I’m flying to New York tomorrow, and I’m excited! Ten years ago, I had this wild idea that it would be cool to live in Los Angeles and spend 30% of my time in New York—ideally working for a NY-based company so I’d have more reasons to go back. Little did I know, my dream would become reality in 2021.
Fast forward nearly four years later. I no longer work for that NY-based company, but I still go back every couple of months and stay for at least two weeks. I’ve probably been back 20-25 times since I relocated. Being in New York makes me appreciate Los Angeles, and living in Los Angeles makes me crave New York.
Since I’ve been busy packing this weekend, this newsletter will be light, humorous, and focused on what I’ve learned about going back and forth from LA to NY, along with some of my best travel essentials.
Let’s begin!
Tip 1 - First… Ditch Your LA Hobo Outfit
I confess, I LOVE LA hobo style. It can be chic if done right. This hobo style is especially popular in Malibu, where the richest people dress like they’re homeless.
I mean… just look at Adam Sandler. The man is worth $420M, and he just doesn’t give a flying f*@k. He’s too cool and has nothing to prove to anyone. I still think he could have put more effort into his appearance when he was spotted walking around New York eating pickles from a jar. However, his look works perfectly in Malibu. Fun fact: I bumped into him at Nobu once, and he was dressed very casually.
I remember one of my first trips to New York after I relocated. I was staying at my girlfriend’s place in Chelsea. She turned her condo into a cool gallery concept called Xposed. Her apartment sits right on the High Line, and passersby can look straight into her windows.
During one of my visits, I woke up craving Juice Press juices (the company I helped build in its early stages), so I decided to walk to their West Village location. It was quite close. I rolled out of bed, put on the sweats I normally wear in LA when I walk my dog in the morning, and hit the streets of New York.
The walk was longer than I remembered, and I never felt more underdressed in my life. I mean it. Everyone passing by had put way more effort into their appearance, including those wearing athleisure.
“Such irony,” I thought to myself as I kept walking in my sweats.
I love being casual. I also love dressing up. I can look low-effort in LA, but I sure as hell put in effort when I’m in New York. There’s no other way around it.
Tip 2 - … Then Check the Weather
When I first moved to LA, it wasn’t the time difference that was hard to adjust to—I couldn’t figure out the weather for a while. LA has four seasons in one day: it’s always cold in the early morning, then it warms up closer to afternoon, gets hot during the day, and starts getting cold again in the evening. LA has a Mediterranean climate (hot, dry summers and warm, rainy winters), while New York has a subtropical climate (hot, humid summers and cold winters).
What’s crazy is when the temperature is in the mid-50s in LA, it feels cold. However, mid-50s in New York is warm and pleasant. In LA, I’d be throwing on a coat, cashmere scarf, and a beanie, while in New York I’ll be wearing a t-shirt and a jean jacket. I advise all my friends who travel here (especially in the fall or winter) to bring warm coats or jackets. Not your bulky Canada Goose jackets (do people still wear them?), but either a nice faux fur puffy coat or a cool thick varsity bomber.
Tip 3 - Now Pack a Capsule Wardrobe…
Alright, let’s get to this capsule wardrobe. How do you decide what goes into it? Think in complete looks. That’s how you start.
Let’s say the main reason for my two-week trip is work. That means I know I’ll need to go to the office 8-10 times, so I need at least 4-5 unique outfits. Wearing athleisure to work may be common in LA depending on what you do, but it’s frowned upon in New York City. Don’t do it if you’re on the East Coast.
I look at what I have and see which bottoms and tops can double as both office and going-out attire. Then I drill down further to see what can be mixed and matched with more chic and sexy clothes for my nights out. I mainly wear solid colors and have a lot of black in my closet, which helps me put together looks easily.
Styling is important, and accessories like belts, bags, scarves, and jewelry help. See what you have in your closet that can transform your day outfit into a night outfit. Accessories won’t take much space in your suitcase but can really uplift your outfits. A good tip to save space in your suitcase is rolling some clothes instead of folding them.
Unlike Angelenos, New Yorkers walk a lot, so make sure to bring comfortable shoes with you, whether they’re sneakers or boots, but don’t forget high heels for your nightly outings.
Tip 4 - Weight Your Checked Bag
I made this mistake a few times. My checked bags were too heavy and cost me $100 instead of the typical $35-$45 airlines charge. Although you can usually tell if your luggage is overweight by picking it up, I suggest investing in a digital scale. It’s even more helpful on international trips. I use a simple one from Amazon
Tip 5 - Pack Your Vitamins in Smaller Bottles or Travel with Individual Liposomal Sachets
I recently discovered a miracle hair growth vitamin that really works. It’s MaryRuth Hair Growth Max! My hair started becoming fuller and thicker after a month. The hair vitamin is liposomal and comes in a 15 fl oz bottle that needs to be refrigerated. Great to use at home but not ideal for traveling. And since I don’t like changing my routine, I always take my vitamins with me whenever I travel. Luckily, MaryRuth has a travel version with 14 liposomal sachets in Maple French Toast flavor. Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with the company. I met David Ghiyam, the co-founder, at a friend’s house once and ended up taking his Kabbalah 1 class but that’s as far as it goes.
In addition to this magical hair growth elixir, here are the two powerful supplements I take on a daily basis:
Tru Niagen NDA - clinical-grade serving—advanced NAD+ support known for greater cellular benefits and vitality. I’ve been taking this longevity supplement for 5+ years now.
Armra Colostrum - powdered extract of the nutrient-rich fluid produced by mammals after giving birth, which provides powerful, unique immunity. Armra comes in jars and convenient travel sticks.
Tip 5 - Carry 2 Pairs of Air Pods and Wired Headphones with a Traditional Jack
LA to New York is a long trip. I listen to a lot of podcasts and music, and I find my AirPods occasionally dying when I’m up in the air. That’s when the second pair comes into play. And of course, you may need wired headphones with a traditional jack if you want to watch a movie. Because let’s face it, the ones they pass out on the plane aren’t the best.
Now onto my travel essentials part! Below is a short list of my absolute favorites that help me optimize my travel, broken down by category.
Airport Fashion
Joah Brown Second Skin Tank in Onyx - truly feels like second skin.
Alo Airlift High-Waist Leggins - athleisure staple.
Comfrt Sweatpants Set - new set I’m trying.
KOIO Capri - classic white sneakers.
TUMI Carry-On Suitcase - my travel veteran. There are many great innovative travel suitcases on the market but this good old 4-wheeled TUMI works great. However if I were buying a suitcase now I wouldn’t go for such an expensive non-tech model.
Louis Vuitton Neverfull GM - another travel veteran of mine. Literally anything fit into this bag and it fits under the seat in front perfectly.
Bandolier Emma - keeps my iPhone, ID, and credit cards together.
Skincare and Beauty
Medicube AGE-R Booster Pro - my favorite beauty delivery and my secret weapon. This baby combines 6 devices in 1 and delivers true results. My skin has never looked more plump.
Hanacure The All-In-One Facial® - facelift in a bottle.
Capre Deodorant Wipes - new discovery, their products really work
Aesop Resurrection Aromatique Hand Balm - all time favorite nourishing hand balm that smells divine
Nail Scrubbers by Butter - I’m one of very few women in Los Angles and New York who doesn’t do gel manicure in salons. I like the fresh nail look and if my trip is longer than a week, my nail polish is coming with me.
That’s all for today! I’m going back to packing. While I’m at it, please tell me your travel essentials in the comments!
In retrospect the dots connect.
