| Renu Dalal-Jain
is a certified image consultant and owner of
Flair Consulting
in Philadelphia, PA. She is a graduate of The Image Maker Inc. School and a member of the Association of Image Consultants International. Before returning to her first love of fashion and style, Renu completed her graduate studies with Honors, in International Marketing, and worked in the pharmaceutical market research industry. Renu has also worked in the Indian fashion industry in India as a model, fashion show choreographer and clothing designer. |
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Traveling First Class without Leaving Coach...
With the right gear, business travel can be painless and worry-free. In the first of a two-part series, Renu votes for stylish totes for all in-flight needs… |
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In my various careers, I’ve always had one job function in common... travel... for some women; it’s a painful experience that they go through only when it’s absolutely unavoidable. For others, it’s an almost daily function of their jobs. According to a recent study by Samsonite Luggage, by 2006, more than fifty percent of all business travelers in the US will be women.
How to make business travel painless and worry-free? First, make sure you have the right equipment! Make an investment in the appropriate travel gear – a lightweight yet sturdy tote bag, which will hold your laptop and purse, and a roll-on suitcase that is easy to maneuver. |
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Stylish totes come in many ranges of prices and are available everywhere from Sears and JC Penney to high-end stores like
Prada. Look for a bag which has at least two zippered compartments, and one or two side pockets, to easily store your cell phone and a bottle of water. One of my favorites is canvas with leather handles and trim from Dooney and Bourke, which retails for about $160.00 at stores like Macy’s, Bloomingdales and Nordstrom’s. It is durable, stylish, and sleek, yet large enough to carry all your in-flight necessities.
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Speaking of in-flight necessities, don’t overpack your carry-on, or you will feel burdened and tired before the plane ever takes off! Carry your laptop (if you use one), any valuables such as wallet, cell phone, jewelry, PDA and music player. Take a small snack if you need one, as well as any work materials. |
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Personally, I don’t like to work on flights and like to use that valuable time to catch up on a good book. Also, carry only the essentials you would need if your suitcase were lost – such as toothbrush, underwear, makeup, medicines and eyeglasses. The most versatile travel item I’ve ever invested in is a good pashmina shawl. You can use it as a blanket or a pillow in-flight, it looks great thrown over a coat or blazer, and it’s easy to take off when going through security! DON’T carry a purse! If you think you’ll need one when you reach your destination, pack it in your suitcase.
When you go to purchase your roll-on suitcase, don’t just go by how it looks! Always pick it up and roll it around to make sure it’s the lightest one you can find. You will have to handle it when full, so the lighter the better! Also, try to stay away from basic black, and purchase a bag with a unique color or trim so it’s easier to find if you have to check it in. Diane Von Furstenberg has recently come out with a line of lightweight logo travel bags which are sleek and stand out on that conveyer belt. Make sure the handle is made of metal, not plastic, and has a locking mechanism to lock into place, whether extended or retracted. Ensure the wheels are flush with the edges of the bag – this is a sign of quality and stability when maneuvering the bag. Also, try to stay away from leather, which is not only heavy, but not as durable as the new nylon and ballistic materials. If your travel is generally longer than a couple days, purchase a suitcase with a detachable suit pack. This will hold your hanging items with minimal creasing, and can be removed if you go on a shorter trip.
Roll-on suitcases are not cheap, and will run about $200-$400.00 for a good one. However, remember that a good bag can last you ten years or more! The last one I bought was in 1996, and it’s been through dozens of trips to India, Europe and Mexico, as well as throughout America, and is still going strong! Some brands that have fared consistently well in consumer studies (in order of average cost from least to most expensive) include
Jansport, Samsonite, L.L. Bean, Tumi and Victorinox.
In my next article, I will address exactly WHAT to pack in that roll-on suitcase, for overnight, 3-day, and week-long trips, so that you have everything you need, and nothing you don’t!
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