WHAT TO BRING ON A FLIGHT

Why you should never travel without temporary tattoos, Dave Brubeck, and a Prohibition-era attitude, from someone who's survived emergency landings, getting stranded at nearly every major airport, and a long-haul flight while sick and PMSing: read on!

1. GLASSES
If you wear contacts, wear your glasses when you fly. You never know when you’ll get separated from your luggage and contact solution. Spending an unexpected night in the airport is bad enough without sleeping in your contacts.

2. HOODIE
It's never not freezing in an airport.

3. SPORTS BRA
Who are you looking perky for, the TSA agent yelling at you? The Cinnabon paparazzi? Just settle those boobs in some comfy spandex and call it a day. A sports bra is also a good place to stash your passport or wallet in an emergency landing or while sleeping when you're stuck in the airport.

4. LEGGINGS
Sure, people used to dress up for flights and that was classy, but can you imagine Cary Grant and Eva Marie Saint trying to get through modern-day security with garter belts and safety razors, dragging their own luggage across O'Hare in heels and wingtips, or enduring 6 hours crammed in an airplane seat wearing girdles, neckties and perfect coiffures? So go ahead, do leggings as pants.

5. SNEAKERS
The great debate: should you wear slip-on shoes for the TSA, or your most bulky boots or chunky heels to save precious space? The answer came to me in a flash over the Pacific Ocean as the Sydney flight crew requested we all assume crash landing position (head tucked, hand holding nearest loved one): you should wear athletic shoes that will help, not hinder, a blind panicked scramble toward the exits, including over the slippery metal wings, and that you can wear quite comfortably for the next 24-48 hours while you’re stuck where you never expected to be. Because emergency survival is more important than saving luggage space, and dying is more of a hassle than untying your shoelaces at Security.

6. PASHMINA SCARF
The long wide kind you can use as a shawl; actual wool is best, because it’s much warmer than acrylic (and no place is chillier than an airport in the summertime). Drape it over your head like a ghost costume for an instant blanket, eye mask, air filter and personal humidifier. It's quite handy when you reach your destination as well.

7. IMMUNE SYSTEM BOOSTERS / SUPPLEMENTS
Like anything diet-related, recommendations for supplements and foods to stave off sickness are highly individual and impassioned, but most agree you'll benefit from Vitamin C (Emergen-C, citrus, peppers, cantaloupe, various berries), fresh leafy "powerhouse" herbs like oregano and parsley (or concentrated oil derived from them, available at health food stores), garlic (the more raw, the better), ginger, and green tea.

8. MEALS AND SNACKS
Your immune system is extra vulnerable when traveling, so it won't do you any favors to eat at airport kiosks where under-paid workers are pressured to come into work sick. You can brown bag it, so long as there are no liquid or spreadable ingredients.

9. INFLATABLE NECK PILLOW
Sure, you might feel stupid tonguing its nubbin like a tuba while judgmental strangers look on, but those haters will be jealous when you’re comfortable.

10. ESSENTIAL TOILETRIES
We all know by now that our liquids must be in 3.4 oz or smaller bottles inside a clear 1-qt plastic bag. Tuck a smaller clear pouch containing in-flight essentials (hand sanitizer, deodorant, lip balm, toothpaste, face wash, moisturizer) inside the larger bag for easy access after going through security. To avoid bringing the entire bottle of toner or facial oil on overnight flights, dip a cotton cosmetic pad, wrap it in a sandwich bag, and take that instead. Contact lens cases are also good for small portions.

11. HAND SANITIZER
Use it. Before eating, before touching your face, after getting through the airport, after rifling through the seat pouch. Wipe down the touchscreen, buttons and armrests. Use it after arriving, getting through that airport, and taking ground transportation. If you get the chance to wash with real soap, take it. Don't be lazy about this!

