Last week I promised the follow up installment of Travel Essentials, and here it is! Today’s Flexible Fashion is designed for a trip to warm, summery locations. A trip that might see you doing everything from shopping to karaoke parties, lazing by the pool and walking miles to take in the local colour. It took me years to master the art of packing light, but the more I travel…and shop.. the more  I realise, I would sacrifice having the choice of  10 pairs of shoes with me for the space required to bring more home!

The first thing you’ll notice when taking in this page is the theme.  My single greatest trick to traveling light, is to pick a colour palette and a theme, then ensure that everything fits within it.  This time (as I have so often done in the past), I’ve picked a red white and black pallet with a floral theme.  Choosing the right pieces is then all you need to do and viola! Instant capsule wardrobe. This selection is but one variation on a theme.  There are infinite varieties you could come up with but let’s start here.

Every trip requires one fancy dress. Even if you have no special outings planned, you never know when you might be faced with a James Bond moment.  Need an upgrade? Break out the fancy dress.  Met a dark handsome stranger in the bar? Break out the fancy dress. Department store shopping? Break out the fancy dress. You can be assured that my Fancy Dress gets a good work out on each trip. You’ll also need one pair of heels to mix and match with your various ensembles.  I prefer to pick a great pair of wedges as you never know just how far you may have to walk or the condition of the streets.  I’ve seen many a heel meet its end on a cobble stone road.

An inexpensive feature bracelet comes with me everywhere.  It must be big, have impact, and be replaceable – as with just about everything you take.  This is a good time to point out that I very rarely take any of my vintage collection with me when I travel unless the purpose of my trip is specifically vintage related.  I am yet to ever loose my luggage (touch wood), but no amount of travel insurance will ever be able to replace that New Look 1950′s dress I adore.   I rely on my makeup and hair styling to give my outfits a more vintage look. After all, accessories are the key to any successful outfit. And don’t forget a fine knit pashmina – small enough to fit in the hand bag and a lifesaver in various crisis.

The key to getting day wear right is to ensure that each piece can be worn with the others and all in various ways. A little summer dress can become a tunic top over the pants, and button through blouses can double as light weight cover ups.  If you have the room for it, a fine knit black poncho not only deals with an evening chill, but with the addition of your sparkliest accessories, takes on a slightly more evening look. One pair of feature flats that tone with each of your looks is also essential.  Other than the one pair of wedges included in the previous selection, all the other shoes in this capsule wardrobe are flat and easily packable without adding much to the weight or space component of you bag.

Beach and swimwear should be simple. If yours is a predominately pool holiday, you’ll want more than one suit; but that is of no great space concern. Don’t think you can skimp on the sun hat and that you big dark glasses will do all the work – that’s how you end up with a big old chicken neck!  These days, you can find great wide brimmed hats in crushable straw that can be rolled up and spring back into shape.  Note: These are  not the “crushable” kind which often look just that – crushed!  Bring your sunscreen in wipe form to save on weight and space; as well as to prevent any leakage. Oddly, sunscreen seems to be one type of cream that often leaves stains on fabric that can’t be removed.  And don’t forget the cover up.  Choose something from your palette in a solid colour. It shouldn’t have shoe string straps, but a nice wider arm that not only gives better sun protection, but can do double duty as a dress or tunic for day wear.

Hair can be one of the trickiest things when traveling. You don’t want to spend too much time on it, after all you should be relaxing! And for me, traveling in hot and humid climates is the absolute worst when it comes to looking put together.  I end up a mass of frizz with bits sticking out all over the place.  Finally, after paying attention to the locals in many of the hotter and stickier countries I’ve visited, I noticed one of their secrets to sleek hair. It wasn’t theirs! Now when I travel I take a switch or a fauxny-tail piece in a colour to exactly match my hair.  That way I can do something sleek with the front and rely on the switch to do the rest of the work. As for getting Hollywood glam hair without bringing along the rollers, I use my Perfect Pin Curls trick.  All you need is a little smoothing setting lotion, bobby pins and a scarf. Done!

Make sure to bring along a good selection of hair ornaments and you’ll have a different do every day.

Sleep is simple. If you are not staying somewhere where a robe is provided, make sure to include a lightweight kimono in your suitcase. Other than that, all you need is here. A cute but classy nightgown and some fancy roll up jiffies.  That way, should you be hosting nightcaps in your room, you’ll still be fit to work the room.  Some travel candles are a great touch to help you relax, particularly if you’ve had a trying flight, and if you burn them while away, the weight can be replaced on the trip back home. shhhh..  I also like to take a little reminder of home to watch me sleep – it must be teeny tiny too.  The teeny tiny toy touch is something I learnt in Bangkok, when the Hilton kindly provided me with a tiny elephant for my pillow. I liked him so much he now lives on my bedside table.

