packing like a pro (travel-friendly fashion)

Hi loves!

Somebody actually commented on my first post (which is super exciting like wow, a comment from a real person that isn't my mom!!) and they asked if I could do a post on how to look cute while on a trip, while still being able to pack efficiently. I'm sure a lot of these tips are already out there but I thought it would be super fun to put in my two cents, especially since I'm going to LA for a three day trip on Thursday and just finished packing my bag. If you're like me and don't want to spend money or risk losing your luggage, you probably will want to stick to a carry-on only like I do. I'm notorious for having the smallest bag out of my travel group (I used the same bag I'm bringing to LA for a three-week Costa Rica trip) Here's my advice for doing that while looking cute!

1. YOU CAN BRING MULTIPLE PAIRS OF SHOES WITHOUT FILLING UP YOUR WHOLE BAG: If you are traveling, odds are you'll end up in the water. I always do; be it a hotel hot tub or pool, or the actual ocean. This is why it's always essential to bring a pair of flip flops (these also help if you're visiting friends on university campuses or staying at a hostel, and using communal showers). As tempting as it is, don't wear these on the plane. They're the pair of shoes that will take up the least room, and should be packed. On that same note, make sure you wear your bulkiest pair of shoes while you're in transit. Personally, I tend to wear boots, canvas sneakers or trainers depending on the nature of the trip, and then pack a pair of flats (bonus points if they're the roll-up kind!) or sandals, and flip-flops. Only bring heels and boots if you KNOW that you'll need them.

2. COLOUR SCHEMES ARE YOUR BEST FRIEND: As far as actual clothes go, it's important to be able to mix and match your tops and bottoms in as many ways as possible. This gives you a bunch of different outfits without having to bring a bunch of clothing. For the LA trip, I packed black shorts, light wash denim shorts, patterned shorts, and a floral skirt. I'll be wearing black leggings on the plane. When in doubt, stick with the basics: black, denim, white, olive/khaki, navy, and a neutral coloured pattern. I try to keep my tops solid coloured, with maybe one patterned shirt that can go with all of my bottoms except for the one with a pattern on it. This goes for swimsuits as well: you can bring four tops and four bottoms and have sixteen different swimsuit options without bringing sixteen different pieces. For my trip, I am bringing a pastel green bikini top and a patterned bikini top with mint and white bottoms.

3. GO WITH THE FLOW: This isn't always applicable, but if you are traveling to warm destinations or more conservative countries, it's good to go with clothes that are flowy. For example, a chiffon maxi skirt with a flowy short-sleeved crop top or tee can get you by in places like India, where covering up is crucial in order to respect the culture. Materials like chiffon and cotton are great for covering a lot of skin without getting clingy and gross in tropical climates. My personal favourites are harem pants, which come in a million different colours and patterns and make you feel like Princess Jasmine.

4. LAYER UP: Layers are life while traveling. And it is very possible to keep warm without adding a ton of bulk to your bag! Stick with a couple of neutral coloured sweaters/cardigans and wear your heaviest jacket on the plane. I usually go with a navy blue all-weather jacket from Hollister and it keeps me covered for just about anything (I wouldn't suggest it for extreme climates like Norway or like, Patagonia though).

5. DON'T LET TOILETRIES CRAMP YOUR STYLE: Most people I know check in their luggage for long trips because of the TSA rules regarding liquids in your bag, even though they don't actually have to! You can fill multiple travel-sized bottles with the same products!! For example, I plan on bringing two travel-sized bottles of shampoo, one of conditioner, and one of my hair product on my three-week trip to Australia and New Zealand, and this keeps within regulations. If it comes down to it, you can always buy toiletries wherever you're staying, but don't let shampoo be what causes you to pay 25 to 50 dollars to check your bag in! However, I would suggest packing LOTS of feminine products, as those can be really expensive or hard to find in other countries.

6. YOU CAN STILL ACCESSORIZE OR GET DRESSY: I try to keep things pretty minimal and make sure that my accessories match just about everything in my bag: I have a silver charm bracelet I almost always wear, I never change my earrings or nose stud, and I bring my beige infinity scarf on almost every trip I go on. It's okay to bring a couple of "luxury" items that you just can't live without. If you're like me and have the worst natural hair ever, bring a flat iron-- you can curl and straighten your hair, and iron out any dresses or formal wear that you need to bring on the trip! #lifehack.

7. NO MATTER WHAT ANYONE SAYS, ROLLING IS BETTER THAN FOLDING: I don't even feel the need to justify this. That's just the way the world works.

I hope that this helps, and if anyone has any questions feel free to comment and ask, or check out my instagram @nishaauttam for travel pictures and more fun stuff. Happy travels!

-Nish

yikes + update

The other day, I casually remembered that I have a blog and then realized that I haven't posted a single thing since MAY. Yikes. I am so sorry. For 2015 I've decided to make a point of posting at least weekly, especially since I have so much going on now! 

So here's the update: Since my last post, I selected a college to attend in Washington, graduated high school, got my SCUBA certification, and after some crazy health issues over the summer, made the decision to take a gap year and pursue higher education in California starting in the fall of 2015. I think things worked out for the best, since I graduated a matter of days after my seventeenth birthday, and it's a major pain to be on a college campus as a minor. 

During this year off, I've been working in retail, volunteering at my former elementary school & with marine conservation organizations, interning with a travel agency (which means that there will be lots and lots of travel advice and promotions headed your way) and I've also become a brand ambassador/representative for two companies: SandCloud and Life Before Work Travel. I'm also entering a competition to complete my Global Degree: meaning I would be the youngest female to visit all 193 UN recognized countries! I'm about six percent of the way there at the moment and I'll be making a video and posting on all of my social media so any support would be greatly appreciated (more about that in a later post, though).

If you're reading this, thank you for having patience with me and actually sticking with this blog.

Much love,

Nish