How do you select your Airport Ensemble?

"Airport Ensemble?" you say.

Yes, and you know exactly what I'm talking about. You're going on a trip, and you're packing, and you have to think about what you are going to wear for the Travel Day. Your Airport Ensemble.

My perfect Airport Ensemble really IS perfect. Almost.

Comfortable underwear (start with a good foundation)

Gray Gap tank. "Gray", not "grey". We're not British, kids.

(tank has built-in bra - nothing sucks more than trying to sleep on a flight, in a bra. Side note: everything should come with a built-in bra. "Bra" starts to look funny if you read the word too many times.)

Gray, long cashmere cardigan.

Brown pashmina scarf (can double as a blanket).

Brown leather belt.

Earnest Sewn light denim jeans (these seriously are more comfortable than sweatpants).

Perfect! Except for one flaw. The boots. Tobacco brown suede, stacked heel, side zip boots. The boots look great, and keep you toasty when the airplane is freezing, and are surprisingly comfortable for walking (they have a built-in cushion). However, boots + airport security = potential nightmare. "Please take your boots off, and put them through the machine".

OH for crying out loud.

This is really not a major issue, if you are only going through security once.

However, if you are foolishly flying Lufthansa Airlines, and are unfamiliar with their transit procedures, you will have to go through security once in Zurich, and then twice at Stupid Munich Airport.

The boots? Kind of an albatross. AND then you're sweating, because you're running through the airport, because you had to go through security TWICE, and take your boots off TWICE, and put them back on (tuck the jeans, pull the bottoms down to eliminate bunching, zip...zip without getting jeans caught) TWICE, and then you've missed your flight.

But the boots are fabulous. FABULOUS. Now, take your missed-flight meal voucher and go get a beer, for crying out loud. (Ed note: I was crying out loud - quite literally).

Bottom line: I'm still searching for the perfect Airport Ensemble. Have you got one?

I love Christmas. LOVE Christmas. And now it's over. Booooo! But as long as I can share my presents with you, I'll be fine. This year was particularly exciting, as I had made a mini-Christmas list around Thanksgiving, and then completely forgot about it. So when I was opening presents, namely, very specific things I had asked for; I was ridiculously excited.

 "OH MY GOD - I FORGOT ALL ABOUT THIS BOOK!"

(From Booklist: For their wit, intelligence, good looks, and politics, the aristocratic Mitford sisters were the toast of the mid-twentieth century. They were prodigious correspondents, particularly between each other. Mosley, daughter-in-law of Diana Mitford, has selected and excerpted from some 12,000 letters between the sisters over a period of almost 80 years, to shed light on women described as Famous Notorious Talented Glamourous Turbulent Unpredicable Celebrated Infamous Rebellious Colourful & Idiosyncratic, as quoted from Jessica's obituaries.

Ed. note: They totally would have been Golightly Girls.)

And

"OH, THAT'S RIGHT! FROM THE WEDDING!"

(A great shot of my sisters and me, on my adorable sister, Ellie's, wedding day. Ellie framed the photo and gave it as a gift. Very challenging to get a shot where everyone looks good AND relaxed. Sister Jessie's first comment was 'Why am I standing off to the side?')

 And

"OOOOH! SHOE SHOPPING, COMING RIGHT UP!"

 (Sister Jessie knows I'd rather shop for my own shoes.)

 And

"AWESOME! I TOTALLY FORGOT ABOUT THIS TOO!"

 (My mom rocks. My dad also rocks, as he just wrote a nice, fat check, which will most likely magically turn into shoes.)

So I think my brief brush with Alzheimer's made for the most exciting Christmas yet. Both for me, and my entire family. Did you get anything good for Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwaanza/Tet/Festivus? Share it with us! (Just vicarious sharing. You don't have to let us HAVE it. Unless you really want to.)

Okay, so who got a gift card?

Me too!!! 

How long do you typically wait to use it?

Over the holidays I overheard my sister say "Mom, I still have that gift card you got me for my birthday".

Her birthday is in April.

That is either:

1) Incredible evidence of patience and willpower

or

2) She just forgot she had it, until we started talking about gift cards at Christmas

(my money is on #2 - this is the same sister who occasionally forgets to eat - FORGETS??? TO EAT???) 

I received (coincidentally enough) a gift card to DSW, from this same sister, for Christmas.

I just used it, last night (January 5).

And for ME, THAT was waiting.  I had been proudly swaggering around since December 26, smugly pointing out - to anyone who would listen - that I still had a Christmas gift card.  That I hadn't even used yet!

Okay, patience is not one of my strong suits.  

Is the photo of the shoes too big?

I didn't think so either. 

There are Two Types of People.  Yes, only two.  Stop trying to be all diverse and whatnot. 

There are 1)  Shoe People and there are 2) Handbag People. 

Don't try to argue with me.  It doesn't matter if you have both shoes, and handbags. 

If there arose a "Deal or No Deal" choice, and you absolutely had to pick EITHER shoes OR handbags, there would be a clear division of the Two Types of People.

