Travelling and looking good has always been an obstacle for me because A) I’m short on time during a trip, B) I’m short on energy during a trip, and C) I’m short on supplies during a trip… I wrote about how my last vacation to Florida was mostly a mess earlier this year in an entry, and now I’m am going to write about my recent trip to the one and only, New York City.  I adore New York City, it stands as being the epitome of urban living culture.  From it’s wonderful graffiti lined streets, to its overwhelming skyscrappers on every block, the city makes me feel small and large all at the same time.  I didn’t fuss too much on what make-up and clothes to pack for this trip, taking only the essentials, but I feel I was looking my best.  Why is looking the part so important on vacations?  It’s documented in your photos, and looking good adds to the good memories.   So this is my recap of what I sported during the trip!  I hope this is not too boring!

Day 1: The High Line Park and Chelsea Market

We took the night bus all the way to NYC and was dropped on the corner of 7th Ave and 23rd.  I had taken a sleeping pill on the bus or else I wouldn’t have gotten any sleep.  On the bus, I had no make-up on because I felt that it would be cruddy to wear, however I did hydrate my skin on the bus. When we got there, I only had time to put on a little make-up, so I only put on bb cream and powder and mascara. It was not a glamourous look, but at least I didn’t look like I had just gotten off a night bus.  We went to a really pretty park called the High Line that was build on a previous above ground train line, and then visited Chelsea market for gourmet delights, and a hand made artist market.  I was rocking a natural undone look this day for sure, but at least it matched the activities we were doing!

Day 2:  Soho, Chinatown and Times Square

No time for too much primping our second day in NYC, as it was going to be an active walking and shopping day!  So what better to wear than a comfy athletic skater dress.  Its made more feminine with the floral print and had a cut-out in the back for circulation during the hot and stifling late summer heat.  I wore them with my simple jelly shoes.  For make-up I worked with simple plum and purple shades, after only bringing one Stila palette with me for ease of packing.  But it had all the face colours I needed in that palette, I also brought a liner pen, my bb balm and my own handmade setting powder.  Don’t forget the sunscreen!  I made my own with cocoa butter and zinc oxide, and it was a dream to use during this trip.

Day 3:  Late rising, the MET, Central Park and Koreatown

While traveling it’s always tempting to want to cram everything into the day.  It’s actually not a good idea, even though you’re excited and want to see and do a lot of things.  You will get fatigued, and then anything you do will not be fun.  So on Day 3 we slept in and took our time to leave the hotel.  And well, ultimately that meant less time at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, even though that place could take a week to see–we had two hours!  What a sacrifice for extra rest…After it closed we set out into Central Park to enjoy the beauty of the evening in natural surroundings.  Then when night hit, we left for Koreatown for BBQ.  It was yummy.  I was wearing pastel silver purple shadow, and a clean face, with liquid liner and pencil.  My choice of dress was a flow-y lavender shirt, and crochet shorts.  I feel it fit the overall natural and cultural theme of the day.  Too bad that when we got to Koreatown that night, all the make-up stores were shut, as I am quite the fan of Korean make-ups.

Day 4:  Really late rising, Statue of Liberty, Wall St.

So this day was a refuel for us.  Everyone needed to shower, and I needed to shampoo, and all in all, we didn’t reach the Statue of Liberty until 3:30, after stumbling around to find the ferry and boating our way there! (Something I am proud of this time around was I asked for minimal directions in the city.  I just fumbled a bit and made a few tiny error, but work it to blend in with the locals!) Educational and epic, no trip to NY is complete without a trip to the statue. I had my hair up in a bun,  as it was a really hot day, and I wanted to keep my freshly washed hair clean.  When night hit, I let my hair down, and because it had been a touch damp when I put it up, it had pretty amounts of wave to it.  On this day I was a bit more girly, opting  for a strapless summer dress in muted colours of grey, pink and blue.  I guess this fit the over all theme of the day, since the concept and notion of “Liberty” can be seen as ladylike and delicate.  Or it was just one of those days I felt like primping up…after the statue tour we wandered around Wall Street as the sun set, and watched the last of the hectic suited workers straggle home on the iconic street of commerce.

Day 5:  East Village, Greenwich Village, Washinton Square Park

Our last day was a laid back and funky one, as we visited the more “fringe” neighborhoods in Manhattan.  There was East Village, my ideal spot to live if I were to move to NY, for its pretty, quiet streets and interesting vintage shops.  Then we went over to Greenwich Village, famous for being a  bohemian, and political hotbed.  Was it radical or edgy? Maybe back in the “hey days”.  They were filming an ad in Washington Square park, very far from the image I expected to find of protesters and artist raising up arms.  Well, it was still a beautiful iconic park.  For this last day, comfort was key, but I didn’t throw on just any ratty shirt and shorts.  I had on my floral printed tights, two tank-tops trimmed with lace layered on top of eachother, and some bright purple sneakers that I had bought at Century 21, near wall street, the previous night.  I was comfortable, but hopefully not boring, with a laid-back style that was still girlie at heart!

This sums up my New York vacation.  When I got back home, I was very tired for a while.  Maybe my age is catching up to me because it was only a short vacation that I bore.  But boy, was I exhausted for days!  All in all it was successful in terms of looking my best, and enjoying the sights…the most rewarding part was knowing that I didn’t fuss over any outfit or make-up while I was there.  It just all fell into place, because when you’re winging it, and just trying to have fun, things tend to go well.  So don’t be one of those peoples that packs the world whenever travelling.  Choose to bring fashion and make-up essentials that you like and are functional enough, and you’ll find that you feel a lot lighter and the trip will be more memorable!