Bric-a-Brac 13
You asked for it: our first travel Hotline (Ann Mashburn on packing!), and a peek at our gift guides.
You Asked For It
On a recent flight home from LA, I counted how many days I’d been away from home in 2021: at the time it was 209, but now it’s up to 223, if you include the week-long trip through San Francisco and Napa I’m currently on. It would be natural, then, to think that I’m the person you should ask for tips on packing strategy. And you would be mostly wrong. See, I’m the kind of person who gets “what if” anxiety—what if I end up going on a long, early morning hike and need that hooded sweatshirt? What if I end up needing a pair of heels and a dress and a nice jacket to wear over it? What if I actually find the time to read books on this work trip? What if my back gets tight and I really need to bring that foam roller? For me, the person who manages with just a carry-on suitcase and a small bag on top of it is some kind of a superhero. Yes, I’ve accumulated lots of hacks, travel uniforms and how-tos/what-not-to-dos that are now a part of who I am as a traveler, which I’ll get to in another post…. But so much of packing is trip specific: is it a warm weather vacation, or a warm weather work trip that requires some dressing up? Is it a multi-location/climate trip?
Because of all the questions are so personal, I asked my dear friend Ann Mashburn—who is always on the road, never checks a bag and has the best style—to help! If you’re a magazine subscriber, you’ve probably read some of Ann’s stories. If you don’t know Ann’s shops and her clothing/accessories brand, do yourself a favor and check her out. Most of the clothes I pack are hers—they’re flattering, flexible and I just feel good in them. And so this Thursday, from 1-3pm EST, Ann will be on our first ever Hotline! This is your chance to ask her questions about all the things in the world of packing.
Here’s how you “tune in”: anytime from 1-3pm EST, go to our homepage, click on the Hotline post and ask questions in the comments, which Ann will be answering live. The person with the most fascinating question/quandary gets this Yolo tote! Note: this is for subscribers only! If you’re not a subscriber, just click below.
P.S. If you’re in New York, Ann is doing a holiday pop-up store on the Upper East Side, starting this Friday Nov 19! Check it out, say hi, and tell them we sent you!
P.P.S. Matt just did a roundup of his favorite luggage in his recently launched newsletter, Wm Brown Weekly.
A Very Personal Gift Guide
I know, everyone’s inboxes are filled with gift guides! But I’ve been gathering things I’m really excited about giving (and getting) into themed guides, which I’ll be posting (for subscribers!) over the next three weeks. The first one this Friday will be my favorite objects, clothing, and other gifts from around the world that really feel “of a place.” In the meantime, my Yolo Collection on Sonic Editions is an easy one-stop shop of some of my favorite travel prints for all the wanderlusters in your life.
What is the link for the hotline? Do we just come to the substack page?