Travel Packing Clothes
Travel Pants, Travel Skirts, Travel Tops
The place to start choosing your travel wardrobe is with the larger items - Pants, Skirts, Tops - the basics. The add the smaller things to coordinate, to sleep and swim in, to change the look. Here are my trip tested tips for choosing pants, skirts, and tops for the fewest items, most outfits.
Travel Pants / Slacks / Trousers / Jeans / Khakis Travel packing clothes is actually easy when you pare down your travel wardrobe. Like travel pants: Whether you are on the road for one week or one month, or longer, all you really need is three pairs of pants ~ One on your body, one in the wash, and one pair that's clean and ready to wear (This includes the pair you will be wearing to travel in, so only 2 pairs need to go in your suitcase).
A much-travelled friend told me about this about 10 years ago when we were going to China (see new China travel clothing page). I was a travel newbie at the time, so I followed his advice when packing for my next trip. It worked like a charm, and now I pass it on to you. If at all possible, choose pants that have belt loops. That way, if the waist closure breaks, or a button falls off, or if you just want to loosen your waistband for whatever reason, your pants will stay securely up near your middle. Pack one belt that matches all pants.
About travel pants -- I had such difficulty finding a good pair that I liked I even wrote a blog post about it! I found some brand name black travel pants with 2 zip pockets
Personal Favorite Travel Pants / skirt My backpacking daughter helped me choose my first pair of travel pants. They were lightweight, a neutral color, made from quick-dry fabric, had reinforced seams and zippered (secret) inner pockets. The lower legs zipped off, too, just below knee length, so they could be worn as shorts. There's also a long travel skirt version. After a number of years, though, I wanted a dressier version. I found a pair in black, and without the zip-off leg, which can add a bulky look to thighs. This much-dressier black pair performed very well, and dressed up nicely for business or a night out on the town. They rinsed out easily, and dried within an hour or two.
Long Skirt / Short Skirt Some women prefer long skirts to pants, and wear them well. Others find that skirts make it easier to use the 'facilities', especially outdoor or squat toilets. I tested this theory once, but only once, on a trip to Haiti. II am just not a skirt person, and found it uncomfortable. For me, the skirts' extra fabric and therefore greater amount of suitcase space needed weren't worth it. But then, I am not a skirt wearer; for those who are, they are a great travel choice. Follow the same general guidelines about colors and fabrics for pants (above). Taste and culture-wise, very short skirts are an iffy wardrobe choice for many places, and may send strangers a message you may not intend.
Be Choosy About Colors and Fabrics Choose pants (trousers, jeans, khakis, slacks) in solid, neutral shades such as black, tan, brown, or navy. This will save you a lot of grief! They won't show dirt or travel grime as much as lighter shades, especially white. Think hard before packing jeans. Heavy weight denim (any color) can be stiff, and takes forever to dry unless you send it to the hotel laundry, and light blue denim jeans look too casual for anything but a horseback riding holiday, plus they brand you a tourist. Dark coloured, lightweight denim jeans are fine. In cool climates, you can wear tights, leggings or silk underwear (see examples at silk underwear (men and women)
About Shorts and Capris Pack shorts and capris only if you will be at a beach resort. For touring around, they have limited use (bus and taxi seats can be grubby. Do you really want your bare legs against them? As well, you have to apply sunscreen to your legs.) Try to wear shorts only at the beach; For some reason, people who would never wander through five star hotels at home in their shorts will happily do so while on holiday. But of course, it's your choice to wear what you want. My goal is simply to suggest ways to help blend into the culture, not to stand out as a tourist.
Tops -- Blouses / Shirts / T-shirts / Camisoles / Tank Tops Choose 4 to 7 tops (following the suggested fabric types above, plus lightweight cotton knits, silk and rayon), and coordinate them with the three pairs of bottoms (skirts, slacks etc.). Tops in solid colors can dressed up with a scarf. Print tops are good, if the colours go with all of the bottoms. Solids, prints and stripes, it's your choice, as long as every top will go with every one of the bottoms. This will make an enormous difference when it comes to selecting what to wear for the day. Coordinating any outfit is easy! To see pictures of how I did this for one trip, see How to Pack a Suitcase.
Long sleeves versus short These few items should see you through several weeks, and, since tops are usually less bulky than pants, you have room in your suitcase for more tops than bottoms. I find long sleeves are more practical, offering warmth, some sun protection, and, should you tour temples or churches, your arms and shoulders will be acceptably covered. In many cultures, as with short shorts or mini skirts, women wearing camisoles or tank tops in public send a message they may not intend. Leave skimpy clothing at home or take it as sleepwear.
Recap Examples Travel Clothing at Amazon.com.
To see examples of the type of travel wardrobe I am talking about, have a look at them online at Amazon. You'll notice that these items are in neutral colors to coordinate with other travel clothing.
Men's Travel Shirt ExOfficio Men's Insect Shield Baja Shirt
Women's Travel Clothing examples: See Patagonia Travel Pants for Women
More Clothes Travel Tips - see side menu plus these specialty travel packing pages: Travel Packing Clothes II (Undies, Shoes, etc) AND Holidays to Dominican Republic short list suggested clothes etc for most tropical resorts or hot climate travel AND China Travel clothing
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