Dresses on Tour? (Newbie question)

You can wear whatever you want. No one cares.

I realized that first part sounded pretty abrupt. What I mean to say is that whatever you feel comfortable in should be fine. If you would wear dresses at home, there is no reason not to wear them while traveling.

Not crazy at all. When we took a tour of Greece in July I found dresses and skirts cooler than other pant type options.

I’m finishing up a month of travel - 2 weeks in England/Wales & last two weeks are the RS Adriatic tour.

I brought 1 pair of lightweight pants - wore on the plane & several times in England/Wales. I also brought 3 dresses. Wore two about half the time in England/Wales. Wore the three dresses almost everyday during the RS tour. (I wear a culotte half slip under them when it’s sticky hot.). All of my clothes are just washed in the sink overnight.

I brought dresses for the first time this year on the Loire to the South of France and wore them frequently. They were so much more comfortable in the heat.

Thigh chafing. An absolute nightmare for anyone without a thigh gap.

I think dresses would be much cooler and possibly more comfortable than pants or shorts. But if you’re a money belt person, it could cause logistical problems. I don’t plan to access my money belt while out and about (I keep a little cash and one credit card in my purse), but I’m always thinking there’s a remote chance I may need to get to my passport or ATM card. That would be difficult in a dress:)

But not everyone chooses a money belt, so this may not be a consideration for you. I’ve been on a couple of RS tours, and women’s clothing ranges from long pants to capris to shorts to skorts/skirts/dresses. As long as you can still wear comfortable walking shoes:)

@Emily, the culotte half slip eliminates the chance for chafing if it’s a hot, sticky day. I’ve also seen a solid bar that looks like a deodorant shaped container at sports & outdoor stores that can be rubbed on inner thighs to also prevent chafing.

I’m seeing a lot more ladies & girls in England, Slovenia & Croatia in summer dresses than during any previous years’ trips.

If it weren't for Emily's aforementioned chafing, I'd be in sundresses or skirts for sure.

Edit to add - just back from RS best of Adriatic and both tour members and others were wearing dresses.

Dresses are a good summer choice. I opt for a comfortable skirt just below knee length. This allows for entry to all religious buildings. Often they are jeans material and not too flared that the wind will blow them up aka Marilyn Monroe. I have a black polyester flare skirt with elastic waist that has traveled all over the world for 15 years. People recognize this travel skirt 😀. This way all my tshirts and blouses can be worn to make new outfits. You can get to your money belt easily. Bring light weight long pants and something you can exercise in for more physical activities. Per Sarah Murdoch, a big lightweight scarf (either square or along one you rap around your neck) can serve to cover your shoulders or as a bathing suit wrap and is a nice addition for sleeveless dresses. Summer is an easy time to keep your packing lightweight. Watch Sarah’s u-tube videos on packing light. She uses a lot of dresses and accessories to go with the dresses. Sarah worked with the RS as a guide and packing light instructor before working independently.

Dresses are a very sensible option as is a couple of skirts with mix and match tops. Pants are too sweaty in the heat and humidity in southern France in July. Just make sure that what you bring can be washed and dried over night.

That's all we're wearing in the south of France, dresses, long, short, airy, waisted, no waist. I've bought four in the last two weeks. I will take one pair of pants to Paris and for the train next week, otherwise, it's dresses.

I love dresses when it is hot out, but I usually travel with 2 skirts in the warm seasons. I do this because combined with a couple pair of lightweight slacks or leggings it gives me more options to mix and match. If you also travel with scarves you can really come up with several different options.

I have decided I love easy lightweight dresses for summer travel. Mine pack as small as a shirt, sink wash, and dry quickly. I saw a lot of this in my May/June trip (not France). For my end of July travel, I will take the pair of pants I travel in but probably otherwise plan on my dresses. I take a lightweight jacket that goes with all of them for evenings if it’s cool.

Emily makes a good point about thigh chafing. That signaled my wife to ramp up the healthy diet and exercise and now that's no longer an issue.

