Hey to all you lovely readers again, and welcome to the ninth Corporate Curves Report. The time has flown so quickly, and I still have plenty of blog ideas in store. This week I’ll be business traveling in style, inspired by my superb Graceship laptop bag that I received in the mail today. I needed to order all the way from across the big pond because I could not find any stylish purse-looking laptop bags anywhere on the European side of it! Here it is, inside: laptop, charger, portable speakerphone, headset, presentation remote, important papers, notebook, business cards, passport, mobile, camera, wallet, basic makeup bag and a water bottle – amazing!!!
GRACESHIP (click link to go to their website) is a Louisville-based company launched by Emily Gimmel in March 2012. The idea for the company formed while she was working as a television journalists and traveling between the coasts. She noticed the same thing I’ve been struggling with, carrying a purse and a laptop bag. On top of that – all the laptop bags are really made for men. Thank you Emily for this great idea, am totally giddy over having this bag and never having to use the ugly laptop bags again. Agree that just because a laptop bag is pink doesn’t make it feminine or purse replacement if it still looks like the same old laptop bag like the others. Here’s their stylish collection:
But on to traveling topic. Now that I can travel in style with my New York bag it eliminates the need for two bags but what to wear when flying? I’ll show you one of my favorite comfy flying outfits. First rule when I travel, no heels when flying. Second is no tailored clothes unless the flight is only a few hours long. On red-eye or cross-continental flights, I need to be able to sleep so I wear stretchy and versatile clothes. Shoes need to be easy to kick off, and I always have wool socks in my bag for flying comfort. My coat must be long enough so that any bending or tiptoeing with the luggage wont show any parts of skin that isn’t supposed to be on show. That type of coat also acts as a great blanket on the plane. And for the same reason I don’t like wearing skirts or dresses when I travel because it’s too much hassle to make sure the hem stays down when dealing with luggage! This is one of my favorite travel outfits:
The coat I wear with this ensemble is an old H&M thick jersey type trench with lining. Surprisingly, it fits me well despite being a button up coat. The laptop purse comes with a shoulder strap as well which is handy when traveling, easy to carry and frees my hands. It’s also easy to get things out of the bag while carrying it, which comes in handy at airports. The cross shoulder strap does often dig into the bust making it stick out a bit when you happen to have a bigger bust – I usually solve that by placing a scarf over the strap.
And if anyone was wondering what are the gadgets I listed that I carry in my purse, here are some of them:
Travel and security are a nuisance, but when signing up for a job that requires traveling, all you can do is make the best of it. Comfy and easy-to-pack capsule clothing + versatile luggage make travel just that much easier. So next time I take a business trip I know exactly which bags I’ll be taking with me–speaking of that, next time is in a few weeks so maybe we’ll be seeing a post on packing for business trips after that. 😉
You look great! I have to admit I go into complete slob mode when flying (Brazil is just too far away from everything!). I normally wear a stretch jersey dress+leggings+hoodie. Warm socks are a must because I get cold on flights too! I’m lucky, though, because I always have a chance to go to the hotel and shower first before meeting with coworkers. 😉
Oh and my must have accessory? My Kindle. 😀 BTW, our laptop bags look similar but mine is red. I’m not sure what the brand is..
Thanks June! I would love to go into slob mode but so much of my travel is day tripping or overnight but still straight to work from the airport. And am so getting a Kindle on my stateside trip in a few weeks! Now just buy paperbacks at airports – but then on cross continental flights love those seat tvs you can control yourself and select from a massive catalogue of movies, tv-series, documentaries and music!
Oh I second a Kindle! I got the new (none-HD) Fire for grad school and it works so well for notes and readings that I don’t think I’ll be flying with my laptop that much anymore (all of my conferences in the next two years at least are within driving distance unless I get a fellowship to go one of the European conferences).
I’ve started trying to make an effort to look at least presentable when flying. I’ve run into professors and university officials in airports before and I feel I should be making a good impression. Unfortunately the only bag I’ve found that can fit my laptop (DH’s former programming laptop so heavy and 17.5″) is a hideous bright pink backpack. If I fly with it again, I really need to find something more grownup and built better (between a full bust and narrow shoulder I’ve found regular backpack straps are just not comfortable).
feel you for trying to find a good bag to carry your laptop in Katie! Fortunately my laptop is a 15.6 inch as I always select the smallest and lightest possible because of having to carry it around a lot. Even this superb and classy bag I needed to order all the way from USA would not fit a bigger laptop but any tablet would fit in it – and a tablet + small laptop. I’ll be getting the latest Kindle Paperwhite as I’m not looking for a tablet but a e-book reader, my bookshelves can’t fit anymore books so must start using a Kindle 🙂
Sort of envy you girls for being able to be relaxed, can’t admit that slob mode on flights would not sound veeeery tempting but have a thing with being presentable always – except at our summer house (well, in all year use) and when sick at home. Have no idea why as I’m even looking at one-piece jumpsuits as something I’d consider and can imagine them being so comfy when lounging at home 😀
You look great, but I’m not really sure about one bag instead of two. I love the appearance of your new bag, but for me laptop bag was always an excuse to have two bags with me when I’m flying, as I was always a little bit nervous about lost luggage.
I know what you mean Malica – I always have some clothes in my carry on luggage and cosmetics + medicines because I’m scared of lost luggage as well. But on longer trips I usually have another bag with me anyway and this new handbag replaces the need for a computer bag.
I usually travel for one week or more, so I didn’t think about short trips, but you are right – for them one bag is nice. And two pretty bags are definitely better for long trips than one pretty and one ugly. )))