Travel Essentials For Winter Trips

Wow, it’s December already, and in my latest travel essentials column, I’m looking to winter getaways that take you to cold weather destinations, be it the European Alps, Canada or ski resorts in the US.

As any avid traveler knows, the right “stuff” can make your trip more fashionable, convenient, practical or simply fun. My latest discoveries have a mix of all and include boots, layering pieces, stylish accessories and beauty loot.

The eight items I won’t leave home without when I’m going on winter escapes follow.

Sorel Kinetic Impact Women’s Puffy Zip Waterproof Boot

How cool are these boots? But looks aside, they’re super comfortable, light and functional, too. They keep your feet warm and are waterproof, and while they’re technically a boot, I wear them the way I do a sneaker and walk around in them all day come winter. They’re my go-to when I’m heading to places such as Aspen, Big Sky and the Dolomites because I can don them day and night.

Lululemon Zeroed In Track Jacket

Practicality meets style: Lululemon’s track jacket may be meant for workout sessions and as a layer during the snow hikes that my husband and I love to take in ski destinations , but it’s hip enough to wear any time. My husband lives in his and even dons it to work. The fabric is light and sweat-wicking and not at all constricting, which means that it’s easy to move your arms around. Available in black and slate brown.

L’Écurie Paris

Glamorous to the core, L’Écurie Paris offers beautifully crafted sunglasses for all genders and in light and dark tints. Designer and founder Lionel Moroy creates fashion-forward yet timeless frames. They’re available in a variety of styles such as the new and statement-making Elsa Amber Acetate with a garnet lens, inspired by the jewelry designer and muse Elsa Peretti. I’m in love with the Papillion, which features 18K yellow plated gold, and doesn’t have an outside frame, allowing the gold centerpiece to shine. As for my husband, he prefers the Riviera Black Acetate, evoking Art Deco elements.

Heat Holders Women’s UltraLite Long Sleeve T-Shirt

This shirt is a mainstay in my travel bag for any cold weather trip and also during New York’s chilly winter months. As the name suggests, it’s super lightweight and thin but warming at the same time. It’s also super soft and crafted with 50+ fabric which blocks 98% of rays from the sun. I wear it to go running and as a base layer underneath my sweaters and blazers. The shirt also comes in black.

Heat Holders makes a range of year-round products, and you can use the code HHFORBES to get 15% off your entire order, sitewide.

Patagonia Merino Wool Blend Socks

Anything that Patagonia makes is guaranteed to be uncompromising when it comes to quality and sustainable to boot, and these socks are no exception. They’re one of the few items that my husband and me fight over because we rely on them so much. Thin and breathable yet incredibly warm, you can use them when you ski, hike or are just walking around. They’re available in ankle, crew and knee length and come in seven colors.

MEMO Paris Indian Leather Perfume

MEMO Paris is a gorgeous luxury fragrance brand that celebrates travel with each creation. I rotate between several and spray them on generously each day. For my cold weather trips, I’m packing Indian Leather, a rich scent with notes of oud, leather accord and patchouli. I get tons of compliments whenever I have it on- it’s unmistakably can’t miss without being overpowering. Plus, the bottle is a keepsake.

Ugg Women’s Sheepskin Embroider Mitten

These are the warmest and most fashionable gloves I’ve ever worn. Period. The sheepskin is super soft and keeps my fingers toasty, and the mitten design lets me move my hands around. They’re water resistant and durable and look great whether I’m going out for a nice dinner at night or running around and sightseeing or doing errands all day.

Hikota Ion Lustre Emulsion

It’s a deep conditioner and hair tonic in one: the luxury Japanese haircare brand Hikota’s new multi-tasking emulsion is the one hair product that’s always in my travel bag. It repairs damaged strands and works as a serum on wet hair to leave it super soft and silky. I always blow dry my frizzy locks, but with Hikota’s emulsion, I can leave it to air dry because the creamy texture leaves my hair so smooth while saving from the high heat of blow drying..