Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Travel Well




After many many many years of travelling everywhere,
& I don't mean business travel at all,
I've finally discovered that I don't need
nearly as much as I am compelled to pack. 
You know...dressed to go ANYWHERE ANYTIME !  
 I now have all this down to a refined science.

One of the best ideas I can pass on is so simple...
years of retail experience with giant heavy-duty rolling
garment racks made this obvious to me...

get a garment rack from Target, etc., set it up
somewhere near your closet and start putting clothes, shoes,
hosiery/socks, underwear, pj's,
handbags, jewelry, makeup, hair stuff on it and/or under it
before you pack anything.


It's a necessity to pare down because there are no porters
to be found, and schepping my own luggage is
extremely difficult, one cannot take a train with
stacks of luggage you must haul around.
Life is different today...and there is no such thing
as a "maiden in distress."

Perfect Pieces of Luggage
are a necessity, they must be lightweight,
last forever, have wheels and NOT make a
statement...see below

a giant bucket/hobo which holds everything
you need on the flight & travelling
doesn't have to be a big name designer bag,
but a purposeful bag which goes
with anything you wear, a leather bag
...except for evening.


  • Positano Luggage

I pack only black, white and a pop of ONE color
to give it snap.
I used to pack 20 pairs of shoes to visit NYC in
the 80's. All the girlfriends would go to see
a few shows, enjoy good restaurants, bar scenes
and nice men who wanted to entertain us.
Let's face it, 4 Texas blondes could get a whole
lot of attention, and OMG we just HAD to change clothes
3-4 times a day.
Then, it seemed OK to have all that "material girl"
sumptuousness & excess.
Venetzia Grande Doctor Bag
classic, beautiful, perfect


Today, not the case, even if we were 20 years younger.



One final thought which only comes from experience.
A simple T-Shirt:  Black doesn't stay black if you buy it from Target.
This is the reason you buy Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein,
Escada & so on...their black stays BLACK when it gets washed.
Don't try to save money on basics.  Because they are
basic they need to last a very long time and still look
perfect each time.  Trust me on this and take my experience
in luxury retail as advice which is 24K gold.

Buy a silk chiffon scarf, shaped like a long wrap, to put it on you
shoulders, to wrap around your head, put around your
neck under your blazer. 



I would never skimp on scarfs because of their versatility
& the pizazz they add to something simple &
they take up so little room in luggage.
I can't even get into jewelry because this is one
of the areas I am excessive.  Each of us knows
our own style, so suffice it to say, I'll allow
you your own.  With me, more is more.  I can handle
big jewelry, lots of strands of necklaces, bracelets piled on,
awesome earrings X10.
What I will say though is this...
your jewelry should make your outfit into
3-4 different outfits.

I wouldn't dream
of checking my jewelry, neither would I wear any
of it before I clear security...it just stays in the big
handbag & when I'm seated I put on what I will wear for
my arrival to my exotic, simple, lovely destination.

I'm totally into vacation holidays right now, so my
proposed closet posts might have to wait.

  •  
does anyone have some splendid ideas on luggage & packing???
xxooxx's





8 comments:

  1. Great tips! I always travel with a big scarf and often 2 that I use as blankets on planes or when I need extra warmth. And luggage MUST be lightweight. Also, so true about buying quality black clothes. Nothing's worse than faded black.
    xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi Marsha,
    A few years back I learned to roll my clothing to help avoid wrinkles and to assist in getting more in the suitcase. Like this technique.
    May you have a sweet week and Happy St. Patty's Day,
    d

    ReplyDelete
  3. Bonjour Marsha,
    You do have the travel routine down to a science. Lightweight is key, I never check luggage, except once when I was in the midst of a move to Paris so that dosen't count. A good scarf is the best.
    A bientôt,
    Mimi

    ReplyDelete
  4. Marsha,

    The collage is very cool, girl! Luv that!

    I could use a personal shopper prior to a trip - or hey, girls, we could just call Marsha and have her put together an online outfit avant her gorgeous jewelry!

    Juls Tip: Always bring some sexy lingerie, coz ya just never know!

    {xoxoxoxo}

    Juls~

    ReplyDelete
  5. Merci, ladies for the additional comments & suggestions on vital things to pack. xx's Marsha

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thanks for all the great advice - you are right on! Also, so true about not skimping on the basics:) Hope you have a Happy St. Patty's Day.
    Stephanie

    ReplyDelete
  7. Marsha you are such a wise and well-traveled woman. I had to chuckle with the demise, of the damsel in distress. If that is not the truth, but alas I feel like it's the backlash of us ladies wanting to be equals. Oh well, I much rather help myself but it "ain't" easy! Your tips were greatly appreciated and I think vacations for us all. Hugs to you my friend, hoping you are well? xx

    ReplyDelete
  8. Oooh, wise words all of them! I needed this right now, too, as I am in process of preparing to take everything I need for three weeks in France into a carry on. Yes, one carry on (plus my.. ahem..rather large "purse", which is big enough to hold my laptop, makeup bags and a change of underwear!

    I have lost too many checked bags. I have waited too many hours for bags to show up. I have broken my back hauling gigundo bags onto trains in France, and in and out of the tiny cars...NO MORE!

    Great post!!

    K

    PS I always take black cashmere DKNY cozy whenever I fly anywhere, I wear it on the plane, it makes me feel so comfy and I always end up using it, even in the summer...

    ReplyDelete


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