...you are going to Australia in May.

One of our readers finds herself in the enviable position of heading to Australia this coming May.  She is already concerned about her wardrobe.  Here are her needs:

"Black Ballet flats (think I'll suck it up and get these) unless you have alt suggestion.
Black pants  - have wool jcrew mini but too hot. All my other black pants stink.  Please advise.  
Some type of Jersey tunic for flight.  How about this?  With cozy leggings???  Probably brown family since tunic s navy.  Would prefer black legs and shoes/booties and other colored top if poss.
Great pair of dark denim jeans.  Have given away all fancy jeans - need to update here. 
Dress for dinner - yes? 
Still have great white jeans and few tops.  Might need camel cotton cardigan (seen any?)  All my neutral wedges are open in one way or another do you think that's ok for that time of year?  Will I need low boots?"

That's a mighty long list.  

First thing, May in Australia = early fall.  I was in Australia in late May about 12 years ago and I wore my trench coat and a scarf the whole time.  

Let's tackle each part one at a time.

Ballet Flats:  The ones our reader picked out are certainly fine.  I personally lean towards a solid ballet flat (the Attilio Giusti Leombruni ones have a cap toe).  I do love classic Tory Burch ballet flats and goodness knows I've worn them all over in my travels.  I also love Vera Wang Lavender ballet flats.  Check out the 2 below for inspiration.  PS - the Tory one is all patent which holds up well in inclement weather.

Image from neimanmarcus.com.

Image from neimanmarcus.com.

Black Pants:  This is easy for us to recommend: the Michael by Michael Kors Black Ponte Pants.  We have recommended them many times.  They are great for traveling, packing, and being wrinkle fee.  Stick on a silk blouse or blazer and blouse and call it a day.  They are good for day, evening, and the plane.  Run, do not walk, to add these pants to your wardrobe.

Image from nordstrom.com.

Jersey Tunic:  I love the Vince one she picked out.  

Image from saks.com.

It's really perfect.  I'd put a long sleeve white t-shirt under it to keep warm.  30,000 feet over the Pacific can be chilly.  Finish it with a scarf like this rag & bone one for additional warmth and comfort.

Image from rag-bone.com.

As for leggings, I think grey and navy are more compatible than navy and brown.  Why not check out these Not Your Daughter's Jeans leggings at Nordstrom - they look completely comfortable and are a buy at $58.96.  Then you can pair them with your new black ballet flats.  (2 hints:  If they are too long, please get them hemmed to flat length and bring a pair of cosy socks to change into on the plane.)

Image from nordstrom.com.

Dark Denim Jeans: Lisa and I are huge fans of Adriano Goldschmied jeans (otherwise known as AG Jeans).  Just today (yes, I know, I have to stop buying pants), I fell in love with the AG 'Stevie' Jeans that I found at Anthropologie.  I had ducked in on my way to a hair appointment and decided that these straight-leg jeans needed to be tried on.  I needed a new pair of jeans to be worn with flats and these are them.  The stylist at Anthropologie did say that these stretch a lot, so if you are too comfortable when you try them on, go down one size.

Image from anthropologie.com.

If our reader is looking for dark jeans to wear with heels, the AG Ballad's are our go-to.  They are a slim bootcut that I LOVE (and am wearing a very worn pair as I type).  Check out these at Anthropologie.

Image from anthropologie.com.

And as a note, DO NOT TRY TO HEM AG Ballad Jeans.  I tried it, only to ruin a perfectly good pair.  The slight bootcut flare gets ruined if you do.

Dress for Dinner:  Again, our reader is doing well.  Any DVF wrap dress is a hit!  Throw on tights and heels/boots for dinner.  Australia is pretty casual, but a good wrap dress is a great item to pack.

