Fashion Friday :: Runway Style

[trip style = any]

Fashion Friday posts are published on the last Friday of every month by fashion blogger Heather.

September is huge in the fashion world with the Spring 2013 runway shows in New York, London, Milan and Paris. But honestly, how am I supposed to keep up with next season's trends when I'm still trying to make a dent in my 916-page September Vogue? It's much easier to focus on what's hot on the other runway for Fall 2012 travel style.

Printed Jeans
Forever 21 tie-dye denim :: Current/Elliott leopard print jeans

Grey Sweatshirt
Gap terry pull over :: Kate Spade garance dore studio pull over

White Blazer
Boundary & Co oona blazer :: Madewell tuxedo blazer

Slouchy Denim
Diesel fayza boyfriend jeans :: Current/Elliott slouchy stiletto jeans

Shawl-Collar Cardigan
Rag & Bone calistoga shawl cardigan :: J.Crew cotton shawl-collar cardigan

Like what you see? Don't forget to check out our airport and travel style boards on Pinterest.

More Fashion Friday
Like a Virgin
Celeb Travel Must-Haves
Airport Style

[photos via retailers, people.com, glamour.co.uk, justjared.com]

Jetset Jingles :: It's Bittersweet

[trip style = any]

Jetset Jingles publishes once monthly. The ‘soundtrack’ is written, mixed and mastered by Nicole, amateur DJ by night and movie maven by day.

Even though Summer doesn’t technically wrap until September 21st, for most people, Labor Day weekend marks the end {but if you want to keep it going, read our recently published 8 Ways To Extend Summer}! After long days snacking on freezies and ranch-flavored chips in front of some body of water, come Sept 4th we suddenly change routines, and both kids and adults return to their version of nine-to-five.

That’s why last weekend I decided to take an end-of-summer getaway, one last hurrah if you will, to Palm Springs, California. The weather was HOT {and I’m talking fry-an-egg-on-the-sidewalk-hot}, the mood was relaxed {thanks to my playlist}, and the time was savored {drinking Pina Coladas and reading a mindless John Grisham novel - Litigators}.

This month I’ve put together an end-of-summer playlist. A bittersweet mix of songs to remind you of fun summer days past and songs to get you prepped for fall days to come...

Happy listening.

Song List 1/ Wild Ones (feat. Sia) - Wild Ones (feat. Sia) - Single 2/ I Want You Back - Jackson 5: The Ultimate Collection 3/ Dog Days Are Over - Lungs 4/ In the Air (feat. Angela McCluskey) - In the Air (feat. Angela McCluskey) - Single 5/ Blue Jeans (RAC Mix) - Blue Jeans (Remixes) - EP

Playlist {Can't view the playlist?}

More Jetset Jingles TS Music Musts Pause And Reflect Gals’ Getaway Portlandia – The Mecca Of Indie Rock Palm Springs Rat Packin’

[photos by nicole]

Travel App :: Send A Postcard

[trip style = any]

When I was little, buying 10 postcards was much more fun than waiting for my shoddy photos to develop at the camera store. Once home, I'd stick them in my scrapbook along with leaves, museum ticket stubs, candy wrappers {read: the candy on the trip was as important as the trip itself} and other mementos from the trip. I bought my last postcard in Paris ten years ago {and consequently made my last scrapbook} when I conquered the Arrondissements and Tour Eiffel solo.

Now, there's an app for that.

Sending A Digital Postcard I used the Postino iPhone App {free, and available on other smartphone platforms too} to create and pen the above postcard about my recent trip to Montreal. After a two-min process of selecting the photo from my iPhone's photo library and writing the text, I entered an email address and hit send. In a few minutes, mommy and daddy dearest had a postcard from their gallivanting gal waiting in their inbox. Sure, most of us just email or iMessage vacation photos from our photo gallery, but I like the idea of sending something a little more stylized and formal. >If you want a postcard app that's a bit more sleek and customizable than the above example, try fCards {$0.99}.

Turning A Digital Photo Into A Physical Postcard If your Grandpa isn't email savvy and still wants the 411 on your trip, no problemo, both above-mentioned apps can also convert your digital postcard into a physical postcard, and send it via mail {for a small S&H fee}.

