Interview with Lindsey Puls From Have Clothes Will Travel

Hello!  Today I would like to introduce you to very special guest Lindsey Puls, who is known all over the world for her famous travel blog Have Clothes, Will Travel.  Truth be told, I don’t travel that much, which is why I find exploring different parts of the world through Lindsey’s travel blog so fascinating.  I have been following her blog for a few years now and she has taken me to see: museums where people can participate in DMM.Planets Art interactive art exhibits in Japan, to see what it is like to visit  Hobbiton in New Zealand which is the land where the Hobbits were filmed from the movie The Hobbit and The Lord of The Rings (one of my all time favorite posts), and what it feels like to spend the night in a romantic Treehouse Lodge in the Peruvian Amazon surrounded by lots of wildlife.  Also, you won’t want to miss out on seeing the cutest pictures in the world of Lindsey cuddling with her cute sloth baby that she met in the Peruvian rainforest!

So, here we go…

Tell me about yourself.

Hi! I’m Lindsey. I’m a style/travel blogger at Have Clothes, Will Travel. I’ve recently moved to Moscow, Russia, but I’m originally from Wisconsin. (Go Packers!) My husband and I have been moving all over the country and world for the last 5 years, and Have Clothes, Will Travel has served as a way to document it all and to inspire others to experience the world through travel. I also use my blog as a way to explore my passion for style and encourage others to wear what makes them happy.

How would you describe your personal style?

Classic yet quirky. I love to wear vintage-inspired clothing but with a modern twist and a quirky accessory to top it all off.

What do you usually do to prepare for a trip?

I’ve turned into quite the planner over the years. So, preparing for a trip for me includes making itineraries, contacting hotels or B&Bs (or wherever we might be staying), making a list of restaurants to visit…making a lot of lists in general, actually! I’ll make packing lists for clothes, my camera equipment, documents I might need at country borders and on tours, etc.

Honestly, I have always been amazed at how organized you have to be to do what you do.  What is the most challenging part about living out of a suitcase and fashion blogging?

Packing a sufficient amount of shoes, haha.  Shoes take up so much space and are quite heavy, so I only pack a few shoes when I’m going to be living out a suitcase for a while.  My footwear tends to get rather repetitive in my outfit posts…but it’s also very versatile.

When you married your husband, did you know how much you would be traveling and had you traveled much previously?

Well, as odd is this sounds, my husband and I actually got married in order to travel. We needed to be married for me to go with him on a move abroad. It’s a really long story and it all went horribly wrong, and we ended up homeless and living with my parents for a while! (You can click here if you want to read the entire story.)

But marriage was always in the cards for us, at the time we had been living together for a couple years and dating for gosh, maybe 4 years? We just hadn’t been in a rush to get married until this travel opportunity presented itself.

What is one of the funniest things that has ever happened to you while traveling?

Oh this is a surprisingly tough question! I’ve gotten myself into a lot of unusual situations while traveling. But hmmm, one time I was invited to play a drinking game with a Geisha while in Kyoto… And I lost, haha. (This video is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yls6t0gtIxI)

And on our recent trip to the Amazon Rainforest, our guide gave us a banana to feed to a semi-domestic monkey, and while I was filming my husband handed the banana to the monkey and it fell out of the tree on to him! I managed to get it all on film too: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pnp7Ul7MBo

Out of all of the places you’ve traveled to so far, where did you feel the most welcome?

I would say I’ve felt the most welcome in Argentina. It is one of the few countries I’ve been that didn’t seem to have a terribly negative stigma about Americans. I was never hesitant to say I was from the United States (or Estados Unidos) and everyone I meant was incredibly kind and went out of their way to make me feel welcome (and even inviting us over for Asados! – which is a famous Argentine BBQ).

What are your top three favorite places to visit and why?

Oh, another tough question!

The top three right now are in this order:

1.)    Japan – Japan, had the most amazing food, culture, and public transport, historic and new sites to visit. Climbing Mount Fuji is one of the best travel memories I have to date. Japan is also amazingly safe, clean and quiet. I’ve never been any place like it, and I hope to return one day.

2.)    Peru – Like Japan, has amazing food, so many incredible sites to see and the hiking here is fantastic. A close second for me in terms of travel memories is hiking Rainbow Mountain in Peru. It’s just such a diverse country. We actually visited Peru twice, and I still want to return because we haven’t seen all it has to offer!

