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Profile: Candace Bushnell

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Candace Bushnell
Author of Sex and the City

"When I was in my twenties, I never left New York," Bushnell says. "But traveling clarifies certain things about different cultures, which helps you mature."

Now Bushnell, who grew up in Connecticut, travels frequently, most recently embarking on a whirlwind 25-city tour for her book Lipstick Jungle.

TRAVEL PHILOSOPHY
Whether she's striding down the sidewalks of Litchfield, Connecticut, or snaking through the streets of Hong Kong, Bushnell says she always tries to project an air of certainty. "I look as if I know where I'm going. And I do things to make myself feel comfortable: I wear my glasses and put my hair up." As a result, she says, "I don't get harassed very often. It's all about your attitude. When you get to be forty, you know how to handle uninvited attention from men: you can be polite but you just don't engage."

FREQUENT FLIER
Among the valuable lessons she's learned from a life on the go? Wear good shoes when you travel (Bushnell favors Gucci slip-ons)—"if something goes wrong, you might get treated better."

RETAIL THERAPY
A few years ago, Bushnell attended a wedding in India with several female friends. "Whether you're married or single, traveling with girlfriends is a chance to get back in touch with yourself. Successful career women who make their own money don't feel guilty taking time for themselves anymore." While in Bombay, they went treasure hunting for jewelry. "Shopping in India is interactive. It's nothing like on Madison Avenue—you don't just dash in. You sit and talk and drink tea. You might be there for a couple of hours looking at amazing pieces. Someone told me that they put something in the tea to make you buy things, but I don't know if that's true—though I did buy a yellow sapphire ring and a pair of emerald earrings."

— JAIME GROSS

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