Jetset Style :: Crop It Like It's Hot

We know fall is around the corner when daylight hours dim, leaves crunch underfoot and sweaters come out of hiding. But when the temperature is too warm for wool and too cool for sandals, how should we dress? This year’s answer may shock you: Culottes.

No, this isn’t an 80s #tbt post—this cropped style is the trend of the year. Not quite pants and not quite shorts, culottes are often described by what they’re not. They also have several ridiculous names like gaucho, flood and palazzo pants. No matter what you call them, they’re comfortable and versatile, and they’ll be the perfect packing item for any fall escape.

Guys: While culottes are a major player in avant-garde men's fashion, they haven't hit the high street. GQ writes that men should wear trousers, jeans and chinos that fit slim through the leg and stop before hitting the top of their shoes. Ease into this shorter style with no-break pants or roll/cuff your longer pants. Feeling adventurous? Try jogger-cuff pants or culotte-style trousers.

Styling tips

• To lengthen the leg, pair with heels. A pointed or exposed toe will even further elongate your silhouette.
• This style also works well with sneakers, loafers and sandals for a more casual look.
• Seek out a high waistline to give the impression of even longer legs.
• Wear one color head to toe or try a jumpsuit paired with a leather or denim jacket for a sleek culottes-in-disguise look.
• Layer a sweater or graphic sweatshirt over a tank or tuck in a denim shirt or turtleneck in cooler climates.
• Throw a boyfriend-style or double-breasted blazer over a cropped shirt or tank.

Did you know? During the Victorian Era, women wore wide, skirt-like trousers for activities like horseback riding, cycling and tennis.

Clockwise from top left: Zara cropped flowing trousers, Topshop moto straight indigo culottes, Topshop halterneck culotte jumpsuit, Jesse Kamm sailor pant, Everlane , Aritzia eckhardt pant

This post is written by Trip Styler's Assistant Wayfarer/Editor Heather.

Related
Jetset Style :: Comfort Class
Jetset Style :: Linen Love
How to Look French
Jetset Style :: How to Dress Like a Parisian

[collages by @heatherlovesit, images via the cut, instagram @c.phraph, clay austin photography, gq, jesse kamm, a portable package, the fashion eaters]

Jetset Style :: Comfort Class

[trip style = any]

Have you ever noticed the celebrity travel uniform? If you don't count Rihanna's affection for street-wear onesies, it consists of sunglasses, jeans, light jacket, fantastic bag and hat {not required but recommended}. These savvy stars know that the key to airport style is layers, and while the price tag on their travel uniform may be higher than the average traveler's, they've nailed a look that's both comfortable and classy. There shouldn't be a divide between first class and economy in airplane fashion, so we've coined a new term: comfort class.

Celebrity travel uniform trends

• Bomber jackets
• Black & white color palette
• Striped tees
• Short crew-neck sweaters
• Structured handbags
• Black or white sneakers
• Brimmed hat
• Jeans or black pants
• White tees
• Blazers

Always looking outfit inspiration, we spotted these stylish high fliers rocking the comfort class look.

Bomber jackets are a stylish & smart layer

Hats aren't just for incognito travel 

Black & white is a classic color combo

Cropped cashmere & structured satchels will never go out of style

This post is written by Trip Styler's Assistant Wayfarer/Editor Heather.

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Dos and Don'ts of Airport Wear
Fashion Friday :: Runway Style
Fashion Friday :: Celeb Travel Must-Haves
Fashion Friday :: Airport Style

[images sourced via elle, in style, marie claire, glamour, and collages by @heatherlovesit]

Jetset Style :: Linen Love

Linen is having a moment, fashion wise. Linen culottes, linen curtains, linen crop tops, linen cushions... The linen list goes on {and yes I said culottes—embrace them!}. My linen clothing collection has grown over the years, but those pieces rarely make their way into my suitcase because I've always thought of linen as the nemesis of carefree, carry-on travel. Who wants to spend their time away shackled to an iron—especially when they've only packed a handful of items?

Well, you can and should travel with linen, whether you choose to embrace or manage the wrinkles {with a few easy tricks listed below}. Linen is not only stylish, it's also a great fabric to keep you feeling fresh whether you're heading into the balmy tropics or the cooler fall months.

