I used to travel all. the. time… jetting off somewhere at least once a month. It was fun, and whenever I have a trip to look forward to I just feel happy. The airplane is one of my favorite places to sit down and really focus on getting work done and I truly just love flying. This past year I slowed down a little bit, but this Fall + Winter I actually have quite a few trips planned (Charleston, Portland, Miami, + LA!) I’m a tiny bit worried about how I’m going to manage it, but I always seem to find a way.
Today I wanted to share some travel tips + tricks… and fave luggage and travel style!
First, what to wear. My uniform is typically a comfy but still polished shift dress (I really love this polka dot shift dress from C.Wonder right now), a big comfy scarf that can double as a blanket on the plane (just got this one and l-o-v-e it), and slip on shoes. Always slip on shoes… I hate having to struggle with laces at security. I’m a big fan of Del Toro Slippers as they are super comfy and cute (and often come in cheeky designs like this emoji pair). Lastly, I don’t really know why (there’s no functional reason and there’s never anywhere to put it once your sitting down), but I like wearing a hat when I travel… so I’m almost always with my J.Crew Panama Hat (or a beanie or warmer felt hat if it’s winter)
And I always, always no matter what carry on. My ex drilled this into my head and it was annoying to have to streamline what I packed at first… but now I wouldn’t have it any other way! Ever! It saves time… and after a really long flight I just want to get where I’m going… no waiting around for my bags – it’s straight out of the terminal and into a cab for me.
Three of my favorite travel necessities:
- Stephanie Johnson’s ML Traveler Case (I’ve had one of these for 4 years now – I just got my second one as I’d pretty much destroyed my last one!) It is the perfect way to keep your makeup, toiletries, and any medicine safe + organized.
- Stephanie Johnson’s Jewelry Case. I love this thing, too…it keeps all of my baubles nice +organized.
- A charger converter. Most newer planes now have plugs for your devices (hooray – so helpful when I’m trying to work!) but you can never be too safe. It works in the car, too. (Along those lines, I’m never without my mophie case, either!)
Right now my preferred luggage is Tumi’s hard shell carry-on (I have this one too for longer trips as it fits more, but the hard case is just so much more polished looking). But my favorite thing in the world right now, travel-wise, is this satchel. It’s a serious game-changer. If you travel a lot, or need a good bag for your laptop, I strongly recommend considering this one. It has more pockets + compartments than you could ever dream of, is able to be monogrammed, and looks a lot like my favorite Fendi bag. So there’s that. Tumi has done a really beautiful job with their new women’s bags (the entire Sinclair collection, in particular)… I love the entire line.
(And I keep all my carry-on necessities in my Truffle clutch, natch!)
Shop the Post: C. Wonder Dress // J.Crew Panama Hat // Loro Piana Scarf // Del Toro Slippers (these are from the M’oticons collab, but there are more fun ones here) // Tumi Suitcase (c/o) // Tumi Satchel (c/o) // Tumi iPad Case (c/o) // Stephanie Johnson Toiletry Case (c/o) // Stephanie Johnson Jewelry Case (c/o)
photography by Lydia Hudgens.
i never check my bags either! even when i went to italy for two weeks — i was too nervous of losing my bags! i love stephanie johnson travel bags!! they are the best 🙂 xoxo jillian
I loathe checking bags! Love your travel style & those loafers!!!
Chelsea
Haute Child in the City
That perfect look for travel, I live in my J.Crew Panama hat, too!
xoxo
Cathy, your Poor Little It Girl
http://poorlittleitgirl.com
Your dress is gorgeous. Wow I would love to be able to jet around as much as you… how do you take so much holiday from work?! That’s my problem 🙁
Haha, I actually barely have any vacation time. I actually only have two weeks which is much less than most of my friends. I make it work by taking lots of weekend trips… usually I only take one or two days off at a time, if that… when I go to LA I’m just taking a red eye home, so that I don’t miss any work. 🙂
Perfect look! That would be so awesome to get to travel all the time 🙂
http://www.fashioncoma.com
Love this look! Especially those adorable shoes – comfy and perfect for travel.
I traveled with a carry on only for the first time this month and it was SO nice. I don’t think i’ll ever go back to checking luggage. Not to mention, it eliminates the worry of lost luggage!
Love this post, Grace! Such great advice from your ex that I’ll use going forward. Definitely going to purchase Tumi’s hard shell carry-on…HAPPY MONDAY 🙂
http://lovecompassionatelee.squarespace.com/
Love this outfit!
I need to learn your carry-on skills!! I’m always checking in and it’s a pain! I also need to know what you do with your hat once you’re in the plane. I bought a hat in Paris and I was dying to wear it on the flight but once I boarded, it just got in the way…
I love to travel! wish I could do it more often. the bag looks perfect for the plane and off to work!
Xo, Belen from A Hint of Life
Cute! You look so comfy and chic! I love polka dots 🙂
xo Lana
http://www.decadentdissonance.com
Love this whole look, and all these great tips! Just got some new luggage and it’s also amazing how much lighter and more spacious they used to be. Adore that dress on you!
LOVE that bag and the emoji flats Grace <3
xo,
Melissa
MissyOnMadison.com
I am totally a carry-on only person. I can’t be bothered with waiting for luggage, or worse, risking having it lost. I like everything where I can see it.
Kris | http://www.love-loft-life.com
What kind of work do you do that you get to travel so much? I think I am in the wrong field!
Chris
Hi Chris! My day job is in social media so doesn’t require a lot of travel… so most of the travel I do is personal or for my blog. I am just very strategic with my vacation time… I take a lot of weekend trips… four trips and only taking three days off of work 🙂
New luggage is on my Christmas list this year! Love that tumi carry on!
xo, Jen
http://www.comfortably-chic.com
Adorable. I love travel stuff. I need to try one of those truffle bags.
Would you ever do a post of helpful tips for social media/blogging, any tools or resources you use for someone who is just starting out?
I am way too much of an over-packer not to check my baggage. I went to Europe for the summer two years ago, and I think I am the only person in history who underpacked. I had to buy a ton of stuff while I was there and then leave things behind because I only had checked baggage! So now I am scarred.
I love to travel with hats too but find that there’s too much chance of them getting ruined.
I absolutely love this look though! Especially the emoji slippers.
🙂 Ashley
Those slippers are super cute! Can’t wait to see your post of LA!
I might have to get one of those tumi hard shells soon, especially for shorter trips – checking bags can be such a pain!
Your timing is impeccable! Leaving for a 10 day trip to your city in a few days and trying to downsize my bag. Do you have any favorite fabrics you like to travel in – cotton, denim, or anything in particular that’s more comfortable for cross-country plane rides?
You are just the cutest thing! I love that polka dot dress…what a perfect outfit for traveling!
I would LOVE to travel with one bag. How do you handle going through security with your lotions, gels, makeup, etc.. in your carry on? Thanks!
It’s not that bad! The clear case of the ML Traveler (the travel bag I linked to above) holds all my gels… I just buy travel size versions of all my fave products (Rahua Shampoo, Fekkai Glossing Cream, Tata Harper for face, and whatever body products — usually get ’em from my Birchbox) and am good to go!
This outfit is just too cute! Scarves make travelling so much better. Do you have any necessities for travelling in the cooler months? I have a slim wool coat that doubles as a blanket for long flights that I take with me everywhere!
You have a great style. yeah, you have the fashion but how could you do the fashion during travel?
Fashion is always around. Best you wear your clothes according to fashion during the season.