En Route and in Style: How To Be Travel Chic

December 21, 2009

lv-city-guide
In the frenzy of packing for your holiday travels, the last thing on your mind may be the stylishness of the outfit you wear to the airport or train station. When you’re running late, hauling an overpacked suitcase, or managing delays and cancellations, you might consider looking coordinated and chic a lost cause.

We, however, propose that there are still good reasons to look travel chic even during this most stressful time of year. For one, the time you spend in an airport exposes you to a multitude of travelers from around the globe. It’s your chance to be a global ambassador of style – Kate Moss was discovered in an airport, after all. Second, your travel outfit may be the first outfit your loved ones see upon your arrival. The outfit you wear is the first statement you make about how your life has progressed since the last time you saw distant friends and family. Lastly, wearing your most stylish items onto the plane ensures you won’t lose them should your luggage never arrive at baggage claim.

The best part is that looking travel chic needn’t mean compromising comfort or practicality – which tend to be the two priorities when traveling long distances. By looking calm, cool, and coordinated, you encourage your mind to feel the same way. Below are some quick tips and recommendations for either men or women on clothing and accessories that can keep you looking your best, even when you’re stressed.

The Right Eyewear

When you’re jet-lagged and travel-weary, your eyes can be a window to your disgruntled soul. Yet, with the right eyewear, you can be left feeling more refreshed than red-eyed when you awake from your high altitude nap. Those who wear contact lenses should consider eyeglasses for long flights and train rides, to avoid dry eyes. We recommend a pair of Oliver Peoples‘ eyeglasses for their retro flair. Sunglasses are also useful, since they can cover up signs of weariness or double as an eye mask while napping. Try a pair of souped up Ray-Ban Wayfarers from Oak. Their iconic design will be internationally recognized, but these unique designs help to redefine the look.

The Right Jacket

You might feel the urge to play it safe and wear your puffiest, most weather resistant jacket at this time of year, especially when headed towards wintry destinations. Yet, once you’re on the plane feeling like a parade balloon, you may wish you had reconsidered. Be realistic and think about how much time you’ll actually be spending outside. If the majority of that time is comprised of walking between a cab and the airport entrance, a trim pea coat will suffice. A Burberry rain jacket is also a reliable style choice. It will provide you with the necessary protection against the elements, and, since it’s made of thin polyester, it’s easily stowed away once you’re indoors.

The Right Sweater

Since you’re opting for a lighter jacket, you’ll want the added warmth of a sweater. Layering is not only the current stylistic preference, but it also allows you to adjust to a variety of temperatures on the fly. Tri-blend and flecked sweaters are a hit at the moment. Cardigans, on the other hand, can be shed without disturbing your hairstyle or your eyeglasses. A simple, neutral-colored cardigan goes well with most outfits. Customize the look by bunching up the sleeves or buttoning and unbuttoning to your preference. Oversized cardigans can also double as mini-blankets as you get cozy in coach.

The Right Pants

While sweatpants have been documented as an increasingly accepted fashion trend, we would wait until the trend proves its staying power before we recommend wearing them outside your living quarters. Unless you’re truly dedicated to your favorite pair of jeans, it’s best to steer clear of denim as well, especially if its raw or form fitting. Travel space will be tight enough as it is. For a pair of pants that maximizes comfort without disregard for style, try American Apparel’s affordable travel pants. The name says it all. The pants come in subdued blue and gray tones, plus a jazzier red option, and at less than $70, they’re relatively wallet-friendly.

The Right Bag

The first rule with a carry-on bag is not to overstuff it. This requires a good deal of discipline in the packing stage, but it pays off in the end. Remember: a tech chic traveler is one that isn’t bogged down by heavy baggage. Your bag should not be bursting at the seems and, if necessary, you should be capable of carrying it with one hand. Upscale labels like Louis Vuitton and Givenchy make excellent weekend-style bags that provide enough space for just that – a weekend’s-worth of clothes and necessities. J. Crew also makes more affordable men’s and women’s travel bags and mini-suitcases that mimic the sophisticated look of higher end brands. When it comes to laptop bags, we prefer tighter fitting sleeves as opposed to laptop shoulder bags, which tend to be clunky.

The Right Shoes

This is arguably the trickiest category. When it comes to footwear, comfort and style are usually required to duke it out. For women this is especially true. Obviously, high heels can be problematic and could potentially slow you down. We recommend avoiding heels or keeping them reasonably low. Loafers (without socks) are the epitome of comfort and maintain a certain level of class, but might not be appropriate for harsh weather. If needed, go for boots. If you don’t have a broken-in pair, you can buy them vintage at stores like Stock in New York. Otherwise, women, try this guide to winter boots - from high to low and everything in between.

The Right Guides

Being travel chic isn’t all about appearance. It’s also about the kind of know-how that comes with being cultured and experienced. Of course, you can always turn to a little helpful cheating with the right travel guides. Louis Vuitton and Wallpaper* produce travel guides that are fashionable in both content and appearance. The Vuitton guides currently cover over a dozen major cities, while Wallpaper* covers 80. Both sets of guides cater to discerning travelers and offer a more subjective approach to travel guides by listing addresses that best capture the spirit of the destination cities, according to the editors. The guides also prioritize beauty – in both the locations they cover and their own design-conscious packaging.

Source:
“Wallpaper* City Guides” wallpaper.com;
“Louis Vuitton City Guides 2010″ luxuo.com.
Photo courtesy of:
luxuo.com.