Pret a Traveler — What to Wear
You are all excited - destination researched, flights booked, hotels reserved and now you are confronted with every travelers dilemma - what to pack what to wear on my trip?
Barring that you are not going to the middle of nowhere (and more about that later), vacations should be hassle free and enjoyable.
At the same time, you don’t want your clothes to scream “tourist.” Without being pretentious or fussy, you want to look a little elegant, possibly like a local or at least a sophisticated visitor. And you want to do it all with carry on baggage.
Here are our VaVenturing tips
The Women’s List
Prepare everything you want to take - lay all clothing on the bed - then pare down.
Take clothing that works together, I tend to stick to whites and single color shirts; no prints. Color coordinate and mix and match. I’ve been a fan of LOFT for many years for just that reason - everything works with everything else.Stick to basics
For summer
1 pair of jeans
1 pair of capris
1 pair of light pants (linen blend for spring/summer, cords for fall/winter)
4-5 tees
2 light cardis
2 camisFor chillier evenings, my Sleeveless Uniqlo vest has gone with me everywhere - takes practically no space, light and just that extra layer of warmth
And the extras - a pair of gold earrings and scarves - for me a definitive must.
Why - adds color, and just the right amount of flair so you look xxx distinctive and not just a tourist.Comfortable shoes
Summer sandals. Teva’s are great - comfortable, stylish and durable enough to hike up Mt. Vesuvius and then sit outside at a cafe in Naples. For Spring and Fall Aerosoles. For Winter— lined Aerosoles boots. Personally I avoid sneakers — they add weight and space in luggage, and unless you’re on a jogging vacation, never look good.
Handbag - here is what I found works for me. I have had a mid size brown boho leather bag from Loft for ages. It has travelled with me everywhere (see pix). It’s small yet large enough to have all the essentials passports money phone, and has an inner zipped compartment) and put in an extra cardi or scarf. I have it on my shoulder and it conveniently fits under my arm so it is harder to access or swipe.
The Men’s list
Its all about the shirts and pants
For men — the line between looking like a tourist and a bad pastiche of a male gigolo is vanishingly narrow. The way I solve this is with a mix of white, self colored and cool print usually short sleeved shirts, that are stylish and jeans that fit well without being baggy. For shirts, I like the Gap and Muji. And I’m always on the lookout for vintage silk shirts, they pack beautifully and feel great — and can feel a few cuts above without having to resort to a dress shirt. For jeans - my gotos for making my standard dad bod look as sleek as possible are Gap straight cut. Comfortable and flexible in the day — and translate easily into an evening casual look, especially with a jacket. Throw in a pair of Chinos (not khakis which are needlessly bulky and don’t look as sleek) — and you’re good.
For shorts — avoid cargos as much as you can —even George Cloony would look like a dork in them. Do you really need all those pockets? Of course you don’t! When you’re out and about, all you really need is some cash, one credit card, maybe a driver’s license and that’s it. You may also want to try wearing shorter shorts then the traditional American at/over the knee which really don’t look very good on most men. Try a pair of Chubbies, for a very Eurogent kind of look.
If you’re carrying lunch — get a small daypack. We like the folding/packable daypack from New Outlander — under $20 — we each have one.
Jackets
I travel with two jackets — a mid-blue casual foldable jacket for evenings/dinners etc — and a foldable (well-ventilated) nylon shell for wind/rain Maybe also a light, self colored, V or S necked sweater.
Packing cubes
We love packing cubes! I use three.
First, for shirts — I fold and roll and then put in the cube military style. Uses all available space, keeps the shirts pretty uncreased and can be taken out of your case and placed directly in a dreaw or on a shelf at your destination. I use a second one for underwear and a 3rd for miscellaneous stuff — jacket and sweater.
Other stuff
Hotels and many airbnbs these days all have hair dryers. If you need one, get a cheap one locally.
Don’t bother with an iron or anything that needs to be ironed - your grandmother’s trick of steaming a rumpled shirt in the shower will do fine.
What you forgot to pack
If you happen to find yourself lacking an item of clothing - you are not in the middle of no where. Go buy an extra sweater. It will be another memory from your trip and you will probably be the only one in your neighborhood who has it.
We were once in a beautiful picturesque village in France and the weather became downright chilly. My husband, a Brit, was in a short sleeved shirt. He soldiered along stoically. I let him be stiff upper lipped until I saw his lips turn blue then I pulled him into the stalls at the local market and told him to buy a sweater. We found a classic navy blue zip up that did the trick. The “Sarlat” sweater, as it is affectionately called in our household, has become his staple of traveling. It’s a great souvenir. And somehow he always wears it draped over his shoulders in a distinctive Gallic fashion with a touch of insouciance. The 100 years war is finally over.