3.)    New Zealand – The natural landscapes of New Zealand are unparalleled. Queenstown and Milford Sound are some of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been, and once again, the hiking in New Zealand is amazing! The people in New Zealand are also very, very kind. I also loved the extreme sports you could do while you’re there like jumping off the world’s first bungy jump bridge!

After traveling to so many places, what new dishes have you learned to make and what new customs or traditions have you adopted?

After living in Argentina for a year, my husband and I have both come to enjoy sharing Mate. It’s a tea-like drink that you share with a group of people and you drink it out of cured gourd with a straw.

I also learned to make the Peruvian dishes, ceviche and Papa a la Huancaina…which is a Peruvian Potato Salad. I really like Peruvian food.

What advice would you give to someone who has never traveled that much internationally and is entering into a life of constant travel and change to their daily life?

Be open-minded and be ready for change. You can plan as much as you want, but when traveling, things are never going to go according to plan. The key to a successful travel experience is how you are able to react and adapt to the changes and challenges you’re presented with. If you are able to roll with it and laugh off the cancellations and delays, language snafus, and also embrace the cultural differences you encounter, you’ll have an amazing experience.

It’s also important to be cautious but not afraid while traveling. As Americans, we seem to have this idea that every city outside our borders is terribly dangerous. And while it is true, you should always exercise caution wherever you travel to, it’s also important to realize that not that many places are dangerous warzones…and we shouldn’t let our fear of these foreign places stop us from experiencing them. I always ask people if they would you ever NOT visit Chicago because it’s dangerous? Sure, Chicago has dangerous parts, but you’ll be perfectly fine if you visit Navy Pier, the South Loop, etc. It’s the same idea in just about every other city in the world.

Where can we find you?

Thank you so much for featuring me, Joanna!

Feel free to check out my blog, Have Clothes, Will Travel.

I’m also on

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/have_clothes_will_travel/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/HavClothWilTrav

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/haveclothes/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/haveclotheswilltravel/

Bloglovin’: https://www.bloglovin.com/blogs/have-clothes-will-travel-12848585

Thank you Lindsey for sharing your time with us today!  You’ve shown me so many places that have sparked my interest for future travels.  Thank you for sharing your knowledge and beautiful photos with us, I can’t wait to see where you’ll go next!

Interview with Paola Laurentano from Express Yourself

Translated By Google Translate to Italian

Hello! Today I want to introduce you to a very special guest from the blog Express Yourself.  Her name is Paola Lauretano and she is a fashion blogger from Italy.  However, you wouldn’t know it if you visited her website because she is an avid traveler and is constantly being photographed in high fashion outfits amidst picturesque destinations throughout Europe.  If you want to see high style and sophistication in a beautiful setting, you’ll want to follow Paola.  So, here we go…

Ciao! Oggi voglio presentarti un ospite molto speciale dal blog Esprimi te stesso. Il suo nome è Paola Lauretano e lei è una fashion blogger dall'Italia. Tuttavia, non lo sapresti se visitassi il suo sito web perché è un'avida viaggiatrice e viene costantemente fotografata in abiti di alta moda in mezzo a destinazioni pittoresche in tutta Europa. Se vuoi vedere alto stile e raffinatezza in un ambiente bellissimo, ti consigliamo di seguire Paola. Quindi, eccoci qui ...

Hi Paola! Thank you for sharing your time with us today.  I’m always super impressed by how you style your outfit combinations.  You are so stylish! 

Ciao Paola! Grazie per aver condiviso il tuo tempo con noi oggi. Sono sempre super impressionato da come stili le tue combinazioni di outfit. Sei così elegante!

How did you first become interested in fashion and why did you decide to start a fashion blog?

Come ti sei interessato alla moda e perché hai deciso di aprire un blog di moda?

I started blogging in a virtual space 5 years ago. But I've always been passionate about fashion.  I've worked as a model in the past and for different stylists... fashion is my life, always!

Ho iniziato ad occuparmi di blogging, con uno spazio virtuale tutto mio 5 anni fa. Ma sono sempre stata appassionata di moda, ho lavorato come indossatrice e fotomodella in passato, per diversi stilisti… la moda è la mia vita, da sempre!

How would you describe your personal style?

