Travel Clothes

www.travelsmith.com

http://www.chicos.com/store/browse/shelf.jsp?cat=Travelers&catId=cat40010

My wife shops for travel clothes at their stores

You can buy good travel clothes anywhere. Just keep an eye on the materials used and pick neutral colors that can mix/match easily.

What type of material is best for women's shirts and women's slacks? How about for men? We'll be doing as Rick suggested and hand washing our clothes as we go along (hope we don't start smelling!).

1) Travelsmith, Lucy's, Athleta, Tilley.com, isisforwomen.com, Prana, REI all have great stuff. Footwise.com has shoes/socks.

Magellan's has good travel accessories, but I don't like most of their clothes: not stylish and too expensive.

2) Fabric: microfiber, coolmax, sport-type fabrics are light, wrinkle-free, easy to wash and dry.

Traci,

I use Tilley clothing extensively while travelling. Most of it is very durable and easy to wash in a hotel room sink if necessary.

Check their website for details. I always get the printed catalogue as well, so that I can browse when I'm not close to a computer. Their line changes a bit every year, so there's always something new and interesting.

One caveat though - I find their sizing to be a bit "inconsistent". If there are any retailers in your area that stock the products, it would be a good idea to try the fit before buying.

Cheers!

I wouldn't spend a lot of money on special travel clothes. You didn't mention when you are going and since you live in Hawaii, you may not have many warm weather clothes. I do not care for some of the speciality travel clothing. They are too hot. I do like Chico's. I tend to go with Land's End and LL Bean. You will need a rain jacket and preferably one that folds up tightly and covers your bottom.

Depends on the time of year of travel...I do not like the "travel" clothing in summer months...too hot.

don't get too stuck on "travel" clothes. My choices are black cotton skirt, one pair of leggings, long black sweater, one pair of jeans. No shorts!! I then purchase a "fun" scarf there..and I am all set to go. I do take a couple of colored tank tops to wear with the skirt and under the sweater with the leggings. You can find inexpensive shirts in any country. Don't look like the american traveler in all khaki!! Depending when I go, my shoes are black boots or black sandles...and of course my deisel tennis shoes!

The important things, if you are traveling light, is to find clothing that doesn't mind being washed in a sink, will dry overnight, and will take to being packed tightly without wrinkling. Cotton doesn't work well, based on those criteria. Lightweight knits often do. Silk makes a great layering option for unexpected cool summer weather and off-season travel.

I do have a few "travel" pieces but honestly, most of my traveling wardrobe is not special "travel" stuff.

Hi Traci. I have found some microfiber clothing for very cheap at running stores. I have a new favorite t-shirt from a winery that is microfiber, so they can be found elsewhere for a much more reasonable price. I always test wash my clothes at home in the sink. The pants I used to travel are 100% polyester, are the same pants I wear to work quite often. I did just invest in a tilley pair of pants that were really pricey for my next trip to Italy; they are a long pant that has a button to shorten them to capri length. I have also found some clothing at consignment stores for great prices and at Value Village and Goodwill, but patience is a must when shopping there. Happy Travels

Traveled to France last May and took a couple of pairs of black polyester/micro-fiber pants that I found in the activewear department at Target. I could wash them out in the sink at night and they were dry by morning. I had several Columbia button-up shirts that worked well. You can dress them up with a scarf.

For travel to European cities, my suggestion is to get lightweight, hand washable, reasonably fashionable, dark clothing from any store you like. Some of the travel-oriented clothing is nice, but some of it is not that fashionable in my opinion(depends on your age I guess). But I like more fashionable items, and find good things all over that work well.

I found a new one: packinglight.com

There are very attractive items here--as well as the sporty look too. Fortunately, I didn't see the typical "African Safari" zip-off pants look curiously marketed as travel attire.

I find it convenient to shop online, therefore I have collected a good list of travel stores, but as others pointed out, you can find the right clothes anywhere if you look-- it just takes more time.

I'm with Ken, Tilley.com. I have been using their travel clothing for 6 years now, am still using what I originally bought and they have been thru a total of 12 months of travel and sink washings. Love the idea of the hidden pockets so I don't have to use a money belt (hate those things!). Before each trip I add a new item or two to my wardrobe. Love the fact that the pieces can be dressed up or down depending on where you are going (eg. opera or hiking).Also love their Pickpocket Proof Purse of Many Pockets. It goes on every trip with me.