I would like to wear a dress, maybe a kilt? Maybe not. The last thing I want to do is draw attention to myself.

I can tell you men love lightweight summer dresses on women!

Dresses are great. I was on a RS BOE 21 tour last July during an unprecedented heat wave. I took two dresses and they were a lifesaver. My dress made my after-tour trip to Versailles bearable. Just a tip - find dresses that can steam out by putting them in the bathroom with a steaming shower to release the wrinkles.

I bought 2 in the package light weight breathable biker cut (covering upper thighs} under shorts black and khaki color that are great under skirts in hot weather. You can use them with a tank top to do yoga, etc. You can also use them to sleep in.

I have now been on 13 RS tours, most in June. I always pack dresses because that is all I wear during the summer. I usually will wear pants on the plane and may wear it again if it rains during the tour. Otherwise, I wear my dresses.

Body Glide For Her. It works. To wear bike shorts are long leg underwear under dresses seems to defeat the issue for a cool dress. Instead I packed a pair of rayon culottes/gauchos for India and wore then frequently. Slightly wide legged and just below knee so caught as much breeze as a skirt without the discomfort or ride up. I am making one or two more for SEAsia trip. My one dress was pool cover up, house coat, leisure time wear.

For those of you who wear dresses while traveling, where do you get them and what brands? Also, the under shorts, where do you get them? Links would be great! Thanks!

"For those of you who wear dresses while traveling, where do you get them and what brands?"

I have built a "travel wardrobe" of mostly dresses over the years (I also wear them at home, not just traveling. I usually shop at Loft, Banana Republic Factory, JCrew Factory.

Here are some examples of the types of dresses I usually get:

https://www.loft.com/clothing/dresses/catl000013/613629.html?priceSort=DES

https://www.loft.com/clothing/dresses/catl000013/609138.html?priceSort=DES

https://factory.jcrew.com/p/womens/categories/clothing/dresses/linen-blend-ruffle-strap-mini-dress/BR900?display=standard&fit=Classic&color_name=white-fresh-cantaloupe&colorProductCode=BR900

I'd also like to hear from those whose "easy lightweight dresses for summer travel ... pack as small as a shirt, sink wash, and dry quickly."

I've avoided dresses and skirts because they are heavier and/or more voluminous than my pants, so they take up more room in my carry-on.

Anything short is out because I'm long past the age when I should be showing my legs. Also because I need to wear support socks and ankle hiking boots for walking stability.

I like J Jill for my travel clothes. I like the simple styles and their cotton knit packs well. I have a couple of their skirts that go on almost every trip and I will be sad when they finally say, "I'm done."

I would like to wear a dress, maybe a kilt? Maybe not.

I'm bringing a kilt to Scotland in October. I may wear it everywhere. The only issue I see is that the good kilts are a heavy wool. So we will see how that is. Good in Scotland ....not so good in Greece & Italy in the summer. Lighter weight wool & a poly fabric is avaiible as well. My only question is to go "regimental" or not

Thanks all!!! I'm packing 6 dresses, 1 pair of shorts, and 1 pair of pants. I've got Body Glide and 3 pairs of bike shorts. I leave in just a few hours. AAAAAGH!!!

To Lo’s question, I have ordered recently from Shein (yes, shoot me now). My first order was an experiment because I expected skimpy and small. But they were not. They aren’t meant to last for decades but I don’t want them to. As for legs, mine aren’t great but i quit worrying. Same for a swimsuit. I am short so I order knee length and they come mid-knee or just below. I wear them at home and for travel in warm weather. I took 2 of them (and two more “better quality” dresses) on my last 7 week trip. I plan to repeat for July.

My favorite dresses I am current using for travel came from Royal Robbins (my true workhorse dress for travel!), Chicos, and Jams World. I bought the Jams World dress in Hawaii and have also purchased one from their site on-line. I’ve brought dresses from Toad & Co., too.

https://www.jamsworld.com/collections/dresses

Mary, you should get a commission! I just ordered the J Crew one. Thanks for sharing.

