Accessories for the road

By Lylah M. Alphonse, Globe Staff, 12/01/02

		Sensible traveler  Destinations  Where they went  Travel gear

A designer accessory you can build on

This gorgeous silk scarf is for the traveler who admires a museum as much as the exhibits inside it. "Orchestra Hall" is based on the drawings of award-winning architects Robert Venturi and Denise Scott Brown, and is one of three architecture-inspired silk scarves available at projects-us.com. Venturi's work can be seen in a variety of buildings from the campuses of Princeton, Dartmouth, and the University of Pennsylvania to the National Gallery in London, San Diego's Museum of Contemporary Art, and the Seattle Art Museum. Scott Brown is renowned for her designs and urban planning; recent works include Penn's Perelman Quadrangle and various urban planning projects in Miami Beach. "Orchestra Hall" measures 60-by-14 inches and costs $60; for more information, or to order, visit http://projects-us.com/html/scarves.html.

Maintain your visibility

Hammacher-Schlemmer offers a clever item for that next gray, blustery day: an umbrella with an illuminated shaft. The Safety Umbrella is easy to see on a foggy afternoon; two built-in LEDs are powered by two AA batteries and glow at the touch of a button, as does the tip of the umbrella (so you can be seen from behind). Neither harsh nor glaring, the soft blue light is easily seen by motorists as you cross the street. The umbrella opens manually, and spans 46 inches. It costs $34.95 and is available through the company's catalog (800-543-3366) and online at www.hammacher.com.

A touch of the home fires

Tuck a richly scented Diptyque candle in your bag and make your hotel room smell a little more like home. There are 50 varieties, hand-crafted in France, with scents from Rose Geranium and Mexican Orange Blossom to Tea, Musk, and Firewood. The candles burn for 40 to 50 hours. They cost $40 each and are available at Diptyque's store at 123 Newbury St. in Boston; at Neiman Marcus stores; and online at www.bigelowchemists.com, www.eluxury.com, www.neimanmarcus.com, www.bluemercury.com, and aromaessentials.com.