To California in Seven Days

I am so very, very sorry, dear readers, that it has taken me this long to update my blog. It all started with a trip to San Diego…and as such, this blog will be devoted to travel fashion!

I went to San Diego to visit my cousin for Spring Break (I still get one of those because I’m a teacher, for those of you who don’t know). When I fly, I have what I call my “traveling uniform.” Everyone should have one of these, though they can vary from person to person. I, for example, want to be comfortable, but I also tend to get cold. Then I take into account the weather at the airport I leave from and the one that I arrive at, and the fact that I can’t have anything metal on my person when I get body-scanned (which is soooo much fun, by the way). I also hate being barefoot, particularly in areas where a lot of other people have walked barefoot, like the gym, or the airport security line. As a result, I’ve come up with a basic outfit that keeps me comfortable and generally doesn’t set off any alarms.

   1.    A comfortable dress or tunic in a jersey-type material. I want something that doesn’t wrinkle and is long enough to cover my ass without getting bunched up around my waist when I sit for too long.

   2.     Leggings or jeggings (preferably leggings). Again, I want

    something comfortable, but cute. Leggings are preferred when I’m going somewhere warm, like California, or returning to the New Orleans Airport. That way I can just take them off when I get to my destination.

   3.     Boots (or booties) and socks. I HATE being barefoot at airport security – it’s just gross. Boots I can pull off are just as easy to deal with as tennis shoes.

   4.     A lightweight cardigan for when the plane is too cold that I can remove when it gets warm.

   5.     A lightweight scarf for the same reason. 

None of these items have any metal on them (except for perhaps the boots) and I don’t generally wear jewelry when I fly so that it doesn’t confuse the machines. When I left San Diego, I wore a comfortable dress with a big zipper down the back, which confused the scanner. I'm sorry - if it's so dumb that it can't recognized a zipper on a dress, it's not smart enough for widespread use.

If I really don’t want to wear boots after I arrive at the airport, I just bring cute heels or wedges that I can change into after, and then I’m good to go! For example, I wore this awesome stripped-down travel uniform all day today, and all I did was drive to the next town.

 

 

Until next time! I promise it won’t be so long – travel threw me off, and then finals and final grades made me a hermit that did nothing but grade for three weeks straight. It won't happen again! Kisses!

Dress - from Change Clothes Consignment Boutique

Wedges - Pink Studio from Obsession Boutique

Earrings and Bracelet - from Ruby Boutique

Leggings - from Target

Boots - from Ruby Boutique

Cardigan - Alternative from Ruby Boutique

Scarf - from American Apparel

Suitcase - from Samsonite

Clutches and Handbags

So those of you that know me may have observed that I generally carry a giant bag. This is due to the fact that unfortunately, as an English teacher, I have to carry at least some of my work with me nearly everywhere I go. However, I can appreciate tiny little bags too (in fact, I wish I could carry them instead of my “suitcase”).

I saw this today and thought, “Wow! That would be so awesome – I want one!” I love the idea of a clutch disguised as a book - it appeals to my intellectual side in addition to my fashionable one (though not as much to my fashionable side).

More info about these "book clutches" here.

Granted, I’m also an English nerd (as you may have noticed – if not, it’s okay – I’m good at fooling people). Would you carry a novelty purse/clutch like this? I think it’s super amazing, particularly the Dracula version, but I’m not sure that I would ever actually carry it as a purse (though I might as a wallet). I actually use a clutch as a wallet – it’s the roomiest clutch I’ve ever seen. See? 

(please forgive its rather ratty appearance – I’ve had it for a couple of years now)

This is my favorite clutch, though – it’s small, but also large enough to carry all of the crap that I find myself thinking is absolutely necessary for a night out.

Ultimately, I think that a clutch should be sleek, but unique (Ha! I rhymed! Totally unintentional). It’s one reason I love this one: it’s a nice, square shape and a great neutral gray, but it’s subtle pattern and the detailing make it something that you’re not likely to see out and about more than once. That being said, I’ve got a slim black one that I rather like, but as it’s my most basic one (read: boring), I don’t use it often.

I also have this great vintage one that my grandmother carried – this one doesn’t come out often, but it’s still super cool, I think. That's all bead work, believe it or not.

And sadly, there will be no fun and awesome outfit tonight, since I'm already in my pajamas. I promise to have one posted later this week, though. I hope you enjoyed this post, despite it's lack of fashionable clothes. Kisses!