If there’s one thing Singaporeans love more than freebies, it’s travelling. There is no better way to get away from the hectic lifestyle in Singapore than to take a short break to the beautiful beaches of Thailand or hit the shopping mecca that is Hong Kong or Tokyo. Unfortunately, Singaporean tourists have became easily identifiable due to our penchant for t-shirts, shorts and slippers regardless whether we are in Bangkok or Berlin. While holidaying may be your chance to relax, it’s no excuse to forget about fashion and dress like a slob! Arissa and I have put together a list of 5 fashion essentials while travelling here.
1. A dressy pair of shoes.
A quick survey among friends soon reveal that most of them prefer to only pack slippers and sneakers in their luggage due to space constraints. While slippers and sneakers are no doubt comfortable and easy to pack, they are not by any means suitable for every occasion. What happens if you decide to hit up a hot night spot, or choose to pamper yourself with a meal in a classy restaurant? Slippers and sneakers are hardly the way to go. I am not saying that everyone has to pack 6″ platform heels for a weekend trip to Bali, but wedges and dressy flats hardly take up more space than sneakers and slippers. Dressy yet comfortable shoes can take you to so much more places than your ratty pair of sneakers could.
If you are visiting a beautiful place, why not dress accordingly? Shoes are vital in finishing an outfit and hence they are my no.1 fashion essential while travelling.
2. A nice bag.
Is there something about those North face and Jansport knapsacks that I’m missing out on? I understand that they are easy to carry on board the plane, especially when you are lugging grossly overweight check-in luggages like I always do. Much like shoes, however, they are hardly suitable to carry to most occasions like shopping or hanging out at the beach. I find it awkward how you would have to put everything down in order to swing your backpack around to get things out of there anyway. Consider a nice weekender or a boston bag – They can fit the same amount of things inside and are much more convenient. Plus, backpacks are a neon beacon to every pick pocketers out there!
3. Makeup
Another travel essential for me is makeup. I never ever leave the country without a makeup bag!
Everyone loves to take pictures when they are travelling. And we all know what changes in climate can lead to breakouts, jetlags to bad eyebags, dry air to chapped lips. A little makeup always helps you look better when smiling for that picture! It will be a pity to have a picture taken at a beautiful place, only to have everyone’s attention focused instead on your eyebags or that huge zit on your forehead. Even if you don’t wear makeup, moisturiser, sunblock and chapsticks are a must in protecting your skin.
4. Basics for layering.
I find it extremely cumbersome to pack things that won’t match with most of my items. It takes up luggage space which could have gone to shopping loots! Tank top, a button-up shirt, shorts and tights are a permanent fixture in my luggage (in black, of course.) You can throw a blazer over a tank top and tights and be ready for a night out in town, or pair it with denim cut-offs and a loose shirt for some cocktail by the sea.
Having everything in blacks or neutrals minimizes the chance that the colours won’t match, too.
5. Accessories.
You’ll be surprised at how small accessories can completely change your outfit around! You can be dressed in just a tee-shirt and shorts, but adding accessories like bracelets and hairbands is a quick fix to help you look like you’ve put more effort into dressing. Playing around with different sorts of accessories can make you look like you are wearing a completely new outfit too. You can change your maxi skirt to a tube dress by wearing a belt around your midsection – The possibilities are endless!
So here you have it, our 5 fashion essentials for travelling girls. Now it’s your turn to tell us what’s in your luggage!
What are your fashion essentials while travelling?
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I LOVE that suitcase!! OMG where did you get it?
Also, I 100% agree with these items. I also find it helpful to research the place you are going to and check out the styles/tends there. That way you can dress similarly and not look like a tourist
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Dawn replied on July 20th, 2010 at 1:47 pm
Thanks! Arissa got them in Japan and Korea!
And oh definitely. We might do a “streetstyle of ____” sort of series soon. What do you think about that?
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Samantha Nandez replied on July 21st, 2010 at 11:59 am
I must go shopping over there
That sounds fun! Would be an interesting post for sure.
