Traveling with One Carry-On

I"m often asked how many bags I take with me when I go to Italy for two or three weeks. My answer, one carry-on and one personal bag. This seems to be a challenge for most women. When I tell them I only take two pair of shoes they go into defense mode. More shoes is more, right?

Summer fabrics make packing light easy as they take up less space in your luggage. The key is choosing colors and patterns that can be layered and matched with every other piece.

Here's an example: If your accent color is a strong, vibrant, turquoise blue, but you have a favorite jacket that is a pastel pink, well that's not really going to work, is it? What do you wear the pink jacket with?
White pants you say. Yes, but the idea is that each piece can be interchanged.
Conclusion: you must leave the pink jacket at home, or change your accent color.

To illustrate this concept I got together with professional model and friend, Rhonda Sargent Chambers. Rhonda supplied her classic travel wardrobe, which she tells me she wears year-after-year, and I supplied the makeup, photographs, and a bottle of prosecco.

Head over to my travel blog Adventures of a Carry-On  to see more photos and read the rest of the story.

Here are a few more photos from the shoot, Summer Travel Style.

How To Wear Makeup in the Summer and 4th of July Tips

The key to summer makeup - less is more. Think, tinted moisturizers with an SPF. A little bronzer. Self tanners for the face and body. Powder is your friend, as it helps absorb shine from excess oil and perspiration. Powder-free blotting papers are perfect for removing excess shine and oil without looking caked on.  Sheer lip tints look just right, and are a better choice for summer than more opaque formulas.

This story from Beauty Press is spot on with tips and techniques for summer makeup. I especially like the blue liner. For something more subtle, you can apply, then smudge with a liner smudging brush. Or apply liner on the top lid only.

Happy 4th!