Did you know? Linen is made from the flax plant, which goes to show that flax is more than just a healthy source of omega-3, fiber and phytonutrients! It's also one of the oldest fabrics in the world, dating back as far as 36,000 years.

The benefits of linen

• Lightweight, breathable and comfortable
• Linen's natural fibers keep you cool in hot weather and won't cling to your body
• Dries quickly
• Provides UV protection and repels insects 
• Durable, long-lasting and holds up well to washing

How to pack linen

• Fold as little as possible
• Smooth out any wrinkles
• Lay at the top of your bag without over stuffing your luggage
• Remove linen garments from your luggage as soon as you arrive at your accommodation

How to keep linen wrinkle-free

• Pack a travel steamer in your luggage—they're about the size of a travel hairdryer {this one heats up in a minute}!
• Spritz your garment with water and blow dry while holding it taught
• Use a wrinkle-reducing spray 
• Hang your garment in the bathroom while you shower {leave the fan off}
• Smooth out any folds in the fabric while seated
• Opt for a linen-cotton blend instead of 100% linen
• Embrace the wrinkles!

Trip Styler Tip: Wash linen clothing a few times after purchase to soften the fabric. 

TOP: Ilana Kohn lisa trench, Rachel Comey reunion top, Sunja Link x Banquet Atelier dress 
MIDDLE: Black Crane overalls, Rachel Comey olympia jacket, Demylee justine pullover 
BOTTOM: Club Monaco slim-fit linen shirt, J.Crew stanton short, Apolis washed linen field jacket

This post is written by Trip Styler's Assistant Wayfarer/Editor Heather.

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Jetset Style :: Jean Jackets
Jetset Style :: The New Tunic
Fashion Friday :: Shoulder Season

[top image via humanoid.nl]

Jetset Style :: How to Dress Like a Parisian

[trip style = urban]

Editor's note: This guest post is written by Katie Mogan Graham, a Canadian expat who is spending a year in Provence, eating her weight in discount Monoprix cheese, bread and wine. When she isn't butchering la langue française in her adopted home of Aix-En-Provence, she and her husband can be found touring Europe, keeping their eyes peeled for interesting fashion and their stomachs alert to all things gastronomically new and exciting. 

France: the land of cheap baguettes, expensive wine and oh-so-whimsical berets. Nearly six months ago, my husband and I left our family, friends and jobs in Vancouver to spend a year living in Europe. We landed in France, where we’ve been drinking in—literally—all this chic, quaint country has to offer.

Many of our previous assumptions about France have held true—the bread is delicious, cheap and plentiful, as is the cheese and occasionally the wine—but much to our dismay, we’ve yet to see a single beret. Quelle horreur! Perhaps this is simply a matter of timing {the beret may strictly be a headpiece d'hiver}, but it’s caused us to stop and notice what people actually wear on the cobblestone streets that surround us.  

One key observation—and one that my Aixois friends will undoubtedly dispute—is that the further south we’ve traveled, the less daring and avant garde the fashion. Our current resting point, the popular Provençal ville of Aix En Provence, is a perfect example. Aix is best known for its bustling weekly markets, which attract hordes of sunburned tourists in the summer, but during the other three seasons, the sidewalk cafes are dominated by university students and older locals with dogs. For a real discussion on trends à la mode, one must look to Paris. And so, without further delay, I give you a short summary of our sartorial findings from our recent visit to the City of Lights.

1/ Not-So-Mellow Yellow
Spring in Paris is a fickle thing; the skies are often grey and rainy with sporadic bursts of sunlight that justify the use of oversized sunglasses with umbrellas. This mishmash of weather was mirrored in the outfits displayed in store windows and on sidewalk cafés. Chic and cheeky pops of yellow abounded from head to toe, in the form of scarves, belts, purses and shoes. Of course, since everything is best in moderation, a sober dose of grey, blue and black kept this sunny look grounded. And since Parisians are the living, breathing {and often smoking} embodiment of "too cool for school", it really wouldn't work for them to be seen wearing bright colors from head to toe anyway.

