Since fall is now here, and I have multiple trips coming up in the next few months (Panama, Atlanta, Florida, and lastly Copenhagen!), let’s talk about a closet staple, and one that should almost always be in your carry on.

Blazers. The real reason I like blazers is because I can usually get by with jeans/ponte pants and a blazer for pretty much any occasion. Including work. A blazer helps to cover up otherwise comfy clothing, making you looked more pulled together and maybe less tired than you actually are. Isn’t that something we all need? No? Just me? Whatever. This Ironman training is getting to me.

I’ve acquired my fair share of blazers over the years, and I’ve found a few that I just love to travel with.

For the men out there…my husband has 2 Lululemon Non-Stop Blazers (purchased by moi, on sale, for nearly 70% off), that are perfect for travel. They are lightweight, slightly water resistant (but don’t look it), dry quickly, don’t wrinkle horribly, have buttons and a concealed zipper, and are pretty much the coolest thing ever. Hey Lululemon, why not make those for women?! We’d dig them. (You can stalk them on Poshmark or Mercari…no longer in stock, sadly.)

Let’s list the reasons why blazers are great for travel:
1. Not sure of the dress code on a work trip? A blazer can easily be used to dress up or down your outfit, or be thrown on for an impromptu meeting you didn’t know you had.
2. Blazers are perfect for a night out over a dress. Don’t look at me, I never wear that Patagonia fleece when I’m dressed up. Never. Have I told you my favorite season? Fleece season. Fleece…..
3. A blazer quickly pulls an otherwise boring outfit together…white shirt and jeans? Blazer. Shorts and a chambray button up? Blazer. Sheath dress? Blazer. Skirt and tank top? Blazer. You get the point here.

Despite the utility of blazers, they are persnickety little things. Some require so much care…they wrinkle. They don’t hold their shape. They require dry cleaning. These are not the blazers you want to throw in your suitcase for travel.

But I’ve found three blazers that I just adore and would love to replicate, so I’ve tried to find similar versions for you. These blazers are the best. Two of them are machine washable. What?! They look high-quality. They are durable and do not require special care like a live chinchilla. They are multi-functional. They do not break the bank.

The best all-around blazer: This Olivia Moon blazer is not only reasonably priced (and on sale!) it is also a great blazer when you aren’t quite sure what your trip will bring. It’s easy to throw on over almost any outfit, the knit fabric packs well, and it does not require a trip to the dry cleaner!! How exciting is that?! I particularly like this blazer because it is structured enough to look like a suiting blazer, particularly in the darker colors, but with the sleeves rolled up, can easily be thrown over jeans, shorts, or whatever you have on for an evening layer. It is also light and easy to pack. Find it here.  If you are looking for something a bit more “polished” looking, I also have a machine washable TravelSmith blazer (newest similar style here) that is a bit more formal, but is just as multifunctional. Size down at TravelSmith, but its held up so well for quite a few years now.

The best work-trip blazer: I’m a huge fan of J.Crew blazers for the price point, and for their size ranges (petite and tall). As someone with a long torso, the J.Crew tall sizes are fantastic for blazers so you don’t have that awkward gap when you lean over between your pants/skirt and your blazer hem. I have quite a few J.Crew blazers and all have held up really well to lots of wear. They do have to be dry cleaned. For work, my favorite fit remains the Campbell Blazer, though the Regent is a close second. The Campbell is classic, never goes out of style, and works well with pretty much any business or business casual clothes. The Italian wool here is great for all 4 seasons, too. I also have a cotton version that works well most of the year, though I think the Italian wool looks a bit more polished.

The best vacation blazer: Ah, I love a fun, printed blazer! These Lilly Pulitzer blazers (here) just hit the mark for a vacation (and sometimes are available in great solids like white and blue, too). The print is fun, and perfect to throw over a dress or skirt for dinner. They call it the “Mindy Shawl Cardigan”, but with pockets and a collar, I’ll call it a blazer. It’s machine washable as well, which is awesome! It’s also a great weight for packing and for tropical locations. I know printed blazers can be a bit limiting, so be sure to choose a print you absolutely love or a solid color that is easier to mix and match. I love this one too, with a bit more structure.

Because my search for blazers is never complete, I also included a few blazers I’ve had my eye on, but haven’t purchased. If you have these, I’d love to know what you think…

• Athleta blazer very much like the Lululemon Men’s blazers I talked about (here)
• I love Ponte blazers so much (usually no wrinkles and super comfortable to wear), and don’t usually look at Talbot’s, but these look fantastic! (here)

Happy packing!

We made fondue. It was delicious. And the conversation quickly spiraled downwards after about an hour of shrimp, filet, and some delicious Ommegang named after Game of Thrones (never seen the show…whoops).

Somehow, which happens with strange frequency, we got on the topic of tropical diseases. Me: “Hey hun, have you heard of dracunculiasis?” DH: “No, what’s that?” Me: “It’s that worm that they have to wrap on a stick a tiny bit at a time to get out. It’s almost eradicated, which is super cool.” DH: “No, hun, haven’t heard of that.” Me: “So, I know it’s sort of weird while we are eating, but can I show you a photo?”  DH: “Sure, go ahead.”

This resulted in lots of reading about Guinea worm and status of current eradication work. And obviously lots of photos. On Valentine’s Day.  DH must really love me.

For some other drivels this week…

• If there really was a place like Jurassic Park, would you go?  I think I totally would. I mean, despite all the potentially ethical issues, I’d pay a ton to see a real-life dinosaur, much less a bunch of them. I actually am not a movie person (after much internal debate, I just think this is true), but I’m really looking forward to Jurassic World. Are you?
• With the Ebola outbreak calming down in Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Liberia (despite this week and last week’s increased case counts), would you consider traveling to any of these countries in the near future? I think Liberia is the closest to having Ebola under wraps, and it’s surely a fascinating place. Beyond just the culture, the disease-outbreak lover in me is fascinated by Monkey Island, recently the star of a VICE documentary. Regardless of what you think of VICE (or animal testing, for that matter), the science and history of these chimpanzees is fascinating.
• Since I can’t seem to do a single weekly roundup without mentioning my shopping challenge, why make this week an exception? There will be no President’s Day shopping for me! But that doesn’t mean I can’t keep my eye on this perfect spring blazer from J.Crew.  I wish more stores would offer things (or more things) in Tall. Like simple v-neck t-shirts. Hint hint, J.Crew.
• Finally, my mom sent me an awesome TinTin book for Valentine’s Day. It’s a collection of Herge’s sketches, history, and tales of TinTin. I’ve been totally obsessed with TinTin for years. In fact, DH bought me a TinTin book on our very first Valentine’s Day eight years ago. I can’t wait to read some more. And go to Brussels to the Herge museum, of course!  Toasty, just don’t judge me if I come back with a life-size Snowy.

Happy President’s Day!

DH and I don’t always “do” Valentine’s Day. The day is hyped, reservations are hard to come by, and beyond watching some awkward early-daters, we can have a nice dinner anytime.  So sometimes we call it good, order pizza, drink beer, and enjoy each others company.

But this year, given my 2015 Shopping Challenge, I secretly hinted strongly suggested that a gift might be nice. You know, as a way around the shopping challenge…by not breaking the shopping challenge.  So I decided to put together a list of things that are perfect Valentine’s Day gifts for the travel-luster on a no-shopping challenge.

First on my list, a Dark Wren Define Jacket from Lululemon. I really have stared liking this dark but not camo green, plus it looks nice enough to wear to a casual dinner in the fall. Plus, it would be perfect for our upcoming safari to Kenya! Also eyeing this ebb to street tank in heathered black…perfect for a short run, yoga, or spin class. And I love tops with built in bras for trips…2 in 1! I like that this is just a bit longer, for I have an annoying long torso.

Next, I had my eye on the big airplane panels for quite awhile, but seeing as we are running out of wall space, it’s pretty awesome that Pottery Barn now has a smaller version of the wooden plane panels. I mean, who wouldn’t want to see a plane every day when they walk into their house, to remind them of the next trip or the last vacation? While I could theoretically lobby this doesn’t fall into the “no shopping” challenge, which was to focus on accessories and clothes, it does seem a bit frivolous to buy, no?

Let’s get back to clothes, shoes, and accessories. I now feel like I may–may being the key word–be adult enough to wear white shorts. I’m willing to give it a try. These are my standby style–they’ve held up on many a trip, to the beach, to a city, to Africa, to Asia, and most definitely at home. I have a pair that are 9 years old, and I still love them. So…I’m ready to try a pair in white, maybe for a beach vacation, and for summer in DC.

On the jewelry front, I’m still having a love affair with BaubleBar for jewelry to wear while traveling. I like it, it’s stylish, and I don’t worry about it being stolen or breaking it. I really like this statement necklace, which is versatile to be dressed up or down, with a cute beach dress or a blazer out to dinner. I’ve been gawking at this necklace a lot, too. I love rainbow colors, which I know is weird. And it has “Frank” in it’s name, which makes me wonder if it’s a throwback to Lisa Frank. And that….I should probably steer away from. Nonetheless, it’s colorful and bright and I’m drawn to it.

And in case you are looking for more of a splurge, I’m a total sucker for all things striped, and this new Tory Burch Ella totally fits the bill. I have a large Ella that I acquired on sale, and I think the mini would be perfect for traveling (though the large works as a carry-on). Ahhh…stripes…come to me my precious…

There you have it! Good Valentine’s Day ideas for the travel-luster…or just me. But seriously, who wouldn’t want a cute coat, new shorts for spring break, and some fun accessories?