Seatmates: Zara Wong
On navigating the world from Australia, editor-tested packing strategies, and the art of looking out the plane window
This interview is part of Seatmates, a Window Seat series where tastemakers, travelers, and creatives share how they move through the world—what they pack, where they stay, and the travel rituals that shape their lives.
If you care about style or storytelling,
is probably a name you already know—and if not, it’s one you’ll be glad to learn. The Sydney-based editor and creative consultant has spent over a decade shaping how we see fashion and beauty, from her years at Vogue to her Substack, —the most-read fashion and style newsletter in Australia.Zara’s world is thoughtful, refined, and effortlessly chic. She packs with precision, plans like a pro, and brings a signature curiosity with her wherever she goes. Whether she’s staying at a wilderness retreat in Tasmania or mapping out a fashion week wardrobe, there’s always something to learn from the way she moves through the world. You’ll want to take notes!
Read on to learn her method for planning outfits for a trip, what she never travels without, and why Australians are built for long-haul flights.
Tell us a little about yourself.
I’m an editor and content consultant focusing on fashion, beauty, and lifestyle based in Sydney. I have a Substack,
, that covers all of that. I actually started it during the pandemic as a collection of my recommendations because I was always the girl who people would ask for tips from on what to buy/where to eat/what to read.You’re known for interviewing some of the most stylish names in the world. If you could pick your dream seatmate for a long-haul flight, who would you choose?
Deborah Needleman. I loved her T Magazine and her Domino—both so seminal. I love how she really understands the cultural significance and the history of something, but how she executes it in her work has so much levity and modernity in it.
As someone with an incredible wardrobe, I’m so curious—how do you go about planning your outfits for a trip?
I keep a Notes file open where I put in ideas of what I should pack, and then refine, refine, refine. I actually like the restrictions of having to limit yourself to a small number of items so you have to be really creative to get as many outfits as possible.
I used to do the fashion week circuit, and coming from Australia, it would mean traveling for about 5-6 weeks across four different cities with various weather conditions, living out of two suitcases. Unlike American, European or even Asian editors, I couldn’t just whiz back home for the weekend to pick up more clothes— home was another 24+ hours away! I’ve since become a pretty quick and inventive packer when I go on holidays.
If your travel habits had a byline, what would it be?
Flat pack, always.
I have tested out various packing methods, and this is by far the most effective space-wise. (Ed. note: hard agree!!!)
What’s been your most memorable hotel stay?
The Ritz-Carlton in Kyoto: It goes without saying, but the property is beautiful and the food is impeccable, especially the breakfast. There was a Pierre Hermé on site (...I have a sweet tooth!) but what was most special was the concierge service and the activities provided by the hotel.
They had guides that took us on local-only walks and gave us tips on which temples and shrines to visit and when. I love to cook and try new restaurants, too, so in addition to the Michelin-starred restaurants that the hotel organized reservations for, they also recommended less touristy places. A memorable one was a restaurant that only made okonomiyaki owned by a French-trained chef who applied his soufflé-making skills to the dish. I think about this meal regularly. I don’t say this lightly, but it made for such a magical experience.
Hotel Cipriani in Venice: It’s its own world. Venice is one of my favorite cities in the world, and it was so restful to take a boat out to this hotel to have a bit of a pause from the hustle and bustle. It’s an amazing property that you can spend hours just exploring, and I really liked the historical side of it as well—you felt like you were wandering around an old, glamorous family estate.
Pumphouse Point, Tasmania: This is one of the most magical, if not remote, places I’ve been to in Australia. It’s a boutique wilderness retreat about four hours out of Hobart, the capital city of Tasmania, which is a large island at the bottom of Australia. It is so unique; there are two buildings to stay in, and we chose the one which was the former pumphouse (hence the name) that’s situated in the middle of a lake. It’s bewilderingly surreal to wake up to see so much water around you. The photos are majestic as it is, and they still can’t capture how awe-inspiring it is to be there in real life. (When we went a few years ago, we loved the food—current reviews seem to suggest that this has changed.)
I also loved staying at The Gramercy Park Hotel in New York back when it was around. Also, because Maialino was one of my favorite restaurants of all time—RIP.
Is there a destination or property at the top of your wishlist?
For cities: Marrakech, Jaipur, Copenhagen. All places that are very far and difficult to get to from Australia.
What are your must-haves when it comes to luggage and items you travel with?
July luggage—it’s an Australian brand. They’re lightweight and sturdy, and I like the colors. (I have the carry-on in a limited edition cream and the larger one in green.) I’ve tried lots of different types of luggage and this is by far my favorite.
The Longchamp Le Pliage is, of course, an old favorite carry-on tote. This Yu Mei bag is another useful bag for flight, and especially good if I have work appointments when traveling as it looks polished—and fits a laptop!
What is your go-to airport outfit?
Comfortable pants, like wide-legged jeans from Zara, Neue Denim, or Friends With Frank. Onitsuka Tiger sneakers or Nike Daybreaks. A Uniqlo cotton turtleneck, and a coat—currently I’m like my Sezane or Camilla & Marc trench coat. I wear glasses on the plane (contacts usually, otherwise), and always pack an extra T-shirt in my handbag to change into so I feel fresh.
Do you have any rules or rituals when it comes to air travel?
I always bring a book, or two—often I will finish one on the way over.
I set my watch and phone to the destination's time to start preparing for it. Australians are pretty decent at international, long-haul travel because we are physically so far from everything.
I take Armaforce tablets. I don’t know if they’re a thing outside of Australia, but they’re available over the counter at pharmacies and I swear by them to keep my health up. I will never forget being so sick in Milan during fashion week and sitting in the Prada showroom feeling miserable for myself (I know, the irony)—slightly feverish, shivering, and feeling like absolute rubbish. Another Australian editor came and insisted I take her stock of Armaforce she had on hand. Honestly, it was the fastest I bounced back, so from then on I’ll always take one or two tablets per day leading up to overseas travel, then continue while I’m away. If I get sick, I triple my dose. (I know it sounds hectic, but it works.)
For the most part I eat what I want, but I have learned the hard way from years of long-haul travel for work. I had a habit of grabbing a chocolate chip cookie for breakfast, finishing it off with an espresso, and going on about my day. I started to feel run-down, so now I make sure I start by drinking green powder and lots of water, have plenty of fruits and vegetables, and no alcohol on the plane. I’m not known to be the healthiest eater at home, so this is a big deal for me, but I have to do it to survive!
Last question: aisle or window seat?
Window seat! I love looking out. I always think of the line from Grace Coddington in the September Issue, about always keeping your eyes open. I think it’s good for your mind to remind yourself that there’s still a big world out there and to marvel at the sheer adventure that is air travel.
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Tori Simokov is a Travel Writer and Graphic Designer/Strategist based in New York. To get in touch, email tori@v1projects.com. Want more? Check out Instagram, TikTok, or shop her curated favorites.
I love, love, love Zara and her taste is incredible. I’d follow her anywhere.
Loved this! Taking notes, Australians who work in fashion are the best packers. +1 on the Armaforce.