I am a Shoe People.  This may come as a surprise to, well, probably no one.  I love me some shoes.  I love looking at shoes, buying shoes, talking about shoes, photographing shoes - shall I go on?  No?  You get it, okay. 

What you may not know, is that my shoes can totally beat up your handbag. 

Handbag?  Pfft.  I don' need no stinkin' handbag.  I have pockets.  And hands.  And friends with handbags, for my very bulky items, like that ridiculous case for my Ralph Lauren sunglasses, that could be mistaken for an armored truck.

And the handbag can be so cumbersome!  You arrive at the restaurant/bar for a snack & drink, and then what?  Where does that behemoth go?  On the back of the chair, where the waiter continually jostles it/spills drinks on it/knocks it to the ground?  Under the table?  Not near my shoes, it doesn't.

The shoes are absolutely necessary for protecting your feet from concrete, bad weather, broken glass, and just general evil.

My shoes?  Some are heavy, some are clompy, some are spiky, but all are 100% fierce.

If it ever came down to a cagematch, a la Mad Max & Thunderdome, you'd better watch your back.

Unless you are Katie Holmes' new Birkin bag: 

Natalie Portman can't be satisfied merely being a gorgeous, well-respected, fabulous actress with a Harvard education, and a penchant for thoughtful film roles.  No.  She has to go above and beyond, and prove herself one of those integrity-heavy people, who practice what they preach.  Harumph.

Ms. Portman is a known humanitarian/environmentalist/vegan, who has recently partnered with Te Casan to collaborate on vegan/animal-friendly footwear.

"Dazzling, playful, elegant and free of animal products, each shoe exudes the starlet’s own personal style. All of Portman’s proceeds will be donated to the Nature Conservancy, a non profit that works tirelessly to protect ecologically fragile lands and bodies of water."

As this endeavour involves shoes, and lovely, chic ones at that, I am fully supportive.  But please don't try to take my cheeseburger away.

I adore shoes, and if fashionable alternatives to leather and suede are made readily available, I will be the first in line to buy them.  My Stella McCartneys actually say "vegetarian shoe" on the sole, which is perplexing as I didn't think shoes ate anything at all.  But I digress.  Provide me with a viable alternative, and I'll take baby steps - in the fabulous shoes - toward being more of a conscious consumer.

I told you I've switched to using flourescent lightbulbs, right?

If you are a bit more budget-minded, as are we, please feel free to merely salivate at the offering: 

"Each guest will receive an exclusive DOL (Destination on Location) 'Passport' for use at specific retail locations, and targeting the designer labels worn by Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda.

'Passport' will include gift cards to put towards the following:

• a special bra fitting at the exclusive boutique Catriona MacKecknie, home of the finest French lace lingerie;
  
• shopping at Hotel Venus where the SATC characters shopped for lingerie,
  
• and at Carrie's adored Jimmy Choo
  

• a complimentary consultation and treatments at the luxurious Dormer Medical Spa;
  
• shopping at Patricia Field, ABC Carpet & Home, Takashimaya and much, much more."

Questions? Please contact info@destinationlocation.com

Destination On Location
419 Lafayette Street, 6th Floor
New York, New York 10003

Office: +1 212-624-5868
Cell:   +1 917-969-9900

Raise your hand if you are using the upcoming "Sex & The City" movie as a perfectly legitimate excuse to purchase a new pair of slightly unnecessary heels.

No, no, of course not. You're right - that would be terribly irresponsible. Suze Orman would be aghast. There are credit card bills, mortgage and car payments, student loans, and gas prices have absolutely skyrocketed. Shoes? Who said shoes?

Although, most of you should have received your kind-of confusing tax rebate by now...

Is it really extra money? Or is this part of my refund for 2008? Shhhhh, don't question it, the shoes are calling.

...and it IS somewhat unexpected (I said somewhat)... why not help the ailing economy? Why not? Come on! Life is short!

I have said it a thousand times: I am NOT a financial adviser. But at what other juncture in your life will you just have $600 thrown at you, for no real reason, other than the obvious fact that the government wants you to have new shoes? I am probably paraphrasing.

Your new shoes could, in addition to stimulating the economy, lift your spirits and give you a reason to get excited to get dressed for work.

Your new shoes won't care if you ate too much pizza this weekend. They're far more forgiving than those judgmental pants.

Your new shoes might give you the extra confidence-boost you need to overcome whatever is seeming kind of scary to you right now. Like the thought of not having new shoes.

Just think about it...

Carrie would be proud.

Ed. note: you could ALSO use your Free Money Tax Rebate on a fabulous Girlfriend Getaway, but we hate to shamelessly pander;)

Weddings, weddings, everywhere. Weddings, weddings, what should I wear? (Stay tuned for 'Holiday Golightly Interprets Dr. Seuss').

If the wedding/reception is outside, on some sort of lawn, you will want to leave your stilettos in the closet.

