Summer is winding down, but there’s still time for a last-minute getaway. There’s nothing like a good vacation, but packing can feel like work. We enlisted some of Dallas’ most fashionably notable to give us their secrets to looking and feeling great—no matter where they are.
Vatana Watters
CEO, Watters
Watters has learned a thing or two about traveling over the years. “I never leave without a curious mind, so when I return home and get back to the office, I’m not stuck in a creative rut,” Watters says. Her travel essentials include summery cover-ups that, when paired with a slip, double as a chic dinner dress; Oribe sun protection moisturizer (available at l.a.r.c. Salon); and a white Goyard tote, which is a perfect carry-on that seamlessly goes from work to the beach.
Al Tidwell
Model
You may have seen Tidwell on the Dallas Opera’s posters for “Moby Dick,” but you may not know that the beauty expert is signed with the Kim Dawson Agency as both a model and a hair and makeup artist. So what does Captain Ahab travel with? For wardrobe: beige linen, bandanas, and “all the jewelry.” His traveling beauty bag includes Heritage Store rose water, Burt’s Bees cucumber and sage facial cleansing towelettes, and Coqui Coqui Tobaco perfume (available at V.O.D. Boutique). He brings an extra little something to make himself at home: “I always light a piece of Incienso De Santa Fe in my room as soon as I arrive to make it my own,” Tidwell says.
Juan Lerma
Stylist
Lerma has a solid piece of advice before you hit the beach: “I just recently gained the confidence enough to wear a speedo on vacation, and it was incredibly liberating. I would encourage … everyone to love themselves and try stepping out of their usual swimsuit comfort zone.” For Lerma, travel style is all about ease, comfort, and having fun. But no matter what he packs, he never travels without his Louis Vuitton Bandouliere 55 (available at NorthPark Center, Neiman Marcus). “It’s a classic, and if I pack just right, I can fit almost a week’s worth of clothes and essentials in there,” he says. “Plus, it’s the largest size that can still be used as a carry-on bag.”
Amanda Miller
Fashion Blogger
It’s easy to see that Miller (@theMillerAffect) is on the go. While her Instagram style has a five-outfits-a-day-and-64-thousand-followers feel to it, her travel style sounds surprisingly attainable. “On my last trip, I packed a white maxi cover up that I wore with my suits every single day.” While her travel style is pretty minimal, there are a few things she can’t live without: “My waterproof mascara (available atBenefit, The Plaza at Preston Center). It is by Benefit, and it will make me look like I have a complete face full of makeup when I put it on. It doesn’t smudge at all either, so I can sweat or jump in the water and it won’t run.”
Joanna Czech
Facialist
As a global skincare advisor for La Mer and an esthetician whose client list includes Anna Wintour and Sting, Czech is a frequent globe-trotter. When it comes to packing, whether it’s for work or vacation, Czech stays true to her usual glamorous self. “I don’t typically change my style for traveling,” she says. “If I want to bring 20 shoes, I bring them.” Her must-haves are Eres swimwear and coverups, not to mention “an abundance of sunglasses.” To maintain flawless skin throughout her travels, she tries to keep things as balanced as possible, using her No. 1 daily product pH controlling lotion by Biologique Recherche (available at Joanna Czech’s Spa). And she always travels with a hydrating mask – “The Hydrating Facial” by La Mer is a favorite.
