Travel, be it for pleasure or business, can present its own fashion challenges, but seasoned travelers know the keys to arriving at their destinations in style.

Pack only what you need

While you may be permitted to check three bags and carry on two with some airlines, this doesn’t mean you should. Travel as lightly as possible. How focused on your work – or rested during your vacation – will you be after hefting bags the size of a small semi truck from trunk to terminal and back again?

One way to minimize the need to lug around baggage from destination to destination is to follow the lead of Sharon Tabor Warren from Amherst County, Va. “Goodwill sells excellent T-shirts with various slogans for 77 cents each. I buy those, wear them and discard. I also take my last-wear undies and discard as I go. Sleepwear is a ratty T-shirt (or two), pitched when dirty. My reading material is also discarded as I finish it.” Warren’s method not only eliminates much of the laundry at the end of a trip, but it also provides space to pack those souvenirs for the return trip!

Pack using a color key

While your whole wardrobe may not be black and white, tying colors together will provide more options for outfits. Shirts that you may never wear together will alternate with the same bottoms if you keep them all in the same color range. Some businesswomen stick to a monochromatic theme, but a multicolored jacket can serve as a great pivot piece.

Pack wisely

Space is at a premium in any suitcase, so use that real estate well. Just like in a city plan, you’ll want to plan your luggage sections. Lingerie in one corner, shirts in another, and bulky items like jeans in a third.

Rolling your clothes will save a lot of ironing in your hotel room. If you have delicate items and silks, roll them in a plastic bag. The added air pockets keep the clothes crisp.

Easy care fabrics mean less effort. Look for a great commuter pant, or one that unpacks looking as great as when it when in your suitcase. Never underestimate the power of denim in casual wear. It goes with anything, can be quite stylish, and is even appropriate in some career settings.

Place all liquids in sealed containers, and place those containers in a Ziploc bag or make-up case for added safety. Nothing ruins a trip quicker than finding that your hair gel has exploded on your best jacket.

Consider the weather

You may be leaving sunny skies, but what is the extended forecast for your destination? Layers can help lessen the load on your arms. A sweatshirt can easily be removed in a warmer climate and tied around your waist or tossed over your shoulders for a sporty look. Something as simple as a long-sleeved denim shirt can help warm you up on a chilly day but can be worn open for a bit more air.

Carry on for peace of mind

A carry-on can be a small bag, but it’s important to have one. Carrying something as small as a backpack will provide space for one outfit, a change of underwear, a toothbrush and whatever medications you may need. Your luggage may not be lost, but if your flight is delayed, your bags will probably be inaccessible. Be prepared to spend at least one day without your suitcases. If your flight is full, try to stow your gear before getting to your seat, so that you don’t have to “swim upstream” to retrieve your belongings when the plane lands.

Something special

Travel can be great fun, but, let’s face it, we all miss home. Bring a scented candle to dismiss the hotel room odor, or small photographs of your family to tuck onto the mirror. Small touches add so much when you’re far from home.

Yet most of us don’t see ourselves in sheer tops with no bra, pasties can be uncomfortable and the feathers from boas can make cutting into a dinner steak quite challenging. Why, then, are these shows so popular? What keeps us watching? The translation to “real” clothes! For, down the road, you will see those trends again in your local boutique and favorite online or catalog retailer.

Few women can walk from runway to real life. A plain bra under a business jacket may look fantastic in a show, but you’d be hard-pressed to find an employer who would deem the look appropriate. It’s a great option for after work, however, so you can always be a wild woman underneath your high-button career wear.

But the vision of great designers can be translated into fashions that today’s woman would feel comfortable wearing. The most edgy of fashions trickle down to appear even in children’s clothing, so there is no reason not to try the new trend that appeals to you when it lands in the women’s line at your local department store.

Fringe makes an appearance from time to time, but not many women can wear the amount of fringe that most designers display. Some plus-size designers, however, may provide an elegant use of fringe and brocade in a dress that can take you to the theater or on that special date.

Animal prints come and go, and maybe you’re not ready to wear tight snakeskin pants. (If you are, more power to you – have a marvelous time!) Even if the python pants are over the top, you can still incorporate an animal print trend into your wardrobe. Snakeskin shoes are a great option, or perhaps a zebra belt will add a little pizzazz to that pair of slacks. If you still aren’t sure, but you’d love to dabble on the wild side, try some animal print panties or bras…then only show them when you’re in a daring mood.

Sometimes a fashion trend can be downright dangerous. Tall pointed shoes are may be the rage, but can you really wear them without pain or injury? Fashion doesn’t have to hurt – find the same look in a lower style and you’ll dance all night and look great too!

Every season, you’ll notice some great leathers. Leather is great on nearly everyone, as it disguises much and accentuates our finest points. The latest versions are more than cowhide and a bit of tanning. Cutouts draw attention to your lovely legs, or peak out at the breast line. Colors like pink, orange, purple and gold will scream into the night…even for the shyest girl. If you’re not into the shortest leather skirt, don’t despair. They may be short on the runway for the “wow” effect, but plus-size designers might provide a great calf-length version that is sure to get you noticed, either as a suit, or wearing just one piece at a time.

I’m often asked by women, “What should I wear?” My answer to each of you is this: Look at the great fashions shown in the fashion shows. If you’re in an adventurous mood, try something a bit more extreme, perhaps in small quantities. Have a great time with hats, with heels, with accessories. Never believe that the only way to wear an outfit is the way it’s pictured in a magazine. Take what you like, incorporate it into your personal vision, and move on. Find those pieces that you simply must have (and find a few designers whose work you love), then use those as the basis to build your wardrobe. Never settle for a less than a perfect fit. Never settle, period. If you love a piece in blue but the blue is sold out, find another design altogether. If you’re short (can we talk?) buy petites and expect them to be cut proportionately for your body. If you’re tall, don’t settle for a long pant at calf length – unless it is meant to be a Capri. Don’t squeeze into a size that is too small – it’s never flattering. You’ll find that when your curves are softly covered without binding or puling, you’ll be at your pinnacle and look your best.

Tell your favorite stores to stock what you want. And if you can’t tell what the fashions look like because a company puts its plus fashions on size 8 models, vote with your money and move on. Fashion is not about following the crowd – it’s about creating your own image and feeling wonderful about yourself.

Watch the runway…envision not only the fabric and singular manifestation of a concept, but where you could take a concept you love and carve out your own personalized style. Stylist Phillip Bloch, in his book Elements of Style, quotes designer Isaac Mizrahi as saying “Style is when a person does what he pleases – that’s all it is. And if he looks bizarre? Well, who’s to say what bizarre is?”

So please yourself. Make fashion your own.