150. Why Luxury Travel Is Better When Your Outfits Are Already Planned | Featuring Once Upon a Wardrobe

Luxury travel is not just about the destination, it's about how you show up. In this episode, I’m joined by Ashlie and Lauren of Once Upon a Wardrobe, and we’re diving into how taking the guesswork out of your outfits can completely transform your luxury travel experience. You’ll learn how personalized styling makes packing easier and more efficient, why feeling confident in what you wear can elevate every moment of your trip, and how Ashlie and Lauren make the entire process effortless.

Connect with Once Upon a Wardrobe:

• Website: https://www.ouawardrobe.com/
• Instagram: @ouawardrobe
• TikTok: @ouawardrobe

Previous Episode Mentioned:

• 3. Extra AF Disney Style with Once Upon a Wardrobe

Connect with Michele on IG: @jetsettingwithmichele or on Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/MMTinsiders

Contact Michele to plan your next vacation: www.makinmemoriestravel.co/contact, michele@makinmemoriestravel.co, or schedule a 15 minute consult: https://tidycal.com/texasmfs/15-minute-meeting

This episode was produced by The Podcast Teacher: www.ThePodcastTeacher.com.

Transcript

Welcome to Jet Setting with me, a weekly podcast about all things luxury travel. I'm Michelle, your extra AF hostess. In this podcast you'll discover luxury travel hacks to maximize your precious travel time and resources. We'll dive into which destinations and experiences are worth your effort and you'll get to travel vicariously with me on my own trips. So grab your bevy of choice and join me for a quick coffee chat, Gilmore Girl style.

Hello jet setters. I am beyond excited because today is the very first ever return engagement. So way back in episode three, that was like one hundred and forty five episodes ago and two years, might I add. My most listened to podcast interview was with my incredibly dear friends of Ashley and Lauren of Once Upon a Wardrobe. And back then, this was a Disney-based podcast. My travel agency was like one hundred percent Disney focused. I didn't know there was a place called Europe that you could go to and plan travel to. Like I was a baby in the industry and these girls, like we met over online during the pandemic. So they were baby business back then too. We were, we grew up together, should I say. And so they are back. My first ever return engagement guest because that is just how good the podcast was. Episode three. I will link to it in the show notes.

So first of all Ashley, please tell us exactly what Once Upon a Wardrobe is.

So we are an outfit planning service. We provide customized outfits for anything that you might need. Really. We really started out doing more as that's how we met you. Planning more Disney outfits for people who were traveling that really either didn't have the time to plan the outfits and wanted to or you know, had never been to Disney, but they were wanting to get some cute family photos and things like that. And then it kind of evolved into people asking us to do other things besides Disney, like cruises. And I remember we. And then did we do a non Disney cruise for you first?

Yeah.

Well, was it a virgin?

No, you did a Disney cruise for me first. But then you've done. We'll get to all the other trips you've done for me.

Yes, well, and we've even had people reach out for us for weddings. Not as they're getting married, but they're attending a wedding and they didn't know what to wear. And so we've been able to build some really good relationships based off of Disney trips that initially people had reached out for. And then they ended up asking us to do other stylings and things like that.

So that was Ashley and the other half of this beautiful duo is Lauren. So, Lauren, say hi so people will be able to differentiate your voice.

Hi. And thank you so much again, Michelle, for having us. I can't believe it's been two years.

That's, like, right?

I can't.

That long. I know. So I said we were both baby businesses. So when you started what it was going to be for the fiftieth, right? Yes. So it was. We were going to do the fiftieth, and I wanted some. I don't even remember why I wanted some special outfits, but I knew that I did. And after that trip, I came back, and I was like, I need a business card from y', all, because I got so many compliments. And it was a Remy outfit because I was there for day one of Remy.

Went to Remy instead of the opening of that ride, instead of the stop at the Magic Kingdom.

Correct? Yes.

Which was the right call.

