Fashion Friday :: Made for Walkin'

[trip style = urban]

Fashion Friday posts are published on the last Friday of every month by fashion blogger Heather.

Is anything more important than comfortable shoes when you're traveling? I can't tell you how many times I've regretted the shoes I packed when I valued style over comfort. Even though it is a great excuse to buy a new pair on the road...

I recently bought a pair of John Fluevog Hannah boots (shown at top left) and I've barely taken them off. They're the most comfortable boots I've ever owned and definitely Trip Styler approved! These booties are perfect for quick escapes to New York and Portland, and I know I'll be wearing them on the cobblestone streets of Europe next year. Style and comfort together in the same shoe---it's possible!

Trip Styler Tip: If you tend to pack shoes for style over comfort like I sometimes do, remember to bring a stick of Band-Aid Friction Block to avoid blisters {also available in generic form at your favorite drug store}.

Fluevogs are designed in Vancouver, BC in a studio overlooking their flagship store in one of the most striking retail spaces in the city. They're known for their durability, customer service and unique styles. They've been making some killer contemporary shoes lately and I suspect I'll become one of their many loyal customers. And since I live in Vancouver, it's great to know that I'm buying local.

{Editor's Note :: I spent some time with John Fluevog and his lovely wife in Africa four years ago while at a wedding in Nairobi. He is an extraordinarily gracious, well traveled (and well dressed, obviously) gent in case you're interested in the face behind the shoe!}

Now What To Choose?
Women (clockwise from top left)
Hannah, Astern, Malcolm, Impel, Cha Cha, Paglia, Boogie Woogie, Ard, Wizard

Men (descending from top right)
Wynn, Soros, Kashmir

More Fashion Friday
Life's a Beach
Falling for Portland
Runway Style

[shoes via John Fluevog]

Fashion Friday :: Life's a Beach

[trip style = sun + beach]

{Fashion Friday posts are published on the last Friday of every month by fashion blogger Heather.}

My Instagram feed has been filled with images of first snow this week from friends across the country. I imagine after a few mornings scraping their windshields, the novelty has worn off and those friends are already online bookmarking tropical destinations, hoping to swap their parkas for pareos and their boots for bikinis.

Even on the rainy West Coast, I'm dreaming of trading my umbrella for a tiny drink umbrella, preferably in a coconut, at a swim up bar, surrounded by surfers who speak very little English. Before I get carried away with an Ally McBeal-style daydream, I must remind you that the perfect styles for your sunny getaway are on sale now. And it makes sense that if you buy the perfect sandals or swim trunks now, you'll just have to find somewhere to wear them soon...right?!

Now What To Buy? Women (clockwise from top left) Rodebjer petite swimsuit {sale!}, We Are Handsome dutch frilled swimsuit {sale!}, Heidi Merrick carp tunic {sale!}, Osborn sandalia black sandal {sale!}, Miu Miu plunge-front swimsuit, Topshop chunky oversize sunglasses, Target braided hat, Madewell toe-strap boardwalk sandal, Zimmermann frill rash guard {sale!}, Lemlem bella patio dress

Men (clockwise from middle) Warriors of Radness coastal trunk {sale!}, Wings + Horns shorts {sale!}, Filippa K t-shirt {sale!}, Warriors of Radness renegade pullover {sale!}

More Fashion Friday Romantic Caribbean Resort Wear Falling for Portland Runway Style

Crush :: Clare Vivier Carryalls

[trip style = any]

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We love Clare Vivier handbags at Trip Styler HQ. I've toted one of her Italian leather bags around the world with me for the past two years, and multiple countries and climates later, it's still taught, structured and fabulous. {...And capable of fitting a water bottle, my MacBook Air, iPhone, pashmina, documents, magazines and a pair of flats into its seemingly exponential space!}

The LA-based purse designer's casual and cultured cases, clutches and carryalls go beyond the typical black and brown leather staples, and invite women {and men} into a kaleidoscope of color year-round with bold hues like melon, charcoal navy and lava pebble.

Her colors are cool and designs dapper, but it's the functionality we adore too. Working in French television, Vivier noticed a lack of functional yet stylish laptop cases, so she took matters into her own hands, and a few years later her bags are worn by Fancophiles and Cali gals from coast to coast. And herein lies our love for the brand, so many of her bags perform double-duty---aka a laptop case doubling as a clutch---an e-s-s-e-n-t-i-a-l for travel fashion.

