Travel Wardrobe Suggestion

Ladies, here is a big fashion mistake, DO NOT WEAR FLIP FLOPS WITH DRESSES! This is a huge NO and it cheapens you. TRUST ME, IT DOES.

[Noir Style]

Just because films like, The Hangover, and What Happens in Vegas, were popular, that does not mean that everyone will have those kinds of experiences in Las Vegas – and I was determined to not be one of those people. That’s why when I travelled to Las Vegas for a travel feature; I wasn’t focused on gambling, and drinking. Not when there were so many stores to see, and things to buy.

This was my first time being in Las Vegas, but I still had to see my old friends. And in order to do that, I had to look like I had standards. So packing for the trip was a job in itself. When packing for a trip –my trip was six days and five nights– one must consider a rhapsody of different circumstances. I am based in the New York area – I love wearing black and layers.

The fall is my favorite season, because I get to conceal a lot of the unflattering areas of my body. Las Vegas is on the other side of the United States. I would be in a different time zone, and the weather would be mild at best. There is always sun, and palm trees.

The people also seem a lot happier than most – but that could just be the alcohol. I would be staying at two resorts –one until the middle of the week, and the other from the middle to the end– and I wanted my wardrobe to reflect my surroundings. But the truth was that I had gained weight since the last time I was in warmer temperatures and I didn’t want to wear anything that showed too much.

I needed a compromise. As a stylist, I find that styling for others is definitely easier than styling for yourself. People like to say that it is the other way around because you know yourself better – and that’s true. But we are also overly critical of ourselves – sometimes more than others.

For the most part, I packed what was easiest. That meant V-necks, over plain button downs and jeans. I also paired cardigans with turned up sleeves and slacks that brought a dressy casual perspective to my wardrobe. I brought tons of shoe options and I brought essentials that I ended up not even wearing.

When packing, essentials should always be part of the equation because they can be dressed up or down, and worn for any occasion. For me, that included basic shirts, and extra pants with textiles that would be better for the windy nights and hot days.

I went online to get the weather report for the week. I knew that even if it changed, it wouldn’t be too far off. I used that forecast as my springboard when putting together looks. I brought 12 looks, complete with shoes, and accessories and extra separates for business meetings and dinners.

I wasn’t planning to buy any new items while I was there, but I allotted extra room in my luggage for incidentals. The worst part of my trip was carrying my luggage on and off of the dollies. Perhaps it was the laziness in me – more than likely it was, but it needed to be done.

In a place like Las Vegas, I was expecting to see a lot of loud clothes and fashion with poor execution. For the most part, I wasn’t let down. There were definitely things that needed to be addressed. For instance, men who were my size –I am large and in charge– were wearing tight shorts for whom going to the restroom would surely be a challenge. Others wore colorful bold and magnetic shirts with patterns that looked like nothing other than a bad maze of confusion and disarray.

I saw tight dresses squeezed into by women who had no business trying to squeeze anything – and flip flops. Ladies, here is a big fashion mistake, DO NOT WEAR FLIP FLOPS WITH DRESSES! This is a huge NO and it cheapens you. TRUST ME, IT DOES.

Packing is a challenge and experience in itself. It took me several hours of Curtis Mayfield records, Roy Ayers soundtracks, and an order of Buffalo wings to get me through packing, but I did it. And here’s a trick, rolling up clothes is a space saver in luggage.

As for my old friends, seeing them again was a joyous occasion. So this column is dedicated to them. Dear Prada, Tom Ford, Gucci, and Lanvin, it was great seeing you at City Center on the strip. I love how you never change, no matter where you are. You remain great style inspirations to me, and for that I am very grateful.

James R. Sanders is a freelance journalist, personal shopper, and wardrobe stylist based in the New York area. He is a regular contributor to the Huffington Post where he covered the 2008 Presidential Election. Noir Style is a biweekly fashion column geared towards people of color. Reach him at [email protected], or visit his website at: www.lifeandstylesofjames.blogspot.com.
 

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