TIPS FOR MEN ON HOW TO TRAVEL IN STYLE
Travel and style are two things we often don't think about together. Most airports today look like they're hosting an adult slumber party. Pillows and pajamas are everywhere.
Not only do people never look good while traveling, but once they reach their destination, they also found out they packed incorrectly, their clothes are wrinkled, and they look underdressed.
We can fix all that. I travel a lot for both clients and a bit of fun, so here is a list of tips on what and how to travel while retaining a sense of style.
Fabric is key
There are certain items and fabrics that are made to travel, such as this jacket, that are incredibly lightweight and wrinkle resistant. Try to find items like this that are made for travel. A jacket like that has multiple use cases and can pair easily.
Stretch material works wonders for this. When I travel, I try to wear jeans from brands like 7 For All Mankind or Paige that have a ton of stretch fiber built in. They wrinkle far less, and you'll be just as comfortable in those as the pajama crowd, but look 100x better.
Knitwear generally also works well for travel - items that have a little give to them tend to crease less, like this shirt I'm wearing today.
Wool, in general, is a great traveling fabric. It will wrinkle much less than fabric like cotton or linen. Plus, it's very insulating, meaning it works great in not just cold weather, but hot weather as well. I use wool where possible when traveling, specifically packing things like lightweight sweaters and polos that I can layer items on top of if needed.
By the way, it's much better to pack more lightweight layers rather than fewer heavier layers. If you get the weather forecasting wrong, it's much easier to figure out if you can add or remove those light layers.
Pack pieces that pair
You want to pack items that pair well. The items should have a lot of range, meaning they can be worn with tons of other items. An example of this is a pair of white leather sneakers, as these can be paired with lots of items for lots of occasions. When I travel, these are always in the suitcase.
You also want to stick to grayscale colors as these pair the best (if you don't know much about color pairing, start here) Aim for blacks, grays, and whites with minimal patterns or branding so they have the best chance of pairing with other items.
Finally, think about diversifying. Instead of bringing five tees and one jacket, try breaking that up with different types of items, such as a polo, a sweater, a long sleeve henley, and a couple of different jackets. The goal is to have a number of items ready for whenever and whatever happens, not just put the same outfit on repeat.
Wear darker colors
Traveling is a messy job. You have the dirt and grim of airports, planes, Ubers, and just general metropolitan gunk. Wearing lighter colors invites everyone to take note of all that.
Dark colors hide the bad stuff, simple as that. Plus, they're slimming and don't show wrinkles as much. It's why most people in major European cities are always found wearing darker colors.
Pack like a pro
Hard shell luggage is key. Packing your stuff in a backpack or duffle is a guaranteed way to make sure your clothing looks like a wrinkled mess by the time you land. I use this Rimowa carry-on, and will hopefully have this thing for most of my life. Good luggage is wildly underrated, especially if you travel frequently.
When packing, if you want to minimize wrinkles, you have to minimize folds. I know lots of people advocate rolling your clothing, but I've never been able to make that work. It always tends to make things look worse, at least for me. Instead, I now try only to do a single fold, folding most of my stuff in half, then putting it in the bag. As simple as that. Minimal folds, minimal wrinkles.
Footwear takes up the most room, so I try never to bring large items like boots, and I typically bring shoes that will easily pair with everything else.
A lot of people like traveling with a steamer. I have before, but I find that carrying around a small spray bottle like this works better; filling it with hot water, and then misting your clothing while simultaneously "petting" out the wrinkles. It's much easier to travel with.
Make sure to bring enough socks and underwear (I'm bad a this) in all black or gray and stuff them in your shoes. And always bring a bathing suit just in case (have something like this that can double as a pair of shorts).
Other random tips
Always wear a jacket to the airport. The extra storage a lightweight jacket provides is a huge benefit when you're running around. I wear something like this a lot for casual travel.
You need TSA Precheck. It's non-negotiable if you fly more than once per year. It's insane to me people won't pay $25-$100 a YEAR to skip that line.
You can always buy things when you arrive, so don't overpack and don't worry too much about leaving things behind.
Cheap sunglasses are better than expensive ones when traveling. I've lost one too many pairs in transit, and it's not worth the risk.
Don't check a bag if you don't have to. It's a waste of time. I've traveled in Europe for a month at a time with a single carry-on. It will force you to really think through what you're bringing.
Always carry a charger like this so you can get everything charged at the same time, and ideally, carry a battery bank like this. You never know when something will get delayed, and you don't have access to an outlet.
Experiment with your style more when you travel. No one knows you. You don't have to worry about "being yourself" as much, so try something a bit more "out there" and fashion-forward, especially if you're going to a place like New York or London. No matter, what, you'll feel underdressed anyway.
P.S. If you're thinking about working 1-on-1 with me, I've made you a little video here walking you through what the process looks like. Have a look.
