Vogue US - November 1980
"Over the years I've learned some very helpful tips that I think other women could find useful, too."
- Mary McFadden
"When packing, I always take my tennis racket and tennis clothes. So if the hotel where I am staying has a court, I exercise for about an hour. I find it helps to get rid of stale air and to get the juices rolling. Also, I take a swimming suit and cap with me. If there is a pool, I use it. I think it's best to always be prepared. Besides exercise, I find massage is wonderful. The Beverly Wilshire has the best masseurs in this country, followed by the Ritz-Carlton's in Chicago, and the Watergate Hotel's in Washington.
I pack traveling scales. I think it's important to keep your weight at just the right point. You can gain five pounds in a day, when you travel as much as I do. I take a large hairdryer because it dries my hair faster than those mini-dryers. I also take a magnifying mirror. You simply can't apply make-up in hotel mirrors!
My cosmetic bag is permanently packed, both here at the office and at home. I keep Clinique's sun block. I take a color stick (Roux's dark brown) to touch up my hairline, and scissors to cut my hair."
"The clothes I take include two pleated cocktail dresses and two day suits. Recently. I've been wearing mid-calf lace dresses from the 1920's. I stay with white for day in the summer. For TV, I wear all white - with my black hair it makes a strong impact. In the winter, I have various shades of beige, but I always wear white for cocktails. For evening, I take mostly mid-calf dresses. I feel they elongate me. I bring a lot of real jewelry for personal appearances. That's what the women look for. I don't like pants. Also, I'm into a very feminine mood, and I don't want anything masculine.
I take one handbag for day. White for summer, dark for winter. I carry a minaudiere for evening. In my handbag, I have business cards, twenty personal checks, two pairs of glasses, my own fragrance, and Indian pillbox, lipstick, tweezers, nail polish, eye pencil, breath spray, eye-makeup remover, mascara, and an eye lotion - because I often wake up with red or swollen eyes.
A big pleasure while traveling: I relax in a warm bath, cover myself with my Satin Silk Body Lotion, put on a long white terry robe, and enjoy a leisurely breakfast. That's luxury."
Photographed by Karen Radkai