Camel cardigan:  For 'cardigans', I like 'open cardigans', meaning, no fasteners.  I have a camel sweater that I wear to death; it's a great color to have and wear with jeans (both white and blue) as well as black.  However, they are few and far between this time of year.  I love this one by Tory, especially with the self-belt that highlights your waistline.  Put it over the black pants above with a cream shell and a pair of black pumps and there's your travel dinner outfit.  Over a white blouse with jeans?  Daywear.

Image from toryburch.com.

Neutral wedge:  I myself love a neutral wedge for traveling. I like a little heel, and if it's comfortable, even better!  I think our reader needs to consider a closed wedge (which again are really hard to find!).  For a trip to Paris last spring (in April, and it was cool weather), I specifically purchased these from Tory Burch.  I wore them every day and have loved them ever since.  (I did spray them to waterproof them.  Just a hint.)  These are the 'Sally' wedges.

Image from toryburch.com.

Tory Burch also features the 'Molly' wedge.  These come in black and this VERY cool python print.  Which I might have to buy.  Right now.  They are fab.

Image from toryburch.com.

I hate to focus on one designer here, but honestly, I searched all over for a closed wedge last spring, and Tory Burch was the only designer to have good ones.  J. Crew features a few this spring both in patent and in suede.  Must check out.

As for low boots, maybe pack a riding boot to tuck your AG Stevie jeans or Michael Kors pants into.  

Hope we answered all of your questions.  Have a g'day mate! ~ JH

...you are traveling to Paris - what to wear on the plane.

Now that I've tackled daywear and dinner attire, it's time to talk about the plane.  From the east coast, Europe is a relatively quick overnight flight away.  Around 6 hours, my strategy is to eat dinner on the plane, turn my watch to the new timezone, and get to sleep.  If I can manage to get 4 hours on the plane, I'm good to go when we land.

But, what to wear?  I have a 'uniform' that I've honed over the years.  The 'uniform' is all about comfort, neutral colors, and looking 'smart' as you deplane.

I start with the pants - I don't like wearing jeans on an overnight flight, so I usually pick my Michael Kors Ponte ankle pants.  These are stretchy, and don't wrinkle, so when I deplane, I look pretty fresh.

Image from nordstrom.com.

I usually always put on ballet flats, and I have a preference for Vera Wang or Tory Burch ballet flats in a metallic color.  Very comfortable, slipper like, they do the trick.  And, for some reason, the metallic Tory ones stand up to all kinds of weather.

Image from toryburch.com.

On top, I like to layer.  This time of year, I like to do a long sleeve t-shirt over a short sleeve one, topped off with a scarf.  Yes, sounds a little odd, but that extra layer of the short sleeve underneath adds the warmth you need on the overnight flight.  Let's be honest, it's C-O-L-D 30,000 feet over the Atlantic.   So, I usually wear a solid, long sleeve t-shirt, like this grey one from the Gap...

Image from gap.com.

...over a white crew-neck t-shirt, that is maybe even a little longer than the long-sleeve, so it hangs out a little bit at the hemline...

Image from gap.com.

...with a fabulous scarf wrapped around my neck.

Image from nordstrom.com.

It's a very neutral, dark look, but nothing wrinkles, so you'll be comfortable sleeping in coach (not!), and be wrinkle-free in the morning.  

But, I have yet to mention perhaps the most important item for the plane.  It's a pashmina shawl.  Remember?  You bought one or 2 back in the late 90s when they were all the rage?!  Well dig one out, because I cannot make it on an overnight flight without one.  

Image from thepashminastore.com.

My black one, purchased in Paris back in 1996, has been here, there, and everywhere with me.   It's cashmere, so it's lightweight, super soft, and acts as my blanket (because those plane blankets are awful, let's just be honest) and then in the 'morning', I wrap it around me as one more layer of warmth before deplaning.  I swear, wrap that thing around you, with your black ponte pants and your ballet flats and you actually look somewhat put together as you wander to the bathroom on the plane to put your contact lenses back in.  

You are now free to move about the cabin. ~ JH