I had every intention to get this up yesterday afternoon, but a bout of food poisoning rendered me unable to do ANYTHING. Â Thankfully, the team at the Four Seasons Philadelphia took excellent care of me with room service deliveries (best chicken noodle soup EVER) and turn down service. Â I’m nearly recovered, and glad to be introducing Jamie, the creator of High Heeled Traveler, to En Route With. Â It’s rare to find other blogs that meld fashion, travel, and lifestyle topics well, and Jamie pens one of those few.Â
Since I travel for a living (for the blog and magazine) I have to be ready to go in a moment’s notice if a travel opportunity arises. I’ve left within hours before. Other times I’ve had a trip planned for several months. In either scenario my packing strategy is usually the same and it starts with general wardrobe building in my everyday life.
When I’m out shopping I look for pieces that easily go together and can be muilti-use or mixed. For instance, I have a favorite oversized chambray shirt that I can bring on any trip. I could wear it as a cover up on the beach, with jeans in the city, or under a sweater on a chilly hike in the mountains.  I’m a minimalist packer and try to get everything into one bag and a tote no matter the length of the trip. I usually pack jeans, silk shirts, cotton t-shirts, and one or two little black dresses (one cotton or jersey and one silk or satin). I also pack a sweater, jacket (leather is good for casual day to night) and a pashmina for the plane ride. Then a pair of sandals, boots, or flats, a pair of heels, and a pair of Minnetonka moccasins no matter what. I would say that I also pack workout clothes, but I’d be lying.
When I’m getting ready to pack, a day or two before my trip (if possible), I feel pretty confident about my life strategy but then as I’m laying out clothes on the bed deciding what to bring, I usually have some sort of breakdown about how I have nothing to wear. Then my husband finds me wallowing in all my clothes, clutching my shoes. After an admirable performance, I end up packing the same exact things every time.  I also always use the same suitcase. This helps when deciding how much will fit in there. I’m a Briggs & Riley loyalist. I’ve had the same bags for about seven years now. I never worry if my suitcase it going to make it.
For the airport, too, I have steadfast habits. Years ago, my husband and I used to have a long distance relationship. He lived in DC and I lived in NYC. Every other weekend I would take the commuter plane down to see him. I established my routine then. Â I like to arrive an hour and a half early, more or less. It depends on the airport. Some are more efficient than others. Like Meg, I choose the security line with the most businessmen and try to get through that as quickly as possible. (Though one time I did have an incident. You can read about it here)
Once through security, I go to the magazine stand and pick out something new to read. Then I belly up to the bar for a drink and chat it up with fellow travelers. Back when I was flying every other week, I met a guy and a girl at the airport bar; we were all strangers and ended up really hitting it off. They later got married! Airport romance!   If it’s a morning flight, I treat myself to coffee and some sort of pastry instead of going to the bar.
On the plane, I usually have all these ambitions for work or reading the magazine I just bought. But once the engine starts I pass out. I usually sleep the entire time, no matter how long the flight is. On the rare chance I’m awake when the refreshment cart goes by, I like to get coffee and a bag of peanut M&Ms.
Carry on in…Clare Vivier t0te
Stay stylish in…a pashmina from my husband from Pakistan (similar), Minnetonka Moccasins (like bedroom slippers), sunglasses, and my go-to beauty items – red lipstick (in Vesuvio), lip balm, moisturizer, oil blotting tissues, mints and/or travel toothbrush
Entertain with…laptop, camera, and iPhone – always in tow!
Thank you for sharing your travel routine, Jamie! Â What was your favorite tip from Jamie? Â Mine was to visit the airport bar more often! Â Chat with me in the comments below. Â Also, it’s official – En Route With… is going to be a weekly series. Â Thank you SO much for your sweet feedback and comments on the series. Â Let me know if you or someone you know would be a good feature for En Route With.
