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Liyana writes on fashion, travel and stylish travelling at Glamourous Traveller. She started the website after seeing one too many tourists walking around in fishermen pants in Asia and wondered why people didn’t choose to dress up when travelling. She herself has had to learn to perfect the art of stylish packing over the years and now travels with a curated collection of wrinkle free travel clothes.
Read on to learn more about Liyana!
Interview With The “Perfectly Packed” Glamourous Traveller
Q: How would you describe your travel style?
I think my style has evolved significantly from when I first started traveling. Back then I was your typical college backpacker in jeans and a t-shirt. Nowadays I think of myself more as a Glamourous Traveller, focusing on trying to look as dressed up as I would walking about in my own home country.
Q: Do you prefer to travel with carry-on or with a regular size suitcase or bag?
If my trip goes between a weekend and a week I typically bring a carry-on with me. If a trip does go longer I tend to bring a medium size check-in suitcase. Also important is that I choose a medium size with an expandable top since you never know what you may want to buy on your trips!
Q: Do you tend to overpack?
I used to overpack (do I really need three extra t-shirts?) but over the years and having worked as a consultant where I would have to fly out every week, I have been able to nail down exactly what is needed. So I can’t say I overpack or underpack as much as ‘perfectly packed’. I figured you can also usually buy something real quick if it is essential.
Q: How do you stay stylish while traveling when you can’t have your entire closet with you?
I try to make sure everything I bring is nicely tailored and wrinkle free. You could throw on anything but if it looks like it really needs ironing you’re never going to look good. I also find that bringing a change of accessory and changing up your hairstyle helps to amp up any look.
Q: What are the three of your must have travel essentials?
I always have at least two pairs of shoes. I find that wearing one pair for an extended period of time tends to hurt my arches, so best to switch up a little even if it’s just changing to flip flops for a day. I like to also bring at least one dress in a solid color that can usually be dressed up for more formal dinners or dressed down as a sundress. And of course a handbag that’s large enough for me to carry my camera in, but would also look good enough to bring out in the evenings.
Q: What destination or trip was the most fun to dress for?
My favorite dress up moment was when I attended the Vienna University ball in Vienna, Austria. I actually brought an evening gown with me from Malaysia which was no easy feat! It was amazing to arrive and see everyone decked out in their finest ball gown and tuxedoes. I’m talking hoop skirts, corseted top, tails on the men, the works! With a setting like the Hofburg ballroom it felt like I had just taken a step back in time.
Q: What destination surprised you the most with the ways locals dressed or their type of clothing?
It had to be when I landed in Amsterdam. I was under the impression that all of Europe would usually be dressed up to the nines with an emphasis on designer wear. It was a nice change to see how laid back people were dressed in Amsterdam. It was focused more on functionality to better optimize for the rainy weather, cobblestone streets and biking. Given that most Dutch are very tall, they always looked perfectly model-esque in their “oh I just threw this on” kind of way.
Q: What’s your preferred travel outfit on a plane?
I usually break it down into two options, either a short flight – in which I don’t mind wearing jeans, high heels or wedges and a top with a light cardigan or pashmina, or a long flight (more than four to six hours) – in which everything goes out the window and comfort is key. I make sure to have something within easy reach for me to dress up as soon as I land though. Or make a quick getaway straight to the hotel to straighten up.
Q: What are your favorite travel accessories
I love bringing jewelry with me. I typically have a range of necklaces (from delicate to chunky) and an assortment of rings that I bring along. Almost all the time I bring only costume jewelry with me, so that if anything does happen to it, it wouldn’t hurt as much. If I am worried about losing them in my check-in, I typically wear all of them onto the plane. That woman setting off the metal detector in the airport? Yes, that might be me.
Q: What are your favorite travel beauty essentials?
I am extremely minimalist when it comes to beauty essentials. I usually make sure I have my Clinique facial moisturizer and my Vaseline body lotion to keep my skin hydrated. Beyond that, most of my trips are made to humid, tropical climate, so wearing makeup may only result in everything dripping down my face.
Q: Do you have any specific hair or makeup products that work great for travels?
I make sure I have enough hair ties and keep them in several different locations – my makeup bag, my check-in bag, and my handbag. I sometimes keep hair clips in my wallet as well. I tend to get very hot when I keep my hair down and find that I regularly hunt around for something to throw my hair into a quick updo.
Q: How many pairs of shoes do you travel with and what styles?
At a minimum, I would say two pairs. A nice pair of shoes and flip flops (you also never know when you’re going to need this in a shower). Usually though I travel with three pairs. One flip flop or sandal that can get wet, and two pairs of nice shoes that can be used for walking around and still look dressed up.
Q: Do you have any cute but comfortable recommendations for footwear?
I have always found that Tod’s ballet flats are the most comfortable and fashionable flats to wear. But sometimes I do worry about scuffing or wearing them out too much. In that instance I usually have my trusty Havaianas. They have them in different styles now making for a more dressed up look.
Q: What was your biggest travel fashion or packing mistakes?
I once didn’t do an exact calculation and didn’t bring enough underwear for the whole trip. Washing and drying them wasn’t much of an option as I was on the move every other day. I would rather have an excess of these than not enough. Underwear packs really small so it’s always safe to pack a spare or three.
Q: Finally, any travel packing tips for new travelers?
Know your airline’s travel requirements and pack towards that. I’ve seen far too many people checking into a budget carrier and getting really annoyed because they’ve exceeded weight limit and would need to pay and check in their bags. If you know you’re going to need a little bit more, bite the bullet and buy check-in luggage at the point of buying your airline ticket. For budget carriers, it will always be cheaper to buy online than last minute at the airport.
To find out more about Liyana, check out her website: Glamourous Traveller.
If you are interested in sharing your packing tips on TFG, you can download the interview questions and submission guidelines here.
For more traveler interviews, please read:
- Interview with World Traveler Louise Matthew
- Interview with Beach Chic Laura Bronner
- Interview With Avant-Garde Footwear Designer Chelsea Jones
- Interview With Minimalist Chic Chalsie
