It was Leonardo Da Vinci who said, “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication”. But in a world with so many choices at our fingertips, it can seem that this level of sophistication is unattainable. More to the point, with trends changing quicker than we can say “rose gold’, how can our wardrobe remain timelessly stylish as well as travel-proof?
Well, thank your stars for Alex Longmore, the celebrity stylist sharing her secrets with us! Gone are the days of packing a separate outfit for every eventuality. Welcome to the world of mix-and-match minimalism- your wardrobe and suitcase hope you stay here forever.
Secret 1: Have a purge of your wardrobe and then acquire these staple items.
Alex says:
“I always suggest to my clients to avoid patterns and go for separates. Items that can be dressed up or down depending on day meetings or socialising at night are really useful. A plain coloured silk shirt is a must as is a really good pair of tailored black trousers. Tailored jackets are an excellent component and I recommend wearing shawls instead of jumpers or cardigans. The latter can just be annoying in heating and air-con and isn’t fluid or flattering to an outfit.”
Secret 2: The possibilities are endless.
Alex says:
“Everything should be like a uniform in your working wardrobe so you can mix and match everything together. The golden rule is ‘nothing is surplus and everything has a function’- stick to this and you can’t go wrong. It is always much better to buy in bulk, so do one shopping trip per season, that way when you are trying everything on at once you know that everything can be mix and matched and go together to make complete outfits. Less is most definitely more when it comes to a working wardrobe. I suggest sticking to block colours and buy your foundation pieces in dark navy, grey or black, by these I mean trousers or skirts. Reserve colour for around the face and wear in soft silks or wools.”
Secret 3: Get rid of these pieces…
Alex says:
“I’m not a fan of the pencil skirt- it’s not practical or flattering to wear. I also don’t think it is right to look too much like a clothes horse in the workplace and adopt the major catwalk trends. I like my clients to look super chic and stylish but with their personality shining through first and foremost, not the personality of the designers they are wearing. I think dressing in a statement piece at work is a bit too OTT unless of course, you work at Vogue where it is de regeur!”
If you need a little help, here are some ensembles to get you started. All you need inside one suitcase!
Scenario 1: Airport/flying
“Long-haul – something smart but very wearable. I advise going to the airport in trousers and a comfortable jumper and changing on the plane into cashmere tracksuit bottoms and always taking your own socks and travel blanket. Always take a top and underwear to change into as it will make you feel fresh on arrival. Take Gwyneth Paltrow and Victoria Beckham as your style gurus when it comes to looking good at the airport. A Louis Vuitton ‘never full’ carry-on bag and a pair of big shades is a life saver. I never leave home or travel without mine.”
Scenario 2: A business meeting/The office
“A fitted blazer jacket, black trousers that don’t necessarily have to match the jacket, a silk shirt and some flat pointed shoes. If you want to accessorise, a scarf or an over the body bag but never statement jewellery. I discourage it in the workplace – its distracting.”
Get the look: Tailored black blazer by OASIS.
Scenario 3: Meal with clients
“I would wear either a fitted or slimline dress- this is when you can wear a statement piece of jewellery and heels. If you’re on your feet from day to evening, have a shirt hanging in the office and an evening clutch bag. I would go for black silk to work with what you are already wearing and change your heels.”
Get the look: Stuart Weitzman classic pumps. Add them to your collection here.
Scenario 4: The hotel gym
There is such a huge trend for sportswear luxe right now- you are spoilt for choice! A lot of people think it doesn’t matter what you wear to the gym and pound the treadmill in an old oversized t-shirt. Let me tell you it really does matter! Get yourself to Sweaty Betty pronto for workout kit that is stylish and supportive. I believe women should be stylish whatever activity they are partaking in during their day-to-day. There are no ‘off’ days when it comes to looking good. It’s amazing what a difference it makes mentally when you look good in every area of your dressed life. It does huge amounts to build confidence and help with efficiency for example.”
Get the look: Tight Stuff Tight II by Lululemon
Scenario 5: Leisure-time on a business trip
“This is your time so whether it’s lounging in your hotel room, being by the pool or taking in the local sites, it’s best to look great in something familiar and that reminds you of home. When you pack to go on your business trip, be mega-organised and really think of it as a military operation! You don’t want to have surplus items as they just cause confusion- so make sure you lay everything out in outfits before you leave including outfits for days off and chill time. In your leisure time, you can up the ante a bit and also wear more fashionable clothes expressing your personal style and taste.”
