Your Travel Wardrobe's Staples

Packing. It can be a four-letter word for some. What do you take? What do you leave at home? How big a suitcase do you need? While you want to be comfortable, unless you’re trekking around the Outback, you probably don’t want to be seen in zip-off pants and hiking boots. Dressing like a traveler will only put a big target on your back that screams “tourist”. It’s always nice not to be pegged as an easy mark the second you step off the plane. You can still be stylish while being relaxed. In fact, you can find things right in your closet to coordinate with other versatile items to pack in your carry-on. You can pack light and look great.

Bring your new favorite jeans

Look for denim with stretch that will be comfy to wear on the plane and walking around all day (and after you’ve eaten way too much five days in a row). This is not the time to skimp on a pair of jeans. Get a high-quality pair that will look amazing on you and last for a long time. James Jeans and Hudson make great stretch skinnies that hug your curves in the right way and pack easily without taking up as much room as your regular denim. You can wear them with anything and they can be dressed up with the right shoes and accessories. You’ll love them so much you’ll want to wear them all the time. And you will!

Basic black always works 

Black pants are a fab travel staple. They don’t show dirt and you can find them in any fabric you like. Rayon is perfect, because it is lightweight and resists wrinkles. Linen is great option for tropical climates. You can even find your favorite khaki pants in black. These also can be dressed up or down, depending on what you wear with them. Pretty much everything matches a pair of black pants, which means you only need to bring one pair.

Blaze a trail 

Sure, you could bring a fleece with you, but in some destinations the locals wouldn’t be caught dead in such a thing. Blazers work for jeans, trousers, skirts and dresses. You always look sharp and put-together when you throw a blazer on, even over a basic tank or t-shirt. Not only will you be trendy, but it also doubles as a jacket if it starts to get chilly.

Look to the trees 

Everyone loves a t-shirt and they are always acceptable. Leave your cotton tees at home in favor of those made of bamboo or soy. They are softer, keep their shape, dry quickly and they don’t hold odor, so even when you don’t have time to do laundry, your clothes won’t smell like it.

It’s a classic

Just like you have your favorite LBD at home, you will want one on the road. Travel dresses come in all shapes and sizes and you’re going to want to find one you love, because it will go everywhere with you. While you may be tempted to pull a dress from your closet in this case, think about how wrinkle-resistant, moisture-wicking and breathable it will be. You can find a huge range of styles, prices and brands on sites like Backcountry and REI.

Layer it on

If you’re like me, a good number of pieces in your closet are cardigans and cover-ups of some kind. The ¾ sleeve cardi can be your best friend on travels. It guards against chills and can be thrown over t-shirts and tanks. Bring one or two in neutrals that will match the other items you’ve packed and you can make more outfits out of fewer pieces.

Step it up 

Walking shoes are a must when you travel, but that doesn’t mean you have to wear trainers that make you stand out like a sore thumb. There are more walking shoes out there than ever now and many probably come from some of your favorite brands. A nice pair of sandals or ballet flats can go with everything from shorts to dresses and won’t get you kicked out a fancy restaurant like a clunky pair of sneakers will. Plus, this way you don’t have to choose between fashion and function.

When you have a handful of versatile pieces in your carry-on, it doesn’t take too many others to complete your packing list. Coordinating items enables you to pack less and still maximize your outfit options. You’ll be stylish and, as long as you’re not walking around with your nose stuck in a guide book or map, no one will ever think you’re a tourist. When you get asked for directions by other visitors, you’ll know you’ve really blended in with the locals.

What are your favorite travel staples?

How To Do the Airport Right

Okay, so apparently everyone but me hates the airport and having to go through the rigmarole of security and gate queuing like sheep. I view these as necessary speed bumps to the awesome trip I'm heading to. I think it's kinda fun, because I can people watch and shop cool stores and check out all the fancy luggage everyone has. If you hate the airport too and want to do it better, here is a fun infographic with useful tips from toggl.

What's your best tip for making the airport less annoying? Mine is to pack in just a carry-on, so you don't check a bag that might very well get lost, plus you won't have to pay for it!

