Jetset Style :: Linen Love

Linen is having a moment, fashion wise. Linen culottes, linen curtains, linen crop tops, linen cushions... The linen list goes on {and yes I said culottes—embrace them!}. My linen clothing collection has grown over the years, but those pieces rarely make their way into my suitcase because I've always thought of linen as the nemesis of carefree, carry-on travel. Who wants to spend their time away shackled to an iron—especially when they've only packed a handful of items?

Well, you can and should travel with linen, whether you choose to embrace or manage the wrinkles {with a few easy tricks listed below}. Linen is not only stylish, it's also a great fabric to keep you feeling fresh whether you're heading into the balmy tropics or the cooler fall months.

Did you know? Linen is made from the flax plant, which goes to show that flax is more than just a healthy source of omega-3, fiber and phytonutrients! It's also one of the oldest fabrics in the world, dating back as far as 36,000 years.

The benefits of linen

• Lightweight, breathable and comfortable
• Linen's natural fibers keep you cool in hot weather and won't cling to your body
• Dries quickly
• Provides UV protection and repels insects 
• Durable, long-lasting and holds up well to washing

How to pack linen

• Fold as little as possible
• Smooth out any wrinkles
• Lay at the top of your bag without over stuffing your luggage
• Remove linen garments from your luggage as soon as you arrive at your accommodation

How to keep linen wrinkle-free

• Pack a travel steamer in your luggage—they're about the size of a travel hairdryer {this one heats up in a minute}!
• Spritz your garment with water and blow dry while holding it taught
• Use a wrinkle-reducing spray 
• Hang your garment in the bathroom while you shower {leave the fan off}
• Smooth out any folds in the fabric while seated
• Opt for a linen-cotton blend instead of 100% linen
• Embrace the wrinkles!

Trip Styler Tip: Wash linen clothing a few times after purchase to soften the fabric. 

TOP: Ilana Kohn lisa trench, Rachel Comey reunion top, Sunja Link x Banquet Atelier dress 
MIDDLE: Black Crane overalls, Rachel Comey olympia jacket, Demylee justine pullover 
BOTTOM: Club Monaco slim-fit linen shirt, J.Crew stanton short, Apolis washed linen field jacket

This post is written by Trip Styler's Assistant Wayfarer/Editor Heather.

Related
Jetset Style :: Jean Jackets
Jetset Style :: The New Tunic
Fashion Friday :: Shoulder Season

[top image via humanoid.nl]

Dressing for La Dolce Vita

[trip style = any]

Being in Italy this summer for almost a month taught me some major packing lessons—ones that are easily applicable to Italy, as well as every other trip. 

My BIGGEST take-away: Don't treat your clothes like fine china. Bring AT LEAST one special-occasion garment with you. 

I recently wrote about my top Italy packing pointers in the Expedia Viewfinder Travel Blog; here's the skinny. 

How to Pack for Italy
1. Map your wardrobe
Once you figure out where you’re going in Italy, and in what season, map your travel wardrobe. For example, I went to Rome, the Amalfi Coast, Ischia and Capri during summer, so my suitcase was filled with nautical stripes for the coast and flowy silhouettes to stay cool {in every sense of the word} in the Eternal City’s musty heat.

2. Pack with passion 
Italians are passionate people—from fashion to football—so channel this all-or-nothing attitude in your travel attire. Don’t reserve your perfect-fit tailored pants or red-soled shoes for a once-a-year occasion; bring them to Rome where Italians dress as if they’re runway ready every day. Furthermore, edit and re-edit your suitcase contents before you leave so you’re only tempted to bring your Sunday best.

Wearing made-to-fit Capri sandals in Rome.

3. Be a shoe-in
Don’t flash your tourist card sporting a pair of I’ve-just-gone-for-a-jog sneakers thinking “they’re practical for sightseeing.” Repeat after me: Runners and flip-flops are a no go (and you won’t see any Italians grabbing an espresso con panna looking like they’ve just gone to the gym). Italian-made shoes are iconic for a reason: They’ve managed the near-impossible task of fusing comfort and style. So think like a local and pack for a well-heeled journey. 

Trip Styler Tip: If you are visiting the Amalfi Coast or Capri, save room in your suitcase for custom-made shoes, starting around 40 Euro. 

4. Dolce-ify your wardrobe
Never fear, practical packers! Dolce-ifying your wardrobe does not mean you have to fill a Louis Vuitton trunk, ship it overseas, and dress like Donatella during Milan Fashion Week. Instead, take cues from the catwalk and add one piece of glitter to your getup. For example, choose an I-might-be-famous hat and sunglasses combo, a pair of statement shoes, or an unexpected bracelet. I followed these rules and was mistaken for an Italian actress on several occasions!