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Arissa replied on July 22nd, 2010 at 6:42 am
Oh yes, I go nuts shopping in Korea and Japan as well.
This was a great post!
I totally agree with all your points, especially the one about taking a nice bag. I have a plain black bag from Topshop which does every occasion-it has a long, detatchable strap for daytime and short shoulder straps for the evening, and it fits a surprising amount into it. It’s perfect, and much nicer and more versatile than a grubby old rucksack!
When I go away I take basics (all black, obviously) for layering, a couple of accessories, smart flats and day flats. It doesn’t take up much room in my case, and I’m ready for any occasion!
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Dawn replied on July 20th, 2010 at 1:53 pm
Thanks Julia! Glad you find this post interesting!
I don’t even own a backpack, when I travel I stuff everything I can into my H&M duffle bag and carry it on board with as my purse, while lugging along a small suitcase. I’ve never heard of travelling light apparently! Shoulder bags are much safer than rucksacks too. Someone could just unzip a compartment behind you and take your things without you even realizing. Eeks!
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Oh my God I totally love that shot in the carpark. <333
And I am very guilty of carrying backpacks when traveling!!!
I'm traveling in style like you girls next time round!!!
Love black, love the photography here, love this blog, love you girls!!!
Keep it up!!! <3
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Dawn replied on July 20th, 2010 at 1:55 pm
Hello Nikkiko!
Wow, thanks for all the compliments!! Do consider taking a nice bag along next time and maybe you’ll find out why it’s a travel fashion essential. I learned the hard way when I went to perth with nothing but a backpack and I felt sooo awkward carrying it to shop around!
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Ditto for sunblock! It saved my life this past weekend!
Good advice, I realized that in my own way I always thought about everything: something comfy, clothes that match, something nice because you never know, some makeup remedies and accessories to shift from day to night…
And a last one: be prepared to everything: take spare change, batteries, bottles of water (or at least make sure you have enough room in your bag for it), sunglasses, a hat if it’s a warm place, a scarf if it’s a cold one (scarves can also change the allure of an outfit!) and an aspirin.
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Dawn replied on July 20th, 2010 at 2:01 pm
My skin never burns so it’s less of a matter about peeling than it is about tanning! I am soo guilty of not carrying bottles of water around, but I totally agree with the sunnies and scarf. When I step off the plane bare-faced, I like to put on a pair of sunnies until I get the chance to freshen up! It’s good for days when you are lazy to put on makeup before heading out too. I love scarves and how they change an outfit. My favourite one is this huuuggee scarf from Forever 21 which doubles as a pillow/blanket on the plane.
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My fashion essentials definitely include sunblock, basics for layering, lotsa accessories and cute shoes.
Oh wait! They’re about the same as your fashion essentials too =D I probably just need to get a cute bag like yours.
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Dawn replied on July 20th, 2010 at 2:17 pm
Yes get a good bag! Then you’ll realize why I listed it as a travel fashion essential
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not so sure about fashion travel essentials, but for travel must-bring, i will say definitely sun glasses, and camera!
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Dawn replied on July 20th, 2010 at 2:17 pm
Cameras are not travel essentials, they are mandatory!
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I practically bring my entire room with me when I travel haha not practical but I never forget anything!
xo http://www.fashion-feline.blogspot.com
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Dawn replied on July 20th, 2010 at 2:32 pm
Wow, I can never do that! I will ALWAYS forget some important things – like my underwear. ):
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I like a mini kit of toiletries – shampoo, shower gel, conditioner, moisturizer and the like. Korres sells a really cheap kit of samples for travel, containing all of those plus lip balm, eye cream, lotion and facial cleanser, in carry-on sizes. Sunscreen is also an essential, and my serotonin necklace – a little silver serotonin molecule strung on a black cotton cord.
Oh, and I MUST know where those armbands are from. I covet the silver-plated one.
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Dawn replied on July 20th, 2010 at 8:03 pm
I got that bracelet for around 50 bucks in a shop called Furrmuse in Singapore! I think it’s meant to be engraved but I like it the way it is.