Lojel Nimbus: The Waterproof Carry-On

Living in Portland, there's a good chance you're going to leave the house and get poured on. It rains quite a bit here, which is why investing in a rain jacket is kind of a must. We don't let it get us down, or stop us from doing anything, even traveling. Unfortunately, if I'm waiting outside for my Uber or the MAX to get to the airport, my regular carry-on is going to get drenched. Considering most bags are fabric, ending up with a soggy carry-on is going to see some damp clothing and that's not exactly fun when you make it to your destination, especially if it results in gross smelling items that you then have to wash before you can wear them...or it ruins something important, like an electronic device. 

Lojel has many innovative bags, but none caught my attention as much as the Nimbus waterproof roller bag. It is a flexible "hard"side bag with four spinner wheels that can help your trips go a lot smoother (see what I did there?), especially if you are headed to a rainy destination, like Portland or London. The bag claims to be rainproof for up to 6 hours, so I wanted to test it out in a ridiculous situation, because honestly, you probably aren't going to get caught out in the rain for 6 hours with your bag. 

I grabbed a handful of towels and packed them in the bag, zipped it up and put it outside in the rain for 3 hours. It rained off and on and then the sun came out and I left it out there for another hour. The grass was a bit high, so it was covering the zipper on the bottom of the bag, keeping it wet the whole time.

The rain puddled on the bag for a while before I dried it off and brought it inside. The leaves, grass and pollen just wiped off, leaving it looking brand new. I then unzipped it and checked all the towels and the inside of the waterproof zippers. It was cold, but the towels and every part of the bag inside was completely dry. Success! 

The Nimbus is technically a hardside bag, but the shell has a bit of flex to it. It makes it lighter weight than other hardside bags. That outside is anti-scratch, so even after a bunch of travel, your bag doesn't look like you threw it down the stairs, which it could if you let the baggage handlers touch it. All the parts of the bag are watertight and the handles of the bag (including the top, side and telescopic pull handle) are all kinda squishy, which makes them good for the rainy weather and also for comfort. 

The inside of the bag has two large compartments. One with the traditional tie-down straps (which are unique in their own right) and one with a zipper mesh pocket. You also get a little attached zipper pouch you can use for smaller items: jewelry, scarves, adapter plugs, belts. You know I love those little extras.

Okay, let's talk about how I love these tie-down straps. For one, they aren't all separate, so you don't lose one under your carefully-packed clothing. Two, they are brightly colored, making them easy to see. Three, they have this fancy way to pull it tight and also loosen, which you can do/undo with just one hand, but it's still crazy effective. Easy luggage is the best!

I'm off to the beach in a few weeks, so I packed everything I'd need for two of us for a three-day weekend and still had room to spare. I packed undies, socks and toiletries in the top section and all our other clothing in the bottom section. You never know what the weather will be like, so I had to pack warm weather and cooler weather clothes for layering. There's always a large chance that there will be crazy wind and sideways rain on the Oregon coast, so this bag will be perfect.

If you're one of the people who like to lock their bag, then this TSA-approved lock will be fantastic for you. Choose your own 3-digit code and click the zippers into the lock. The one-button release is easy as well, so you can quickly get to all your stuff. 

photo credit: Lojel.com

Lojel rigorously tests all their products making sure they are bringing you the best travel bag possible. They've dropped, tumbled, picked up and zipped and unzipped this bag more than you probably ever will, so you know it's going to last you. It also comes with a 10-year warranty.

Now, I love the orange details on this bag. Nobody's going to see it and mistake it for their bag. It's really pretty to me, but if you are against a bit of a Halloween vibe, you can also get this bag in solid black. There might be other color options in the future. I'm looking forward to all the compliments I'm going to get on it though.

Other specs

Where to buy: On the Lojel website or Amazon

How much it is: $238+

Size: 21 3/4" x 14 1/2" x 9 1/4" (It is categorized as 19 1/2")

Other stuff: Double spinner wheels, just 5.7 lbs, has a 35L inside capacity, made of Advance polycarbonate (making it super strong), comes with a bag cover for storage at home.

Check out Lojel's other products, which you're going to love, and then follow them online:

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Disclosure: I was provided with the Lojel Nimbus for the purposes of this review, but all opinions are 100% my own.