Looks 1 - 7

It always starts with a bag. Another bag, then shoes. And the rest of my travel wardrobe follows rather easily. I pick things that can be versatile enough on the road to accommodate the predictably unpredictable weather mishaps, impromptu dinner parties, last minute business meetings, and off-road weekends. You’d think I’d need 3 bags and 10 pairs of shoes for 5 weeks on the road, but my rule of thumb limits me to 2 bags (one big, one small) and 4 pairs of shoes (flats, heels, sneakers, and boots). A pair of flip flops doesn’t count because that’s always pre-packed in my suitcase–you never know when you might go swimming.  Wait a minute, back up there missy, you say. Don’t try to distract me with all those numbers…aren’t there actually 3 bags in that first pic? Oh! Did I forget to say along with the flip flops my luggage also always comes with a workhorse bag? You know, a bag that can take all the abuse on the road.

The colors of the shoes and clothes generally revolve around the 2, ahem, 3 bags selected. In general, black is my travel uniform of choice but sometimes the location is so exotic I have these vignettes in my head that dictate more colorful or, worse, simply impractical outfits. Most of the time the latter never makes it out of the hotel room because, for example, the rendezvous with James Bond in Mumbai to exchange highly sensitive information to save the world scenario requiring me to pack my Le Smoking jacket never actually materializes. Imagine that! But alas, the tuxedo jacket is the suitcase. But what’s a girl to do? Half of the thrill of fashion is in the fantasies in our heads when we are in our closets…no? 

I will begin this trip overseas with a tough series of flights over the next couple of days, and during the first part of my travel I will be somewhat unplugged. I’m doubtful that I will have much access to the internet so what I’d like to do in this long post is to lay out 7 looks. Then once I’m back online from the road, we’ll see how it all works out in real life, in the actual setting. Outfits in the wild. I’m sure I’ll have to change things up once I hit the ground but for now, these are looks floating around in my head as I pack. Sounds good?

So anyway, as you review these looks, I’m probably somewhere in the skies daydreaming about navigating the narrow alleys of a spice market labyrinth in my favorite Missoni caftan.

Look 1. Jean Paul Gaultier geometric top, Chanel camellia sandals, black large camera bag.

Look 2. CHANEL 07A black wool peacoat with white piping, 08A grey muffler with chain link logo, black converse sneakers, and large black camera bag.

Look 3. Missoni silk peasant blouse, silvery gold “Leo” flap. Will most likely wear this over some skinny jeans and sandals.

Look 4: CHANEL 08A grey muffer, 05A black cashmere cardigan with grey tweed trims, and black patent Hogan shearling motorcycle boots.

Look 5: Prada camouflage rain hoodie jacket, LV Monogramouflage wool scarf, large black camera bag.

Look 6: Gucci 08A runway jacket with astrakhan lamb collar. When I got this jacket, the mental photograph in my head was of myself in Red Square with this jacket on over black jodphurs and some killer boots.  Well, it was either that or somewhere on bare horseback in Ulan Bator, with a fabulous Mongolian fur trapper hat.  You know…me and my peeps, the nomads.

Look 7: JCrew Gypsy Rose metallic top, black Banana Republic cashmere cardigan, Chanel silvery gold “Leo” flap.

December 13, 2009

To see how these looks panned out in the wild, please go to the Travel posts for Fes 2009!