Travel Style: My Trusty Essentials

Packing and unpacking is by far the most unpleasant aspect of taking a trip (well, that and eating instant noodles for a month in order to pay off the credit card debt for all those spontaneously bad purchases along the way). Anyway, I don’t know about you guys but I really hate coordinating colors, making sure to bring the right pair of shoes for every kind of bottom and having the perfect outfit for every unexpected scenario. This is probably why I always look like a) I got dressed in the dark; b) I need to do laundry; c) a convict that escaped from the fashion po-po, bloop bloop*

 

Anyhow, after going on a range of cities varying in temperature, religious customs and hipster trends, I have found 6 key items that are highly adaptable for almost any situation:

 

WEEKEND DUFFLE: I hardly have the patience to wait for my hair to dry, lest wait for the conveyer belt to swing around my luggage amongst throngs of suitcases and battered up boxes. That’s why I try to travel with my weekend duffle whenever possible. I spotted this stylishly utilitarian duffle, which is both durable and easy to color-coordinate. Joshua + Vela / Tan Wax Duffle.

 

SMOOTH AS A BABY’S BOTTOM COVERED IN VASELINE: I appreciate beautifully-crafted leather bags, but I’d prefer they not be made from my face. Need I say more? My favorite protection is Lancome’s UV EXPERT GN-SHIELD BB Base SPF 50 but it’s hard to come by in the States. Instead, check out Allure’s 8 Best Multitasking BB Creams.

 

SHAWL / SCARF / INVISIBILITY CLOAK: Traveling across Buddhist, Muslim territories and fluctuating temperatures, I’ve come to depend on my trusty shawl turned sarong, longyi, head scarf. It also comes in handy when you need to disappear after asking for ketchup with your fries in Paris. Some of my favorites are from Leigh & Luca Scarves.

 

SHADY SHADES: My coworker commented on how I trek the world “in the same pair of sunglasses”, which actually inspired this entire post btw, and heck — what’s wrong with that? I’ve had these shades for over 3 years and they are myyyyy precious… Oliver Peoples Aviators.

 

EARMUFFS: Nothing is worse than getting seated next to the engine on a long-haul flight. Well, except maybe getting seated next to a crying baby with a throbbing toothache and the lungs of Michael Phelps, next to the engine of a plane on a long-haul flight. These gloriously cushioned Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones are as soft as clouds and as silent as… nothing.

 

TRUSTY FLATS: Having a versatile and somewhat stylish pair of flats is a must if you plan on hiking up a volcano, trekking the city and having dinner with Leonardo DiCaprio (OK, that last one is just a recurring dream I keep having). These ones are just lovely: J.Crew Colorblock T-bar Sandals.

 

A few examples of my fashion crimes: