Pamela Fiori of Town & Country magazine
In May 1993, Pamela Fiori made publishing history when she became the first female editor-in-chief of Town & Country magazine, the premier luxury lifestyle magazine in America. Fiori, recipient of the Chevalier de l’Ordre du Mérite, France’s highest civic honor, revitalized Town & Country by expanding the boundaries of the magazine to include a greater variety of topics, voices, personalities, and columns. Fiori was also named 2004’s “Fashion Oracle of the Year” by Saks Fifth Avenue.
In the days of curbside porters and other personal service provided at an airport, the weight and size of your luggage was of less concern than it is today (and not just because of increased security). In a sprawling airport, you may be required to walk quite a distance or take airport transportation to your gate, and delays mean you will be spending more time waiting for your flight; everywhere you go your bag must go with you. And after all that, you have to lift your bag into the overhead compartment-so the best rule is to never take what you cannot handle alone.
LUGGAGE
Making your task easier is luggage on wheels, one of the greatest boons to modern travel, second only to ATMs abroad. Most airlines allow one piece of luggage, provided it will fit in the overhead bin, and one tote bag (into which I slip my handbag, a clutch).
CHOOSING LUGGAGE:
• Size: Most airlines specify a limitation of 45 linear inches (114 linear cm) (this means the height added to the length and depth) for carry-on luggage-this includes external expandable pockets. International carriers generally allow 62 linear inches (157 linear cm), and while airlines may accept larger bags, there is often a high fee.
• Weight: The airlines have a limitation of 40 pounds (18 kg), so the best bags are light, weighing 9 to 10 pounds (4.1-4.5 kg) empty. (That’s one of the things you pay for in an expensive bag: a light but strong frame.)
• Handle: The bag should have a telescopic handle that retracts and extends easily with the click of a button.
• Wheels: Look for durable in-line skate wheels that are not only smooth but quiet. Wheels situated near the outer edges of the case are best. It’s a simple matter of geometry: The wheels have to be far enough apart to provide the base of the triangle formed when you extend the handle. If the wheels are too close together, the case will wobble when you pull it.
• Material: The biggest wear and tear for a carry-on comes from abrasion, and so the fabric must be durable (leather is nice, but it’s quite heavy), like a Ballistic or Cordura nylon in a high denier. (The denier measures the fineness of the weave, so the higher the denier, the stronger the fabric.)
• Hardware: Zippers should not be too close to the edge, to prevent splitting. The suitcase should have tight double stitching and multiple rivets where there are handles.
• Tags: Always have luggage tags firmly attached to your baggage with your name, phone number, and business address (or home address if the flap or tag covers the information).
CHOOSING A TOTE BAG: The tote bag you carry must have a zipper so that when it goes through security nothing will spill out of it. The under-the-seat measurement for these bags is about 20 inches (51 cm), and I suggest a dark-colored canvas with a contrasting trim. Mine is black canvas with brown leather trim, made by T. Anthony, and I have had it for years.
ATTIRE
GENERAL STRATEGY: I know it’s really uncomfortable up there at 30,000 feet (9,100 m) in cramped quarters with no leg room. But that doesn’t mean you should wear your jammies or dress like you’re ready to run the marathon.
Solution: Wear comfortably fitted (not baggy or sloppy) tops and bottoms in solid colors, preferably navy blue, black, or gray. And, with all the new materials available in clothing, there is absolutely no excuse to look wrinkled (unless it’s your skin, in which case you should see a dermatologist immediately). If it is a particularly long flight, it is even more important to dress comfortably as well as (not instead of) dressing stylishly because you will probably drink a lot of fluids to avoid dehydration. You’ll also be confined to one place, nowhere near a gym, and at close quarters to your seatmate, who you may or may not know.
CHOOSING YOUR ATTIRE: I usually wear the following on every flight: a pair of black knit or microfiber slacks and a simple boatneck or crewneck knit top in the same color. Over that, I wear a lightweight jacket-same or similar fabric- and I carry a heavier jacket that I either keep with me or store in the overhead bin. Additionally, I take a lightweight cashmere scarf or shawl in a bright, pretty color. The cabin temperature fluctuates wildly, and I tend to feel the cold easily, so layering works well for me. You’ll probably be asked to remove your shoes before going through security, so wear socks or stockings or put a pair of inexpensive flips flops in your carry-on.
For shoes, I like low-heeled loafers or a pair of ballerina flats. I might also wear a pair of low-heeled slides. Don’t wear stilettos on board unless you want to risk a sprained ankle. Knee-length boots are much too constraining (if you take them off and then try putting them on again at the end of the flight, you may not succeed because your feet will inevitably have swelled).
What to Carry-On
• prescription medication (in my tote bag)
• moisturizer
• iPod
• cell phone and Blackberry (and their respective chargers)
• some jewelry (mostly earrings)
• a watch (two if I am changing time zones-I keep one on New York time and set the other to the time of my destination)
• a pair of cotton socks (in case your feet get cold-mine always do)
• small-sized hair conditioner (most hotels have shampoos, but don’t always have conditioner)
• toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, and a minimal amount of makeup
• Jo Malone toilet water in Grapefruit or Lime, Basil, and Mandarin
• a pad and extra pens
• at least one paperback book
• several magazines (which I usually leave on the plane)
What I Never Take with Me
• anything made of linen
• anything with pleats or ruffles
• jewelry that has great sentimental or monetary value (which, if you lost it, would break your heart)
• heavy pieces of jewelry, like multistrand necklaces and bracelets
• a robe (because there’s usually one at the hotel)
• hair dryer (ditto)
• big glass bottles of anything
• hardcover books