Just re-read my post, yikes, sorry Ken! I'm really not with Ken, just using a figure of speech!

Sounds like wrinkle free, easy to care for polyester type clothing is best. We'll be in Italy (most likely) from May 10 for 2 weeks. So I'm presuming the weather should be nice, not too warm or cold? Thanks for all of the help! I've already checked a few of those websites out and will also be checking my closet as well as going to a few shops here in Hawaii (probably Ross or Nordstroms).

Can't wait : ) Thanks everyone!!!!

Traci,

Not all polyesters are created equal. There are some great high tech's that feel like silk (by the way, washable silk is a great travel fabric), are breathable and wash and wear well. Others aren't breathable at all and are miserable to wear.

Try everything on. If it doesn't feel great in the store, it won't feel great traveling. After you buy it, wear it at least once for a day out to see how it performs. If it keeps you comfortable all day, it's the one to pack.

You can't always go by brand. I've seen good and bad from big name companies.

www.Campmor.com
www.moosejaw.com
www.ems.com (Eastern Mountain Sporting goods)
These are similar to REI

I love Sierra Trading Post. Many of the same brands as REI and other upscale travel stores, but overstock and last year's models. Great quality at a fraction of the price, often 50-75% off original prices. Also, almost every product has many reviews from people who actually purchased the item so you get a good idea of how it functions.

Traci,

Here is a men's packing list. It shows where to buy everything. Your SO will want to adjust to taste but it can give you some good ideas.

http://www.polyvore.com/mens_travel_pack_list/set?id=1440268

Traci, also check out www.exofficio.com - I don't know if their clothes will fit your desire for "fashionable" but they are functional. Both my husband and I use the "dryflylite" shirts. They are the only ones I have found which reliably dry overnight after washing in the sink. We use both their shirts and pants and wash clothes in the hotel sink. This not only saves us money on laundering, but allows us to pack really light. For socks, we stick with Tilley travel socks. Have fun on your trip!

I have a question about how dressy we need to pack. We are planning on packing dark shirts, jeans and tennis shoes. Do we need to have dressier pants and shirts? We are going to be in Athens, Rome, and Paris, although I'm mainly worried about dressy clothing in Paris. We just don't want to sacrifice precious carry on room for an clothing that won't be worn much.

Elizabeth - regarding "dressier clothing" - depends on when you are going, what you will do, and how old you are.

We always pack for carryon, even our last trip in March which was very cold. And we ALWAYS pack nicer clothes because we want to go places where we will look odd in completely casual clothes + tennis shoes.

If in cold weather, besides the jeans (preferably dark ones), I bring one pair of black pants. I don't change the shirts I bring because it is usually black turtlenecks or long sleeve shirt that can go with the jeans as well.

If in warm weather, I ALWAYS bring skirts. They are lightweight so you can bring more than a few. I find them more comfortable to travel long distances and I can wear them with sandals which I prefer over close toed shoes.

In general with shoes - I always bring 2 pair, wearing 1 and packing 1. In winter it is 1 pair low heeled, low black boot + 1 pair black athletic shoes. In summer it is 2 pair walking sandals.

And before anyone goes with the "you'll be fine in jeans, everyone wears them" thread (we love those!), jeans really are the perfect clothing for cool weather. You can wear one pair for 2 weeks, no problem. I find though, when I have traveled in very warm places in summer, that jeans are WAY too hot and way too heavy. I can bring 3 skirts in their place and I usually do. My teenage son, however, wore his jeans all over Italy in the heat and it didn't bother him. But even he brought 1 pair of nice pants, dressier shoes, nice shirt and wore it a few times when we had special dinner.

Elizabeth, I agree with Karen and will add as a general rule all my clothes have to do double-duty: Everything has to be both comfortable AND stylish so there is no need to choose. ( No, it's not how I dress at home but I subscribe to the one-bag 3/4 full travel style so it works for the road.) Mix and match pieces and use accessories to dress them up or down.

I don't know if this will help but note, "dressing well" doesn't necessarily mean "dressing up." It means looking put-together and having style appropriate to the location/activity you are engaging in. It's a different mindset than many Americans who are either casual/comfortable to suit themselves or less comfortably "dressed up."