Travel

The five styles I recommend you take with you on your next trip are stylish while still being versatile and comfortable. These travel must-haves include the Sunrise Jogger, Hannah Top, Max Tank, Loren kimono, Emi Top, and Karisa Top.

I’m so excited we get to share our newest tops with you! I've been looking forward to these coming out and I think you'll know why. The color palette was inspired by my favorite place to travel, Japan! More specifically, quiet beautiful Japanese gardens. I just returned from a short trip Tokyo and had the chance to visit a garden in the middle of the city. I love the contrast—how peaceful and grounded it feels, even surrounded by the buzz of the city. It reminded me to pause, take a breath, and be present in the moment.  My favorite color from this collection is Matcha—a calming, muted green that instantly takes me back to slow mornings in a café, sipping a matcha latte and people-watching. This summer, I’m leaning into a lighter color palette—mixing these tops with soft-toned bottoms like our Heather Grey styles. More Colors If you have a Fall trip to Japan on the horizon (or just want a versatile layer), the Hannah Top is a must. It works beautifully on its own or layered for a little extra warmth when the weather starts to cool. The sleeves are not too fitted so I still feel comfortable and able to move around easily. And she has a similar curved hemline like Becca, so you never have to worry about coverage!  More Colors If you’re planning a warm-weather getaway, I highly recommend the Ella Top. The cap sleeves give just the right amount of coverage (perfect for those of us not quite ready for tank tops—me included!). More Colors In keeping with the lighter color pallet for summer, I put this outfit together to inspire you to try something different. Our best-selling Audrey is back in our lightweight rayon jersey fabric, which makes it perfect for the warm weather! I would normally pair these with black bottoms but challenged myself (and you!) to go for a lighter look with our Milo's in Cafe. I hope one of these styles speaks to you and finds its way into your closet soon. With love, Ashley

Guess what? I'm headed back to Japan! And since the team has been hearing the same from so many of you, they asked me to write some tips and share what I like to do when I'm there.  What I'm wearing for the cooler weather:   Styles in our Soft Ponte Fabric aka our Semi Midweight Knit fabrics. It'll keep me warm when I'm outside but not hot when I'm at the store or on the train. Gabby Sweatshirt and Remy Cover Up that I'll layered over an Emi Top are all coming with me on this trip.  For bottoms, I'm bringing Bowery, Milo Pants, and Sunrise and South St Joggers for the airplane and Shinkansen rides.  Things on my shopping list:  I always stock up on pens in Japan, especially Frixon Pens. The Frixon Pens made in Japan are different (better ink quality and writes smoother) from the ones made and sold here in the U.S. My favorite places to get pens with the most variety in one stop is Hands (formerly known as Tokyu Hands) and Loft. You can easily find these stores in the major cities.  I like to go to the grocery store/market when I'm in Japan. Right now, our favorite one is Life Market. This is where I get hard candy and gummies for the team, look for different types of furikake, salad dressing (yuzu carrot flavor is my current obsession), and salt! I know that sounds weird but the salt that's made in Japan just tastes better lol. I also stock up on garlic, ginger, yuzu, and kizami wasabi in tubes! They're less than $1 with the current conversion rate. Tip is to look for the ones "made in Japan" especially the garlic. It doesn't have as much "bite" as ones from other countries.   What I'm looking forward to eating:  Ice cream! We stop at the combini or market before we head back to the hotel and pick up an ice cream to eat. The small Häagen-Dazs cups have never failed me - all the flavors I've tried are sooo good!  AYCE Wagyu Yakiniku! We went to this location on our last trip and the experience was so great. The staff was so welcoming (most spoke some English) and the service and food quality were so good. You can also make reservations which is really nice if you're traveling with a bigger group.  And, don't forget to pack an extra duffle just in case you buy too much stuff lol! You can follow along with me while I'm in Japan on Instagram. Allison will be resharing my stories and outfits as I eat, I mean make my way through Japan!  PS: If you happen to see me, stop me and say "hi!"  Safe Travels! Ashley

