It's no secret that I travel a lot for work. Two weeks to a month on the road are not uncommon for me, so it's always important for me to be comfortable when I am away from home. On my recent trip to Paris, I realized I needed to amend some of my U.S. travel rules. Here's what I learned:
1. Luggage: Take your big suitcase and put it back in the closet. If you are going to Europe, chances are you will be taking a lot of public transportation. It is easier to drag around a medium to small-sized suitcase versus your big, oversized American suitcase. If you wind up buying lots of gifts and go overboard on the shopping, then you can buy an extra bag for the trip home. I wish I had my medium suitcase after lugging my big suitcase through the umpteenth train turnstile. I always like a gym workout, but not with my suitcase as my dead weight.
Yes, there will be a shoe post coming soon. I bought 3 pairs in Paris and these are the beautiful Repetto shoes I coveted.
2. Shoes: Unless you are going on a 5-star vacation, leave your Carrie Bradshaw heels at home. Pack your flats and your sneakers and get ready to hike around the city. Don't decide to break in your new shoes on the trip, you will regret it later. In fact, my flats didn't even make it home from Paris. They were so worn out by the end of the trip that I threw them out. I left my flip flops in China in 2005 and my sneakers in Costa Rica in 2009, it's a good way to make room in your suitcase for the trip home.
3. Sleep: My trip essentials always include my sleep mask, a travel blanket, and ear plugs for a restful sleep. I travel way too much and I find it is easier to make it dark, quiet, and cozy with these three items. I don't need to go into the germ factor about hotel blankets, so bring your own. It's small and easy to use at the hotel and on the plane. The best eye masks and blankets are made by Nap and are available at any Brookstone store. (According to a Sherman Oaks Brookstone employee, they are discontinuing this line. Be sure to stock up while you can!) My earplugs were purchased in a value pack from CVS. If I lose a set, there is always a back up available. Some hotels have thin walls, so you will appreciate a little soundproofing from time to time.
Those are my top 3 travel tips from my recent jaunt to Paris. I did really well with Tips #2 and #3, but failed miserably with Tip #1. Do you have any good travel tips to add? Share them with me in the comments below:
Ladies, we have to discuss something delicate today, your undergarments. Please watch the 13 second video above to see what I am talking about. The days of Madonna with her cone bra, Britney with her thong above her jeans, and Carrie Bradshaw with her black bra under her white tank are over. I want you all to look classy and elegant from the moment you walk out the door; whether you are going to Whole Foods or hitting the red carpet. Here are a couple of amazing and affordable tools to keep your undergarments in check:
Tape it up! From L to R: Fashion Forms, Hollywood Fashion Tape, TOPSTICK.
1. Tape: Whether it is the classic men's toupée tape called TOPSTICK (A favorite of Rachel Zoe.), Hollywood Fashion Tape, or Style Solutions by Fashion Forms (Dress Tape), it is time to tape it all up! Use the double-sided tape on your DVF wrap dress close to the top of the slit so you aren't flashing your undies coming in and out of the car or tape that shirt to your bra, so we don't have to look at the lace on the latest Victoria's Secret fashion. It's easy to use, easy to remove, and it's affordable at less than $10 for any of the three products mentioned above. As an avid user of tape every time I am on-camera, I prefer TOPSTICK or Fashion Forms because their adhesive won't let you down. For those of you who are SAG members, Naimie's sells TOPSTICK for a 30% discount with your membership card.
The absolute MUST-HAVE in your wardrobe: Fashion Forms NuBra Ultralite.
2. Adhesive Bras: Oh, it sounds really weird, but once I discovered this genius invention, I haven't looked back. Think of it as cups with adhesive, no straps, but they attach together at the center for additional support. These bras are amazing with strapless, backless, or red carpet dresses. They offer the support that pasties lack and they gently stick to your skin without a worry. They are easy to wash, the adhesive lasts a long time, and I don't fuss with the adhesive bra the way I do with a regular strapless bra. The best part? They also work with chicken cutlets if you smaller-chested ladies (Like Moi!) want some additional cleavage. Also, Fashion Forms has taken the chicken cutlet/adhesive bra one step further and combined it them into one amazing product. Target carries Fashion Forms beginning at $24.99.
This little piece of plastic is all you need. From L to R: Strap Perfect in clear, black, and nude, and Fashion Forms in black.
3. Strap Perfect: Okay, it's time to seriously put those bra straps away. You've seen those commercials on TV. Strap Perfect is affordable and a terrific solution to hiding those straps when you are wearing a tank top or a racer back shirt. The pack includes clear, nude, and black pieces to accommodate the most common colors in your undergarment wardrobe. It will pull and tighten those straps so you aren't pushing them up as they slide off of your shoulders and the ad is true, they give you a nice lift. The ads on TV charge you $18.95 plus $7.95 shipping. Skip that route and head to Bed, Bath, and Beyond armed with one of their 20% off coupons and get a smaller pack for under $10.
Okay, those are just a few quick and affordable solutions to pulling yourself together for a big night out without pulling a Britney. I just want you to look your best and I prefer not to know the color of your underwear. If you don't believe me, check out my interview with lovely CEO and founder of Fashion Forms, Ann Deal, at the Reality Cares gifting suite. Not only is she a hoot, but she understands the importance of dressing from the inside out:
Finally, we have to announce our winner of the Emmys Weekend Gift Bag Giveaway. Using Random.org, our winner was selected and it is Lisa Cafiero! Congratulations! Please make sure to contact me (Contact Tab is at the top of the page.) so I can make sure you get your gift bag this week.