Come descriveresti il ​​tuo stile personale?

I would call my style "effortless chic" and trendy, but always with that original and personal touch that makes it exclusively "mine".  I am strongly convinced that accessories play a fundamental role in defining a personal style.  My inspiration comes from street style and catwalks, of course!  I like breaking the rules of fashion and being creative, but always with taste! Never forget that a woman with great style does not blindly follow trends.  Having style and being fashionable are two very different concepts.

Il mio stile lo definirei “effortless chic”, di tendenza, ma sempre con quel tocco originale e personale che lo rende esclusivamente “mio”. Sono fortemente convinta che gli accessori giocano un ruolo fondamentale nella definizione di uno stile personale. La mia ispirazione viene dallo Street style e dalle passerelle, of course. Mi piace rompere le regole della moda ed essere creativa, ma sempre con gusto! Non bisogna mai dimenticare che una donna con un grande stile non segue ciecamente le tendenze, perché avere stile ed essere alla moda sono due concetti molto diversi.

Who are your favorite designers? My favorite designers

Chi sono i tuoi stilisti preferiti?

My favorite designers have always been Dolce and Gabbana.  I love their ability to make women look so feminine.

I miei stilisti preferiti, da sempre, sono Dolce e Gabbana. Amo la loro capacità di rendere  così femminile la donna.  

I see that you travel to beautiful destinations throughout the year, where is your favorite location to travel to and why?

Vedo che viaggi verso destinazioni bellissime durante tutto l'anno, dov'è la tua posizione preferita per viaggiare e perché?

Yes, I love traveling, and stay literally in awe in the face of the wonders of architecture or nature. Life is not meant to be lived in one place, I want to see the world.  I want to experience it all. It is the only way to learn from life and see things from another perspective. I don’t have a favorite destination.  I am fascinated by the capitals of the whole world, both the tropical destinations, the wild beaches, and the most unknown islands.

Si, amo viaggiare, e rimanere ogni volta letteralmente a bocca aperta dinanzi alle meraviglie dell’architettura o della natura. La vita non è fatta per essere vissuta in un solo luogo, voglio vedere il Mondo. Voglio viverlo tutto. E’ l’unico modo per imparare dalla vita e vedere le cose da un’altra prospettiva. Non ho destinazioni preferite, mi affascinano sia le capitali di tutto il mondo, sia le mete tropicali, le spiagge selvagge e le  isole più sconosciute.

Your makeup always looks flawless and you have amazing skin! What is your favorite lipstick and skincare products?

Il tuo trucco sembra sempre impeccabile e hai una pelle incredibile! Qual è il tuo prodotto preferito per il rossetto e la cura della pelle?

I worked in RAI (the Italian state television) as a TV show host as I said before, I was a model, so I spent hours and hours in makeup in the hands of expert make-up artists.  I got all the tricks of the job from them.  I know how to enhance my features and get a perfect skin covering which always seems naturally smooth. For a special occasion, I never give up red lipstick, my favorite is the "Rouge pur Couture" by Yves Saint Laurent. I care a lot about my skin, which I always keep perfectly clean and nourished.  I could never give up my eye contour cream.  My favorite at the moment is "Sublimage" by Chanel (but I change them often because the skin should not become accustomed to always getting used to the same product).

Ho lavorato in RAI (la televisione di stato italiana) come conduttrice di un programma televisivo e, come ti ho già detto, ero una modella, per cui passavo ore e ore al trucco tra le mani di esperti make-up artists.  Ho carpito da loro tutti i trucchi del mestiere, so come valorizzare i miei lineamenti ed ottenere una perfetta copertura della pelle, che sembra sempre naturalmente levigata. Per un’occasione speciale non rinuncio mai al rossetto rosso, il mio preferito è il “Rouge pur Couture” di Yves Saint Laurent. Curo molto la mia pelle, che mantengo sempre perfettamente pulita e nutrita, non potrei mai rinunciare ad una crema contorno occhi, la mia preferita al momento è “Sublimage” di Chanel (ma le cambio spesso, perché la pelle non deve assuefarsi, abituandosi sempre allo stesso prodotto).    

I see that you “twin” a lot with your daughter.  How often do you and your daughter “twin” on the daily? 

Vedo che tu "gemelli" molto con tua figlia. Quanto spesso tu e tua figlia "gemella" quotidianamente?

