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THE MODERN GENTLEMAN'S GUIDE TO AIR TRAVEL
Monday, 01 June 2009 03:45
Page 1 of 3
Elegance in the era of metal detectors
By Brendan Sullivan
There was a time in this country when air travel was attached to sophistication, but with long lines at security and irritable stewards, those times seem to have hit the iceberg lately. How does The Modern Gentlemen inject romance and style in into a seemingly unsophisticated experience?
If you're going to travel at all, you might as well do it in style. No need to pack your best suit (why fret about wrinkles and lost luggage?) when you can wear it on the airplane. I always travel in a three-piece suit. That way, if I have any in-flight mishaps I can peel off the vest, change my tie, and stroll off the plane ready for business or pleasure.
Airport security is an indignity that can be suffered with grace. Though it's a long, tedious process, it’s no worse than Ellis Island. Always arrive with plenty of time (two hours domestic, three international), so that you can calmly saunter through the airport instead of dashing frantically about, throwing your luggage around.
Always wear loafers or lace-less shoes and, if you think you can pull it off, get a cowboy belt with a simple wire-metal buckle. When the rest of the travelers are struggling to unlace their boots while holding up their pants, you can just skip ahead, slip off your loafers and unsnap the metal buckle, leaving the leather around your waist as you sail past the line (but try not to look too smug).
For a quick trip, where you are planning on traveling in your suit and packing your play-clothes, a surprisingly great bag is the Burton DJ Bag. Who would have thought that a company that designs for the Red Bull set would think of something so clever? This is a stately laptop bag that does not make you look like you run tech support. The laptop pocket is actually suspended within the frame of the bag, so if you end up dropping it, the laptop itself won't hit the ground. The front pockets are more than you need to store books, cords and important documents. There's also a full-front pocket that is large enough for file folders. This will save you the trouble of accidentally presenting your laundry during business meetings.
The inside pockets have a full zip lip, which means it opens up like a proper suitcase and - ready for this? - it is lined with striped suit-lining. Most nylon bags tend to collect dirt from sneakers and misplaced snack items. But the Burton DJ bag has a fresh bright lining that always looks clean. You will also look ageless and stylish carrying it. There are detachable straps, which make it functional. The Burton bag also has a leather bottom to it, so you will never have to worry about putting it down in Calcutta.
Other tips for bags:
Backpack straps: nothing makes you look like a six year old more than twin backpack straps. BUT there is a time and place for everything. On your return flight when you're loaded down with duty-free and wearing a short-sleeved button down shirt: use the straps.
Shoulder strap: The Modern Gentleman does not wear shoulder pads with a shoulder bag. There are interim times when it is okay and helpful to use a shoulder bag (back and forth between errands in a button-down). But if you are traveling in your overcoat a single shoulder strap will shift your posture and you will always look out of breath.
Handle strap: It's there. It's perfectly positioned for a heavy bag. When you learn to carry your bags by the handle you discover that it's easier to wield through crowds ("Pardon," your bag says demurely as you raise it over your head). And The Modern Gentlemen appreciates this because he likes to make good time in traffic, and he is never late.
For the longer trip it actually matters less which bag you pack because you probably won't carry it around much. A suit bag need only be comfortable, clean and it should not advertise anything on the outside.
Your sport coats also becomes a kind of luggage on long trips, especially if you're on a plane for long enough that you can't reach into your pants pockets conveniently. It helps, in general, to map out your pockets so you will never worry while traveling. Left-breast-pocket: passport, tickets. Right-breast pocket: Phone, pertinent travel information. This will also keep you from going in your bag for lost papers when you aren't sure what might pop out.
Backpack straps: nothing makes you look like a six year old more than twin backpack straps. BUT there is a time and place for everything. On your return flight when you're loaded down with duty-free and wearing a short-sleeved button down shirt: use the straps.
Shoulder strap: The Modern Gentleman does not wear shoulder pads with a shoulder bag. There are interim times when it is okay and helpful to use a shoulder bag (back and forth between errands in a button-down). But if you are traveling in your overcoat a single shoulder strap will shift your posture and you will always look out of breath.
Handle strap: It's there. It's perfectly positioned for a heavy bag. When you learn to carry your bags by the handle you discover that it's easier to wield through crowds ("Pardon," your bag says demurely as you raise it over your head). And The Modern Gentlemen appreciates this because he likes to make good time in traffic, and he is never late.
For the longer trip it actually matters less which bag you pack because you probably won't carry it around much. A suit bag need only be comfortable, clean and it should not advertise anything on the outside.
Your sport coats also becomes a kind of luggage on long trips, especially if you're on a plane for long enough that you can't reach into your pants pockets conveniently. It helps, in general, to map out your pockets so you will never worry while traveling. Left-breast-pocket: passport, tickets. Right-breast pocket: Phone, pertinent travel information. This will also keep you from going in your bag for lost papers when you aren't sure what might pop out.
