Patricia Altschul, mythical grand dame and the breakout megastar of Bravo’s Southern Charm, is the arbiter of all things sublime. While she calls Charleston home (and resides in a sprawling historical mansion), she can often be determined to visit New York, Los Angeles, and Europe. You may ensure that she in no way sacrifices her signature fashion even as in transit— which means that she checks at the very least 3 portions of Louis Vuitton bags, contains a Birkin, constantly orders a Bloody Mary—and even brings her own pillowcases. Below, she stocks how she jets across the globe (and it’s miles done in suitable style, as one could most effective assume) with Suzanne Otte and Emily Selter.
SHE TYPICALLY FLIES PRIVATE, BUT YOU MAY SPOT HER ON A COMMERCIAL FLIGHT TO EUROPE
When Patricia flies from Charleston to New York or Florida, she books her journey via JetSmarter, software that allows users to e-book private jets on their telephones. Still, she prefers to fly industrial for long-haul flights—her airline of choice: Delta, a Southern agency, of the route. But British Airways might also soon end up a pinnacle to choose their direct flights from Charleston to London.
When flying industrial, Patricia uses her memberships with CLEAR and TSA PreCheck to make annoying business terminals barely tolerable and expedite the manner. Much like the whole lot in her existence, Altschul’s seat choice is cautiously selected. She prefers the window seat and also is predicated at the internet site Seat Guru, which provides information and seat hints for the plane assigned to your flight.
“I decide upon no longer to be disturbed each time the individual next to me desires to stand up. On most of my air travels, Michael remains domestic to secure the residence and care for my menagerie. Since I don’t recognize who will be seated next to me, I think about the sorts of human beings attracted to the bulkhead’s more ground space: it’s the prime actual property for the ones journeying with small children. Interpret that statement as you like.”
PATRICIA BRINGS AT LEAST THREE PIECES OF LOUIS VUITTON LUGGAGE ON EVERY TRIP
On any given trip, she brings a bare minimum of 3 portions of vintage Louis Vuitton baggage with an enviable patina: a teaching case for good-sized splendor merchandise, a Pullman eighty for apparel, and a Pegase 70 for handbags and shoes. Minimalist, she isn’t.
“As a well-known principle and first-rate practice, one has to take a look at dressmaker baggage no longer. I count on the risk of damage and robbery after I take a look at my Vuitton. I actually have handiest ever had one item stolen from a checked bag. I delivered it upon myself for packing with haste and violating a cardinal rule to hold on to private electronic devices. Irrespective of the brand of the bag, any passenger who checked a first technology iPad within the first week of release might have suffered the same fate.”
PATRICIA AND HER STAFF BEGIN PACKING A WEEK BEFORE HER DEPARTURE
Even a mundane challenge like packing is approached with tact because cobbling a suitable dresser collectively on the 11th hour is anathema to Patricia’s disciplined life. The packing method starts offevolved one week previous to her departure, whilst she summons a garment rack to her boudoir. The rack serves as the sole series station for the clothing and accessories she can be packing, as well as an area to test with seems.
She restricts herself to either a completely black or white dresser on every one of her journeys. Doing so makes it less complicated to create more than one seems from a relatively curated apparel choice. She can use identical add-ons for every appearance (commonly black residences or heels). Two days before she departs, Patricia starts to present her suitcases with her laundress, Carla. Together they evaluate her travel itinerary and social calendar to ensure that the appropriate ensemble for every commitment is blanketed in her bags.
Patricia’s mattress transforms right into a staging place wherein every piece is laid, tested, and inventoried on a packing listing. She lays out all the vital tools for flawlessly packed luggage on a nearby chaise lounge: Regular and lengthy poly baggage (AKA dry cleaner baggage), acid-unfastened tissue paper, accessories bags, and lavender sachets via L’Occitane en Provence.
PATRICIA’S PACKING PROCESS IS INSPIRED BY QUEEN ELIZABETH II
Her preferred approach to packing is a version of the approach employed by Blossom and Browne’s Sycamore, the holders of HRH Queen Elizabeth II’s Royal Warrant for washing and dry cleaning. Before packing, garb gadgets are well folded, wrapped in tissue paper, or positioned in a polybag to reduce friction between garments. Regular-sized poly luggage is used for blouses and tunics, and long ones are used for dresses, robes, and pants. Pashminas, scarves, sweaters, and purses are wrapped in tissue paper, and the heels of footwear are wrapped in tissue paper earlier than sliding into separate shoe covers.
While hanging space for garment baggage is available on personal jets, it can not be guaranteed at the same time as flying commercial. To put together her clothes to survive an extended voyage in a suitcase, Patricia continues her them on padded hangers, fills sleeves with crumpled tissue paper to hold their shape, and sheathes them in a polybag. Tissue paper is additionally filled in collars and sleeves to hold form, wrapped around any uncovered hardware to save you scratches and tears, located between layers of garb, and used to line the interiors of instances.
What transpires next is fine described as the real-international manifestation of Tetris. Contents can not be positioned too tightly or too loosely, but just right. Each item is packed from heaviest to lightest: the heavier objects are placed along the spine of the suitcase to balance the weight at the lowest while the lightest gadgets are positioned on the pinnacle. While certainly one of her Louis Vuitton suitcases is earmarked for handbags and footwear (the Pegase 70), the alternative is used for apparel.
However, exceptions may be made. When a gossamer evening bag is on the packing listing, it could be relocated to the pinnacle of the less tough and tumble apparel suitcase. Once the whole thing is organized, gaps are filled with tissue paper to restrict motion in handling. Immediately upon arrival, Patricia unpacks and hangs all of her garbs. Should a garment emerge slightly rumpled, she can cling it in the lavatory all through a bath to permit hot steam to smooth out any wrinkles.
Upon her return domestic, Carla empties her bags and inspects every piece to peer if professional repair is needed. Then Carla proceeds to hoover the interior cubicles of each suitcase. Next, microfiber fabric is dampened in slightly soapy water to wipe the interior and outside clean, taking care not to saturate the material. Louis Vuitton’s untreated leather handles are specifically prone to darkening and discoloration from the absorption of hand oils and get in touch with drinks. Absent a pressing need to clean the handles; they’re treated once a year with a non-petroleum-based totally leather purifier. The easy baggage is then returned to its closet, in which striking, hand-poured wax tablets from one of the oldest pharmacies in the international, Santa Maria Novella, emit the clean scent of Belgrano.
