Member-only story
I Freed Myself From the Male Gaze on My Vacation, and It Ruled
I took a 2-week bucket list trip to Ireland with no makeup and a bunch of athleisure with absolutely no prerogative to meet men. Here’s what went down!
As a single woman in my late thirties with a bunch of airline cards and a consulting career that was travel-heavy prior to COVID, I’m a pro at planning epic vacations by myself.
Having just done a massive voyage that kicked off with a hilariously bad time at the most miserable place on earth, LAX, there’s definitely things I would and wouldn’t do again after this long-haul trip. One of them is that I’m so not taking a 2-week overseas vacation literally right after 2 weeks of business travel and dashing around the East Coast, ever again.
But one I would repeat? Skipping the makeup, nice clothes, and just living in athleisure the entire trip. It was the most comfortable I’ve ever been!
It wasn’t something I initially planned, but decided on at the last minute while I was still in New York.
After continually strapping myself into my good clothes and doing a full face of makeup for days on end for a conference and meeting up…