Being a maximalist trying to travel in a minimalist way, there is one singular key to success that keeps me sane and my creativity intact. Accessories! Stay on colour, on theme and go wild.They take up very little space and change the whole tone of an outfit. It is all about the mix and match, stretching a little to think up new combos and new ways of wearing things.

Of and don’t forget the perfume.. if all else fails… or perhaps if you succeed… you won’t need to wear anything but this!

P.S: Don’t forget to keep on voting for me in the Nuffnang Asia Pacific Blog Awards!

While most of Melbourne spent their Saturday watching the AFL Football grand final, I was all too pleased to be heading into work instead. The weather was diabolical, and the rain was so heavy it made driving difficult. So when it is that wild outside, you need something simple, and sleek so as not to get blown to death by the wind. Saturday’s outfit was just that. Deceptively simple and quick to put together, such is the beauty of dresses. Add some killer shoes, vintage clip earrings and slick the hair back so as not to worry about the weather.  I love this hair do as I’ve found a super quick way to make it happen without all the fuss involved of setting and can be created in about two minutes flat.  Yes, I’ll make you a tutorial – but there are two secret weapons used in this one. Can you guess what they are?

Outfit Details

Dress – Blonde Venus        Slip – KMart

Stockings – Voodoo   Shoes – Diamaru  (I so miss this department store)

Earrings – vintage beaded clip earrings found at the op shop for 50 cents

Lashes – Eyelure corner lashes

Lips – MAC Russian Red of course!

Travel can be a tricky business. I’m not just talking about the different time zones, the bad airplane food or the stinky feet of the passenger next to you!

I am asked several times a week about how I travel and what my tricks are for being practical, prepared and glam.  And what better time to share them with you than right now as  I start the count down to the APAC Blog Awards in Singapore. (Please vote for me!)

So pay attention class, today we look at the “Don’t Leave Home Without Me’s” and next week… Travel Fashion for the Fancy!

What you pack your things in is almost as important as what you pack.  God forbid you should be seen schleping an over stuffed, woven $2 shop bag with a broken zipper onto the plane. The less you have to carry the better for both your back and your look – so pare it down and choose wisely. When choosing a suitcase I ideally look for a hard case, even though these are limited in their capacity for expansion. I would rather arrive without fragile items crushed and have a safe space for all the knick knacks I bring back. Most importantly, your suitcase should have 4 rotating wheels! I cannot tell you what a life saver this invention is. After rolling around a 2 wheeled, 40 kilo suitcase in Tokyo during a rainstorm at 10pm at night, I vowed my next one would have 4 wheels. Whilst I tripped and struggled to negotiate the curbs and pavement, the local travelers smoothly went about their journey without loosing their knee caps to a misbehaving case.

Ensure you pack an equally beautiful tote bag that can be rolled up into a ‘next to nothing’ size.  Don’t fill it with things on your departure as this is your secret weapon for the exploding luggage syndrome at the other end of your trip. Down scale your makeup bag and brushes. Decide on the look you want before you go, and pack only the makeup needed to create that, not your entire case. Warning – don’t pack liquid eyeliner pens – they leak at high altitude and will fill your case with ink for a nasty surprise on arrival! You are better to pack either a cake eyeliner or a paint style of eyeliner. (I’m personally not a fan of pencils).

If you have the luxury to be able to buy all your luggage at once, pick a theme and stick to it. If you can’t, then customize what you already have and be creative.  At the very least, attach matching bows of fabric onto all the luggage you are planning to check so you can identify it quickly on the carousel.

