Fresh & Fashionable in Flight

                      photo credit: Jeff Harris

Everyone is heading to Miami to ring in the New Year. The flurry of travel preparations inspired me to make a post on the essentials every beautiful girl should remember to pack. Taking a step further, some of you seem to need help on planning your airport outfit that is both chic and comfortable. I’m also hoping to answer some of the other related questions you emailed.

Most savvy jet-setters know to use simple black for cargo (I love Flight 001’s Salsa Cabin ) while your carry-on is more of a show piece. I have red ribbon tied to all the handles of my black suitcases (I rotate so they don’t get too beat up) so I can easily spot it.

Let’s outline the must-haves:

You want to look put-together and comfortable (read: not sweats, they are never appropriate for travel in my opinion. High-end yogawear does not count as sweats btw).

I prefer Lululemon Groove pants or Paige Blue Heights skinny jeans, a fitted Splendid tank, Vince or Paul Smith cashmere sweater and some variation of a scarf.

My carry-on bag is usually classic, leather in one of my main colors (black or brown like Moda‘s Borsone Ovale in Black ) and shoes tend to be flats: Delman, Tods, Chanel, Tory Burch or Ferragamo. Take your pick. You want to look polished boarding and departing the plane.

Most people opt for a cup of coffee, wrong choice. Flying is dehydrating for your body so the correct choice would be a mineral water or vitamin-rich smoothie that will keep you refreshed and hydrated.

I love the cashmere travel kit by White and Warren It has everything; the cashmere blanket, cashmere flats and select ones also come with a light-blocking eye mask. I like to tuck one of Talika’s Eye therapy masks underneath for an added pick-me up.

Moisturizer is another essential when flying and should be applied at least twice during your flight, if not more depending on the length of it. I have tried a lot of creams and my potion du jour is Carita‘s Perfect Cream which does everything for your skin from detox to revitalizing and nourishing it.

For my eye mask I love Phytomer‘s Smoothing and Reviving eye mask. You can put on a very thin layer and it sinks into the skin invisibly and best of all its so gentle it doesn’t need to be rinsed off. This is a tried and true product I also use after a night out and don’t want to wake up with bags.

To avoid chapped lips it always is and will always be: La Mer‘s Lip Balm that has a pleasant hint of peppermint and softens like no other. A great cheaper alternative is Sara Happ‘s Lip Slip.

Blackberry: if writing inspiration hits (as it has now, I’m blogging via bberry) I want to be able to save my ideas), listen to music, check the news, twitpic the hottness sitting a row over or even read a book. I cannot travel without this little biddie.
Towel: maybe I’m a germ-a-phobe but I almost never put my head on chairs unless I am at my place. Ditto with almost every other public surface. So I bring a thin towel to put on the area my head rests upon, I don’t care if they do change those little sheets or wipe down the leather seats in first class. Get one with a cushion so it looks like you’re going for comfort rather than displaying your ocd germ phobia).

• Never store anything in the compartment provided in the seat in front of you, it is the dirtiest place on an airplane besides the bathroom. Do not reach in.

• Check the lounges available in the airport you’ll be departing from to see what is offered.