Plane Sailing

As some of you may remember, I leave shortly for my little child-free sojourn to the US and Japan. Finally I am getting my butt in gear and actually organising my itinerary and accommodation. But in looking at all these fine details, I have overlooked a major one until today. I hadn't figured out what to wear! As you can well imagine, I'm planning on packing the bare minimum as my shopping plans are large. (They'll all be bargains darling, no need to take out a second mortgage.) I'm so looking forward to getting into some serious vintage shopping in the States, as the pickings seem to be much richer, and of an older vintage than what is generally on offer here. I'm particularly hoping to add to my hat collection, as good vintage hats pre 1950 are very hard to find here. If you're after a somewhat squashed and moldy pill box, you can do okay here, but a serious 1930's portrait hat - not a chance.

So I have started to think a little about packing, but even more importantly I needed to figure out what to wear on the plane! With long haul flights, I don't want to look like I've been dragged backwards through a hedge, and I'm not a tracksuit or roll up travel clothes kind of girl. So I've formulated a cunning plan....

Here's my idea of a killer traveling outfit. A simple, slightly stretchy black dress with a fabulous silhouette. A light trench coat for the weather changes in each city. Red flats, not only for pizazz, but also to remove quickly at security checkpoints and run to meet flights. A fabulous tote, just big enough for the essentials, but not large enough to get schlepy. And of course the huge black glasses not only to cover any tired eyes, but to add some rock star cred.

Given that a flight from Melbourne to Los Angeles is rather on the long side, I don't plan to crease that beautiful dress, nor to have it smelling of tin foil covered curry from a clumsy cabin mate. My champagne tastes will be traveling on a beer budget to make a little extra room for all that shopping. What this means is that I have to make the experience First Class with a little ingenuity. So I plan to change on the plane into some very comfy, very stylish, satin pyjamas and slippers. Add some BYO caviar, eye mask and sleeping pills and I'll be good to go.

And if things were really going to plan, I think this chap might just be waiting to take my luggage at the other end.

* I'll be in Houston, Texas for most of the time, the on to Tokyo, so any shopping or fun tips will be greatly appreciated. *