(Title meant to be sung to “Everyday I’m Hustlin.” FYI.)
Given all of my recent travel, I have gone through about 1,000 quart-sized plastic baggies in order to make my way through security. I then discovered these adorable pouches from Truffle ($32):
I’m obsessed. Reusable, TSA-approved, colorful, and chic all at once. I’m also intrigued by buying the clutches ($42 for small; $46 for large):
Other travel essentials? First and foremost: a Tumi expandable roll-a-board ($700). These things are seriously sturdy and are perfectly designed for the frequent traveler. Hands down one of the best investments I’ve ever made. It expands if you purchase a lot and want to check the bag — but if not, it fits perfectly/snugly in most standard overhead bins. There’s also a handy front pocket that is big enough to hold my Macbook for easy access during security screening.
I also highly recommend organizing the contents in a variety of ways. I have a few lingerie bags that I love — especially ones that keep clean and worn dainties separate, as this set from Kate Spade does ($25):
The new line “Flight001” has all kinds of other awesome bags for laundry ($22), heels ($30), and for boots ($36). Genius. AND I love the colors.
Baggu also has some great prints for pouches like these ($12 each):
Items I absolutely cannot live without on the actual flight itself? Hand sanitizer (I’m totally disgusted by airplanes and especially their latrines), lip balm (air be drying out my lips all the time!, and I live for this Sugar stuff — $22.50), hand lotion (am I the only one who feels like a shriveled prune after flying? — Bliss, $18), eye cream samples from recent Sephora purchases (the more the better — dab that stuff on all the time), a perfume rollerball ($27 — I’m really into this Narcisco Rodriguez scent), and, of course, my BFF Diorshow mascara ($27):
I also need my iPhone, earbuds (and/or am contemplating a pair of these chic headphones — $150), shades (into my Elizabeth + James shades this summer, $185), a good book (currently reading Nabokov’s “Speak, Memory”), a cozy, oversized scarf (Chan Luu, $195), and my iPad or Macbook to catch up on TV shows (case by Gucci, $280):
Lastly, I never go anywhere without a Moleskine cahier (prices vary depending on size — I always get the XL with grid paper) and a set of Le Pens ($1.50 each):
What are your travel essentials?