Travel / Vacation clothing

This is a spin-off from the carry on suitcase thread.

What travel / vacation clothing do you like? Bonus points if it is light, compact… and has good purpose at home for your normal life too.

I flew a TATL once and Patch Adams was on the flight. He wore his pajamas. Hard to top that.

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I have a bunch of pieces from the Chico travel collection that I bought years ago for a cruise. They all mix and match and coordinate with each other and are truly wrinkle free. They also fold down to next to nothing. I have a pair of slacks, three skirts, three tops and two blazer/jackets.

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While I don’t go into “come as you are” mode, I do aim for comfort over style… so usually it’s a nicer t-shirt and jeans or shorts. If it’s cold (departure or arrival…), I’ll throw a coat and/or sweater on over the t-shirt. And if possible, I’m wearing easy on/off sandals or flip-flops. I hate finding a bench and re-tying my shoes after TSA… especially when i’m in a hurry to make the gate.

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If it’s a long or overnight flight I like leggings and a long tunic. I always have a shawl and comfy slip on sneakers. I am not a fan of wearing pjs. I guess I am still a holdover from my business travel for dressing nicely. You also need to be ready for any emergency. If I’m on a shorter flight I like comfy pants and layers.

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I updated thread title to clarify that topic covers travel (flight) as well as the vacation clothing you’d pack in your luggage.

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I remember a time when my parents used to dress up to take a flight :blush:

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Vuori Cascade Chino and Wooly button up…brilliant! In Portugal as we speak wearing this stuff. :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye:

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If I were to list brands I’d say Athleta, Tasc Performance, Coolibar, Exofficio, Loft and Eddie Bauer for clothes.

For shoes I like Ecco, On, Teva and Oofos.

I just got back from a European river cruise so pretty casual.

Athleta pants Athleta

I had them in a couple colors, a pair of jeans. Light sweaters, a down vest. I did pack a couple of nice blouses from White House black market but I only wore one.

Packable down coat, hat, gloves, a couple of scarves.

This shirt was also worn several times Athleta

Didn’t wrinkle, didn’t stain, didn’t stink. I brought some merino wool shirts and they were fine. But lost their shape and wrinkled. Some stuff showed every stain, wouldn’t pack them again :wink:

2 pair of shoes, one black and white tennis shoes, one pair of sneaker boots.

Everything was great until we got to Amsterdam. It was freezing. I needed long underwear. Fleece lined pants. But I bought a pair and I was fine.

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I also like the traveler collection from Chico’s but it isn’t physically light, so I don’t take it when I’m flying (I carry on only). I’m boho type pants (sort of like these), some tunics (sort of like these) - they are fairly modest, don’t weigh a thing, can be washed in a sink, dried overnight & are wrinkle forgiving…


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I recall when I had to dress up for a flight as well. Yes, I am that old. Flying to my oldest brother’s college graduation when I was about 10, I wore a dress with matching spring coat (something I’d never worn in the south), ruffled ankle socks, patent leather shoes and matching purse. Dad wore a dark suit, white shirt and dark tie (typical of his work/church attire.)

The last time I flew was to FL and I wore a tunic similar to the one @JustaMom posted, natural linen slacks and slip on shoes with golf socks. I wanted to be covered up but still comfortable in the heat and humidity upon arrival.

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I don’t have specific brand names…but when I travel, everything needs to be the same color palette so I can mix and match. I always have a pashmini or cashmere scarf which can be used on the plane or whatever.

Comfortable shoes are a must.

ETA…Max Studio dresses can be folded up or even crumpled up and they just don’t wrinkle. Can be dressed up or down. Great for travel.

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I follow a young woman (29) on IG as she’s a friend of ds2, and she’s funny and fashionable. I cannot imagine spending so much time on planning a wardrobe for travel or on vacation. My trip last month I wore black leggings, sneakers, a top that isn’t a T-shirt and a fleece vest so that I’d have pockets and could take it on/off as the temps on the plane dictated. I also wore a cute color-coordinated scarf. I don’t want to look sloppy, but I want to be really comfortable. And if I get through security with plenty of time, I can get a workout in, walking the terminal for as long as I can until it’s time to board, leaving the vest and scarf with dh.

Black pants or shorts are always the base on a trip, and then I trade off tops. I really don’t love jeans. I’d much rather wear leggings, either workout ones or ones that are more like slacks.

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I don’t usually shop at lululemon but I have a pair of black travel pants they make I like for an overnight flight. They look nicer than sweats but are just as comfortable.

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I remember getting very dressed up to fly to see my boyfriend at MIT in 1982! High heels and everything. Sheesh. Then the next month he came home and dumped me. :sweat_smile:

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Have to put my support in for the dress that has become a good sort of my wardrobe, NuuMuu brand.

Roll and back. Takes little room. Doesn’t wrinkle. Can be washed in a sink if needed to refresh and best hung to dry anyway. Can wear as it in warmer weather (a bike short underneath can be helpful) and/or capris or linger solid leggings or tights and layered on top for cooler weather. Some varieties even have a hidden pocket on the back of the dress for small items like a room key, phone or credit card .

Super comfortable. Great for walking. Can even be worn for a run!


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Hey, I was there then! Why didn’t you stop by? :smile:

I was in FRA and I saw a good example of what not to wear. A young lady was wearing a black leather outfit with ten zillion metal studs and rhinestones. (I guess since it was Germany, that makes them Rhine-stones) Her outfit was setting off all the metal detectors.

Twenty minutes later, she was still being scanned by Security.

For all I know, she’s there now.

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I really like the Aviator jeans and tops.

Very flattering, comfy and has interior back zipper pocket that can serve as security pocket if that is something you want. Jeans are usually the heaviest pants I might pack so I usually wear them on board (unless I go for Athleta leggings for an overnight flight). Also, Aviator will hem your jeans for free before sending them out - love that!!

Really like the t-shirt as well…very flattering fit for women, comfy and can be worn more than once with no odor issues (again great flight and/or travel t). Keeps its shape beautifully.

I’m a big believer in choosing a color palette for a trip. I usually go for black, white and beige then choose an accent color to pick up in my accessories. Everything as lightweight as possible so it is easy to layer. Mostly silk and wool/cashmere fabrics, some technical fabrics…do my best to avoid cotton as it isn’t conducive to wash and dry overnight.

And, unless I’m going somewhere incredibly cold, I usually choose to take a trench coat as my outwear and plan to layer underneath as the weather demands. A trench coat pulls any outfit together and makes it more polished.

https://www.nordstrom.com/s/greta-showerproof-belted-trench-coat/7096158?origin=keywordsearch-personalizedsort&breadcrumb=Home%2FAll%20Results&color=270

Last piece of advice is to choose to take 3 pairs of shoes max (preferably 2 pairs). I usually choose a pair of shoes that can be dressed up or down (wedge booties in cold weather, sandals in warm) and then a pair of comfy, casual shoes (white leather low top sneakers in summer, or wool allbirds in winter).

P.S. I cannot believe I do this but i have become a belt bag convert…and even more slightly shamefully…fully endorse the lululemon one. Saw a ton of people also using these my last trip abroad so maybe not too embarrassing, but still I remember the shame of fanny packs so it does have more than a whiff of that to me.

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It’s been a pandemic since I’ve travelled, but lightweight and no-iron clothing that I might not wear at home but in my general style. For longer trips I’m likely to do laundry, preferably in the room, and have been known to bring clothing that could be discarded to make room for souvenirs in the luggage going home.

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