Mimi upgrades her travel clothes

I shopped with Mimi, a longtime friend visiting from Los Angeles. (Mimi is a pseudonym.) She is the most widely-travelled person I've ever known; we met in 1975 on a tour bus in London and ended up in a wine bar that evening, and since then, visit back and forth. She brought a shopping list for an upcoming winter tour of South America, five weeks by plane and bus—Mimi is in nearly non-stop motion, and  because she is a recent widow, likes the ease of guided tours.

She is a size 2ish petite, and has only one banned item: anything in navy-and-white stripes, which she said "Every single American woman on my last tour (Japan) had. I'm not wearing mine anymore!" Her usual source is Land's End, mainly for the convenience. She said, "The clothes fit, but they're boring."

After flitting through two department stores, we settled in with spritzes and wondered, Why are clothes so generic now? The obvious reason is that soporific trousers (or tops, or coats) sell—but do they? We saw a glut of the same rectangular navy, black and (why is this?) sage green garments. Everlane apparently overproduced an uninspired linen shirt dress in the soporific hue:

Photo: Everlane

Even if you can wear it, this green is about as enticing as a box of Kleenex.

A few days later, we focused on boutiques. Mimi liked Löle, who make washable athleisure clothes in good colours. She bought two of these tees, saying that on the road, she is not trying for a different outfit every day, just clean and put-together. The subtle pattern makes it a bit special; Mimi could wear this to a restaurant.

Photo: Löle

After I showed her the exceptional fabric, Mimi bought two pairs of Miles crops. (On the move, jeans take too long time to air-dry in a hotel room. If she washes and hangs these crops on a travel hanger, they will be dry and wrinkle-free in the morning.)

The Miles features four low-profile zippered-pockets, and an imperceptible but useful water-resistant coating.

Löle Miles crops

"Miles" is also made in full-length, fly-front trouser, which is what I wear. 

Mimi wanted a dress, and for that, I showed her Tilley's Tech SLK Tee Dress online, because their Montréal store has closed. It's made of a breathable, fast-drying proprietary synthetic. From the front it looks generic, but from the back, there's a vent, and a cinch at the waist. 

She said it would be perfect for visiting churches and other cultural sites and for festive dinners, and that she would also wear it to fly, because her elite status gives her priority for business class upgrades and she firmly believes that more soignée passengers get those seats.

She got 20% off for her first order. (She bought it in blue.) Tilley ship internationally through their US website, and within Canada on the Canadian site.

Finally, Mimi, Gisele and I dropped by ça va de soi—a first class upgrade—for a wrap, because both friends are easily chilled, but it was Gisele who bought the generously-sized cashmere "Cleo" wrap in amethyst (price, $380), perfect for a Montréal winter:

ça va de soi "Cleo" shawl

Mimi found hers left from summer stock, a soft cantaloupe ("Orane"; price, $180), in a supple, specially-woven cotton:

ça va de soi "Oran" shawl

Mimi won't wait to wear her new clothes until next winter; she is taking them on a visit to Miami this month—her travel schedule is dizzying! 

Though she found everything she wanted, she asked me to keep an eye on a particular bag. When we walked by the boutique, Mimi stopped in her tracks.

Photo: Annick Levesque

Quebec designer Annick Levesque has put LED lighting inside her simple, elegant leather bags. (Shown, "Clarence" 2-in-1 bag.) It is activated by a magnetic feature in the zipper; literally a brilliant idea— no more fishing around! I liked the styles but not the logo plate. (I prefer them placed in the interior.)  

They gleamed in the window, but how do they perform? Has anyone bought one of these?

Now, this is a good green!