5. Strut
Finally, whatever fine-tuned attire you choose to include in your travel wardrobe, strut your stuff. All of the head-turning Italians I spotted had one thing in common (in addition to a fashion-forward ensemble): Confidence, which is always in style

[photos by @tripstyler]

Jetset Style :: How to Dress Like a Parisian

[trip style = urban]

Editor's note: This guest post is written by Katie Mogan Graham, a Canadian expat who is spending a year in Provence, eating her weight in discount Monoprix cheese, bread and wine. When she isn't butchering la langue française in her adopted home of Aix-En-Provence, she and her husband can be found touring Europe, keeping their eyes peeled for interesting fashion and their stomachs alert to all things gastronomically new and exciting. 

France: the land of cheap baguettes, expensive wine and oh-so-whimsical berets. Nearly six months ago, my husband and I left our family, friends and jobs in Vancouver to spend a year living in Europe. We landed in France, where we’ve been drinking in—literally—all this chic, quaint country has to offer.

Many of our previous assumptions about France have held true—the bread is delicious, cheap and plentiful, as is the cheese and occasionally the wine—but much to our dismay, we’ve yet to see a single beret. Quelle horreur! Perhaps this is simply a matter of timing {the beret may strictly be a headpiece d'hiver}, but it’s caused us to stop and notice what people actually wear on the cobblestone streets that surround us.  

One key observation—and one that my Aixois friends will undoubtedly dispute—is that the further south we’ve traveled, the less daring and avant garde the fashion. Our current resting point, the popular Provençal ville of Aix En Provence, is a perfect example. Aix is best known for its bustling weekly markets, which attract hordes of sunburned tourists in the summer, but during the other three seasons, the sidewalk cafes are dominated by university students and older locals with dogs. For a real discussion on trends à la mode, one must look to Paris. And so, without further delay, I give you a short summary of our sartorial findings from our recent visit to the City of Lights.

1/ Not-So-Mellow Yellow
Spring in Paris is a fickle thing; the skies are often grey and rainy with sporadic bursts of sunlight that justify the use of oversized sunglasses with umbrellas. This mishmash of weather was mirrored in the outfits displayed in store windows and on sidewalk cafés. Chic and cheeky pops of yellow abounded from head to toe, in the form of scarves, belts, purses and shoes. Of course, since everything is best in moderation, a sober dose of grey, blue and black kept this sunny look grounded. And since Parisians are the living, breathing {and often smoking} embodiment of "too cool for school", it really wouldn't work for them to be seen wearing bright colors from head to toe anyway.

2/ La Frange
I learned this chic new term for fringe when I went for my first haircut in France. La frange is not just a hair term anymore. Vaguely reminiscent of the boho heyday of the 1960s–70s, tassels of just about every size, color and material hung in all their glory. Like the color yellow, fringe was kept in check by being limited to a single article of clothing or accessory—dangling from a cropped jacket, clinging to the edges of a clutch or swinging from the back of a pair of heels. With the vast variety of styles, it appeared that there was no one way to wear fringe, except perhaps sans tie-dye, headbands or macrame vests.

3/ Stan Smith Adidas Sneakers
Paris is best seen on foot, as you can't go a block or two without finding some hidden gem of a shop or café that would go unnoticed if traveling by car {or even worse, tour bus}. This is where a "Catch 22" occurs: How can one wander the streets of Paris fashionably and comfortably?  Parisian women and men have solved this timeless conundrum by adopting the sporty sneaker—the classic, white Stan Smith Adidas sneaker. When I first heard these referenced in conversation, I thought my Parisian friend was talking about the singer Sam Smith. It became clear that our "lost in translation" moment was due to my extreme lack of sportiness {In case there are others out there like me, Stan Smith is a famous American tennis player from the 1960s–80s}. You don't have to know a thing about tennis to sport this look; these shockingly white sneakers are worn with just about everything, from mini, midi and maxi skirts to cuffed jeans and sleek suits {racket and balls optional}. My Parisian friend and her boyfriend have matching "his and hers" sneakers. I'd score that match "love–all".

4/ The Parisian Knot
I kid you not, the chic men of Paris have a knot named in their honor, and rightfully so if you ask me. This is one of the simplest ways to wear a scarf, but also sleekest and sexiest. Perhaps it helped that we were visiting at a cooler time of year, but everywhere we looked, Parisian men {and likely the odd tourist, hoping to fit in} were keeping warm with scarves knotted deftly around their necks. Men of North America take note and get shopping!

