Travelling in style

LAUREN RESNICK

IT may feel like a daunting task to pack, plan and get the mandatory spray-tan-mani-pedi and still hold down a nine-to-five job, but it’s actually pretty simple. Take inspiration from some Aussie travellers and style gurus, namely Miranda Kerr and Elle McPherson. Consistently well groomed and stylish without looking like they have spent pain-staking hours to achieve the look, these women set a benchmark. (We can all dream right?)

Here are some fashion tips for travelling:

* Accessorise. A simple black cotton dress with a long, gold necklace is easy and also inexpensive. Add a cute hat and some ballet flats, and your outfit is instantly paparazzi-worthy.

* Be comfortable and practical. Leave your heels for Saturday night; Victoria Beckham may be able to get away with it, but you’re really going to be happier in your flats when running from last-minute duty free shopping to your boarding gate. Check out the gorgeous range of French Sole ballet flats.

* Take some quality kaftans. A simple kaftan never goes out of style. Check out the range at Camilla.

* Pack a pair of lightweight, white cotton pants. Just make sure you don’t wear a white top too — you may get mistaken for the staff.

* Take some good quality sandals. A couple of versatile pairs can be worn by the pool, to dinner and even on a yacht.

* Pack two super stylish bikinis. Check out the Aussie new-kid-on-the-block Kini Bikini, and those on offer at Tuchuzy in Bondi or Active Bodies in Melbourne, for something stylish and flattering.

* Jewellery can change an outfit, taking you from laid-back poolside scene to glamorous dinner and cocktails. For great variety you can’t go past Jewish designer Nicole Fendel’s jewellery collection.

Melbourne-based Jewish stylist to the stars Nicole Oppenheimer suggests: “Whether you’re hitting the road or staying local, your best fashion accessory is glowing skin. A good SPF-tinted moisturiser is a fantastic option for looking good and being sunsmart.”

There you have it -— the look is simple yet stylish, glowing and glamorous. With the right accessory, be it a silk scarf or straw hat, base pieces kept minimal can have a maximum impact. Most importantly, the look is natural and achievable on any budget. The only difficult part is selecting which island to go to next.

Lauren Resnick is a Sydney-based writer and designer. She is the author of Princess with a Backpack. Enquiries: Princesswithabackpack.com.