How to Dress Smart & Stylishly for Your Trip

I enjoy travelling and since meeting Tom, we’ve been very fortunate to have visited numerous destinations together.  In 2015 alone, we spent about four months out of town. In 2014, I travelled for about two and a half months, some of which involved flying around for trips that were less than a week long.  We take advantage of weekends and holidays to really maximize our travels.  I think we took at least one weekend trip every month and a few times we took four: Las Vegas, Rochester, New York City and Ottawa.  Is there such thing as serial travelling?  I feel like this is what it should be called.

This weekend Tom and I are taking a road trip to San Diego. Short trips are so amazing because it’s always a whirlwind of events.  Even if it isn’t our first time visiting a city, we’ll venture out to find new restaurants and territories we didn’t get the chance to visit previously. The first three things I think of when a trip is booked is the 1) Activities I’ll be doing (since this affects what I’ll pack), 2) Delicious food and 3)  Sites I’ll see.

When I pack, I always place all the things I plan to wear into the suitcase, but pull aside outfits I’ll wear in transit.  At home, I wear sleepwear and track pants, but when I go out, I want to still look like I’m dressing with a purpose.  While traveling between destinations, I’m still representing who I am.  At airports, I sometimes find myself meeting really interesting, intelligent people with cool stories.  These people can be seated by you waiting for a flight, next to you on the airplane, at the airport bar, or if you’re doing a road trip as I am, anywhere you stop for a bite, and the first impression I do not want to make is: I’m too lazy to care.  Wearing something nice doesn’t mean it has to be uncomfortable.  Usually the items I wear in transit work with pieces I can mix and match with in my bag.  Here are ways you can be smart, stylish and comfortable between destinations.

1) Athleisure

The athleisure trend is a combination of mixing sporty with casual chic. This usually means wearing really nice and stylish athletic pieces.  Some of these pieces would have beautiful cuts and patterns that you’d find in some of your own working wardrobe. I’ll admit that when this trend first came out, I was not quite ready to commit.  Lululemon, the trendy yoga brand, is a Canadian label that grew popular very quickly way before it went to the United States or anywhere else in the world, and when I was living in Toronto I was not willing to be one of those people who wore yoga pants to the office.  In the following few seasons, luxury brands and designer labels presented some beautiful jackets and  tailored athleisure ready-to-wear pieces now worthy of your wardrobe. These trends have even trickled down to affordable brands you’ll find at your local mall or at your favorite online retailers.  Kate Spade made a few athleisure pieces in a collaboration with Beyond Yoga here and even Chanel has been making sneakers!

2) Classic & Comfortable

Loose cardigans that go over classic tees and breathable pieces are great options, especially with some stretch because they won’t wrinkle and will allow you to move around comfortably even in compact spaces.  Sometimes it can be a challenge if you don’t want to wear trousers or jeans because you can feel constricted or kind of a squeeze at the stomach, so understandably it’s not ideal for long distances.  When I’m flying to a warm destination, I often wear well-tailored maxi dresses or long skirts.  They flow away from the body and still keep your legs warm in flight.  For colder destinations, I like wide leg or palazzo pants.

3)  Trendy in Cozy Cuts

When I was about 13 years old, I was a tomboy who got selected to go to sports camp. It was during that young awkward stage in my life where I had a short-lived crush on a boy started and felt a little more feminine.  This lace top and bomber jacket combo is a reminder of that time in my life. Bomber jackets, off-the-shoulder tops and lace are among some of the trendiest items this season.  I recently picked up this one for cooler days and chilly evenings.  It’s versatile because its design is simple and can be worn over many different pieces in my wardrobe.  For this road trip, I decided to pair it with a loose pair of jeans with some stretch.

Since this is a road trip and I’m not walking around an airport, I decided to wear the heels that I planned on mixing and matching with other outfits on this trip. Ultimately, I choose to dress  comfortable, yet stylish so that I can relax, unwind and stay warm in my seat for long periods of time.

I also love light, stylish pieces of luggage.  It took me forever to find one I fell in love with and this set by Diane von Furstenbery stole my heart.  I just had to buy the set.

How do you dress when you travel? What are your own favorite things to wear when you’re sitting for long periods of time in transit during road trips or flights?  I’d love to hear!

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Xo,

Miki

Outfit: Bomber Jacket from Coach.  I can’t seem to find it online anymore.  If I do, I’ll post it, but this is a similar one at Asos. Jeans & Heels (old) by ZARA. Diane von Furstenberg Adieu carry-on available here. Faye Bag by Chloè available here.

Photo credit to my one and only, Rise Again BJJ