Summer and travel have always gone hand-in-hand for me. I often think back to the summers I backpacked through Europe. A young woman from Montreal with a Eurail pass, a bag that was frankly not big enough and absolutely stuffed to the point of suffering, wandering markets and little shops and boulevards that felt like they were designed specifically for her. Those summers shaped me as a person who genuinely believes that a great color story and the right accessories can take you anywhere.
But I’ll be honest, the way I travel has changed (not least that I have traded the backpack for two ok three…ok, ok, sometimes 4 suitcases). Not the joy of it, but the wisdom of it. In my twenties I could run on adrenaline, espresso, with a cigarette in hand, and look perfectly fine. In my fifties? The game has shifted. And the accessory I now consider completely non-negotiable (the one that 20-year old me in Europe never once thought about) is sleep.
I am serious. You can have the most beautiful outfit, the perfect color story, the jewelry absolutely exquisite but if you’re exhausted and dehydrated, none of it plays out the way it should. Sleep is the best travel accessory you own, and it took me decades to truly realize that.
That said, sleep has always been a challenge for me and I would be lying if I told you that I maintain my routine perfectly when traveling (or ever tbh, I am human afterall). If I’ve had a good night’s sleep, I’m up and moving. A little modified strength training, some stretching, a few creaks and groans, and I’m ready to face the day knowing we’ll probably walk enough to justify dessert before lunch. If I haven’t slept? Well, then it’s a different travel experience entirely. On those mornings, I’m held together by melatonin, espresso, and blind optimism. I shuffle through museums and ancient ruins looking like a Victorian ghost until something magnificent catches my eye and suddenly I’m revived.
The one thing I’m religious about is water. Airplanes, trains, hotel rooms, they all seem determined to turn my skin into a raisin. So I drink water constantly and yes, it means scouting public bathrooms with the same enthusiasm I scout museums, cafés, and vintage shops. (no apologies here).
The most stylish thing you can do on vacation is take care of yourself. I know, I know, you’re on holiday, the rules don’t apply, the croissants are right there. Eat the croissant. Eat two. But here’s what I’ve learned: When I keep even a loose version of my routine, I enjoy everything more. Routine is not the enemy of adventure. It is what keeps you standing upright and glowing and let’s be honest, I would fall apart without it (literally). Take care of the person wearing the clothes, darlings. She’s the whole point.
My grandfather used to say: “If you don’t have a good foundation, your building is going to fall down.” He was talking about architecture. I think about it every single time I put together a look and when I pack a suitcase. Packing, like building, starts from the ground up. And honestly, these things go hand-in-hand, before I even start packing, I start with a rack. I think about where I’m going and then I build the rack with pieces that work with the theme and the destination.
Here’s the thing: I have a method to the madness so I always look put together, no matter where I’m going or how long I’m gone. It is not complicated, but it does require you to make decisions before you open the suitcase. That’s where most people go wrong. They pack feelings instead of a system.
Here is my system:
Start with your base color. I like to start with a neutral, black, navy, an earth tone or one of my favorites, chartreuse (yes, it’s a neutral!). That base is the spine of the whole wardrobe. Everything else is supporting that foundation.
Then pick two to three pops of color. A scarf, accessories, bags, hats and umbrellas (sun protection with style). You’re not reinventing the wheel with every outfit, instead you’re remixing the same palette in different ways, making everything feel cohesive rather than chaotic.
Add one light neutral. This is your breath of fresh air. A cream, a soft white, a warm sand. It keeps the palette from feeling heavy.
Repeat the logic with shoes. One neutral, one pop, one lighter neutral. Now you have three pairs of shoes that will work with literally everything you packed.
Then come the accessories and this is the icing on the cake. The accessories are what pulls everything together. They don’t take up space, which means there is absolutely no excuse to skip them. When the accessories are right, even the simplest outfit reads as intentional. You can go as bold as you want but let each piece have its moment. Long dangle earrings, skip the necklace. Big statement necklace, keep the ears clean. Balance is what separates a look from a costume.
