If you are planning a trip, whether business or pleasure, choosing the right travel clothes for the trip can save you headaches, money and frustration. Often we pack far more clothes than we need or wear, yet never seem to have the right thing. Here is a guide to help you choose the best travel clothing.
Plan for Your Trip – The first rule of choosing travel clothing is to let your itinerary guide you. If your trip is going to be primarily business then you are going to want to choose clothing that meets that need. If it is a vacation you are heading out for, then your choice of wardrobe could be entirely different. However, regardless of what kind of trip you are taking here are some basic features to look for in your travel clothes.
Think Versatility – When choosing travel clothing, think in terms of separates that you can mix and match. For pants or skirts, keep the colors versatile. Beige, black and khaki are great choices that will go with a variety of tops. Depending on the length of your trip, you could pack 4-7 tops and 3-4 bottoms. If you plan it so that every top could go with each separate bottom, this can give you more than 20 different outfits. For outdoors-oriented trips, if you pack convertible pants with zip off legs, you won’t need to pack additional shorts for warm days.
Choose Durable, Easy Care, and Wrinkle Resistant – Choosing materials that are durable, wrinkle resistant and easy to care for will make your trip go a lot smoother if you need to wash anything out. Travel clothes constructed from microfibers, which are a mix of polyester and Lycra and sometimes other materials, meet all three of these requirements. They are also comfortable to wear and have a nice feel and look to them, which is important when traveling long distances. For women, knitted tank tops can be used for casual wear and then with a blazer or shawl thrown over them can be equally suitable for business or even an evening out. They are easy to wash and relatively quick drying if you need to do a quick hand wash in your motel room.
Look for Light Weight and Compact – Unless you are traveling to an area that is particularly cold, so that you would need heavy travel clothes the whole time, it is better to pack light weight materials, as they will make carrying the suitcase across the airport or up a flight of stairs much simpler. Knit fabrics can be extremely compact as you can roll them to fit into cracks in your suitcase without worrying about wrinkles – the wrinkles will fall right out. Pants with zip off legs also prove to be compact as you are packing one item in place of two. Underwear and accessories can be tucked easily into corners and pockets.
One Added Note For Women – Unless a formal dinner is on your agenda, there is no need to pack a separate dress for dining out. Having at least one shirt the same color as a skirt you are taking along can provide you with a dressy outfit for even the most elegant restaurant, when combined with the right belt and accessories.
By simply taking a few basic travel clothes and interchangeable items that are easy to care for and wrinkle resistant, you can pack travel clothing for any kind of trip with ease.