Flightster

In Defense of Having Stuff, Or, Why My Suitcase Is So Damn Big

• by Ashley Ambirge
• on August 5th, 2010
• 3 Comments

I’m no minimalist.

The oversized suitcase that has accompanied me on our cross country trip surely attests to that fact, as can the two other people I’m traveling with, who have witnessed me dead lifting said suitcase into the trunk, lugging it through city streets and schlepping it up stairs–admittedly, in a very, very ungraceful fashion.

Despite having grown up a tomboy, catching crayfish and climbing trees, one thing has been made quite clear during this trip:  These days, I am not.  I’ve been surprised at my own girliness, and, as it seems, with every girlie girl comes baggage–and I don’t mean that of the dramatic-break-up-with-the-ex-boyfriend type.  Though usually there’s some of that, too.  Big wave to Seth, Logan, Matt, Ian, Brenden & Dominick!  Suckas.

Within the minimalist circle, there’s much talk about the negative impact of having your stuff define you; in general, consumerism dictates that we’re only as good as the biggest TV we own, and we’re only as smart as the percentage rate we’ve negotiated on our mortgage, and minimalism is an attempt to counter that.  Also, minimalists will tell you that they’re vested in the movement because spending less on goods means spending more on experiences, and that in owning less, you free up your mind to focus on other things, without having your stuff weigh you down–both physically and mentally.

And in those respects, I’m every bit a minimalist at heart.  Hip, hip, hooray!  New experiences!  Get rid of your crap!  Less is more!  Yee-haw, ride ‘em cowboy.

However, there’s an exception to be made, and that exception is when it comes to my sex appeal, dammit.  Sometimes, less is not more.  Actually, in some cases, less is the WORST POSSIBLE THING that can happen to a girl when she’s got a massive zit ominously looming on the horizon, thanks to having laid her face on the same dirty towel that’s been doubling as a pillow in the backseat of the car during overnight drives.  Ah, the beauty of travel.  Less is not more; give me all the concealer you’ve got, already! And don’t forget facial cleanser, salicylic acne pads, benzoyl peroxide, and–for good measure–throw in some retinol night cream.  For wrinkles, of course.

These are the types of girlie items weighing down my suitcase.  Not to mention bracelets, rings, earrings and necklaces in both gold and silver, depending on the outfit, and a healthy selection of sandals, heels, and a pair of sneakers–something for every occasion.  Catch me wearing a slinky black cocktail dress with brown plastic Havianas?  I think not, sir.  This is travel, not purgatory, and who knows in what state there could be cute boys lurking?  (Did I really just say that? This only confirms my girlie girl suspicion even further.)

The point is that I recognize that my girlie tendencies can be frustrating, to say the least, when traveling.  They’re frustrating to me, and they’re frustrating to those who have to wait for me to layer on my SPF, before my pore minimizer, before my tinted moisturizer, before my oil-control powder. (No, I’m not making that up.)  But on the flip side, it’s a price that’s worth it to me because in a way, unlike a big screen TV, my suitcase full of accessories and swanky eye shadows DOES define me.  From my tulip-lined headband to an arm full of wristwatches in the same color scheme; from my collection of chunky, oversized cocktail rings to the rainbow of neck scarves that are tucked away quietly in the outer pocket of my suitcase, these items are not merely things.  These items are me, painstakingly hand-selected over years, to fit my personality just right.  And on a cross-country road trip where we’re meeting new people everyday, it’s me who I want them to see–not a watered down, bare-boned version.

Some will make the argument that one’s personality should hold more weight than what it is you’re wearing, which is certainly true in most cases, but at the same time, I can’t help but feel that that extra special something adorning my neckline serves to complement my personality, and I can’t help but want to let ‘er shine.  Plus, I’m just not one of those girls who can wake up with bed head, shake it around a little, and look like a model.  Dammit all.

So for all of the girlie girl travelers of the world whose suitcase is heavier than most, I’ve compiled a list of some of my favorite travel tips and tricks.  Here’s to the accessory queens of the world–you know who you are!