And one last thing when building a travel capsule:
Layers on the plane are non-negotiable, at least for me, because I get cold on planes. My plane outfit is built around a layer I can wear throughout the trip, not just something I throw on for the flight and stuff in a corner of the suitcase. I love a jean jacket as a topper. It keeps me warm in the cabin, it layers over everything from linen dresses to my most casual day looks, and it never lets me down. For the rest of the plane outfit, I like to be comfy but still me, for example a matching set that works with my color story throughout the whole trip. My QVC matching scuba set is honestly the best travel look I own. It travels beautifully, doesn’t wrinkle, and works with everything.
pride
/prīd/
“A healthy, grounded sense of self-worth, dignity, and satisfaction in a job well done. It builds confidence and honors your own boundaries.
There is some irony that my social media fame takes place in the closet, when my philosophy, even before my own kid came out, is one of being seen, being vehemently yourself and coming out of the closet and into the light. I am a very proud mom of both of my kids. They amaze me with their bravery, their drive, their unique personalities and quirks. My daughter Ivy continues to inspire me with her dedication to truly being herself, which in her case, as a young trans woman comes with many obstacles and honestly, risk and danger. One saying I have is that as a parent, I’m only as happy as my unhappiest kid and I know that the direct path to happiness is being yourself. One hundred percent. Full Stop. I love that there is an entire month dedicated to the full expression of the LGBTA+ community.
What’s feeding me this week? Well, I’m still eating my favorite bagel with cottage cheese and tomato slices (try it) but this month I will be eating some rainbow ones! Here is the story of the creation of the iconic rainbow bagel, of course it’s from Brooklyn, New York (it’s the waddah people!)
For the rest of the inspiration, I’m leaning on Ivy for recommendations of some amazing LGBTQ+ writers, directors and musical artists to kick off the month.
Watch I May Destroy You, a British comedy series directed by Michaela Coel and Miss Dylan in the short Sweet Talkin’ Guy.
Read anything from these talented writers: Grace Byron ( Grace Byron ) , Gary Indiana, Stephanie Wambugu, Shon Faye ( Shon Faye ), and Ivy’s dear friend Paulie Malherbe ( Paulie of Paulie Fame ).
Feel young again and listen to what the cool kids are listening to: Natanya, underscores, Mgna Crrta, and Nussy Andrews.
If I were headed to a desert island, or more likely Gate 32B with a three-hour delay, and could only bring a few things:
My Away suitcase because she’s sturdy, reliable, and has seen things.
A hanging jewelry organizer because life is too short to untangle necklaces.
My 10x magnifying mirror: a dangerous game, but I like to live on the edge.
An expandable makeup bag and flip-down brush holder because chaos is not a beauty strategy.
A travel steamer because I refuse to look like I slept in my suitcase.
Sweatbands for my wrists for face washing in hotel sinks. A life-changing product.
Ziplocks. For snacks, chargers, wet swimsuits, receipts, world domination.
A resistance band so I can actually be the kind of person who stretches in hotel rooms.
A giant scarf for the plane. Blanket, pillow, fashion accessory, emotional support item.
My Marimekko umbrella because at this age I’m turning into a vampire to protect this face!
And, naturally, my QVC scuba set because looking put together while feeling like you’re wearing pajamas is one of life’s great achievements.
Did I forget anything? Probably. That’s what the Ziplocks are for. Here’s a link to all of my favorites
From fashion SOS moments to everyday dilemmas, ask me anything right here. Thank you readers for all of your questions and comments! This week a question all the way from France!
Hi Carla!
I’ve been following you from France for a while now and I must say: I LOVE YOUR STYLE! I fell in love with your sling bag when it came out but never had the opportunity to buy one and it looks like I won’t have this chance any time soon; but I still hope. Do you have any plans to sell any more of them through QVC maybe?I wish you the best in your career and ambitions!
Bonjour, Chérie!
Thank you for the lovely note and all the way from France!
I’m happy to report that the sling bag isn’t gone for good. I created it because I wanted a bag that could carry everything and still make an outfit, and I’m thrilled to share that it will be coming to QVC later this year.
We’re also planning a charity sale of sample bags in fabulous colors that never made it into production. Stay tuned to my socials and Substack for details. I promise you’ll hear about it there first!
Bisous,
Carla 💋
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