets: Leaving On a Jet Plane

“Anyone can look for fashion in a boutique or history in a museum. The creative explorer looks for history in a hardware store and fashion in an airport.”
Robert Wieder
I always plan ahead. There has never been a single time when I have found myself left without a bottle of shampoo, devoid of deodorant, or missing my coveted mascara. I’m not that kind of girl. I’m a worrier by nature, kittens. I can’t say that it’s a wonderful trait, but it is one that courses through every vein in my body at the speed of light twenty-four/seven, and there’s truly nothing I can do about it; aside from embrace it, of course.

It’s not so bad, I suppose. I am always the one with an extra tube of lip gloss when an unexpected kiss is on the horizon; and I simply can’t forget the way everyone looks to me when they need a tissue or a dab of hand-sanitizer. I guess you could call it an honor to be someone who always plans ahead. You could, however, also refer to planning ahead as a lifesaver – especially when you’re leaving on a jet plane.

No mes chéris, despite the fact that the holidays are right around the corner (as is my birthday) I have no plans (thus far) on boarding a flight to some exotic locale to soak up my sultry, and stylish surroundings. The truth of the matter is that, as of now, I have one plan and one plan only…to loll around locally. You, on the other hand, may have something much more exciting up your sleeve – something that requires a trip via plane; and, as such, I refuse to allow you to board anything until you are properly prepared. You will not step foot in that airport, or on that plane until you are well-versed in the musts and the must-nots of what you should be draped in, carrying, and dragging about with you. After all, you’re leaving on a jet plane, darlings, and must do so in effortless style.


Agreeable Attire

Le Top I love them just as much if not more than the next girl; but let’s be honest here, there’s no need to wear a fitted top that will cling to your every curve if you’re destined to be sitting for countless hours at a time. For these particular moments, do the right thing and wear something loose and flowy about your upper half that will make you feel feminine, dainty, and anything but self-conscious about your imagined love handles or various other nonexistent imperfections. Three styles I strongly recommend for a comfortable plane ride are:

V-Necks – I virtually swear by Mossimo Supply Co.’s Pocket V-Neck Tee. It’s lightweight, inexpensive, and available in a multitude of colors. If you want a more fitted look, buy your regular size; if you want a slouchier style buy larger – either way looks amazing.
Off the Shoulder Tees – The thought of wearing an off the shoulder tee on a flight can be daunting considering the fact that airplanes are often chilly, but Alloy’s Off-Shoulder Tee will make you change your mind. I wear them all the time, and recommend them to everyone. When worn, you expel this very rumpled, effortless glamour, and if your shoulder should get cold, you have the option of sliding the sleeve up to cover the exposed skin.
Boyfriend Tees – Be thankful for the fact that nothing says seductive like a girl dressed in a plaid button-down that is slightly boxy and brawny, and looks like something she snuck from her boyfriend’s dresser. I favor BDG’s Plaid Boyfriend Buttondown. While the cut is masculine, the colors – purple, salmon, pale yellow – are extremely dainty and feminine, which add a definite girly bounce to your step!

The Legs Listen to me when I say this, loves…you do not have to wear sweatpants to stay comfortable while seated; and please don’t. The key to comfort is wearing something that is stretchy, yet sassy. I am a jeans girl all the way; my closet is full of them. But, seeing as how denim may not necessarily be the most comfortable legwear for a long flight, I suggest perusing the next best thing…jeggings or leggings. Levi’s Capital E Legging Jeans are my favorite due to the fact that they look identical to a pair of dark-wash skinnies, with the exception that they are, to be sure, leggings. Unfortunately, they run a little high price-wise; thus, the next best thing is to find a more affordable pair of jeggings, like mark’s Blue Jean Denim Leggings, or simply toss a long top over an inexpensive pair of standard leggings so you retain comfort while still maintaining a polished look that you feel confident in.

Les Chaussures Heels are great for the three E’s: elevation, elegance, and elongation. That said; they are horribly disagreeable for flights. You do not lounge around your house in sky-high stilettos, so don’t do so on travel days, when you know you’ll be dragging luggage through terminals and taxis before you reach your journey’s end. It is essential to keep your tootsies in a state of beatific bliss from the moment you get on the plane, until you descend from it; therefore, I enlist the assistance of boots to keep my feet satisfied while soaring. Not all boots make the cut, however; you must find one that is comfortable while remaining cute. I recommend tall, flat boots in neutral colors with a wide shaft that easily pull on and off. When flying I avoid boots with zippers, ties, buckles, and all similar matter – this often interferes with the ease of removing your shoes, should your feet get hot. Most versatile in my book are equestrian styles, like Urban Outfitters’ Equestrian Rainboot; and pieces crafted of suede, like Gabriella Rocha’s Bree 2 – they move with your form without discomfort and always add an air of sophistication to your look.

The Cover-Up There are two sides to every story, darlings; the same goes for cover-ups. In my eyes, you have a duo of choices here, either go for charming and cuddly with a cardigan, or brisk and blasé with a blazer. I myself prefer the former. To me, there’s nothing better than the feel of a cardigan wrapped around my body – it provides a snuggly, secure warmth that acts as a blanket while keeping my style celestial, ethereal, and effortless. Silence & Noise’s Stitch Detail Cocoon Cardigan is my sweater crush du jour courtesy of the way in which it falls in a fluttery motion about the body. If you’re looking to top your ensemble with something slightly more posh, you cannot go wrong with a blazer. Cropped, boyfriend, double-breasted, pleated, open front…any and all styles keep you fresh, refined, and looking like a million bucks – case in point, Elizabeth and James’ James Blazer.

