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Travel Well
I'm heading out of town this weekend to rendezvous
with college friends. We try to do this every year, and while the
planning, packing and orchestration of the trip usually put me in
a mood that is less than chipper, the trip itself is always delightful.
I don't know what it is exactly, but there is something about touching
base with the past (and the people who loved you despite your grunge
phase) and laughing at yourself and the ridiculousness of a time
you took so seriously that is good for the soul.
But before I
get to being good for the soul, I must address my current neurosis.
I have this thing about girls' weekends. Even though they are supposed
to be the time when you really let your hair down and forgo so much
of the beauty and fashion prep, I find that the supposed "relaxedness"
throws me into a tizzy. It's like dress-down Friday -- what a wardrobe
disaster. The interesting part is that my girl weekend anxiety stems
from details typically deemed superfluous -- the cosmetic case,
weekender tote, and the perfect pair of PJs
for staying up late and lounging in the morning.
Actually, now
that I review my list of anxieties, I see that I am - for all practical
purposes - a ten-year-old packing for a pajama party. So much for
maturity in one's twirties. As Ms.
Stefani would say, it seems "I'm just a girl."
PJ Parties for Twirties,
a packing guide
The Cosmetic Case
- Perhaps the
best thing that ever happened to travelling: the Stephanie Johnson
'Jennie'
Train Case and the ML
Traveler. Be prepared to spend a lot of time on her site,
as your fabric and design options are truly endless.
- To
return to your more preppy/girly roots, there are always Jane
Fox's cases. And for a touch of preppy chic, I'm quite attached
to Isabella Fiore's Daisy
Clutch.
- Diane
Von Furstenburg's Beauty Traveler Bag is quite the rage these
days. (Would certainly make a positive influence on your more
brand conscious friends.)
The Pajamas
- The she she
me staff can't get enough of Bedhead
PJs.
- If you're
in a nightgown/nightshirt mood, try Nick
and Nora's Patchwork Nightshirt or the Arabesque
ruffle gown. Both are precious.
- To make a
statement, try Brooks
Brothers. (Wearing men's
PJs is trés chic.)
The Weekender
- You can't
go wrong with LL
Bean, particularly if you're driving to your destination.
Nothing says casual chic/"I didn't try" quite as well.
- That said,
sometimes you want to WOW. And when that's the case, only something
a bit spiffier will do. Our favorite: the
Hartmann satchel.
- And when
you just want to be adorable (admit it, it happens), look no further
than The
World According to Jess. she she me staffers' top three picks:
the Sassy
Traveler, the Preppy
Fun Traveler and the Cheeree
Oh Traveler.
That should
get you well on your way to giggles and glee. But most importantly,
don't forget your funny bone, because nothing ruins a girls' weekend
faster than a lack of humor.
Ta ta.
Laugh lots,
laugh loud and laugh long.
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