If you asked me what type of designer I am, I'd have to say I'm a functional one. I love when a design can be worn multiple ways, places, occasions, and stand the test of time. And when I'm creating a new style, I factor this into the overall design. If I can get the "cost per wear" down, then that's a win for everyone! When designing, I think of 3 things - comfort, fit, and function.  Is this style comfortable enough that you can wear it everywhere? Does it fit well? Will you feel comfortable and confident? Can you wear this in multiple ways - dress it up and wear it casually? If I can answer “yes” to all these questions for every design - I deem it a success! And if a design has all questions answered with a “yes,” it usually means the style is great for travel. Think about it - when you travel you want to: Feel comfortable (and confident). Be able to wear one style multiple ways - day to night, casual to dressy.  Wear it everywhere - you want to be ready for anything as a traveler and you want to make sure your clothing is ready for anything too! Here are some of the styles that'll make packing for your next trip a breeze! A LONG-SLEEVE LAYERING PIECE:The Shannen Top is the perfect layering piece for your next trip. She has a longer fitted sleeve, which will keep you warm and cozy. The wider neckline makes this top perfect under any other neckline. But it's also a great top to wear alone or layered over a tank top or cowl top, like Andie! A COWL NECKLINE TOP:A high-neck cowl top like Andie Tank is also a great layering piece for travel. The higher neckline keeps your neck covered if you’re someone who gets cold. It also looks chic under so many tops. Pair her with the Remy Cover Up for a cute sweater set! A COLLARED TOP:Our Sarah Top is a great collared shirt to take on any trip because you can easily dress her up or down. Pair it with a fitted pant like our Miki Pants and sneakers for a day of shopping, or with a wide-leg pant like our Milo Pants and heels for dinner. THE PERFECT TEE:We have so many favorites to choose from but our top contenders are: Emi Top: a slightly shorter shape with a wide boxy body. Becca Top: she’s the perfect menswear-inspired v-neck. Sawyer Top: she’s everything you’ll want in a tee - slimmer fit, great cap sleeve, and a side slit opening to give you extra room in the midsection. A GREAT COAT:The Rachel Coat is a slightly oversized coat which makes it perfect to layer over any outfit. The classic shape and 3/4 sleeves makes it a timeless piece that takes you season to season.  If you decide to take any of our styles with you, please send us a picture of your outfit! The team and I love seeing all the places our clothes get to travel too!  Safe travels!- Allison 

I just came back from my Japan trip to Fukuoka and Tokyo. I've been hearing that many of you are coming in to get outfits for your travels!  The team asked me to share my packing list and any travel tips I have. I'm excited to share what I'm packing and offer some insights that might make your travels easier! Here's what I recommend if you're traveling in cold/cooler weather (30-60°F): Rachel Coat: the perfect "last layer" to add to your outfit. The sleeves are wide, so you don't have to worry about how many layers you have on underneath. And the Ponte Fabric is comfortable and moves with you so you don't feel constrained by all the layers.  Joey Sweatshirt: the long sleeves make it ideal for layering under the Rachel Coat to give you that extra warmth during the colder temperatures. But even so, I don't need to take it off in the stores shopping because the Soft Ponte fabric is still breathable. I love the little details of the color peaking through when I layer both. It's an easy way to elevate my simple outfits.  South St Joggers: The South St Joggers are perfect for the plane. The extra room with this wider leg style makes sitting for hours, comfortable along with the stretchy elastic waistband. And you can't forget the reason we recommend this for travel so much... the elastic on the bottom hem! Keeps them off the floor when you're using the bathroom. If you want something closer to a regular jogger fit the Sunrise Jogger is also perfect for travel,  especially in the Soft Ponte material, making it ideal for the cold.  Tips for Japan Travel:  Don't forget to pack a small hand towel with you! I have yet to come across a public bathroom with paper towels to wipe your hands dry, so I keep one in my bag to dry my hands. It really comes in handy during the colder months when you want to stay dry and warm! Forgot to pack one? Stop by Don Quijote or a 100 yen store to grab one.   Pack some quart or gallon size Ziploc bags with you. Why you ask? Because as clean as Japan is, there's hardly any trash cans available in public spaces! So I carry this in my bag to toss trash in and dump it when I get back to the hotel room.  Use Google Maps to bookmark all the spots you want to go to. That way when you're in an area, you can pull up the map and see what stores and restaurants you're near. I like the little suitcase icon it puts on the map, where you can leave notes to remind you why you bookmarked that spot.  Whether you're traveling soon or still in the planning phase, I hope these tips help you when it comes time to pack for your travels.  Safe travels!Ashley 

As a designer, I love hearing from customers where they wear my designs. It’s such an honor to have the pieces I designed be a part of your special moments and precious memories. As travel ramps up for the Summer, some of our customers have shared with us where they’ll be taking our clothing around the world. Take a look below to see what’ll be living in their suitcases . . .