More Travel Tech Create A Travel-Themed Pillow From Your Instagram Photos Hotel Tonight Adds Canada Eh Pic Frames {aka – photo collages} Tingo “Money Back” Hotel Search ‘n Book Instagram For Android How To Make Animated Travel Photos Phoneography Google Traveler Tricks

[photo by @magabout // postcard created by @tripstyler using Postino]

Money Doesn't Buy Style

[trip style = any]

If there's one thing I've learned from life and trip styling around the world, it's that money doesn't buy style {unless you can afford the everyday styling services of Brad Goreski}. Putting this into a travel context, money doesn't always buy a stylish hotel, either. Aka, you don't have to spend $500+ a night to land in a cool pad.

Case in point: some of the most stylish hotels I've stayed in have been $150 or less. Moreover, hit-up über stylish {and exclusive} hotels like the Banyan Tree Mayakoba in shoulder season or on a super sale, and you're singing your way to your vacay.

I get it, stylish means different things to different people. But if there's one thing we can all agree on, it's that style is not run-of-the-mill nor head-to-toe one-branded; style is curated, style is personal, style is local, style is unique.

Stylish Hotels {all $150 or less in low season} *If you're considering jetting away for the fall, take note: style can come with a small price tag. You don't need to have a Ritz Carlton budget to wear Roberto Cavalli.

Thailand - x2 Kui Buri note: an all-villa hotel with wifi and champagne breakfast included.

Venice - Hilton Molino Stucky note: I got this hotel on hotwire for $110, the rooftop pool is its crowning glory.

Bonaire - Sorobon Beach Resort note: wifi and an azure bay the temperature of a hot tub included. BYO soap.

LA - Thompson Beverly Hills note: dark and sleek interiors lead to the 'bev hills beach' urban rooftop pool.

Palm Springs - Viceroy Palm Springs note: a multi-pool garden party to cool off in the desert heat.

Scottsdale - Saguaro note: bright, central and savvy with a coffee shop, whiskey lounge and mexican restaurant on-site. done.

NYC - Ace NYC note: up-cycled urban.

PS - if you're interested in finding high-style hotels for less, check out our curated list of travel websites in TS Recommends.

[photos by @tripstyler except hilton and ace, both sourced online]

8 Ways To Extend Summer

[trip style = any]

Yesterday I had an end-of-summer freak out until I realized nature's heat lamp usually blasts heat into late-September AND we're getting into a CRAZY  period for booking cheap fall travel. Here are some local and international ideas to keep the summer sun shining into the fall:

1/ Don't write September off for fun in the sun. Even though every rule in the book is telling you to change everything from the colors you wear to the foods you eat after labor day, resist the urge and stay in the summer state of mind. Fall-schmall.

2/ Sizzling shoulder season. We've written about low season travel deals at length in the past. Travel at a trip style = budget-friendly price for a trip style = luxury getaway. Here are just a few of the deals that have come across my desk in the past day: - Fairmont Mayakoba {Playa Del Carmen, Mexico}: $199/night includes a DAILY $100 dining credit! Book by Aug 23 for stays through Dec 20. - Hawaiian Airlines: Seattle to Maui from $351 return. Book by Aug 27 for travel through Dec 15. - Parker Palm Springs: $169 for stays Sunday - Thursday. Book by Aug 23 for travel Sept 3 - 27. Fall shoulder season usually lands between Sept 3 and Dec 20 in most sunny destinations. Check your destination of choice for some of the year's best deals.

3/ Daycation: book a spa treatment and sit at the pool {like I did Monday}. Most hotel spas allow guests to sit by the pool pre- or post-treatment without an added fee.

4/ Plan a endless summer party. Keep the dream alive with a salmon bake, oyster-shucking fest, beach BBQ or Mexican fiesta!

5/ Visit a tiki bar. It's summer year round in the South Pacific.

6/ Plant yourself on a patio from happy hour until sundown.

7/ Plan an impromptu night away {by monitoring the weather report}. Sunny skies ahead? I hear a hotel pool calling your name. Have you heard of Hotel Tonight? This indispensable travel app is our fave way to book a hotel at the last moment.

8/ Wear white beyond labor day. It's no longer uncouth, plus, when the snow starts falling you can sport a monochromatic look.

[photo by @tripstyler taken in Vancouver at the Westin Bayshore]