2/ La Frange
I learned this chic new term for fringe when I went for my first haircut in France. La frange is not just a hair term anymore. Vaguely reminiscent of the boho heyday of the 1960s–70s, tassels of just about every size, color and material hung in all their glory. Like the color yellow, fringe was kept in check by being limited to a single article of clothing or accessory—dangling from a cropped jacket, clinging to the edges of a clutch or swinging from the back of a pair of heels. With the vast variety of styles, it appeared that there was no one way to wear fringe, except perhaps sans tie-dye, headbands or macrame vests.

3/ Stan Smith Adidas Sneakers
Paris is best seen on foot, as you can't go a block or two without finding some hidden gem of a shop or café that would go unnoticed if traveling by car {or even worse, tour bus}. This is where a "Catch 22" occurs: How can one wander the streets of Paris fashionably and comfortably?  Parisian women and men have solved this timeless conundrum by adopting the sporty sneaker—the classic, white Stan Smith Adidas sneaker. When I first heard these referenced in conversation, I thought my Parisian friend was talking about the singer Sam Smith. It became clear that our "lost in translation" moment was due to my extreme lack of sportiness {In case there are others out there like me, Stan Smith is a famous American tennis player from the 1960s–80s}. You don't have to know a thing about tennis to sport this look; these shockingly white sneakers are worn with just about everything, from mini, midi and maxi skirts to cuffed jeans and sleek suits {racket and balls optional}. My Parisian friend and her boyfriend have matching "his and hers" sneakers. I'd score that match "love–all".

4/ The Parisian Knot
I kid you not, the chic men of Paris have a knot named in their honor, and rightfully so if you ask me. This is one of the simplest ways to wear a scarf, but also sleekest and sexiest. Perhaps it helped that we were visiting at a cooler time of year, but everywhere we looked, Parisian men {and likely the odd tourist, hoping to fit in} were keeping warm with scarves knotted deftly around their necks. Men of North America take note and get shopping!

5/ Tailored Layers
Beneath their scarves, Parisian men continued to impress, with an array of carefully tailored layers to buffet the rain and wind. Blazers and cardigans—be still my heart—were out in full force, keeping company with slim-fit collared shirts and equally slim trousers. The younger crowd kept their pant hems a tad higher, exposing glimpses of bare ankles {mon dieu!} or patterned socks {très chic!}. These svelte ensembles were often worn by men on bicycles {le sigh!}, who undoubtedly benefited from the aerodynamics at play.

À bientôt!

Related
Jetset Style :: The Everyday Sneaker
Jetset Style :: Scandinavia-Inspired Jackets
The Savvy Traveler :: Jackie

[collages by @heatherlovesit & photos via style.com, vogue, wwd, garancedore.fr, streetpeeper.com, thestunninglook.com, styledumonde.com, details.com, clochet.com]

Jetset Style :: The Everyday Sneaker

[trip style = any]

Fashion vs. comfort—it’s a longstanding feud that haunts stylish globetrotters who want to look polished and be practical while pounding the pavement. Enter the everyday sneaker.

Every year or so, we see a new shape take over the fashion world, whether it’s the Nike Air Max, the New Balance 620, the Isabel Marant wedge sneaker or the Converse Chuck Taylor {a timeless treasure we featured in 2013}. Last year’s entry into the sneaker hall of fame was the Adidas Stan Smith, whose meteoric rise to reinvented cult status was fuelled by designers Pheobe Philo and Raf Simons.

The current trends toward minimalism, monochromatism and athleisure have opened the door to the everyday sneaker, cementing its staple status. Good news: these trainers go with everything so they’ll save you suitcase space! We’ve assembled a list of sneakers that will have you strutting in style no matter what your destination.

WHITE: Common Projects achilles leather sneakers {Men/Women}, Filippa K sport shoe {Men/Women}, Our Legacy classic sneaker white braid canvas {Men}, Maison Kitsune sneakers {Men/Women} GREY: Puma suede classic {Men/Women},  Adidas gazelle {Men/Women}, Native apollo moc {Men/Women}, Eytys mother grey {Men/Women}

This post is written by Trip Styler's Assistant Wayfarer/Editor Heather.

Related
Fashion Friday :: White Chucks
Jetset Style :: The New Tunic
Jetset Style :: Jean Jackets
Jetset Style :: Everyday Travel Totes

[images via glamour, myfreechoice, style.com, whowhatwear]