Here is one option for the daytime/outside extravaganza:

1) A beautiful deep plum empire-waist dress (this one would work for an evening wedding as well), and if you pronounce it "Ohhhm-peeer" there will be slapping. It's Empire. As in "Roman". Or "Ottoman". Or "Strikes Back".

Adrianna Papell Shantung Dress - $138 at Nordstrom

And the spongy grass won't seem so daunting in your fab wedges. I've said it before, I'll skimp on wardrobe items, but not on shoes.

2) Another daytime/outside option is this totally cute shift dress, with a fancy little built-in shoulder capelet and pockets! We love pockets! (Ed. note: don't put anything in the pockets - it will make you look unnecessarily hippy. Also, Moschino Cheap & Chic is definitely chic, but cheap? notsomuch)

Moschino Cheap & Chic - $760 at Saks Fifth Avenue

And since that spongy lawn you'll be walking/standing/dancing on is daring you to ruin your skinny heels, show it who's boss in some dressy flat sandals. (These could also be worn with Dress #1)

Miu Miu Stone Embellished Sandals - $590 at Net-A-Porter

3) If the wedding is during the day, but not on a grassy knoll somewhere, but rather at a solid-foundation-location, you can try the following ensemble:

Max & Cleo Print Dress - $98 at Nordstrom

With these shoes

Celine Byblos Slingback Pumps - $900 at Net-A-Porter

With daytime weddings you just need to make sure the fabric of your dress doesn't say "evening". Or "I'm for hire".

Anything shiny or sparkly should be saved for the nighttime extravaganzas. (Don't worry, we'll feature those soon).

Now get shopping!

I would love to consider myself an authority when it comes to dressing for travel, however there is still one frontier I have not conquered in the travel-wardrobe realm. By the way, that is totally a place. Travel-Wardrobe Realm. The shopping is phenomenal. The hiccup in my total frontier domination is in finding the ultimate travel shoe.

Shoes for schlepping, shoes for traipsing, shoes for shuffling along a picturesque esplanade. When you're traveling, chances are high that you will be doing a good deal of walking. Walking is one of the best ways to navigate and explore a city, town, village, or neighborhood. I have yet to find the Holy Grail of Travel Footwear, but I'm trying. One pair at a time.

The Manolos, Louboutins, and Givenchys? Notsomuch for the traveling. Or at least, notsomuch for the walking around. The following are known for comfort, and have shown some success with aesthetics, but the elusive perfect combination of the two has yet to be found.

Sofft - these are the closest I have come to ultimate travel shoe, in the form of flats. Patent leather gunmetal flats, which are not only completely comfortable, but are also surprisingly chic-looking. When people compliment me on these shoes, and I tell them they're Soffts, the nice people are always surprised.

Cole Haan w/Nike Air - I haven't purchased any of these for myself, as of yet. I continue to try them on, and clomp around in them, pretending I'm walking on cobblestone streets in some far-off part of Europe. They are not uncomfortable, but I also wouldn't be able to spend an entire 8 hours walking in them. I think my expectations might be a bit high. But that is what happens when you slap "Nike Air" on a pair of shoes. You expect extreme comfort. And unparalleled athletic ability.

Aerosoles - I used to have a pair of these, but then my level of shoe-snobbery hit an all-time high and I won't wear them anymore. This is probably just barefaced foolishness on my part, as they have a number of cute styles, with very flexible soles. I managed to find this surprising pair of Aerosoles boots:

Dansko - These are worn by medical professionals, and those in the culinary field, who have to be on their feet all day, which is a ringing endorsement if ever there was one. I can't get past how clompy and unattractive they are. I still have a pair. I just wish they weren't so clompy.

Born - These are very similar to Soffts, both in comfort and the fact that they use Scandinavian characters (like the umlaut and slash O). My unofficial opinion is if the brand has Scandinavian alphabet characters in it's name, the shoes will undoubtedly be very comfortable. And not entirely unattractive! These sandals look pretty good for "sensible" shoes!

Tsubo - these are fairly close to Danskos in style, but somehow less clompy, and I've actually seen an adorable pair of slingback pumps that the wearer swears she can walk around in all day.

Donald J Pliner - These are my fashionable concession to comfort footwear. Pliner's shoes are stylish, although not outrageously so, and comfortable-ish. They will not feel like little pillows for your feet, the way Borns or Soffts will, but they do look good. Although I don't recommend anything with a kitten heel when you're in Europe. My DJPs were microfiber pumps with a slight kitten heel. En route to Prague castle the kitten heel would catch, repeatedly, in between the cobblestones, and one time I walked right out of the shoe, which stayed put - kitten heel firmly wedged between the stones.

I really missed my Danskos that day.

The rule used to be "No wearing white after Labor Day", although don't we all wear a white button-down shirt pretty much at any time of the year?  Our unofficial rule is "no white shoes after Labor Day".  It just looks wrong.

Bid them a fond "farewell" until next Spring:

 HAPPY LABOR DAY, WORKING CITIZENS!