Mark McG, further up here on the "Left Coast", utili-kilts are pretty common. These are solid colors, have kicky pleats, and go well with work boots or whatever you choose to rock. Time to go shopping!

The PrettyGarden store on Amazon has a great variety of dresses suitable for travel. Items for all ages, light weight, perfect for sink washing, sleeves or not, skimpy or not. Add those white trainers and you’re stylin’!

And that thigh chafing- aka “chub rub” 😁

I travel during the warmer time of year and wear skirts. They dry overnight if I need wash them. I’m lucky that I don’t have a chafing problem. I take one pair of dark slacks just in case of an unexpected cold snap.

Since I have just added dresses and loose summer pants to my plan for this year‘s Rick Steves’ Tour in Italy, I will just share what I have found in the last couple of weeks. Talbots is not a store that I shop but when you order online from catalogs your name ends up on a lot of lists. This apparently includes Talbots. In their T by Talbot brand, i found three fabric styles in simple dresses that are made of a very light weight, breathable wash and wear fabric currently on sale for 40% off over the holiday weekend. It will depend on your height, if those dresses will hit close enough to the knee cap , & the cap sleeve will work for going into churches. I found two dresses I will take along this trip. Also, check out coolibar.com which specializes in UV protective summer wear. There are dresses, although they appear short and very bright but they also have clever soft pants, solid and prints, in wash/wear, packable fabrics. Petra pants are a fav. I only bring quick drying fabrics.

Hope you find what works!

All the dresses I've bought in France are below the knee on me, 5'3", one viscose and three linen, no cinched waist, all made in Italy.

This is very interesting. Look at loganleo’s 4 posts and tell me it’s a human.

I brought 2 dresses and a skirt on my France tour last summer and wished I had one more dress. My favorites are from Toad & Co. They roll up small, don’t wrinkle, and are very comfortable. I have a maxi dress as well as this dress: https://www.toadandco.com/products/sunkissed-liv-dress-black

I’ve also ordered a few things from Quince recently, and they have some nice looking dresses.

For everyone concerned with chafing, I recommend getting something like these Slip Shorts

I wear them under skirts all the time.

Thanks for all the dress suggestions. Thanks in particular to Jean for mentioning Royal Robbins. I went to the local store earlier today and really liked their selection. Looking online I was concerned about the length of the dresses but their models must be really tall because on me they fell to the bottom of my knee. I am 5 foot 5 inches tall and the large was great! I came home with one of their tank dresses and am thinking about ordering another online in a print they didn't have in the store. They also have a short sleeved
dress that is considerably longer. Both are in a lightweight fabric that they say are "spotless."

Has anyone tried a merino dress? I am looking at the ones on Wool&. https://wooland.com/products/maggie-swing-dress-aegean-teal. I love merino in the winter but am not sure I believe their claim that it is cool in the summer.

@Martha, glad you liked the Royal Robbins options, and I’m envious that you have a physical store to make your selections! ….or maybe that would be dangerous -LOL!

I’m 5’8 1/2” tall, and the on-line photos are where the length fell just above my knees.

I did the Best of Italy tour in 2019 during a major June/July heat wave. I packed accordingly and I wore a lightweight dress or skirt every day. Dresses are easy, pack light and are so much cooler. Last week I got back from the 8 day Prague and Budapest tour. Thinking it was going to be cooler, I only packed one dress. Big mistake. I ended up wearing my one dress all the time as both cities had several hot and humid days.

For those commenting on thigh chafing - I have used Body Glide for years as a runner, but this summer tried the Megababe thigh rescue for the first time. Available on Amazon and the most effective anti-chafe product I've ever used. No affiliation, just love the product!

I wore nothing but dresses when I traveled to Barcelona last July. I'm glad I did because it was so hot. I only wore long pants on my flights to and from. So, yes! Pack your dresses and be comfortable!