Get the look: The Loren maxi-dress by Pampelone is suitcase-friendly, lightweight, and suitable for the beach, poolside, or exploring the city.
One last tip from the guru herself:
“Be organised – put time and effort into your wardrobe. Get rid of anything and everything that doesn’t fit, or that you haven’t worn for six months or so. Everything should be streamlined and like a uniform. You should be able to open your doors and know exactly what goes with what. Everything should match together, keep your uniforms separate – work, off duty, weekend, social and even travel.”
Alex’s Favourite Brands:
Chloe for black trousers
Tracksuits from H&M, LuluLemon or Sweaty Betty.
Jimmy Choo for flats
Louboutin for heels
Alex Longmore is a celebrity stylist based in London who has dressed celebrities and leading businesswomen around the world.
With over sixteen years of experience, Alex has become a key player in the British fashion industry. Her career in fashion began in London. In the early years, she worked for Tatler and Company Magazine before moving on to The Daily Mail where she became Style Editor. In 2003 Alex embarked on a freelance career. Due to Alex’s vast knowledge and experience in her chosen field, she has become Brand Ambassador for clients including L’Oreal, Unilever and Phillips. Follow Alex @alexlongmore
Further Reading
We all know that time is our most valuable commodity, but once you factor in airport transfers, travel-time, layovers, and pre-flight waits, time becomes increasingly scarce. Our guest blogger, Pravina, is here to help you claim back your valuable time and say ‘no’ to any more travel-related inconveniences!
Before You Go
1. When you’re away most of the week, weekends should be spent basking in home comforts, not faffing with packing and unpacking.
Always keep a compartment of your suitcase packed with items you need (toiletries, chargers, international SIM, passport, etc.) and don’t remove them. When you return from a trip, replenish consumable items which need replacing. If you travel less often, keep these bits in a bag under your bed, ready to throw into your travel bag next time you go away
2. Ever pulled panties out of your bag instead of your hairbands?
Use bags like these to divide your clothes or these to divide items in your handbag to lessen time rifling through your bag. They also mean you don’t have to unpack on arrival at your hotel room if you’re only there for a night or two – you know your skirts are in the orange bag, so no need to keep them in the drawer
3. Buy yourself a portable charger. You can find a variety of chargers to suit your needs – some which can charge multiple devices (laptop, phone, tablet), which fit into your handbag, and some you can wear. Airports often don’t have accessible charging ports. No excuses for missing that important call, then!
4. Don’t search for hotels by city. Instead, search by the address of where you’ll be during the day. This allows you to maximise proximity and beauty sleep while minimising stress and time when navigating the morning rush hour in a new city.
At the Airport.
5. When checking in, ask the attendant to stick a “fragile” sticker on your hold luggage. Your luggage is more likely to be kept on top and will be one of the first bags off the plane. It’s not totally dishonest either – lacy underwear could be described as “fragile” – if not by most airlines’ definitions…
6. Use the tedious pre-flight time to make the most of the facilities you’d never usually use. You can enjoy a spa treatment, exfoliate away that dead skin and paint those neglected nails. Or go to a tanning salon so your friends believe your stories about spending days in Sao Paolo out on the sun loungers (rather than the truth of spending them inside sun-deprived boardrooms).
7. Internet access is the Second Coming of business travel – it’s promised, but we’ve yet to get it – at least to the standard required. Make sure you have reliable Wi-Fi on planes and in airports throughout the world. Subscribe to services like Boingo or Tep – they connect you in a million places across the world. You can also sign up to a global Wi-fi Pass (e.g. WorldSim)
8. If internet access is impossible or unnecessary, make the most of a rare moment without internet and interruptions. Read a book (pre-downloaded to your Kindle, of course, to save room in your bag), or improve your memory and concentration with brain games like Sudoku which require your undivided attention!
At your destination.
9. Huge queue for the taxis on arrival? Make for the cabs dropping people off at departures – you can pick up the cabs newly unloaded of passengers, without any competition. Yes, it’s less thrill than elbowing past your fellow passengers to be first in line for the taxis, but unless departures are miles away from arrivals (e.g. at a different terminal), you should get to your hotel faster.