How do the Star’s travel? Well is certainly isn’t without dark glasses! If I had to leave in a huge rush and not even pack, I still wouldn’t leave without these. My Passport in an entirely fabulous passport wallet. You need to both protect it and find it in a hurry. CASH! You’d think this would be self explanatory, but in the day and age of plastic, it is amazing how many people get caught out without the cash they need. NEVER assume that your destination will accept plastic, as there are many countries in which it can be very difficult to find an ATM and where cash is really the only acceptable form of currency.  But please, don’t take a money belt. It’s like painting a great big target on your forehead that says, “I’m a novice, please mug me!” If you’re worried, best to stuff it in your bra – seriously – just lie it flat and place it in the underside. Nobody likes crinkly tits!

iPhone / Blackberry / or whatever you choice of phone, camera and music all in one. Yes, you can listen to music once the plane has taken off, just make sure you are always set to flight mode. Last but not least on this list – My MAC Russian Red.  Generally, unless it is a very short flight, I don’t travel in makeup. Arriving with smudged eyeliner and skin that looks like the Gobi Desert is not my idea of chic. I travel fresh faced and take along a bottle of aromatherapy water for light spritzes. It doesn’t need to be expensive and I make my own with filtered water and lavender oil.  This way, when I arrive at my destination all I need is my big dark glasses and my trusty Russian Red – Instant Glamour!

What you take on your flight is VERY VERY important! You want to be prepared for the restless babies, the bad movies, the dry air and germ laden environment. A good nourishing lip balm is critical to maintain a soft, subtle pout in the coming days. Don’t bother with tints and flavours, just go for the most nourishing formula you can find. I’m a huge fan of the balm from L’Occitane, the hemp balm from Body Shop and also Paw Paw ointment. They all do a stellar job. Pack some pain killers but BEWARE of drug restrictions in the country you are headed to. Something as simple as Codine may be a restricted substance where you are headed and you don’t want to be cavity searched on arrival! Speaking on which, always travel in pretty but comfortable knickers – you never know when they may be on show.

Protect your hands. Carry both hand sanitizing wipes and a good hand lotion. The wipes won’t just be for your hands, but any suspect surface, you don’t want to be relying on paper napkins in the war against germs. I also carry a face mask in my bag.  It may seem a little extreme, but it never ceases to amaze me how many people travel when they are ill. In the event that I’m sitting next to someone who feels inclined to sniff, sneeze and generally inflict their ills on the surrounding passengers; I resort to my mask. Not only is it a good form of protection, but an excellent passive aggressive way of saying ” Stop sniffing on me you snot factory!”

An eye mask is a no brainer, but many people forget the earplugs.  Make sure you get some small, mouldable plugs and you’re on your way to a good nights sleep, if not a good old cat nap.  My other super trick is the headphones. I bring my own large, ear muff style, headphones and headphone jack adapter.  It means I’m not at the mercy of the audio provided by the airline, but even better is…the noise canceling technology! If you have trouble sleeping with the drone of the engine or the poor baby three rows back screaming his head off; these are a godsend. You can choose to double up and wear your earplugs inside the ear muffs, then you’ll experience a sleep serenity only previously available in pill form.

And there you have it!

Now I’ve gotten you there in style, stay tuned next week to find out How to Pack and What To Wear!

Oh – My-God! I can hardly believe it, but I’ve been selected as a finalist for the Best Fashion Blog in the Nuffnang Asia Pacific Blog Awards!

This means that I am one of five bloggers in this category, in the whole region, who now go head to head in the voting stage to see who will be crowned the ultimate winner. I’m particularly flattered as the nominations where judged by a panel of industry professional, media and PR people, who I’m sure see some very slick operations out there.  I’m in excellent company as two of the other nominees you will have seen on these pages before – Lady Melbourne and the infamous Bryan Boy!

So I have to say a HUGE thank you to everyone who nominated me for this, I can’t tell you what it means to be a part of an event like this as a result of all the work I put into this blog.  The next step is the VOTING. In order to win the coveted title of Best Fashion Blog, I need your support. Being selected for the finalists is already a big achievement, but actually winning? Well that would be a cherry on top.

I’ve added a voting button right at the top of the page which takes you into the Nuffnang voting system. You need to place a vote in each category in order to have your vote count and be submitted, and while it may take a little more time, there are some incredible blogs to be discovered along the way. You can vote as many times as you like, but no more than once every two hours.. you wouldn’t happen to have a vintage oven timer would you?

As this is the Asia Pacific Awards, we here in Australia, have been up against some very stiff competition in a region well populated by blogs, so it is a real honor to stand amongst them.

Stay tuned for a big post on “How to Pack for Travel – SKM Style!“

Following on from Sunday’s post “Aren’t We Smarter Than This?“, I was asked to appear on a Sydney Breakfast radio show Mix 106.5, to discuss the issue- such as it is. As some of you have pointed out, this should be a non-issue, and yet we still have to encourage women to support each other whatever their sartorial choices. I know we are all on the same page here.

To listen to the interview I’ve embedded it here for you.

Talking about the so-called School Gate Fashion War