Come Fly With Me
A couple of weeks ago, Antler (Who you may know as the makers of awesome luggage) challenged me to create a stylish travel outfit to go with their Esme Small Shopper.
Now, as challenges go, this was a pretty tough one for me, because the fact is, I just don’t travel well. In ANY sense. I’ve always dreamt of being one of those elegant women who waft through the airport looking like they’re on a runway, but in my case, I tend to look more like I’ve just spent a few hours on the ACTUAL runway. As in, the one the planes take off from. Imagine what you’d look like after several hours out there in the wind and the rain, dodging all of the arriving and departing aircraft, and slowly becoming weak with hunger and exhaustion. THAT’S what I look like when I’m travelling.
The combination of getting up in the middle of the night to catch the flight, then sitting squashed in my seat for nine hours, surrounded by Others and in the grip of terror doesn’t exactly place me at the top of my game, style-wise, no it does not. With that said, however, I have developed a kind of travel “uniform” over the years, and I’ve attempted to recreate it here, albeit with a few subtle changes. I mean, I don’t generally put much effort into my hair or make-up for a flight, but no one needs to see me bare-faced and with dirty, ratty hair, so I cleaned up a bit for these photos. The outfit itself, however, is a pretty authentic version of what I wear to travel, and it consists of…
Stretchy trousers. Always stretchy trousers.
I find most airplanes to be absolutely freezing, which means skirts and dresses are totally out: it’s far too cold for bare legs, but I find tights uncomfortable at the best of times, so there’s no way I’m going to wear them for an already-uncomfortable flight. These trousers, though, are one of my favourite items of clothing ever. EVER. I wear them aaaaallll the damn time (I’m wearing them right now, as a matter of fact), and I love them because they’re so super-stretchy they’re basically as close to leggings as it gets, without actually BEING leggings. The stretch fabric also holds its shape FOREVER, so they don’t wrinkle, or sag at the knee, meaning that they finish the journey more or less the same way they started it. Unless I spill something on them mid-flight, obviously. Which, let’s face it, I probably will.
A stripey top
I don’t have a hard-and-fast rule about the top HAVING to have stripes on it, but… it does help. I have something of a stripe addiction, as some of you know, and when I’m not wearing a gigantic, pouffy skirt, I pretty much live in stripe, boat-neck tops and skinny black pants. This top is from Zara, and is one of approximately 500 such tops currently in my closet. I may need an intervention…
Flats. Gah.
I hate wearing flats, seriously. I have a long torso and short legs: heels help balance me out, but flats only emphasise the stumpiness, which is why you rarely see me wear them, and also why I spent a large part of my life striding through airports in stilettos. I actually still do it from time to time, but for the most part, I tend to choose flats, just in case I have to walk a mile to the terminal, or run to catch my flight. If it’s summer, I may wear wedges instead, but it was too cold for them this week, so flats it was!
A smart(ish) jacket
Because of the “always freezing on the plane” thing, I take a thick sweater (Don’t judge me, but it’s usually my ‘San Francisco tourist” hoodie…) to wear on the flight, but I prefer to wear some kind of jacket to the airport, just so I can feel at least vaguely pulled-together. (It’s also handy to have when I land, because I’m not just cold on the plane – I’m cold pretty much everywhere, and even if I’m flying somewhere hot, I’ll need something to protect me from the chill of the air con in restaurants and stores) If it’s warm out, it’ll normally be a jersey blazer of some description, but, again, it was too cold for that this week: this wool jacket wouldn’t be warm enough to spend hours outdoors in, but it did keep me warm enough to take a few photos.
As for what’s in the bag…
1. Passport, ticket, credit cards etc
I cheated a bit here by not including the actual items, but one of the things I really like about this bag is the fact that it comes with a little pouch inside, which clips onto the bag, so that when I go through my regular “OMG WHERE IS MY PASSPORT?” panic (roughly every ten minutes, then), I’ll be able to find it really quickly, without having to rummage through a giant bag, panicking all the while.
2. Earplugs
Because, The Others. ‘Nuff said.
3. iPhone
With earbuds, so I can listen to music if the earplugs don’t manage to drown out all the noise.
4. Kindle
I get through at least one novel on a long-haul flight… I’m a really nervous flier and can’t seem to concentrate on the movies they show, so reading is the only thing that will take my mind off the fact that I’m hurtling through the sky inside a tin can.
