Audio: Click to hear Chief Creative Officer Simon Kneen’s Summer Travel Tips >>
I have to be honest: I really dread traveling.
Even when you take some time off from work, clear the agenda and leave for a week of relaxing vacation, the planning and packing can be really taxing for a busy person.
Having traveled far and wide from an early age, my numerous airline loyalty programs are witnesses to my globetrotting mileage. I feel like I am a bit of an expert when it comes to knowing what to pack for specific trips, having learned what not to do the hard way—even though I do this for a living. I am fortunate to have two homes in different parts of the country, and so when I travel between the two, I don’t have to travel with much. Having two closets and wardrobes to rely on, I can tell you, makes life a whole lot easier.
My first packing rule, which applies to both short and long trips, is to keep to a simple color palette, something which is easy to do as a guy but a bit more challenging for women. I generally choose navy, black or grey as my base color and add other accents as I go. Having a single-color theme for my luggage also minimizes the need for different colors of footwear and belts to coordinate, which is the secret to a light suitcase. Navy has been my preferred base color of late, as it is a color that works in tailoring and casual, making it easy to outfit for business, pleasure or both.
When I would travel for work, often to the far East, non-iron shirts were my go-to. I found that I could literally fall asleep in them on an overnight flight and get off the plane at the other end after sixteen hours of flying, looking the opposite of how I usually felt: fresh and ready to go. With the latest technology and blended compositions in knits and pants, our J.Hilburn fabrics hold up phenomenally well for short or long travel times in a car, boat or plane. These fabrics are breathable and retain their shape beautifully thanks to our mills’ stretch and weaving techniques—the Ratti and Canclini knits and shirts are particularly good in this regard. The four-way stretch in pants, particularly with the comfort waistband option, is extremely comfortable and can survive even the most arduous journey. It doesn’t wrinkle and is really easy to maintain freshness with a quick steam in your hotel room. We also offer a non-iron cotton in stretch pants that gives a phenomenal performance for travel. Of course, all of these attributes work just as well when you’re not traveling and adapt perfectly for everyday wear.
Luckily, I have been able to travel for pleasure and work, sometimes even combining the two. For vacations, I start with khaki and white as my color palette, adding pops of color in polos and knits, knowing I will look good at the beach. I add some white shirts or chambray for evenings, either of which I can wear untucked with my favorite 5-pockets or shorts, depending on the climate.
My type of vacation is one where you don’t need a sportcoat, but if I find myself in that predicament this summer, I will probably opt for our 4-way stretch or the Trabaldo Togna linen blend for a lightweight and tailored look.
Lastly, I have always enjoyed traveling with quality luggage, particularly for my carry-on, and I always make an effort to look put-together, accessorized with a good watch and a nice pair of shoes that are also easy to slip on and off at security. I have been told by friends in the airline industry that showing up to the check-in desk looking smart and behaving politely gives you a much better chance of getting upgraded. I don’t see any downside in that.