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Please share where you got the suitcase! Love it!
Your post has inspired me to travel in style when I go on my holiday end of the year!
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Dawn replied on July 21st, 2010 at 9:40 am
Wow! Where are you going? I’m jealous!
Arissa got both of the suitcases from Japan and Korea.
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Love all the pics, especially the nice bag one!
Definitely beauty products, makeup (which you aready included
), and especially things like lipbalm and moisturiser, cos airplanes are horrible! All the recycled air saps moisture from your skin. It’s also really helpful if you’re travelling to a totally different climate 
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Dawn replied on July 21st, 2010 at 9:39 am
Thank you rachel! <3
The air in the plane makes my hair sooo full of static it’s unbearable. It sucks that there are so many restriction on bottles or I would have brought all my haircare products on board!
I usually can’t be bothered to squeeze my skincare products into a smaller bottle so my skin suffers through the flight
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HAIR DRYER! I lug around my huge hair dryer (even though I have travel ones), straighteners, hair styling products. Now i have to travel with purple shampoo for my damn blonde hair~
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Dawn replied on July 21st, 2010 at 9:41 am
I don’t even own a hair dryer, let alone travel with one! I really should make it a habit to. Those small travel sized ones are so cute and handy!
I carry like, 5 curling irons and a ton of haircare products when I travel too. Glad I am not the only one obsessed with hair <3
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I LOVE YOUR LUGGAGE TOO!!!! *-* If you don’t mind me asking, what brand is it??
and THANK YOU for this post! I alway pack stuff like this, and people don’t get why…I like to be prepared! ;D
I would also like to add mini hair straightener or curling iron…cuz like you said, dressing up your hair makes you look more polished. I ALWAYS ALWAYS pack a pair of heels…cuz you just never know…and at least 2 purses…a big one for me to throw things in..and a clutch for those night outs or fancy dinners ;D.
It’s all about the way you pack it…if you’re good at folding (like me)…you can fit A LOT LOL and be smart about it- if it’s liquid…put it in a ziplock! You don’t wanna ruin your wardrobe with a spilled bottle of shampoo ;A;
I also tend to keep my makeup bag and flipflops (wrapped in a baggy of course) in my purse to free up suitcase room…
I went to Tokyo with ONLY a carry on luggage bag and a purse…what does that tell ya about my packing ;D
Thanks for these posts! I LOVE IT!♥
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Arissa replied on July 22nd, 2010 at 3:02 am
The one Dawn is carrying is from Eurasia. It’s expensive though. The one photographed open is from Ethos, cheap but of crappy quality.
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OH I forgot to add~ when I wanna pack compactly (lol) I try to pick out at 2-3 tops per every bottom. So if I pick out a bandage skirt..I’ll have a tank top, a button down, and a tshirt to pair with it…just in case of weather changes…event changse…or just a change in mind
Same with jeans/shorts…jean material especially can be work a few times without it severly stretching out. If you don’t get sweaty/stinky…wear your shorts twice! This saves room in a suitcase because bottoms take up more space.
And my last bit of advice~ ROLL.
hehe
Roll your clothes…it reduces wrinkles or fold lines IN MOST materials….(like jeans and tshirts), and for shirts…I can fold them into flat small squares usually
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i think my fav travel item is like a shawl/scarf…. it can be an accessory, a coverup to keep warm, a blanket, it could be a headwrap, or tie it as a skirt or even a shirt.
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I have those tights in your suitcase x3 or at least I used to…until I laddered them. Gorgeous though aren’t they?
I think you basically covered all my travelling essentials xD I just got excited about the tights and felt the need to comment.
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Arissa replied on July 28th, 2010 at 4:19 am
Oh you wouldn’t believe how many of those tights I have right now.
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Much obliged for the information and for publishing a good website. I have been seeking reliable info on travel tips and may put this information to practice. I have found it difficult to find honest ideas, as there are tons of sites with garbage information. Certainly keep it coming!
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