I really like this fashion trend of the "mini-me".  Now it's a very current fashion phenomenon, but I have to say that my Becky and I always love playing with style, creating outfits with garments that have a fit suitable for both. We mothers are more and more careful to have an impeccable look, a style that can be all ours and our little ones must not be less.  I do not like to exaggerate, but rather elaborate this tendency by focusing only on some detail, avoiding to be dressed the same in all respects. It is often sufficient to coordinate the prints or choose similar accessories. We adopt the "Mini-me" style when we go to a party together, for example.

Mi piace molto questa tendenza moda del “Mini-me”, ora è un fenomeno moda molto attuale, ma devo dire che da sempre io e la mia Becky adoriamo giocare con lo stile, creando outfits con capi che abbiano una vestibilità adatta ad entrambe. Noi mamme siamo sempre più attente ad avere un look impeccabile, uno stile che possa essere tutto nostro, e quello dei nostri piccoli non deve essere da meno. Non amo esagerare, ma piuttosto rielaboro questa tendenza concentrandomi solo su qualche dettaglio, evitando di risultare vestite uguali in tutto e per tutto. Spesso è sufficiente coordinare le stampe o scegliere accessori simili. Adottiamo lo stile “Mini-me” quando andiamo ad una festa insieme, ad esempio.

What do you enjoy most about fashion blogging and advice would you give fashion bloggers who are just starting out?

Cosa ti piace di più del fashion blogging e dei consigli che daresti ai fashion blogger che stanno appena iniziando?

Blogging gives me a great opportunity to share my passion for fashion with the blogosphere. A really great passion, which gives me the strength to continue, because it is not easy to balance this activity with all the rest: blogging at high levels, posting interesting content, with professional and captivating photos, requires a lot of work and sacrifice. However, share my great passion and meet people from all over the world with my same interest, to participate in the most beautiful fashion shows, parties and events and see my looks published by the most important fashion magazines, but above all see the ever increasing number of followers who love my style is a great satisfaction. I hope to continue to inspire more and more people!

To the fashion bloggers who have just started I want to remember that blogging does not just mean getting a lot of clothes and accessories for free from fashion companies. It's definitely a great opportunity to make money, but you have to put a lot of scribbles on it because a blog takes up a lot of your time and you need to be ready for hard work. It is essential to do everything with great professionalism, but more than anything else you are yourself and love what you do!

Fare blogging mi da una grande opportunità di condividere con la blogosfera la mia passione per la moda. Una passione davvero grande, che mi da la forza di continuare, perché non è assolutamente facile bilanciare questa attività con tutto quanto il resto: fare blogging a livelli alti, postando contenuti interessanti, con foto professionali e accattivanti, richiede molto lavoro e sacrificio. Tuttavia, condividere la mia grande passione e conoscere gente da tutto il mondo con il mio stesso interesse, poter partecipare alle più belle sfilate di moda, ai parties e agli eventi e vedere i miei looks pubblicati dalle riviste di moda più importanti, ma soprattutto vedere il numero sempre crescente di followers che amano il mio stile, è una grande soddisfazione. Spero di continuare ad ispirare sempre più gente!

Alle fashion bloggers che hanno appena iniziato voglio ricordare che fare blogging non significa solo ricevere un sacco di abiti e accessori gratis dalle aziende di moda. E’ sicuramente una grande opportunità di guadagno, ma bisogna metterci tanto scrificio, perché un blog occupa un sacco del tuo tempo e bisogna essere pronti ad un duro lavoro. E’ fondamentale fare tutto con grande professionalità, ma più di ogni altra cosa siate voi stesse e amate ciò che fate!

Where can we find you?

Dove possiamo trovarti?

Website is:Express Yourself

Facebook contact: Facebook

Instagram page: Instagram

Thank You Paola!  I really enjoyed hearing about you, your advice on blogging, and always enjoy seeing your high fashion style and beautiful photography from your travels across the globe.  I can't wait to see what you will do next!

Grazie Paola! Mi è piaciuto molto sentirti parlare di te, dei tuoi consigli sui blog e mi piace sempre vedere il tuo stile di alta moda e la tua bellissima fotografia dai tuoi viaggi in tutto il mondo. Non vedo l'ora di vedere cosa farai dopo!