The Tashaan Suitcase

Traveling is always fun for any Tashaan girl. It's a great way to escape from the mundane day-to-day that we call life. Tashaan girls can be seen to enjoy shopping, dining, culture, language...and of course the eye candy at their travel destination.

It's an opportunity to free oneself of daily stressors and expectations. Travelling allows oneself to feel carefree, burden-proof and to bring out the inner child!

One thing that a Tashaan girl never does on her travels is commit a fashion faux-pas. But, oye-hoye... the fashion faux-pas and fuglies that I saw and flinched at on my latest weekend getaway inspired me make a list of things that every Tashaan suitcase should have. Be it a weekend getaway or a week long vacation, it's not that difficult if you follow my packing tips below.

First, my soapbox. I understand that when you're traveling you want to be comfortable and that the focus is on having fun with your travel companions - be it the flavor of the week, family or the girls. BUT, there is no excuse for the many, many fashion fuglies that I observed this week during my travels.

While I want to mention all the fuglies that I saw, I will not because I'm trying to keep in mind the need for comfort when traveling and the real focus of a vacation - to relax and to enjoy the company of your companions.

But there is still no excuse for committing the following two fashion faux-pas - wear ill fitting underwear or wear ill fitting clothes. I'm ignoring the sneakers with dresses, the over sized holiday sweaters, the mismatch of colours, and the three bags over two shoulders - and is it hard to ignore. (Actually, if you follow the tips below, these fashion blunders will not occur.) A lot harder to ignore was the ill fitting clothes. This is my biggest pet peeve because it affects not your physical appearance but also your emotional/mental well being.

When a woman (or a man) wears ill fitting clothes (or commits any fashion faux-pax), it shows the lack of respect and time that you have for yourself. You're telling the world that you don't cherish or take the time care for yourself. Wearing clothes that are too loose or too tight show your lack of confidence in yourself and your sense of shame of your body.

Similarly, ill fitting clothes and underwear do not flatter the body in any way. Let me stress this again, it does not flatter your body. By wearing clothes that are too loose makes you look heavier. Wearing clothes that are too tight also makes you look heavier, but now you have exposed your flab. Ill fitting underwear does the same to the body. If the right sizes are worn, it pushes up and sucks in the right places, not hang over or hang south. And panty lines are so very unattractive.

People make opinions of us in the first 30 seconds that we meet, typically by the clothes that we wear. Why would you want to leave this impression on others?

Now, here are some essentials to pack for your trips and still carry your Tashaan during your travels:

1. Your favorite pair of jeans or a jean skirt. These can be dressed up or dressed down with a change in the top and accessories.

2. For outdoor activities, include a pair of Capris or shorts. Don't forget your running shoes.

3. When packing tops definitely include a black and a white T-Shirt for they will go with all of your bottoms and can be dressed up with accessories. Include a fun top for a night out.

4. A jersey dress or a wrap dress. These can be dressed up or dressed down with a change in the shoes and accessories. You can easily take it from day to evening in minutes!

5. Keep your accessories simple - a pair of hoops, a small pendant necklace and a show stopping ring, for example. Either pack gold or silver toned jewellery, but not both.

6. If you know you will be walking a lot, pack your comfy shoes - ballerina slippers, thong sandals, sneakers. etc. Don't forget to include a pair of dancing shoes - nude coloured shoes will go with everything.

7. To keep you warm add a shawl or a fitted jacket to your suitcase.

8. When deciding on what colours to pack, stick with neutrals (black, white, beige, red, or purple) and add a pop of colour and attitude to your wardrobe with your accessories - purses, shoes, statement jewellery pieces. I would recommend neutral bottoms and colour around the face - not only will you look slimmer, but you'll look fresher!! Not only will you get more wear out of your clothes, but you'll have packed less...leaving room for all of your purchases from your outlet mall shopping!!

9. When packing, have each item match up with at least two other pieces. For example, dark denim can be worn with a t-shirt for sight seeing or a sexy black halter for a trendy restaurant or cocktails.

10. I tend to wear bulkier clothes on the plane...not only does this keep me warm, but I now have more room in my luggage for shoes and purses.


What are your suitcase essentials when you travel? What are your Tashaan pet peeves? Post on the blog or email me at desigirlhouston@gmail.com