So how exactly can you look stylish yet stay comfortable while travelling? Tala Farah, the style blogger from mysmallobsessions.blogspot.com spills her secrets
Those of us who live in the UAE tend to travel for very long hours to get to our different destinations. Europe, Australia, and the US, for example, all require travel times of more than seven or eight hours in one stretch. So how do you stay looking stylish and fresh after such a long trip? Style blogger Tala Farah gives us some tips and tricks so jet setters can take their style to new heights.
The trick is to look chic while in the airport but be comfortable for all those hours in your seat. I like to wear stretchy pants or skinny jeans, a cotton t-shirt or long sleeved top and a blazer in the airport. Cotton is better than linen because it doesn’t wrinkle. On the plane, I usually change into a comfortable sweater to survive the cooler airplane temperatures. I give my blazer or jacket to the airplane staff to hang in their closet so it stays wrinkle-free for arrival.
Airports tend to be very large and require a lot of walking so resist the urge to wear towering high heels. They will simply make you uncomfortable and will slow you down. Instead wear a pair of wedges, fashionable sneakers or a cute pair of ballerina flats.
If I am carrying my laptop on the flight, I like to take a rolling carry-on in the airport with a convenient, easy access front pocket for my essentials. My passport, ticket, money and mobile phones go into this pocket. Alternatively, you can also carry a small cross body bag for these essentials. My favourite cabin travel cases are from Delsey or Lulu Guinness.
In my carry-on, I put my laptop, magazines, valuables, a pashmina (airplane blankets tend to be very rough), cashmere socks to wear on the flight, and a small toiletries bag for the plane. If it is a very long flight, I also take a noise-cancelling headset with an Ipod filled with my favourite tunes. Beats Solo HD by Dr Dre are the best. The last thing I want is a crying baby or loud passengers disturbing my relaxing trip!
Cabin air is very drying for your skin so make sure to take your beauty products on the flight. I like to fill my go-to products into travel-friendly 100 ml containers and put them into a toiletries bag, which I keep next to my seat.
I apply Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream on my face every few hours. It is very lightweight, non-oily and super hydrating. I also take L’Occitane En Provence hand cream in Lavender or Shea-Butter for my hands and cuticles. They have a very subtle smell and are sold in travel-sized tubes. For my lips, I apply moisturising lip balm every hour or so. I drink lots of water and limit my caffeine intake to keep well hydrated. I also carry hydrating eye drops and a toothbrush with travel sized toothpaste.
Half an hour before landing, I like to freshen up in the toilet by spritzing some perfume from a travel-sized container. Sephora sells the cutest atomisers. My advice is not to spray perfume while in your seat because the smell will linger in the cabin long after you land. Other passengers might get bothered. To look more revitalised, I put some cream blusher on my cheeks, a coat of mascara, shiny lip gloss, and fluff my hair for extra volume. If it is very un-cooperative after a long flight, I simple tie it into a fuss-free high ponytail.
Change back into your blazer and flats and voila, you will look refreshed and chic upon arrival!
