Part of my job as a personal wardrobe stylist is packing my clients for trips. I seem to be doing a lot of this lately, and when it comes to the jewelry, there are quite a few things to consider. I thought I’d share some of these points to ponder with you, as you may find yourself packing a suitcase for a trip of your own this summer!
Are you going to a luxury resort on the French Riviera? Then perhaps you’ll need to up your glitz game! Are you going to visit the rainforest in South America? Then a waterproof sport watch and stud earrings may be all you really need. I always advise bringing the fewest number of pieces necessary no matter what your destination, especially if you’ll have to cart around luggage to multiple locations.
Think about the security of where you’ll be traveling
In the example of a high end resort, there’s likely to be a safe in the room or at the front desk where you can store your unworn jewelry. On a more rustic trip, I wouldn’t risk bringing any superfluous items; perhaps stick to one look that you’ll wear everyday, or perhaps complement it with some inexpensive necklace that you wouldn’t mind “losing.”
Consider the message your jewelry is sending
I have one client who brings 4 carat CZ stud earrings no matter where she goes. Sure, these earrings don’t necessarily cost a lot, but they are still flashy. And honestly, no one knows whether they are “real” or not — I think she’s tempting fate. When you think about your destination, do you want to draw attention to yourself? Or blend in? I recall a time in my 20’s when I was at the train station in Naples, Italy. A local approached me and said I shouldn’t be wearing the jewelry I had on, as it was tempting to thieves. And what did I have on? Simply a pair of $18 silver hoops, a few silver rings and a silver bangle. Interesting. In my book, this was a very low key (and inexpensive) look, but I never considered that the image I was projecting to those in the train station might be read differently.
How are you going to transport your jewelry?
First and foremost, your jewelry should travel on your physical body or in your carryon. Absolutely NO jewelry in your checked luggage…EVER!! I had one client who was traveling with just a few inexpensive necklaces. She ignored my advice and put them in her checked bag. I was not surprised to hear that when she arrived at her destination, not only was her jewelry missing, but a few other items as well. When the baggage handlers see jewelry in a bag, they don’t know if it’s valuable or not. Why tempt people??
My latest find is a travel jewelry box I picked up for $19.99 at the Container Store. It’s the mini lidded stacker in mink, and it’s been working like a charm! I like that it’s a solid box, so I don’t worry about jewelry getting bent in a jewelry roll. It’s small enough to tuck into my purse, and the lid stays very securely snapped closed. I use the ring area for my earrings as well. The only downside is that it doesn’t accommodate bangles, but I can work around that.
This is a VERY important thing to consider in these days of social media. Even though security experts advise you not to post any travel photos on social media until you are back at home, that’s pretty darn hard to do. If you’re gazing out at the most spectacular sunset over the Grand Canyon, I dare you not to press the “share” button on Instagram! In addition, everyone’s address is public knowledge. So if you post, thieves will know you’re gone and they know your address. The solution? Keep all your jewelry under lock and key, either in a safe (bolted to the ground or in a wall), your safety deposit box, or off the premises entirely. I know this sounds extreme, but I think it’s crucial. In addition, make sure your jewelry insurance policy is up to date. (For more info on this, refer this article from 2016.)
Also, I won’t be blogging regularly for the month of July, but I’ll be back full force in August. Know that you can always get your dose of bling on my Instagram and Facebook page.
