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Celeb stylist extraordinaire, Anita Patrickson, found herself in Los Angeles eight years ago by way of Texas, South Africa, London and New York. Her parents, originally from Kenya, currently reside in South Africa and after Patrickson moved to LA for three months it was her father who unknowingly pushed her down the path she is on today. "I didn't really know what I wanted to do," she explained. "I was waiting for an internship to start at CNN and my dad said, 'You need to get a job sister.'" As the job search began she saw a position for a stylist assistant and loving the creative process and being on set, everything else happened organically.
Today, Patrickson keeps a packed schedule with clients like Julianne Hough, Emma Watson and Kate Walsh while also taping videos for Style Hall, running her blog and oh yeah, traveling the country as the official Harper's BAZAAR stylist (she counted about 42 flights in 60 days for the job's fall tour). Though she is one of the busiest in the biz, she does occasionally have downtime where she plans some killer vacations. "The moment I get a break I'm like, 'Oh where am I going next?'" Patrickson laughs about her affliction with airports. "'It must be somewhere far away.'" On her winter itinerary? A Thanksgiving roadtrip, Christmas in Africa and New Years in Australia. Jealous?
We picked up Pressed Juicery and headed to Patrickson's house where filming for her Style Hall webisodes was in full swing. There, we got all of the scoop on the stylist's travel game, including her secret to staying fresh on a long flight.
What are you drinking today?
"The Citrus 4."
What is the best vacation you've ever been on?
"Every Christmas I go home to Africa and last year I did one of the best trips I've ever done. It was such an indulgence. I went to the Masaai Mara for four days in Kenya and from the Masaai Mara we went to Kilimanjaro; from there we went to Rwanda and trekked through the jungle for gorillas, which was completely unbelievable. From there we went to my parents house in South Africa then to Zambia and did Victoria Falls and whitewater rafting, I spent my birthday there which was complete heaven. It's the best one I've ever been on because we arranged it so beautifully."
New Spot or Old Faithful?
"New spot."
What is your top tip for packing?
"Keep everything neutral and basic so you can mix and match. Then have one very special outfit that you save for a fancy dinner."
What is the first thing you do when you arrive to your hotel?
"I book activities. If I'm traveling for work I tend to book a massage or facial when I get there because I have to be on camera or do something on the other end so I try to take a second to regroup. If I'm on holiday, the first thing I do is hit the beach or get my planner out."
What is your dream vacation?
"Around the world. I never did a gap year, which Americans don't really do. But in England, when you finish school you take an entire year and backpack around. It's a really amazing time to figure out what you want to do and get all of your partying out of the way. So my dream vacation would be going to Bhutan and these crazy off-the-wall kind of places and having the time to really be there and experience it."
Travel Companions…
Book: "The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes."
Magazine: "Harper's BAZAAR."
Album: "A good Bob Dylan Greatist Hits because you can listen to it over and over again."
Isolated or Crowded?
"Isolated, always."
Over-pack or Under-pack?
"I used to be the worst over-packer and now I am the worst under-packer. I end up having to buy so much stuff when I get to wherever I'm going. Usually I'm somewhere completely random and I'm wearing the weirdest clothes from a Costa Rica 7Eleven."
What do you always forget when you're packing?
"My toothbrush and phone charger. The one thing I always think is if I've got my passport and credit card then I'm fine, the rest can follow."
Planner or Spontaneous?
"Spontaneous."
Full Itinerary or Relaxation?
"I like to do a mix. There is one place that I like to go to relax and I try to go there twice a year, it's called Parrot Cay in Turks & Caicos and it is this tiny little island with absolutely nothing to do. But whenever I'm somewhere that I've never been I try and pack it in because I feel like I need to see everything."
Any flight rituals?
"Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream covers a multitude of sins. I put it on my lips and my face, it's really not the most attractive cream to put on your face so you might want to wait until the lights are off. I also take peppermint tea bags with me because I feel like that really helps on flights when you feel yucky and bloated. Good, comfy shoes! I feel like people try to look really sassy when they're flying and it's just not the right thing to do. Also a big scarf because you can use it as a blanket, I hate being cold on flights so I tend to layer up."
Must-see, Must-taste or Must-shop?
"Oh no, no shopping! I usually try to do the must-see and figure out what day would be the best to do something and book it in because I hate getting to the end of a trip and wishing I'd done something."
What is one place you think everyone should try and visit?
"Africa, I think it's so special and going on a safari is one of the most incredible experiences you will ever have. Even if it's not for you, you can't help but appreciate it. Seeing the animals in their natural habitat is beyond incredible. It really takes my breath away."
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