Le Cou Aside from jewelry, scarves are the next best accessory. They have the ability to add a fresh pop of life to your ensemble when slung haphazardly about your shoulders or wrapped cozily about your throat; thus, do not allow your neck to be seen without one at the airport. As of late I am utterly obsessed with tube scarves, and have my eye on the taupe Thick Knit Eternity Scarf from Bop Basics. If, my sweets, you happen to be looking for something a little more glamorous, colorful, or lengthy, my sweets, I must advise you to turn to YARNZ, Twinkle, Sir Alistair Rai, or Love Quotes – designers whose neck accoutrements quite simply make me weak in the knees.


Large and In Charge

When it comes to your carry-on mes bien-aimés, there is one rule and one rule only that you need to adhere to – bigger is better. You don’t want to have to hang onto a handbag, a carry-on, and a suitcase (which I hope against all hope you don’t check at the baggage claim); thus, look for a bag that is sturdy, smart, and, above all else, big enough to hold the entire contents of your handbag, in addition to your other in-flight must-haves. You are already aware of my adoration of One Language Label’s Haute Bag, so I won’t bore you with babble about how divine it is; all you need to know is that, when shopping for a carry-on, use this particular piece as a guide for finding perfection, as it embodies all of the qualities that a carry-on should harbor (ideal size; pockets for all of your miscellaneous items; and proper closure to keep your prized possessions safe), without losing a single trace of it’s fashion-forward finesse! If, however, you're looking for something with a kick of color, you can never go wrong with a LeSportsac - I'm partial to their Pumpkin Erika Tote myself.

“I never travel without my diary. One should always have something sensational to read in the train.”
Oscar Wilde

Excess Baggage

One thing we must keep in mind dearests, is the fact that once the plane takes off, we will have no more chances to compile the bits and pieces that will amuse us until the seemingly endless flight is over; therefore, one of the most important things about travel is loading your carry-on with everything that you could possibly need (within reason, of course) so that it is at your fingertips at a moment’s notice.

Ballerinas Despite the fact that your feet are strapped into a pair of swanky boots that are pleasantly comfy, it’s hard to resist the lure of wanting to slip them off and stretch your cramped toes after a few hours of being stuffed into such a style. The best idea is to stick a pair of ballerina flats or slippers into your carry on; doing so, however, is destined to take up tons of space, which you really can’t afford to lose. My solution? Citisoles. I worship these ballerina flats, as they literally fold up to the size of a pack of Kleenex, and are as comfortable as actual slippers. For $19.99 you can buy a pair; but I advise to pay $24.99, as the extra $5 provides you with a Carrying Case which protects your new best friend in the same fashion that your wallet shields your beloved AmEx from harm.

La Littérature I adore perusing the pages of ELLE or Vogue while traveling as much as the next fashion savvy girl; but there’s something about long flights that make me eager to live vicariously through a fun and flippant character, if only to pass the time more quickly. Short story collections, such as Sloane Crosley’s I Was Told There’d Be Cake, and novellas like Anita Loos’ Gentlemen Prefer Blondes – and – But Gentlemen Marry Brunettes are at the top of my list for the sheer fact that they are riotously funny, slim in size so they won’t weigh your bag down, and easy to get lost in.

The Eyes Do rock your Retrosun Vintage Christian Dior Sunglasses, make waves in your Marc by Marc Jacobs Logo Aviators, and turn heads while donning Tom Ford’s Anais when taking the terminal by storm, mon doux. Once on board, however, you may still long to cover up your peepers. The truth is, you could go the celebrity route, and wear your sunnies for the entirety of the flight, or you could use a sleep mask. I prefer the latter, especially when I’m trying to relax and dream about my travel plans. A favorite of mine is the Holly GoNightly Sleep Mask from Fred Flare, because every girl deserves to have a Breakfast At Tiffany’s moment at some point in her life. Why not now?

If Looks Could Kill Darlings you could be on the planet Mars, and I would still be advising you of this…do not allow the plane to leave the ground unless you have your cosmétique in your carry-on; after all, you never know when a handsome stranger will take up residence right next to you, and you want to look your best! As expected, you should have all the usual suspects at arm’s length – lip gloss, concealer, mascara, eyeliner, a comb, and a compact mirror. Seeing as how a flight is synonymous with an overnighter at a friend’s house, it is crucial to have tissues, hand-sanitizer, lotion, un petit bottle of perfume, and, one of my BFF’s, oil-blotting papers. I literally bow down to Too Faced’s Re-Fresh Oil Blotting Papers. They remove shine without removing your makeup and make your skin look undoubtedly dewy and sparkling!

For Your Listening Pleasure I can’t simply leave you without proper music to listen to while flying, dolls. The truth of the matter is, at the end of the day, every moment in life deserves a soundtrack; hence the reason why all of the playlists I create revolve around one particular subject – in this case, travel. When your eyes get tired from reading, pull out your iPod (you should never go anywhere without it), slip on your sleep mask, and drift off to dreamland to the sound of these wandering-man diddies:

Leaving On a Jet Plane - Plain White Ts
West Coast - Coconut Records
New York, I Love You But You’re Bringing Me Down - LCD Soundsystem
Tiny Dancer – Elton John
Breakdown – Jack Johnson
Portland Is Leaving - Rocky Votolato
The World At Large - Modest Mouse
Transatlanticism - Death Cab for Cutie
Another Travelin’ Song - Bright Eyes
Amsterdam - Peter Bjorn and John


“There’s no one-size-fits-all for luggage because it all depends on the trip. Just like there are differences in travel experiences, there should be differences in your gear.”
Rick Schlesinger


What are you doing next? Why, you’re leaving on a jet plane, of course. Have a safe trip, kittens!


Fashionably yours!


Thanks to Yatzer, Just Jared, Stylepill, One Language Label, Miss Pink Slip, and Yugatech for the pictures.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...