ESCAPE TO INDIA WITH ALANA OATES OF LLANI SHOES

July 05, 2018

ESCAPE TO INDIA WITH ALANA OATES OF LLANI SHOES

Our summer travel series starts with a woman I greatly admire, Alana Oates, the Creator and Founder of Llani Shoes. Alana and I met last year when we participated in a trunk show together. Aside from sharing an entrepreneurial spirit, we found that we have a close friend in common. I was immediately impressed by Alana's warmth, sincerity and her remarkable talent. Her studio, just outside Philadelphia, is as beautiful as her designs which include embellished slides (I own two pair), hand beaded babouches and cozy shearling lined moccasins. One of the many things that I appreciate about her collection is that every style shows great thought and consideration and there aren't too many options. You can see the love and care that go into each design. When you purchase a pair of Llani Shoes, they naturally become your favorite and you receive compliments and inquiries wherever you go. I think that when somebody has genuine passion and enthusiasm for their work it is always evident in the final product. Alana's collection is ethically sourced and handmade in India. These visits to her suppliers have yielded incredible photos and inside knowledge of how to travel to India in style. This week on Wynne's World Alana Oates shares her summer travel tips to India.

What to pack: Pack light, it’s hot, so easy versatile dresses and a few light scarves (buy them there) are all you need. (Editor's note- our Limited Edition Bela Wrap makes an excellent travel companion as well) A straw bag is always recommended. Our Clara Babouche is the perfect shoe to finish the look and add some color! Leave tons of room in your suitcase for shopping.

Clara Heirloom Babouche

Dōen Ash Dress

Heidi Wynne Palm Beach Raffia Hobo

Where to stay: Samode Haveli is the best of all worlds with a great location, a stunning pool, great price, and beautiful traditional interior. If you prefer a more upscale experience, Sujan Rajmahal Palace is hard to beat, the lush gardens and colorful interiors are stunning.

Samode Haveli

The pool at Samode Haveli

Looking down from Alana's room

View from Alana's room

Beauty essentials for the heat: I always bring these Pacifica body wipes in my bag to refresh after being out in the heat. A mineral sunscreen for my face is a must, and a tinted one is nice so you can skip foundation. I find myself skipping shampoos when I travel so I stock up on travel sized Oribe dry shampoo (editor's note- this is also my favorite!). I always end the day with a bath, it helps me to adjust to a new time zone and just relax my body when running around. Traveling with lavender epsom salts has been a life changer for me, and adding this Glow Recipe sheet mask is the perfect way to unwind. My favorite lipstick is e.l.f. matte stick in Praline. It is just the most perfect non-color color and I can build it to be darker for more drama.

Drunk Elephant Sunscreen, e.l.f. Praline Lip Color, Oribe Dry Shampoo

Where to dine: For lunch, I love the veranda at Sujan Rajmahal. A mid day drink at The Polo Lounge at The Rambaugh Palace is the perfect way to cool off after a morning spent at the bazaar. Dinner at Bar Palladio is MUST- chances are you have already pinned the beautiful and highly Instagrammable interior.

Sujan Rajmahal

Bar Palladio

Where to shop: Johari Bazaar is the oldest market in Jaipur and is a visual overload of inspiration. For boutiques, Hot Pink Jaipur is my favorite. While there, the other shops in Narain Niwas Palace are great and easily shopped before dinner at Bar Palliadio. I try to allow room in my budget to pick up a small but special piece at The Gem Palace to mark the trip. I stock up on gifts and block printed cotton pajamas at Anokhi.

Handmade Quilts

Beaded Embellished Trims at Johari Bazaar

Block Print Pajamas from Anokhi

Favorite cultural destinations: Jaipur is a royal city, so the Jaipur City Palace is the best destination. I draw so much inspiration from the architecture there as well as the archive of costume and textiles. The Hawa Mahal is not only stunning from the outside, but the inside as well. Other must-see is the Amer Fort. I made the mistake of skipping this on my first trip, it's so beautiful and we have shot some of our best images for Llani there.