There’s a big difference between traveling and traveling in style. The act of traveling in itself isn’t necessarily glamorous: early-morning wake-ups, bed-head, lugging unrealistic amounts of luggage through bustling airports, fumbling through new languages, and don’t even get me started on airplane food. Unless you’ve got a team of trained professionals to do all of these things for you, you too have experienced the not-so-fabulous side of traveling. I think that traveling smart, and comfortably is the best option, and the most surefire way to not drive yourself mad! Wins all around! On average, I take between 15 and 20 flights a year, and through years of trial and error, I’ve almost got it down.
Let’s start from the bottom up: Footwear
Unless you’re Kim Kardashian or on Basketball Wives of Beverly-Los Angeles County there’s really no need to rock up in stilettos to catch a flight. Be realistic. There are plenty options that are stylish, but won’t leave doubled-over in pain. Airports are big mazes designed to frustrate even the most zen, so give yourself a break! Shoes are important when traveling. Here are four types of kicks you can rock to be both stylish and comfortable while on the road!
My favorite minimalist (and vegan): Muroexe
Keep it simple: Chuck’s
For the practical, yet classic traveler: The Chelsea Boot
Source
For warm weather travels: The espadrille
Try to stay away from flip-flops (because you’re not taking a shower in a college dorm) and shoes that are extremely complicated to take off… because you will at some point need to take them off be it for security or for comfort.
Treat your feel well, and they will carry you to all the corners of the globe!
Back It Up
How’s your posture though? Have you ever felt like you’ve been hit by a car after a day of travel? Between slouching in chairs, balancing suitcases and coffee cups, and then pulling a contortionist act just to take a brief, yet semi-satisfying nap on the plane, the least you can do is pack well with your back in mind. Paris Hilton popularized the handbag with the flaccid wrist and damn, to this day it looks cool AF. I want to be that whimsical while I strut through Barajas airport!
Alas, my wrists were simply not made for that, and I assume yours aren’t either.
PHOTO IN COLLABORATION WITH M0851 FOR LMDES
You can wear a backpack and not look like Dora or some lost tourist on a gap-year of self-discovery. Get a comfortable yet backpack and leave your hands free for selfies and baguettes (that’s my life philosophy).
Here’s a good place to start: M0851
M0851 is the perfect solution for anyone who wants to be trendy yet comfortable on a weekend trip or for an overnight escape from the city. With tons of space and endless possibilities, it's the perfect fit for everyone. Whether you're hauling along your computer, camera, extra clothes or anything else you have in mind... this compact backpack is expandable and accessible for every type of lifestyle.
PHOTO IN COLLABORATION WITH M0851 FOR LMDES
Refresh Yo’self
Airplanes are full of germs, this we know, but did you also know that airplanes recycle that same air over, and over, and over again? This dryness wreaks havoc on your skin and hair. If you want to arrive at your destination looking like a human, and not an extra in the Walking Dead, I suggest bringing a few things to keep yourself refreshed throughout the trip.
For those who DGAF: Throw on a Korean sheet mask or an eye mask. Here are my favorites: Charcoal mask, avocado mask, eye mask.
For a more subtle approach: Lush rose water or Lush tea tree water. Just spray and bask in the moisture. Ahh!
Nivea Hand Cream: This is a public service announcement-- moisturize those knuckles, fam! Your 67 year-old self will thank you.
Keep your Phone Protected
How often do you use your cellphone during the day? That many times, ay? While traveling, or phones become an extension of our own hands: we use them as translators, GPS, currency converters, to communicate with friends and family, to book hotels and find taxis. Needless to say, scratching your phone, or damaging your phone while traveling is almost enough to ruin a trip.
Invest in a phone case and get creative with it! Recently the LMDES team started rocking these cases from gocustomized and the coolest part about this site is that you can design the case exactly as you want and you can choose the style that works best for you. While I opted for the cardholder, Sienna went with the hard case and open screen. You don’t need to be a graphic designer to make a cute case as the interface is extremely straight-forward to use.
PHOTO IN COLLABORATION WITH gocustomized FOR LMDES
Whenever you travel, you can rep’ your tribe! As much as we travel with LMDES, finding cases like these were a lifesaver for so many reasons! If you want to go all out, invest in a cute passport cover and then design your phone case to match it!
These little details scream: I travel often, and I travel well.
By taking these small steps you will both optimize and improve your travel experience tremendously.
What are a few of your tricks of the trade when it comes to style and travel? Tell us below!
Danni, Community + Content Director at Las Morenas de España, is a twenty-something, Chicago native currently residing in Madrid. Lover of language, words, and travel, she's managed to combine all of her passions through her work. In her free time, you can find her exploring the winding streets of Madrid, hunting down good flight deals, planning her next adventure and writing & researching for LMDES. Danni loves spicy food, natural hair, music and of course, her wonderful husband. If you need to find her, she’s the girl with huge hair and her face buried in her Kindle.