12. HIDING PLACE FOR MONEY
Spread your cash around: in your pocket, your checked baggage, your carry-on, and a little in your bra for a true emergency. They say to hide some in an empty chapstick tube, but who doesn't immediately lose those (and it's... not such a secret anymore)? So instead I suggest: temporary tattoos. Go buy a small flat package of temporary tattoos shaped like clowns or maybe ghosts saying "BOO!" and tuck your money and cards into the package behind the tattoo sheets. Then enjoy the absolute certainty that no one on Earth would want to steal that. You can also try: cash rolled up inside a tampon cartridge or folded inside a maxi pad and carried in your purse; folded in a pack of gum; tucked inside a pack of Kleenexes. The back of a pack of cheap oil blotting sheets or an old empty makeup compact from a brand like Wet & Wild or Jesse's Girl (low risk of theft) works for cards and cash.

13. SMALL BOOK OR NOTEBOOK
You never know when you'll get stuck somewhere and can't charge your electronics. Even a few pieces of blank paper will do to keep you entertained.

14. GADGETS
Smartphones or tablets pre-loaded with songs, podcasts, movies, games or books. If you're nervous about flying, music over headphones will help a lot. Laid back jazz is my favorite for turbulence; I think the loose rhythm disguises the unexpected bumps.

15. AVOID ALCOHOL, DIFFICULT SHOES, AND PERFUME
Avoid strong perfume as a courtesy to your seat mates, and avoid uncomfortable shoes as a courtesy to yourself. Avoiding alcohol may be less obvious, but it's a huge favor to your immune system. Bombarded with new places and germs, deprived of sleep, out of your usual routine, crowded next to strangers, your immune system is exceptionally vulnerable when traveling. And if your body is already trying to fight something off, drinking all but guarantees you'll get sick. It's thankfully easy to refuse a $9 Miller Lite during the beverage service, but also be conscientious of refraining the day before and after flying, from goodbye parties and airport terminal bars, to catching up with friends over drinks when you arrive, exploring the nightlife, and dining out.

Pictured: Aurelia tortoise glasses by Warby Parker, Orange Label zip hoodie in Hot Mint Marl, Adidas by Stella McCartney mesh-paneled stretch-scuba sports bra in Marigold, The Upside Yi striped cotton-terry track pants, Chuck Taylor All Star Fresh Colors in Lemon Chrome, Wool scarf in Karma Stripe, grey / black by See Design, Kingsley Clear Vinyl Rectangular Travel / Cosmetics Bag, Moleskine Classic Colored Notebook in Underwater Blue, Time Out by The Dave Brubeck Quartet, Monk's Mood - Selected Recordings by Tholonious Monk. 

MIXING PRINTS: A CHEAT SHEET!

PAIRS WELL:

ORGANIC + GEOMETRIC
Any rigid pattern that follows a grid is geometric, such as plaid, houndstooth, stripes, and polka dots. Prints that swirl or meander, such as most florals, tie dye, toile, or even galaxy print are organic. Still not sure? If you spilled tea on the print, would it be immediately obvious? If yes, it's geometric; if no, it's organic.

Clemence Poesy wearing geometric stripes with a meandering organic patterned skirt. This is also a good example of pairing two prints with white backgrounds. Photographed and styled by Carlyne Cerf de Dudzeele for InStyle Magazine. Image is cropped from original. Photo via.

LARGE + LARGE
Two large-scale prints can often work together, creating a dramatic and cohesive effect.

Large stripes with oversized houndstooth in an outfit designed by Mondo Guerra for Project Runway. Photo via.

LARGE + SMALL
The easiest pairing of large and small scale prints are stripes on stripes, and large and small versions of the same print.

Shay, blogger at A Thick Girl's Closet, wearing a large scale print on top and a much smaller one on bottom. Photo via.

COMPLIMENTARY COLORS
Look for the dominant hue in the print. Opposites on the color wheel are blue & orange, yellow & purple, and red & green. When paired together, both hues appear more vibrant. A blue & orange pairing could be navy & peach, aqua & tangerine, or inky cobalt & coral. Red & green are discussed further below.

Blue & orange. Osman, London Fashion Week, Fall 2014. Photo via.

NEIGHBORING COLORS
Colors adjacent to each other on the color wheel are red & purple, purple & blue, blue & green, green & yellow, yellow & orange, and orange & red. When paired, they appear richer and more complex, like a brocade. So pink & plum, saffron yellow & rust orange, or navy & mint would each pair very well. 

Caroline Issa during Paris Fashion Week 2014, pairing a powder-blue patterned top with both of blue's neighbors, green and purple. Photographed by Diego Zuko.