10. Use travel-time to sort through your over-filled handbag. Filter through the important receipts you want to keep and discard the ones that only act as evidence of your coffee addiction. You’d be amazed at what you’ll find! By the time you disembark, your bag will be noticeably lighter, easier to organise, and you might have rediscovered that lipstick you thought you’d lost.
So there we have it! Which tips will you be implementing first? And more importantly, how will you fill the time you have saved? Let us know on Twitter @maiden_voyage
Further Reading
Travelling for business can be stressful and draining, as we struggle to deal with hours spent travelling, time zone changes and any number of delays and inconveniences.
That’s why we’ve teamed up with aromatherapy specialists Scentered. They’ve written this guide for all the women who are bossing it on the go.
Scentered co-founder Lara Morgan knows all about the drain of business travel; during her last year as CEO of Pacific Direct she spent over two hundred nights away from home, and on more than one occasion had to open the hotel curtains to figure out which country she had woken up in. Waking up in different time zones, attending meetings, struggling with jet lag and exhaustion and trying to also maintain a normal home life can take its toll.
Scentered is a brand born from the need to remain “Scentered” amid the chaos and fatigue, and to claw back just that little bit of time and space for oneself. Here are our tips for staying Scentered when travelling for business:
- Stay hydrated. When we’re out of our normal routine – or if we don’t have a regular routine – drinking water can be the first thing that slips. Air travel in particular can really dehydrate us; a typical cabin has around 10-20% humidity, compared with a typical level of 30-65% at home. Being dehydrated can leave us feeling even more tired and drained. Try to keep a bottle of water with you at all times, and aim to keep up that magical two litres per day even while on the road.
- Travelling for business can be exhausting, and heading to the hotel gym is often the last thing on our minds after we finally check in. But staying active can be key to staying on top of things. If you can’t bear the hotel gym, do some bodyweight exercises in your hotel room or even just head out for a quick walk before breakfast.
- Bring an Ultimate Survival Kit to help you unwind. This 100% natural aromatherapy balm kit was created by Lara to help her stay calm on a really hectic schedule. We recommend using Sleep Well while on a flight – not just to sleep, but also help you to remain calm. Sleeping in hotel beds can be strange and uncomfortable, with unfamiliar surroundings and noises. Often we’re so wired from the journey that it can be hard to unwind and relax, especially if there is a time difference to take into account. Again, Sleep Well balm can work wonders here. Our Love balm is great for those moments when you’re missing home and want to feel comforted. For that all-important meeting, some Focus balm on your pulse points can really help you stay concentrated despite the effects of jet lag. And the Escape balm is perfect for winding down after a long day in a strange place.
- Keep a regular schedule. If you’ve arrived late or your first meeting is not until the afternoon it can be tempting to sleep in, but this won’t work well for you in the long term. Our bodies function best when we stick to the same routine daily, so set your alarm any way, and you’ll find you adjust more quickly to the time zone you’ve just arrived in.
- Avoid alcohol. You might feel like a party pooper if everyone else is heading to a bar after a meeting, but alcohol can really intensify that groggy feeling you get from hopping time zones or from extended time spent travelling. You might feel like having a drink will take the edge off your stress level, but in the long run it will make you feel worse. And nobody wants to get up the next day for a meeting – or worse, to travel home – with a hangover.
- Avoid watching the in-flight movie. It’s tempting to just zone out in front of a screen while on a flight, especially if it’s a long one. But all that time looking at a screen can leave you wired and unable to relax when you arrive at your hotel. Read a book or listen to music instead.
- Bring your own food for the flight. You’re never going to get a gourmet, healthy meal on a plane, and once you’re up in the air the choice is either the microwave meal they put in front of you, or nuts. Come prepared with a salad wherever you can; you’ll feel the benefit, especially if you travel regularly.
- Schedule in time for you. If you’ve a meeting on a Monday, fly in on the Friday so that you have time over the weekend to acclimatise, and to relax. You can use this time as a relaxing break so that you’ve had time to yourself before you have to attend a meeting and then fly out again.
If you travel a lot for business, there will always be times when you feel run down and fed up. Lara’s experience has taught her that the answer to frazzle-free business travel is prevention rather than cure: small things that can work together to help you perform your best and return home ready for the next challenge.