Our Fave Double-Duty Bags 1/ flat clutch, 11.5" x 7, $143 2/ foldover clutch, 11.5 x 11.5", $156 3/ oversized clutch, 17" x 11.5", $191 4/ grand pochette, 5.75" x 9", $173 *Use each to store a netbook, iPad or laptop by day, and as a clutch by night.

Find Clare Vivier handbags online, at the Vivier and Bentley Store in Silver Lake, CA {a stand-alone store opening up later this month} or in Canada at Holt Renfrew.

[photos sourced online via claire vivier]

Fashion Friday :: Oh Mr. Sun

{Fashion Friday posts are published on the last Friday of every month by fashion blogger Heather.}

Did you hear the news? After 10 seasons, CSI Miami has been cancelled. Which means no more Horatio Caine famously taking off his sunglasses and delivering crime-fighting one-liners. This post isn't about CSI or Miami, but it is about sunglasses---the accessory/travel necessity where fashion truly meets function.

The aviator will always be in style, and so will the classic wayfarer, which made a huge comeback in the past few years and remains the highest-selling style in history. But sunglasses are also about trends, such as the oversized face-covering Olsen twins-style shades that once graced the face of every girl you know. More recently, the style du jour---for men and women---has shifted to round, flat top and cat eye shapes, as well as a wider color palette beyond black and tortoise.

Trip Styler tip: Whip out your zinc! The recent popularity of neon 90s neoprene zip-up swimsuits has signaled the comeback of the sunglasses cord!

Now What To Buy?
Men (clockwise from far left) Quay Eyewear flatbrow sunglasses, Retrosuperfuture wayfarer sunglasses, None the Wiser round sunglasses, Marc By Marc Jacobs aviator sunglasses, Warby Parker griffin sunglasses, Le Specs digital nomad round sunglasses

Women (clockwise from far right) Asos keyhole sunglasses, Asos metal top keyhole round sunglasses, Asos metal half frame cat eye sunglasses, Asos flat top round sunglasses, Asos mix frame cat eye sunglasses, Xhilaration round blue sunglasses, Xhilaration pink wayfarer sunglasses, Warby Parker x Suno wendel sunglasses, Asos rose gold aviator sunglasses, Karen Walker harvest sunglasses

More Fashion Friday
Spring in San Francisco
Spring In Your Step
Scarf Tying 101Celeb
Travel Must-Haves
November in New York

[img by @heatherlovesit]

Fashion Friday :: Tribal Inspiration

{Editor's Note: Next week, May 2-6, Trip Styler will be conducting "research" in Australia while living like a castaway and hanging with turtles on the Great Barrier Reef. We're back at it the following week with our regularly scheduled content, and each Friday in May we'll feature a different destination on Australia's East Coast. Find out more about my Australia trip here.}

"If the mountain won't come to Mohammed, then Mohammed must go to the mountain."

Or, in spirit of this month's Fashion Friday, Mohammed must go shopping. {Bear with me!} One of my favourite things about travel is shopping. Not shopping as a pastime, but shopping for special items native to the country or region I'm visiting. Often nothing is more treasured in one's closet or home than items purchased around the world. But if you love a style, and can't get to the source (say...Africa), a substitute is acceptable. This month's post is dedicated to travel-inspired tribal fashion, which is the perfect easy-breezy look for spring and summer, both at home or abroad.

Trip Styler Tip: If an all-over tribal print is too "Hello world!" for you, go for bright fabric bangles or a bold printed handbag instead. A great thing about tribal prints is that they tend to be medium-sized graphics; tiny prints can make you look bigger, while large prints can end up wearing you and not the other way around. Fellas, tribal prints aren't just for the beach - go tribal under a blazer or denim shirt this spring.

Now what to buy? Women (clockwise from top left) Forever 21 tribal drawings linen jacket, We Are Owls tribal cashmere and silk blend scarf, Lauren Manoogian hoop necklaces, Pepe Jeans silk printed dress, Felicity Brown tribal print tank, Forever 21 tribal cuffed short, Marc by Marc Jacobs frida flag dress, Theodora & Callum biarritz wedge sandal, Mat & Nat santogold handbag, House of Harlow 1960 tribal drop earring, Loeffler Randall x Suno erin lace-up wedge, Karen Millen tribal print clutch

Men (from bottom left) Burkman Bros oxford ikat short, Vilebrequin tribal art swim short, ASOS front panel printed tank, American Apparel afrika fine jersey t-shirt, Burkman Bros india ikat pullover

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