GUEST BLOG POST: TRAVELLING ON A BUDGET

Summer comes with travel, and as I look through the blogosphere, many of us are planning trips/ already travelling. The lovely LLE  from the Living, Learning, Eating blog has taken the time out and written and very informative (and quite witty) post on the do's and dont's. 


Do not forget to visit her blog (Link below on her introduction).

I'm LLE, a half-German, half-Zimbabwean rising junior at Harvard College, and I blog over at Living, Learning, Eating. I come from a really international, multi-cultural background, so it's no surprise that traveling is one of my favorite things ever.

Fashion is also one of my favorite things ever.

Unfortunately, travel and fashion both cost money.

I know it's summer and y'all don't want to think about math, but I swear this is a really straight-forward equation:

Travel addict + fashion addict + student/intern budget = UH-OH.

Fortunately, I like challenges. Nelson Mandela said, "It always seems impossible until it's done." 

Okay, okay, he might not have been talking about wardrobe budgeting. But it still applies! 

You can find find an outfit that's travel-friendly (read: comfortable - hello, cattle class), stylish, AND leaves you with enough money to shop around at local street markets and festivals.

A booth at a Martini-Markt in Germany last fall.

Because who doesn't need more knick-knacks and eccentric necklaces?

Anyway, before I get into fashion do's for the trip, here are some major fashion DON'Ts for traveling comfortably!

Don't wear a bodysuit. One word: lavatory.

Don't wear a skirt or a dress. I know, I know, they're fun and cute. But they're also restricting as to how you can sit and be comfortable AND decent. If you can't bear to wear pants, make sure your skirt is knee-length or longer. Let's not pull a Brittany, guys, even if the paparazzi isn't around.

Don't decide that today's the day to wear your brand new Manolo Blahniks. Sky high heels are great for sitting and schmoozing, but not so great for running across an unfamiliar airport to make it to a connecting flight...

Don't pile on the metal accessories. TSA will not think it's cute when you set off the alarm, nor will your fellow travelers when you take half an hour to take everything off and put everything back on - holding up the line.

And here are some major DOs.

Do dress in layers. Temperatures change so much from airport to airplane to destination, that it's great to be able to adjust and still look good! 

Do wear socks. Again, it can get chilly on the plane. And if you're traveling through (or in) the USA, you'll have to take off your shoes. Do you really want to be barefoot on a nasty airport floor?

Do wear shoes that are easy to take on and off. See above.

Do give yourself some wiggle room in your clothes. High altitudes to funny things to our bodies and some people get puffy inflight. 

Okay, here's a sample outfit!

$10.00 (reduced from $22.99) Beaded Strap Printed Tank, Charlotte Russe

The most important thing your shirt needs to be is not white. Better yet, make it patterned like the above example. That way, if you spill anything on yourself (yes, I eat like a 5-year-old) it's not painfully obvious.

$27.20 (reduced from $68.00) Marley Knit Card, NastyGal

A cozy cardi like this is perfect for snuggling into on a red-eye, or while watching a movie (movies are that much better when they're inflight). 

$11.99 (reduced from $24.99) Paperbag Linen Pants, Forever 21

Don't be one of those people who shows up for their flight in sweatpants.

NO.

On the other hand, tight skinnies aren't the best for traveling, either. These are happy intermediate - comfy, but cute! And no velour in sight, thank God.

$19.99 Women's Mossimo Osanna, Target

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Definitely go for flats (unless you're a seasoned pro at walking - and running - in heels) and make sure you wear them at least two or three times before the trip. The novelty of wearing new shoes is not worth the blisters!

And don't forget about a bag! While it's nice to be able to pull a pilot suitcase through the airport, they're often impractical inflight. A soft bag, that squishes easily to fit into cramped overhead bins or under seats, may be a better choice.

$32.00 (reduced from $60) Smudge Floral Holdall, TopShop

Have fun (and look fly) on your trip!

xoxo,

LLE