Blog — Trip Styler

Va-Va-Vroom With Virgin

virgin 747 winglet[trip style = luxe]

Simply put, because Trip Styler is a fan of traveling in style---whether budget or luxe---we heart Virgin. Living glam from top-to-toe and nose-to-tail, they are THE MOST swish airline, proving it doesn't have to be 1960 to fly in style.

Trip Styler Tip :: As we mentioned late in 2011, Virgin's birds are flying west this summer. Starting May 14th, a seasonal service takes flight from Vancouver to London {return}. Yay!

If you follow Trip Styler on social media, it was probably ridiculously obvious I was just in London attending Virgin Atlantic's Grooming School at the airline's training centre, aka "the base". More on the red-hot tips I picked up in the coming weeks, but until then, I wanted to lift the veil on Virgin to give you a look into their airport Clubhouses and Upper Class.

Virgin Atlantic's San Francisco Clubhouse Virgin Atlantic SFO Lounge {Welcome to the Clubhouse. From the moment I walked in, every staff member welcomed me to their swish space; I was sold in seconds.}

sitting area virgin atl lounge sfo {A woodsy-chic work area.}

SFO Virgin Atlantic Lounge {Dressed in the airline's signature red and purple, the SFO Clubhouse features multicolored panels that slide along the window to shade the space from the SF sun.}

stationary virgin atlantic lounge sfo {The business centre sports custom Virgin Atlantic stationary and red letter-writing wares.}

waiting for flight in virgin atlantic clubhouse sfo {Every guest is offered a bowl of 'crisps' before ordering their meal. After two bowls---yikes (they're petite, ok?!)---I opted for a fruit smoothie and a walnut pear salad.}

Virgin Atlantic's London Heathrow Clubhouse virgin atlantic lounge heathrow {The size of a football field---yet still somehow intimate---the Virgin Atlantic flagship Clubhouse at Heathrow trumped any other lounge I'd visited both in design and services. Where else can you sit in a hanging chair, walk 10 steps to the spa, another 10 steps to the bakery/boulangerie/cheese shop and a final 10 steps to the bar?}

virgin atlantic clubhouse LHR {Where I lounged and spent most of my time working before my flight.}

bar at vigin atlantic clubhouse LHR {The swanky bar.}

manicure station virgin atlantic clubhouse heathrow {Every guest in the flagship Virgin Clubhouse has access to a complimentary mini-treatment: mani, facial or massage. Here I'm about to get a 10-minute manicure before my flight.}

spa at virgin atlantic clubhouse heathrow {The steamy-dreamy spa featuring this co-ed jacuzzi, relaxation area and sauna. For the record, I'm bringing my bathing suit next time.}

breakfast virgin atlantic clubhouse heathrow {My breakfast choice in the Clubhouse: eggs benny, which just so happened to match my surroundings.}

Sky-High Aboard Virgin Atlantic lie-flat pod upper class virgin atlantic 747 {Seat 25K, aka my fully lie-flat perch at 30,000ft, was equipped with a down pillow and duvet, as well as a custom foam mattress. I don't sleep well on planes, but I slept very well---to the point of dreaming---on this 747.}

tea time on virgin atlantic upper class {At the end of North America-bound flights, afternoon tea is served. This time-treasured Brit tradition was enhanced by an in-flight copy of Wallpaper* Magazine.}

[photos by @tripstyler]

Fashion Friday :: Surfer Style

fashion friday[trip style = beach]

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

Puka shell necklaces are back, y'all! Just kidding---thank goodness---but surfer style is alive and well and living on Oahu. Last month, I took my first trip to Hawaii, where I rediscovered my high school love for all things surf. Once you get past the Tommy Bahama shirts and the wear-it-30-different-ways sarongs of Waikiki, there's a whole island of beach style to embrace---lest you look like a Haole.

Surfer Style

Now What To Pack? Women (clockwise from top left) Reef creamy leather sandals, Quiksilver lamrocks butler shorts, Quiksilver stavi hat, Spell cambodian tribal bag, Free People big dipper oversized tee, Billabong only good vibes blanket towel, Billabong sunset ryder hat, Free People sunkissed flora racerback tank

Men (clockwise from middle right) Quiksilver railed long sleeve shirt, Quiksilver malone sweatshirt, Reef warrior stripe, Reef suicides chino, Reef kitchi kah mi win shoes

More Fashion Friday Life's a Beach Romantic Caribbean Cabin Fever

[top photos via reef.com, collage by @heatherlovesit]