How to Travel Fashionably Light

I’m super excited to have received a complimentary item from Karina Dresses – I know you’ll fall in love with them as much as I have!

“The woman who follows the crowd will usually go no further than the crowd. The woman who walks alone is likely to find herself in places no one has ever been before.”… Albert Einstein. I love this quote, and I think it’s perfect for the post I’m writing here today. Until a few years ago, I hadn’t led an especially exciting life. I started working in retail at 15, moved up the ladder into management and fashion merchandising – then into some other sales positions. I worked hard, played hard, and was content enough. But things felt so….. Ordinary. Then – things changed dramatically in just a few short months. Suddenly I found myself with a new baby, a full time college course load, unemployed, then jumping into the world of working for myself, online. But all that craziness was worth it – I now have so much more independence. I get to travel all over the country, see new places, meet new people. Before blogging, I’d only flown on a plane twice. Now it’s surprising to fly only twice in a month sometimes.

So – I’ve learned a thing or two about traveling light. And, along the way, I’ve also learned a thing or two about confidence. And Karina Dresses is totally related to both of those! Karina Dresses believes that everyone woman is a Frockstar – meaning that, we should all own our life. Be confident in our body, no matter what shape – while also finding the beauty in everyone else too. That life is about celebrating all of our different roles, connecting with others and the world, and valuing quality – whether that’s in a relationship, experience, or product that we purchase. Read the Frockstar Manifesto to learn more about their mission. And as you can see above – Karina Dresses definitely make ME feel confident!

The dress I’m wearing is the Penelope, in Coral Dots {although it’s more pink than coral in person.} This was my first Karina Dress, and I really wasn’t sure about ordering it… If you look at my closet, it’s organized my “color” – black, gray, dark gray, denim, white, then a tiny section with a few colorful cardigans and tops. So wearing such a bright dress made me a little nervous. I wear black for a reason – what I used to call baby weight has just turned into permanent new curves that I’d rather hide. But Karina dresses are brilliant in the way they’re made, to flatter everyone’s figure. Check it out:

Karina Dresses has a dress for every-body! Check out their “Best Fit” section online for more detailed info, but here’s a basic idea:

Triangle ~ fuller hips, smaller top
Inverted Triangle ~ broader shoulders or fuller bust with smaller hips
Rectangle ~ hips, bust and waist are similar size
Oval ~ waist and bust are same size with smaller hips
Hourglass ~ curvaceous , full hips and bust

All dresses are made in the US too. And let me tell ya – these dresses are like magic. For reals. They’re made from a special microfiber fabric that you can machine wash, then just hang up to dry. And they never – never, ever, ever – need to be ironed. Which is why they’re perfect for travel. You could literally squish ’em up in a ball and throw one in your bag, and when you pull it out later to wear it is going to look like it’s brand new. And it holds up amazing to being worn and washed a million times. {I know this, because I wear this baby constantly.}

Plus, when I travel, especially to a blogging conference, I’m so crazy-busy I often am in the same outfit from 6am to 2am. I need something that’s comfy that let’s me move freely all day {and ohmyheck, the Penelope style has POCKETS. I’ve never had a dress with pockets.} Something that gets me through hours walking around in a crowded expo hall meeting brands….

Then more walking in the super humid heat in San Jose, for silly party photo opps. The fabric is super light and stretches with you, which was awesome. The easy cut and light pleats in the front hide everything you want hidden, while the neckline and waistband flatter the good parts. And yes, that’s another Karina Dresses that you see in the middle there too :)

And here’s the same dress, still going strong at midnight, while visiting all of the hotel suite parties with some bloggy best buddies. After 12 hours in the same dress, it’s still wrinkle-free, still feels comfy and fresh, and I got more compliments on this dress than any other that I’ve worn in years. I am now addicted, and must have more of these.