Well, I don't know, because Remy had actually opened a few days earlier, as did all the other stuff. The Magic Kingdom. They, like, they started the fiftieth before we got there. But that's okay. We're not mad about that. And now, like, many years later, I have. I don't know, Lauren, how many lounge flies would you say I have now?

You know, we are big proponents that you can never have too many. There is no such thing. But you do have a healthy collection, which we fully support.

I know. But we've expanded beyond a healthy loungefly collection at Disney. Because my shell purse has arrived. Yes, ladies, listeners, jet setters, set jetters, whatever, I call you my friends, so. Because my Bridgerton fan purse just arrived, and I'm so excited. It's so cute.

Well, and also, I did want to shout out for those who maybe don't want to have a lounge fly collection, and you did get to a point where you were like, all right, ladies, I need some help selling what I already have. And we do offer that as well, where we meet with you virtually, and we can help plan outfits for things that you already want to pull from your closet. Because sometimes you just need a different perspective, and you have maybe some really good pieces, but you're not sure how to put it together. And that's what we've been able to do for you as well. Whenever you're like, okay, maybe I don't want to spend as much money this trip. Let's take a look through the closet

and see, like, that would be a thing. She says that she's gonna try and save you money, but these two just styled my Incredible Emily in Paris trip that I just got back from and I the goal was to pick one and they couldn't choose between two looks. And so somehow they did manage to rationalize not one, but both looks.

They just both so good on you that it would have been criminal for you to not.

This is why we get along so well by the way, is because I know the way to my heart is a good purse and clothing. I love it and I love to shop. Okay, so let's start from the very beginning, which they also did help me with the Sound of Music look. I probably too. But let's start back. So we go to your website, which Lauren is the one to ask what is the correct website that people go to to decide? Like hey, I'm going to Universal for example and I want to get my Hogwarts luck on where do we go and how does that process start? Lauren?

So you would go to ouawardrobe dot com and you would go through our custom services. We have four different packages that you can choose from and see which one feels like the best fit for you. If you have any questions though, before booking, we do have a contact form that you can reach out if you're like, I'm not really sure which one to go with so that before you purchase we can get you help with that.

Okay. And then ever since, and for those people who don't believe me, go back to the very first podcast which like literally we were both starting as businesses and I said you guys undercharge and over deliver, AKA over promise and over deliver. And they still do that. PS by the way, so how does the process even start? Like for a brand new client? We're not talking about me because like you guys know me so well that I don't really do like any pre consult with you very much. But like I know you have a whole style quiz and, and it's changed from when you first started. So tell me how the process goes now for a brand new client. And let's say it is not necessarily for a Disney vacation, but for example, how did you just come up with some of my Bridgerton looks if I were a new client and you had to consult with me.

So Lauren has put together a survey, a style survey, so it kind of hits everything. So once you decide which package you are going to book with us. And by the way, on the website, Lauren also does a phenomenal job of trying to convey all of that information for you to decide, you know, which package would work for you. So once you Book the session. You are sent a survey, a style survey. And that's where you can put the information of your style preference, your sizing.

And just because it does have, like, Disney and. Or universal characters, that it. You can apply that to other things.

Right? You can. And then there's a spot for you to kind of put what you're specifically interested in. And so we also like to take into account your interests and hobbies, because we love weaving those small details into outfits to make them feel more personal.

That's why I have such a big collection of lounge flies.

Yes.

Now I get it.

Okay, well, even with Bridgerton, we want to know your favorite character. And if you're. And, you know, you and I and Lauren talked about the characters you loved most, and we wanted to try to convey that through your outfit. So people, you know, don't think you're wearing a costume, but they might see subtle hints here and there of your favorites throughout the show. So we ask all that in the survey, and then what happens? I. Because I don't want you to give away your secrets, but how in the world do you guys come up with these looks that I literally wear every single time? And by the way, everyone, you can see pictures of me in so many of these looks that these ladies have done for me, and they are so good. Like, how do you go about? Like, what's the start? Do you start? I know you've built outfits for me around a purse, so let's just say, okay, we found this beautiful Bridgerton fan purse, and we know that I want that because I've already ordered it and it's already arrived.