Blog — Trip Styler
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Fashion Friday :: Après Ski

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fashion friday :: apres ski[trip style = ski]

{Editor's Note: We're taking some time off over the Christmas holiday. I wish I could say time away as in staying in a glass-bottomed hut in French Polynesia, but not this year. We'll be back with regular posts January 4th. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!}

Friends of mine from California and Washington travel to Whistler every January. Unlike most mountain visitors, they don't ski and they don't snowboard - they "après". And these girls are serious about their après.

If you Google "après ski", you'll mostly find photos of women in ski suits and bikini tops. Unless you were an extra during the filming of classic ski films like Ski Patrol or Aspen Extreme, you've probably never seen these bikini-clad après skiers - at least this side of 1992.

There are a couple popular settings for après ski (which literally translates to "after skiing") - straight off the slopes on the patio, still in your gear, or inside the bar or hotel lounge, showered and changed into smart, casual and cozy clothes that will carry you straight to dinner. You want to be comfortable, but it's après, so you want to be noticed, right? Picture Jim Carrey in Dumb and Dumber. (Just kidding.)

Now what to pack? (clockwise from top left) Aritzia Wilfred Free vintage fleece striped sweater, Aritzia T.Babaton silk cashmere tie cardigan, Vince sequin front sweatshirt, L.A.M.B. dolman sweater dress, Canada Goose kensington parka, Rag & Bone eleanor pants, Rag & Bone mallory lace-up ankle boots, Burberry double faced cashmere scarf, toque and gloves, Sorel torino waterproof boots, Super francis basic sunglasses (at Vincent Park), Free People cable beanie, Aritzia Wilfred leopard scarf

Note: Designers love coming out with moon boots or mukluk-style furry boots. Unless you'll be spending time in Moscow this winter, just say no. And while we're talking boots, yes - it is acceptable to wear Uggs on a ski vacation.

{Fashion Friday posts are published on the last Friday of every month and written by our resident fashion consultant Heather.}

Travel Trends :: Checkpoint-Friendly Carry-Ons

checkpoint-friendly carry-onsRecently I've seen a lot of hoopla about checkpoint-friendly carry-ons {think dual-compartment lap top bag or briefcase, just a little bigger}. What's ironic about the trend is that people have been leaping across latitudes with laptops for years. Furthermore, people have had to separately scan their computers from the rest of their luggage for awhile too, so your guess is as good as mine why there's been a resurgence in a carry-ons with an external lap top pocket as a travel must---aside from most airlines now charging for checked baggage, unless you're travelling Air Canada, West Jet or Jet Blue.

Security-Friendly Carry-Ons Briggs and Riley If you want a well-made, timeless piece of luggage with a lifetime guarantee, turn to Briggs and Riley. Their luggage is on the top end of the luggage price spectrum, but there's something to be said for quality over quantity. Case in point, their 20" upright includes a SpeedThru™ removable laptop case, as well as storage areas for files, clothing and toiletries. Cost: $449

International Traveller International Traveller makes a lot of different suitcases, but their most ingenius line is the lightweight IT-Ø-2. With their ultra-light carry-on suitcase weighing less than 6 lbs {which gives you an extra 20lbs of packing weight by most airlines' carry-on standards), this spacious and lightweight bag has two external pockets for items like travel docs and a laptop. Cost: $339.99 {4-piece set}.

Longchamp If you're looking for style, try Longchamp's Veau Foulonne brown leather, 2-wheel upright. With a big front pocket for a lap top and toiletries storage, this bag is also functional. I'm a fan. Cost: Approx. $600 - $800

Here's to your items flying quickly and seamlessly through security!

5 Travel-Friendly Treats

travel-friendly treatsWhether it's turbulence, a harrowing landing, a delayed flight or lost bags, sometimes you need a little treat when you're traveling. When the going gets tough in the air or on the ground (believe it or not I don't love flying), I usually listen to my songs of the islands playlist and grab a petite treat to keep me from getting too stressed!

Petite & Packable Travel Treats Space Ice Cream Ice cream that never melts? You better believe it. Perfect as a treat for you or your kiddles on a short or long flight. Freeze-dried ice cream was developed for astronauts to enjoy a bit of the good life while in space. Back in the old days, I used to eat this stuff on hiking trips with my dad. I thought it was an '80s fad, apparently the fad is back.

All-Natural Licorice Even though this all-natural licorice isn't super healthy, as in banana or apple healthy, it's better than most candies made out of crazy refined sugars and chemicals. Chew on this when you want a little pick-me-up.

Cupcakes in a Jar This dessert is the epitome of a decadent travel treat. Developed by a UK mom who was experimenting with portion control, gDesserts' cupcakes travel well, are the ultimate in-flight treat and are the perfect gift for your friend in _____. If you're not going to be in the UK anytime soon, why not try a DIY batch for your next vacay?

Tic Tacs The taste of orange tic tacs cannot be rivaled. Who's with me on this? Aside from the orange smoothie-like taste, the size is oh so travel friendly and the amount is perfect for a full day of travel---or if you're like me, an hour on the plane.

Gum Discreetly chewing gum tends to help me calm down a little in the air, and unblock my ears. Also, gum gives you a {faux} sugar boost without the calories of candy or cakes! Most importantly, it helps keep your breath fresh when you haven't been able to brush your teeth. I never travel without gum.

Travel Apps :: Flightcaster

flightcaster travel appPredict your next US flight delay before it is even delayed! With the flightcaster app you can look into your flight's future and figure out the likelihood of a delay so you can enjoy more time in ______. This app's claim to fame is that it can anticipate if a flight will be delayed before the airline is even aware due to "an advanced algorithm that scours data on every domestic flight for the past 10 years and matches it to real-time conditions."

Punch in your upcoming (today or tomorrow) US domestic flight into the app to find out reasons for a delay or on-time prediction as well as the estimated departure and arrival time. {Trip Styler Tip: If you don't want to pay $1.99 usd for the app, just use your smartphone's browser and navigate to flightcaster.com to perform the same functions for free.}

Details

  • $1.99 usd
  • works with iPhone, iTouch, iPad, Blackberry
  • only works with US domestic flights

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Other Travel Apps We’ve Reviewed

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Overnighting at Versailles

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versaille + hotel[trip style = luxury]

If you've ever visited the former home palace of France's many Louis the... Kings, you know it's lavish, lovely and lush.There's no shabby in Versailles' version of chic.

For those of you who prefer a more luxurious trip style, this hotel-to-be is for you...

Fit for a King It was just announced last week that a private Belgian company will turn part of Versailles into a hotel as part of an initiative by France's Culture and Tourism Ministers for the economic and touristic development of French Heritage Sites. Slated to open at the end of 2011 {likely meaning 2012} the project will see a 23-room luxe hotel contructed in the existing Hotel du Grand Controle, the old site of the Chateau's treasurers.

Nitty-Gritty The renovation process is only estimated to cost 7.3 million. I say only, because by today's standards that's not much money when you're talking about a high-end hotel's {extensive} renovations. And while we're on the topic of finances, the future hotel's nightly rates have not yet been released, but it's likely they'll be akin to any removed boutique hotel near or part of an oft-visited monument. Expensive.

Either way, I wouldn't mind staying in a lesser version of the 17th-century French Monarchs' unrestrained excess at Versailles. Maybe the hotel will feature nightly galas with period costumes as the dress code? If so, I'm in.

[Via France24 & USA Today Travel]

[photo by buggolo]