A Meditation on Travel+Style
Growing up in a small town in Iowa before FaceBook and Instagram was a *somewhat* blissfully contained experience. I was fortunate enough to have parents that loved to travel and explore. It played a big role in how I came to understand the world. I’ve always been a bit fashion obsessed and when we traveled, I was more interested in what people were wearing then the museums. It was how I explored the culture.
I loved being able to browse shops in different cultures and places. Everything seemed different. It exposed me to things I had never seen before and was inspirational.
I have always had a strong desire to belong. To feel a part of a tribe, I’m sure most people can understand this basic desire. Wherever I find myself, I want to belong. No matter how short my time there is. In the past this ranged from Chicago to Paris, to Japan and South Africa. It’s not about changing to fit in, it’s about immersing oneself in a culture and finding a better understanding of yourself in the process.
I think we tend to focus on the cuisine when traveling; how it relates back to the culture and how it can create a sense of place and community. But I’ve always explored this through fashion and shopping. And even though our world has become more of a global e-commerce community, there are still beautiful local products that can’t be found online – that must be sought out in little shops around the world.
Of course, I love a statement fashion piece. But mostly, I want to be well dressed, and almost camouflaged with the other women I’m around so that I don’t stand out. This way I can really feel a part of the city in which I find myself. The less conspicuous I look, the more I can sit back and really take in my environment and feel a part of it.
What are your thoughts on style+travel????
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