5/ Tailored Layers
Beneath their scarves, Parisian men continued to impress, with an array of carefully tailored layers to buffet the rain and wind. Blazers and cardigans—be still my heart—were out in full force, keeping company with slim-fit collared shirts and equally slim trousers. The younger crowd kept their pant hems a tad higher, exposing glimpses of bare ankles {mon dieu!} or patterned socks {très chic!}. These svelte ensembles were often worn by men on bicycles {le sigh!}, who undoubtedly benefited from the aerodynamics at play.

À bientôt!

Related
Jetset Style :: The Everyday Sneaker
Jetset Style :: Scandinavia-Inspired Jackets
The Savvy Traveler :: Jackie

[collages by @heatherlovesit & photos via style.com, vogue, wwd, garancedore.fr, streetpeeper.com, thestunninglook.com, styledumonde.com, details.com, clochet.com]

Jetset Style :: The Everyday Sneaker

[trip style = any]

Fashion vs. comfort—it’s a longstanding feud that haunts stylish globetrotters who want to look polished and be practical while pounding the pavement. Enter the everyday sneaker.

Every year or so, we see a new shape take over the fashion world, whether it’s the Nike Air Max, the New Balance 620, the Isabel Marant wedge sneaker or the Converse Chuck Taylor {a timeless treasure we featured in 2013}. Last year’s entry into the sneaker hall of fame was the Adidas Stan Smith, whose meteoric rise to reinvented cult status was fuelled by designers Pheobe Philo and Raf Simons.

The current trends toward minimalism, monochromatism and athleisure have opened the door to the everyday sneaker, cementing its staple status. Good news: these trainers go with everything so they’ll save you suitcase space! We’ve assembled a list of sneakers that will have you strutting in style no matter what your destination.

WHITE: Common Projects achilles leather sneakers {Men/Women}, Filippa K sport shoe {Men/Women}, Our Legacy classic sneaker white braid canvas {Men}, Maison Kitsune sneakers {Men/Women} GREY: Puma suede classic {Men/Women},  Adidas gazelle {Men/Women}, Native apollo moc {Men/Women}, Eytys mother grey {Men/Women}

This post is written by Trip Styler's Assistant Wayfarer/Editor Heather.

Related
Fashion Friday :: White Chucks
Jetset Style :: The New Tunic
Jetset Style :: Jean Jackets
Jetset Style :: Everyday Travel Totes

[images via glamour, myfreechoice, style.com, whowhatwear]

Jetset Style :: Aloha Wear

[trip style = beach + sun]

Who's to blame for the Hawaiian shirt's bad rep? Tommy Bahama? Magnum P.I.? Dads everywhere for their dressed-up vacation look? Kitsch is back, and this time it's not just for dads or the tropics. If we believe GQ Magazine, Oahu might be the new capital of fashion.

Chief Trip Stylist Trish, who's currently camped out on Maui, has seen her fair share of island fashion. She met a couple on the ferry to Lanai last week who own more than 50 matching sets of aloha wear. They loved visiting the Islands so much that they moved to Kauai, where they match their palm fronds and hibiscus flowers in peace every day. And aloha, as it happens, translates to peace.

Trip Styler Tip: Look for Trish's favorite locally designed beachwear brand, Otaheite Hawaii {see photo above}, at their flagship store in Wailea, in boutiques across the Islands and online.

Now for a little history lesson: Made iconic in the 1950s when Elvis took Hawaii—and the rest of the world—by storm, the Hawaiian shirt goes further back than America's tiki craze. Hawaiians went without shirts altogether before missionaries came to the Islands and introduced them to bark cloth shirts and muumuus. Then, when the tourists came in the 20s, small tailors made them custom pattered shirts to bring home as souvenirs, and Hawaiians began to wear the shirts for special occasions. In the 30s, a native Hawaiian with a Yale business degree became the first mass producer of the shirts and gave them the name by which they're still called by locals today, aloha shirts.

Say "Aloha" to aloha wear.

Men
Clockwise from top left: Gitman 3-D short sleeve shirt, Burkman Bros hawaiian scenic printed shirt, Sandro printed poplin shirt, Gitman aloha camp shirt, Freemans Sporting Club slim-fit floral-print shorts, Ovadia & Sons palm-print shirt

Women 
Clockwise from top left: Mara Hoffman cutout tie back dress, Brave Soul hawaii tropical 2-piece set, Ted Baker tunic dress, Otaheite Hawaii hulali mini, Daisy Street crop top, House of Hackney giant canvas tote, Mikoh printed bikini

This post is written by Trip Styler's Assistant Wayfarer/Editor Heather.

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Jetset Style :: The New Tunic
Jetset Style :: Kimonos
Jetset Style :: Summer Swimwear Trends