1.  Black, black, black. No, not the lipstick.  Aaacckk. When I travel, I purposely pack an assortment of everything black.  This serves five purposes:  1)  You can mix and match everything.  2)  No one knows when your clothes are dirty.  3)  No one knows that you’re wearing said dirty clothes AGAIN.  3)  You can change up your look countless numbers of ways if you carry an assortment of accessories in varying colors.  4)  You will always look chic, sleek and sexy.  Because that is black’s JOB.  Do not underestimate it.

2.  Pick up some sassy head wraps. When you’re having a bad hair day, wrap one around your head and you’ll look more like a celebrity than a sweaty, unshowered homeless person who just got done hiking around a rainforest somewhere.  They also double as neck scarves, if tied properly, so you can hit the town later and rock a sophisticated look.  I’ve even wrapped the around my wrist as a fun bracelet of sorts, or as a belt.  Pair with oversized sunglasses and you might even have the paparazzi do a double take.  Not that that’s ever happened to me, but hey.

3.  If you have oily skin, get Murad’s Oil Control Mattifier. It doubles as a face moisturizer, has SPF 15, and will keep the oil at bay for hours and hours and hours–which will instantly make you look less like a grease ball when you don’t have time (or the resources) to make nice in the mirror.  Mix in a dollop of foundation and you’ll have natural looking coverage–great for when you’re playing in the Amazon.  (P.S.  Murad’s is the best.  I’ve tried all of the high end products for oil control, and this works best for me.  No, this is not a paid ad, it’s just pure awesome.)

4.  Use a necklace to thread all of your rings and bracelets on. That way, your jewelry stays organized and you can pull it all out in one sweep.  Also, the necklace might come in handy–more so than a piece of string would.

5.  L’Oreal Revitalift Eye Cream. Godsend.  Or any eye cream, for that matter, but personally that’s what I use.  Slap some under your eyes before bed, and no matter how tired (or hungover) you are in the morning, you’ll look as wide-eyed and perky as a teenage farm girl.  Don’t ask me why I associate bright eyes and teenage farm girls–just go with it.

6.  The boyfriend blazer. Oh, the boyfriend blazer!  (In black, of course.) (And not to be confused with your boyfriend’s blazer.  Mostly because you’d feel far too guilty when you finally meet that sexy foreigner, and you won’t want to miss out on that opportunity.  Trust me.)  Having a blazer on hand is fantastic when:  1)  It’s chilly and you need a coat, but you didn’t want to haul an actual coat  2)  You need to dress up an outfit.  3)  You decide you love the country so much you’ve started applying to any and every job that you can find, and you need something to wear to the interview.  Or, you want to go to church.  (What?  People do that.)  Boyfriend blazers are awesome because you can dress them down for an uber-cool look, or you can dress them up for a more polished look, depending on the occasion.  Versatility, baby.

7.  Start rocking tights. In varying colors.  Tights double as pants with a long shirt so you don’t have to haul as many pairs with you, and keep you warm when wearing a dress, adding a funky flair to your look.  And you can always rip them off if the occasion calls for it.  I’ll leave that one open to interpretation.

8.  Tropical countries aside, a flat, camel-colored leather boot is my all-time fav. You can go casual during the day, tucking your jeans into them, or wearing them solo with a pair of jean shorts for a little cowgirl look.  Alternatively, at night, you can dress them up and wear them out with a skirt.  They’re an excellent neutral color, and will go well with almost anything, and are the only brown that can actually go with black.  Alternatively, if you’ve got your ticket to a tropical location, boots are a bad idea.  Disregard everything I just said and stick to the brown Havianas.  Or, go barefoot.  Because…that’s always fun.

There you have it; my very own version of the non-minimalist’s guide to traveling and maintaining your sex goddess status.  All of you ladies out there–what are some of your secret travel must-haves?

Ashley Ambirge

Ashley Ambirge is the tough love, dynamite with a lipstick whose blog, The Middle Finger Project, challenges readers to question societal assumptions and critically examine the lives we lead in order to promote excitement-filled, passionate, purposeful living. Heavy on philosophy, inspiration, travel, inappropriate amounts of humor and, of course, whiskey shots.