I wish I was better at packing. I want to be able to fold my whole life up into one piece of carry-on, like those neat little L.V. totes all the famous ladies take to the airport. Jennifer, Cate, Beyonce even, they never clear customs with anything more than
Noelle McCarthy: Travelling in style
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Charlize Theron's airport arrival style: no suitcases, no iPad, no makeup bag, no bottle of water. Photo / Getty Images
They're never wearing socks, either. I find this disturbing. Jennifer, Charlize, Cate, Angelina. Always sockless in moccasins or loafers. That can't be comfortable; planes are freezing. Why do they wear no socks? One of life's great mysteries.
They've all got the shawls, though. Always the shawls. Grey ones, black ones, brown ones, striped ones. One hundred per cent cashmere and softer than a child's kiss, shawls are the holy grail of transit wear; feather-light, versatile, luxurious, perfect for draping around tanned shoulders.
I hate shawls. I have never found one that didn't make me look like a Sicilian crone. I've tried the long fringe-y scarf-y variety, too, the ones Jennifer deploys to such easy-breezy departure-lounge-luxe effect on the way back from Cabo. No dice; I just look like a butch backpacker in a fringed scarf.
No, I'm sticking to what suits me. I'll go to the airport tomorrow with a big suitcase and an old pair of possum socks worn with my pyjamas. There'll be a long black Miss Crabb dress over the top though. The Crabb is my version of a Hollywood shawl; easy, light, hides a multitude of sins and even when you're at the back of the plane, it always makes you feel like a million dollars.
- VIVA
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