DARK BACKGROUNDS
They don't even have to be on black backgrounds; navy or eggplant will suffice. All-dark prints share the same advantages of dressing in all black: it's easy but it still looks sophisticated, rich and moody.

Stephanie Walsh, featured in Marie Claire street style Charleston, SC. Photographed by Mark Lim. Photo via.

LIGHT BACKGROUNDS
Unlike the atmospheric richness of pairing two dark prints, pairing two prints on white backgrounds radiates a breezy purity, like a sketchbook or table set for a formal brunch.

Patron saint of mixed prints Solange Knowles is wearing two traditional African wax-resist prints, or prints inspired by the traditional cloth. They pair easily because of the white background; they're also a good example of pairing two large-scale prints. Photo via.

PASTEL + PASTEL
These prairie home companions create a shabby-chic, bohemian effect, often used for children's clothing and home decor. Prints that would be stuffy on their own can be taken down a notch, while otherwise modest prints become a little more interesting.

Kiera Knightly in Atonement, wearing a pale moss-green and dusty lavender geometric print against a lavender floral top. Photo via.

CONTAIN A COMMON COLOR
Prints that contain at least one color in common can often work together.

Will Smith's shorts pick up the black, white and purple from his shirt and white from his hat. Fresh. Observe the couch as a cautionary tale against mixing brown patterns. Photo via.

STRIPES + FLORALS
Always harmonious.

Julia, blogger for Sincerely Jules, wearing a floral blazer over stripes. Photo via.

STRIPES + STRIPES
So long as the scale is different.

Wendy Nguyen, blogger for Wendy's Lookbook, in stripes on stripes. Photo via.

PRINTS THAT PLAY WELL WITH OTHERS
Stripes, animal print (snakeskin, leopard), dots, and textural patterns like solid color lace or jacquard are easiest to work with, acting almost like neutrals in the world of mixing prints.

Showcasing the versatility of dot-patterned texture and leopard print during Paris Fashion Week. Photo by Kuba Dabrowski, via.

FLORAL + FLORAL
Florals tend to look gorgeous with other florals, and the effect is incredibly lush and romantic.

Gloria Vanderbilt wearing floral on floral. Photo via.

MELLOW + BOLD GEOMETRIC
A geometric print may seem bold, until you pair it with something even more in-your-face. Rather than become overwhelming however, the pairing adds nuance to both prints.

Solange Knowles wearing what would ordinarily be a bold print on her skirt, but it's paired with the higher-contrast pattern of her sweater. Also a good example of dots pairing well with other patterns. Photographed by Elle Muliarchyk for Rica Magazine, styled by Jenke-Ahmed Tailly, hair and makeup by Nikki Helms and Munemi Imai. Photo via.

DOESN'T WORK:

WARM MOD + COOL FRESH
-Earthy, acidy or psychadelic patterns of the 60's & 70's are very tough to pair with cool-toned, loose, fresh 80's & 90s patterns, such as 90's tribal, sparkling minimalist designs, neon-driven hipster motifs, watercolor florals, or graffiti-inspired prints.


BRIGHT RED + BRIGHT GREEN
It will never not look like Christmas. But burgundy & mint, pink & jade, or cherry & turquoise are good to wear any time. The presence of a third color (besides white) can also avert holiday associations.

SMALL + SMALL
Two small, timid patterns together can look drab and awkward. If you stumble upon an especially unfortunate size and density they shimmer like heat waves.


BROWN + BROWN
It occasionally works-- two mod prints in shades of rust, for example-- but usually brown prints either make each other look more drab, or end up looking theatrically weather-worn, like some costume from the SyFy Channel.


PAISLEY
For some reason, it does not play well with others.


RULE #1 IF IT DOESN'T ACTUALLY LOOK WRONG TO YOU, IT'S WORKING! 
It's not very helpful to grit your teeth and worry, "is it working??" because there's hardly ever one crystalline moment where the heavens shine down upon a successful pairing of prints. But there is always a decisive moment when you look at a bad pairing and think, "oh God, no!" So, look instead for this moment. And never fear: when your print mix sucks, you'll know.

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