5. Miscellaneous make-up etc
This little bag comes with me everywhere and contains the products I like to have with me at all times: normally a lip balm and concealer, my contact lenses, some hair ties, plus things like painkillers and hand sanitiser (I’ve had so many flights which ended in me spending the first few days of my holiday with a streaming head cold that I’m now really anal about hygiene on planes, and in airports…). Oh, and lipstick, to be applied just before landing, so I can look semi-alive when I finally disembark. I can’t take too many liquids, obviously, due to the safety regulations, so these are just a few things that help me keep me looking/feeling alive).
6. Sunglasses
I forgot to include them in the photo, but I don’t leave the house without them, because my eyes are so light-sensitive they’ll be squinting and watering at the slightest hint of sunlight. I obviously don’t wear them on the plane, but I know I’ll need them the second I disembark, so they’re never far away!
Aaaaand that’s it: everything you never wanted to know about my travel habits. Now I just need a vacation, in order to put all of this into practice…
What do you wear to travel?
Amber McNaught (@foreveramber)
New blog post is up, featuring what I wear to travel in,and abag from @AntlerUK: http://t.co/5z6IwtPNqk #fbloggers #scottishbloggers #ootd
char
Well, I’m impressed because I didn’t know that Antler made anything other than actual suitcases. That bag is cute!
Amber
I actually didn’t either until they contacted me, but apparently they’ve been going through a re-brand, and have been increasing their range… I really love the bright pink colour – am so obsessed with pink right now!
@martinloves
@the__littleman Look what we’re doin! http://t.co/9F2S25UVat
Destiny
LOVE your travel outfit! (Actually, I love it as an outfit for everyday.) That is a perfect work uniform for me!
The first picture (black and white) is my favorite:)
Amber
Thank you 🙂 It’s actually pretty much what I wear when I’m NOT travelling too – a bit of an “everyday” uniform!
Alvina
Pants that sag at the knee!! What a scourge! Especially for a long torso+short legs shape that I also am. Time for me to invest in J Crew gear perhaps.
Amber
I know, I hate it when that happens! I totally swear by these ones, though: mine are quite old now, so I’m going to have to replace them soon, and I’m probably going to buy a few different colours, too. I REALLY hope they don’t ever stop making them, although, now I’d said I can’t live without them, they obviously will!
Erika
It is always so hard for me to decide what to wear when traveling. I like to wear the bulkier stuff that way I have more room in my suitcase. Sweaters and/or light jackets are always a must for me when traveling, and a good sized bag, like this one, is essential. I love the clip for the important stuff. I am always checking and rechecking, then can’t find my passport, ID, or whatever it is that I HAVE to have at all times.
Amber
Yeah, I sometimes wear jeans rather than trousers for the same reason – it saves space in the suitcase!
Colene from Aberdeen
This is perfect timing Amber! I’m flying to New Zealand on Friday for a month (return trip home for hubby), and I’ve already repacked about 6 times. I normally wear leggings but I had a DVT in my right calf in October so things are a little different this time! I have to wear oh-so-fetching compressions stockings so I’m opting for a maxi dress so that a) you can’t see them, but I can still adjust them easily and b) I can move my legs easily while staying cosy. That, a leather jacket, and hoodie in my bag should do the trick but I’ll still arrive at the other end looking like I actually flew to NZ strapped to the wing…
Amber
Ha, I totally relate to the “strapped to the wing” thing – I sometimes wonder why I even bother trying to dress nicely for a flight, because that’s how I always end up too! And I sympathise with the stockings… I used to wear them on flights too (purely out of paranoia), and would sit there struggling to get them on under jeans – I think a maxi dress sounds like a much better idea!
Anonymous
I looove this! Saw it on ASOS FF earlier! xxx
Harlow Darling
That jacket is amazing, I love how 60s it looks! My travelling uniform is also Brenton stripes and black pants, only I look nowhere near as glam as you! I haaaaaaaaaaaate flying so much (but love travelling and don’t really have an alternative to flying since I live in Australia) but damn it always makes me so sad when I see pictures of celebs like Miranda Kerr stepping off a flight looking so fresh and flawless – when I get off the plane looking like I just spent a night in a Guatemalan prison.
Katey
I love that your outfit is so classic and timeless to go with the bright pink modern bag – so stylish! I really love cropped jackets too – can’t wait for some proper spring weather to come again & wear them (surely Scotland is due some!).
Vanda-styl
Beautiful photos!
Secret little stars
I looooove this post! So fun! Loving the shopper too the whole look is so 60s casual glamour! Adore! 🙂
Secret little Stars
http://www.secretlittlestars.com
@AntlerUK
SPOTTED! Blogger Forever Amber has fallen head over heels for our Esme shopper bag. Find out why, here… http://t.co/BHfTn0xzoX…