Amina Belouizdad
Founder, Bartaile
I think of myself as a zen unprepared traveler. I say this because, while I never pack a toothbrush (housekeeping please!) and often try to make my pajamas double as workout gear, I’m pretty unfazed about it. There’s something about travel, be it for work or for leisure, that makes me let go of all my me-isms. The act of traveling is to be enjoyed, and I would never let the fact that I packed only my left foot sneaker (true story!) ruin that.
Of course, I still have some rules. Firstly, I never check a bag. The way I see it, there’s no upside from checking a bag. In the best scenario, you have your bag, and in every other scenario you are wasting precious travel time at a luggage belt or, worse, trying to track down where in the world your bag ended up.
My favorite travel bag is our very own C12 bag by Bartaile – it’s perfect for wearing as a backpack when running through an airport, and converting to a tote or messenger when wanting to feel more polished. I am still on the hunt for the perfect suitcase …. we might have to make one soon at Bartaile!
Secondly, I pack light. I actually enjoy not having to think about what to wear while traveling! I also use travel as an opportunity to a) wear little to no makeup and b) slather my face and body with coconut, almond or argan oils. The habit started off while on beach vacations, but now you may find me going from meeting to meeting in San Francisco with an argan-infused hair bun. I know it’s weird, but it’s my thing. My other must-packs are leggings (plain and faux-leather), slip-on sneakers and easy day-to-night dresses. Currently crushing on everything by Reformation.
For as much as I love traveling, I really dislike airports. You’re probably thinking ‘well, everyone hates airports’. Not true! My mother – who I spent the first 18 years of my life doing all my traveling with – LOVES airports. She will, out of her own volition, spend 3 hours at the airport loading up on perfume testers, value-sized chocolate bars and tax-free obscure european face creams. In my adult life of independent travel, I try to spend as little time at airports as possible, often racing from the airport door all the way to the plane. One thing I learned a long time ago is to pack snacks, magazines and an empty water bottle ahead of time; sometimes the lines at the airport stores are crazy, and it’s just not worth the stress.
There’s something about being on a plane, and specifically at the window seat, that makes me extremely reflective. I’ve had almost all my best ideas and made my strongest resolutions while looking out a plane window. When I’m not daydreaming, I’ll either be catching up on reading or on work. I still don’t understand why they don’t give out big water bottles on planes, so the pocket in front of me will have a giant bottle of water, a book or magazine, and my laptop. On longer plane rides, I may even slather on some face or hair oil. Just to get in the spirit of things.
Amina’s Travel Essentials
- Bartaile’s convertible C12 Bag – We designed a bag that can go as many places we do, and that includes airports! It comes with a padded laptop sleeve and thoughtful compartments for sunglasses/eyeglasses, keys and all our womanly things. It converts so it’s a backpack when you feel like it, and a tote or messenger when you don’t.
- S’well water bottle
- Current Elliott skinny, ripped jeans
- A journal  – I’m still a Moleskine girl at heart; their simple elegance inspires me.
- Vince skate sneakers
- Everlane Ryan tank top
- Nuxe Dry Oil – Huile Prodigieuse – This is a must-have. It’s a dry oil so you don’t feel sticky right after, and I don’t know for sure but I could swear it has a very subtle shimmer that adds glow to skin. And I use it on my hair as well, of course.
- Westward leaning shades in Voyager 20
- Avène cold cream lip balm – The French just know what they’re doing. This is the creamiest, most luxurious lip balm out there. You’ll never look back.
See how Amina’s favorite sunglasses designer packs and travels. Also check out how Eram Siddiqui and Sasha Muir turned their packing pains into thriving businesses as well.
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