"We're overbooked, no room for cases"..."lost in transit"..."sorry sir, your luggage looked suspicious and was destroyed in a controlled explosion." These are words no man wants to hear in the airport.
But there are other solutions rather than wearing all of your 10 outfits on the plane and passing out from heat exhaustion just to make sure your belongings are safe. With some clever planning, you can fit all your key styles into your carry-on - and still look suave on the other side.
To get you started, we've chosen five top holiday destinations and offered a few versatile, carry-on approved items for each.
THE LOCATION: BERLIN
Probably the coolest city in the world right now with some of the most exclusive 24-hour clubs. You could just sleep in one of these mammoth electro houses of worship, but if you want to leave the city with your belongings and your dignity, we’d suggest treating yourself to a stay at The Ritz-Carlton, Berlin, home to newly renovated suites, world famous dining and an experimental cocktail bar.
But no one can party for their entire stay (please don’t try, this is not a challenge). In the near vicinity of the hotel you’ll find essential cultural hotspots like the Dali exhibition, the Museum of Natural History, the Reichstag and Kadawe, the largest department store in continental Europe.
WHAT TO WEAR
You’ll have to really think about what you’re wearing because if you look like a tourist, you won’t be let in anywhere. To get access to places like the super-strict super-club Berghain, you’ll want to look effortlessly minimal, when in fact you’ve put more effort into your outfit than you did your dissertation. We’d suggest going head-to-toe black. It’s slick, it’s timeless, it’s not tacking on to a trend that everyone else is wearing. But most importantly it’s a very Berlin look that might pass you off as a local without doing a borderline offensive faux-German accent.
The beauty about black is that it goes with everything and can look simultaneously smart and casual e.g. the tailored smart joggers with elasticated waistband has to be the best style hack of the century, meaning that you can mix and match with your other key pieces to create brand new outfits. Another plus point: you can travel in it without any evidence of sweat patches, so no need to keep your arms staunchly by your side when going through customs.
From left to right: side stripe smart joggers, Topman, £40; Stussy polo, Mr Porter, £90; Saint Laurent bum bag, YSL, £425; 1461 Ghillie boots, Dr Martens, £130
THE LOCATION: DUBAI
Dubai doesn’t look real. It’s like someone just plonked the city of Atlantis into the Emirates. This other-worldly atmosphere is also reflected in its intense attractions: from rallying dune buggies in the vast desert, to record-breaking water parks, to heading to the top of the tallest skyscraper in the world – the Burj Khalifa.
Frankly we’re tired just after reading that. If you’re looking to get some much-needed R&R, we couldn’t think of anywhere better than the ocean view at The Ritz-Carlton, Dubai, which comes with its own private beach and gardens, ideally located right next to Dubai’s the Walk at JBR, the city’s famous waterfront strip.
WHAT TO WEAR
Dubai epitomises luxury. With this in mind, your clothing has to exude sophistication but at the same time reflect the weather. You’re just going to end up being perpetually moist if you wear a three-piece mohair suit in the Middle-Eastern heat.
The answer to looking smart and staying fresh from day until evening is to wear a lightweight suit in a lighter colour that allows your body to breathe in hot conditions. The same goes for your shirt too; ditch the collar and switch to linen to avoid excessive neck sweats.
Worried about your suit creasing in transit? Just hang it up in your bathroom, switch the shower on the hot setting for a couple of minutes and let the steam smooth out those lines.
From left to right: grey Serbelloni suit, Reiss, £450; suede loafers, Reiss, £185; Bleu de Chauffe holdall, Mr Porter, £330
THE LOCATION: NEW ORLEANS
You come to New Orleans to do two things: drink bourbon and listen to jazz. Even if you don’t like either, it’s a bucket list item you have to do. You’ll find no better place to experience either of these than at the Davenport Lounge in the The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans, located in the French Quarter and set within the 1908 Beaux Arts Maison Blanche building, home to some of the city’s best small batch whiskies and greatest live music, played by the man himself Mr. Jeremy Davenport.
Soaking up the booze? We’d recommend the mouth-watering homemade beignets with vanilla sauce.
WHAT TO WEAR
This decadent city needs a decidedly decadent style to take you from night till the early hours…till night again, depending on how hard you’re going.
You don’t want to look too much like a time-travelling tourist, but a nod to the city’s golden era is a must. Try out a retro fabric like corduroy in a statement olive green, which can be styled with both tees and shirts for a multitude of different excursions on your trip. For an evening out these pair well with burgundy tassled loafers, a sleek grey t-shirt, and the accessory of the moment thanks to Queer Eye’s Antoni Porowski, a colourful neckerchief.
From left to right: burgundy loafers, Dr Martens, £125; Saint Laurent corduroy trousers, Mr Porter, £390; paisley bandana, Levi's, £20; Selected Homme grey t-shirt, Topman, £22
THE LOCATION: MACAU
Macau is most commonly known as the ‘Vegas of China’, which to be honest, sounds absolutely brilliant because binge-watching CSI has made us a bit paranoid about the actual sin city.
If we were to suggest one casino you have to visit in Macau (or even in the world), it’d have to be the Venetian Resort, the largest casino ever made, complete with 6,000 slot machines, 800 gaming tables, premier shopping mall, and actual gondolas circling around the outrageous 10,500,000-sqaure-foot property.
WHAT TO WEAR
Most casinos in Asia’s flashiest city are quite relaxed about their dress codes, so we’d opt for an outfit that bridges both formal and casual in perfect harmony, and that can be dressed down for brunch by the beach, acceptable for visiting any temples, or dressed up for a Michelin-star dining experience in the likes of Lai Heen, The Ritz-Carlton, Macau restaurant specialising in authentic Cantonese cuisine.
Go for a short-sleeve revere collar shirt that would still look dapper underneath a suit jacket, but that will keep you cool in the heat with a few buttons undone during the day. Combine this with a pair of pinstripe linen trousers that can be easily rolled up, contrasting them (but in the same tonal family) with a mismatching blazer.
From left to right: Editions M.R. linen trousers, Matches, £260; Nikben shirt, Opumo, £130; tan suede brogues, Topman, £45, linen blazer, Jigsaw, £125
THE LOCATION: TORONTO
Any city that serves up chips, cheese curds and gravy as their national dish is enough reason for us to visit. But the world-class spa by Clarins at The Ritz-Carlton, Toronto is the icing on the cake, as it specialises in therapeutic men’s treatments such as sports manicures, purifying facials and a full-body massage followed by a frosty beer. An essential experience for any man who doesn’t want his skin to look like a worn leather jacket when he’s older.
WHAT TO WEAR
Toronto weather can be quite unpredictable, so you’ll need some versatile pieces that can be ready for rain or shine. That’s where the waterproof khaki coach jacket comes in. It’s lightweight, it’s compact, you won’t look odd wearing it if it’s not raining and it’ll keep you dry when it does. Pair it up with flexible, durable black selvedge jeans and a pair of comfy white trainers for navigating the city.
From left to right: coach jacket, Rains, £75; selvedge jeans, Arket, £50; white leather dragon trainers, Topman, £68; Selected Homme pink polo, Topman, £22
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