When I start to plan a trip, one of the hardest things for me is to get organized. As the daughter of a travel agent, I always want to be prepared. But recently, I'm becoming more fluid. Straying away from my planner/perfectionist self to my younger days when I could be more carefree and just go with the flow. I joke that for me to be fluid, I still need to find small ways to prepare and be organized. It gives calm to both parts of my brain. When it's time to pack, I like to get as organized as I can, while still allowing space for flexibility. I also take that into consideration when I'm designing for the brand. Finding a balance is one of the things I strive for in each style - I love that almost every piece can be mixed and matched with other pieces. I always consider the colors, prints, and patterns from previous collections when I’m designing the next one. And once you know your favorite combos of styles, it makes packing super easy! Let’s start with the pants. I will usually pack 3-7 options for pants (I didn't say this was a blog on how to pack light LOL!). Depending on the length of the trip and if I'm going to do laundry while away, here's my list: 1 x Black Sunrise Jogger or South Street Jogger (plane outfit) 1 x Black Coral Pant 1 x Milo Pant (which can double as sleeping clothes) 1 x printed or colorful bottom - Navy Plaid Sunrise or South Street Jogger in Olive 1 x Midnight Colburn Pant Next, I think about my cover ups and jackets. For my upcoming trip, I'm headed to LA, where the cooler weather calls for jackets galore! 1 x Rachel Coat 1 x Bryce Jacket 2 x Diana Blazer (I’m going to indulge and take both a White and a Navy) 2 x Milla Duster (perfect for lounging at the hotel and for the plane ride) Tops are the easiest for me to pack. It’ll usually be a mix of my favorites. In this case, that means a good variety of layering pieces. 1 x Mandy Top (Neutral, Black or Grey Skies) 1 x Bobbi Top (Le Feline, for fun!) 1 x Becca Top (Acid Green or Concord Grape) 1 x Loren Kimono (Charcoal Stripe or basic, which I can wear as a wrap top) 3 x Charlie Tank (or Camille Tanks to layer over and/or wear as pajamas) I will also be packing a few tops from our upcoming collection (stay tuned!): 1 x Claire Top (my personal fave - so happy its coming back soon!) 1 x Ella top I don’t plan outfits when I pack - that’s where the fun and fluidity comes in! I know everything I pack will mix and match well since it’s one of my philosophies of how I design. So I allow my mood and my activities of the day to guide my outfit choices. I always pack a great scarf, some Uniqlo Heat Tech long sleeve tops (to layer for when the weather gets colder than expected), and my favorite jewelry to make a complete outfit. Packing should be fun. Your outfits should be comfortable. Traveling can be a time to enjoy yourself and find those times to go with the flow and get Off the Grid . . . - Allison 

Japan has opened its borders for travel and I'm so excited! Quite a few of you have come in to get outfits for your trip and I can't wait to hear all your stories when you get back from Japan. If you know anything about me, you know I LOVE JAPAN! The food, the stationary (ask to see my pen collection when you come by the Showroom), the way of life - I love it all. I don't have a trip planned yet, but I'm hoping to make it back in 2023!  But if you're going soon, here's some tips to make traveling easier!  Bring a small hand towel with you! A lot of bathrooms I've been to don't have paper towels so I keep one in my bag to dry my hands. It really comes in handy during the colder months when you want to stay dry and warm! Forgot to pack one? Stop by Don Quijote or a 100 yen store to grab one!  Pack some quart or gallon size Ziploc bags with you. Why you ask? Because as clean as Japan is, there's hardly any trash cans available in public spaces! So I carry this in my bag to toss trash in and dump it when I get back to the hotel room.  On my last trip to Japan (November 2019), I packed the Mandy Top and it was perfect for the cooler weather. The sleeve length made it easy to wear under my jacket for the colder outdoors but wasn't too long in the warm train car or shops. My go to outfit was the Mandy and Coral Pants cause the pockets were perfect for holding my phone and train card. You know I couldn't leave you without a food tip! LOL. If you haven't already tried Ichiran, you must go. For it being a "chain ramen restaurant," it's one of the best bowls of ramen I've had. What's the tip? Go for breakfast and avoid the crowds. The major areas in Tokyo like Shibuya, Shinjuku, or Harajuku should have ones that are open 24 hours. It's the perfect way to warm up your body on those chilly mornings.  And last but not least... Eat lots of good food, take lots of photos, make lasting memories and I'll see you when you get back!  Safe travels!Ashley 

Mark Twain famously said, “The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco." Can you imagine November in the Foggy City? While it may not be as chilly as, say, Fargo, North Dakota, going from Honolulu to San Francisco means I’ll definitely be layering up for the drizzly, misty weather.  While I’m there, I'll be attending dance workshops, going out on the town with friends and spending quality time with family so my wardrobe will need to be as versatile as possible.  Luckily, there are a few staple pieces I will be packing immediately to make sure all my bases are covered. The Milla DusterPerfect for the plane, layered over my dance clothes as I pop from class to class, and indulging in Dungeness crab with my parents, this duster does it all. Its silhouette is sleek enough for me to toss on over thermals and under a leather jacket and chunky infinity scarf for a cool layered look with lots of texture and movement. The Eclipse SetThis will be my go-to dance class set! The versatility of this set means I’ll always be at the perfect temperature (just remove the Devon Top when it gets too warm!)  and can focus on my class without my clothing getting in the way of movement. The Nebula colorway is especially eye-catching and will ensure I feel bright and cheery even if the weather is a bit gloomy. Besides these Allison Izu essentials, I have a few other items I never travel without. I try to pack light and my Away carry-on is the perfect size for me and ensures I won’t have to worry about any check-in luggage getting lost in transit. I also am one of those people that loves sleeping on the plane to pass time and make the flight go by faster! My memory foam neck rest is a game changer. It’s firm enough to keep me from accidentally resting on a stranger’s shoulder and waking up embarrassed and with a sore neck. Finally, if you are planning to visit San Francisco as well, make sure you sample some of the amazing Latin American flavors there! I adore La Mar - they have great views of the bay and Peruvian inspired cuisine, and El Tonayense (Mexican, California-style super burritos all the way!). Try these two spots and I promise you will leave stuffed and happy. Happy traveling!Jeddie