This post of my Dress for Success series covers travel looks. Sure, vacation or meeting with family and friends whom you hadn’t seen for a long time is exciting. However, getting to the destination may be a hassle when you wear the wrong clothes. No matter whether your trip is for play or work. No matter whether it is by plane, railroad, bus or car or any combination thereof. Read what to wear on travel for wear and thermal comfort.
- What to Wear on Travel Is Not a One-Fits-All Answer
- How to Dress for Travel from a Cold to Warm Destination in Winter
- How to Dress When Flying on Vacation or to a Family Reunion
- What Are the Best Shoes to Wear for Air Travel
- Winkle-free Clothes Are Key for Work Trips
- Looks to Wear When on a Journey by Rail Road
- How to Dress When Traveling by Car
- What to Wear When on a Bus Tour?
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What to Wear on Travel Is Not a One-Fits-All Answer
Of course, your outfit depends on the purpose of your trip, your transportation, the time of the year, the weather at the destination of your departure and arrival. You have to dress differently when you are on a summer business trip than on a short summer weekend trip for fun.
Furthermore, the duration of the trip plays a role including whether or not you will have to spend the night on the plane, train, in a camper, car or motel.
Speaking of this, recall that many intercontinental connections have long layovers at the airport. Instead of sleeping fully dressed on the chairs in the boarding are, sleep at a hotel near the airport. When you arrive at Chicago, for instance, and your next destination requires a comfortable stay, remember to book hotel in Lombard for a relaxing experience.
Furthermore, the pieces of your travel outfit have to work with the clothes you packed for the destination. Planning a summer vacation wardrobe strongly differs from packing for watching the aurora.
Now let’s discuss the points one at a time.
How to Dress for Travel from a Cold to Warm Destination in Winter
For most of us living in climate regions with cold winters, winter travel to a vacation resort in warm climate regions is a challenge. An Alaskan, for instance, has to schlep a down-coat around in Hawaii or Mexico, just because it is -40F (-40oC) upon leaving and/or it might be that cold upon coming back. The best advice to solve this problem?
Have someone to bring you to and pick you up at the airport who will take/bring the appropriate coat, shoes, gloves, scarf and hat.
How to Dress When Flying on Vacation or to a Family Reunion
When you travel by air, a comfy, dressed-up casual look is fine.
Planes are often a little chilly as pilots turn the ventilation down to save fuel. Good thing for the environment! Your contribution should be to bring a blanket (you can later use it at the beach), light jacket, or a cardigan. Wearing a sweater over a T-shirt is also a good way to stay comfortable on the plane. Go for loose pants.
When you wear jeans, go for a loose cut or a jeans with stretch. A 100% cotton jeans is just too uncomfortable when it digs its waistband into your belly. Steer away from sweat pants. They have their name for a reason and belong into the gym. Yes, and please don’t wear PJs outside.
Tip: When your outfit asks for a belt, make sure you have it in your carry-on so you can finish your look once you are thru security.
What Are the Best Shoes to Wear for Air Travel?
Wear shoes that you can easily take off/put on to not annoy everyone behind you in the security line. Therefore, steer away from shoes with laces or buckles. Booties or boots with zipper closure, driving shoes, loafers, ballet flats are easy to slip off and on.
Flip flops belong in the luggage for the beach, not on you feet while on travel. They just look cheap, and wearing flip flops in the airport is just against the dress code. Not to mention that they break every style except surfer-beach style. Furthermore, flip flops like mules, slides, clogs are a hassle to run in when you try to catch a connection.
Tip: Because sometimes you might miss a connection, always have your PJs in your carry-on.
Unless you can catch a bus running in heels or are a ballroom dancer, leave the heels for the female CEOs and managers in First Class or those women whose work dress code is corporate style.
Winkle-Free Clothes Are Key for Work Trips
Because you have to sit on the plane, wear winkle-resistant clothes. Doing so is especially important when you dress and pack for a business trip. Your business partner(s) might pick you up at the airport, and you don’t want to look like you just rolled out of bed. Jersey dresses are a great for a professional, stylish look.
Tip: Wear garments in wool or wool blends. Because wool is wrinkle-resistant, cotton or hemp attire with just a small wool percentage (5-10%) already is enough to avoid wrinkles.
Looks to Wear When on a Journey by Rail Road
If the rail road voyage is from Coast-to-Coast, thru Europe or the Trans-Siberian Rail Road, you have your baggage in your cabin. Therefore, you best bet is to dress for the weather at the station of departure. Because you will take breakfast, lunch and dinner in the train’s restaurant comfortable, but preppy outfits are fine unless the flier of the agency indicates a dress code.
When your rail-road journey is for fun and short-like going from Albany, NY to Central Station, comfortable casual layered look is best. It namely allows you to adjust to the temperature when the AC is over-performing or doesn’t work at all. The latter happened when my friends and I went on a sightseeing trip to New York in 1989.
How to Dress When Traveling by Car
On a private for fun road trip in summer, what to wear depends on the outside conditions, and whether or not the car has air condition. If you expect the car to be cool, have a jacket handy. You can knot it around your waist when it gets too warm. So stylish.
Dress for comfort with your plans in mind. When you drive in an open car or top-less Jeep, you absolutely need to put on a high SF sun screen. Wear sun-protective clothes to avoid getting a sunburn.
When you plan to eat in a restaurant instead at a fast-food chain, go for a comfortable, but posh casual or preppy style.
Tip: Use wrinkle-free, breathing and moisture wicking clothes.
Easy Outfit Ideas to Try for What to Wear on Travel for Fun
Here are five comfy, but effortlessly stylish travel outfit ideas:
- Long sleeve tunic, long sweater or trench coat (have a long T-shirt underneath the trench because you may have to take it off) over leggings with ballet flats or pointy toe flats
- Loose jersey dress with cardigan and ballet/pointy toe flats or old school fabric sneakers
- Boyfriend jeans with sleek striped long sleeve T-shirt, printed wide scarf, and ballet flats or pointy toe flats
- Jeggings, long slouchy white T-shirt with black cable-knit long or grandpa knit-collar cardigan, light or open toe booties
- Loose printed skirt, ballet flats, matching (striped) T-shirt, cropped denim jacket or cardigan
What to Wear When on a Bus Tour?
On a bus, you aren’t in control of the AC. Therefore, a layered look serves you best. Because you are not in private on a bus, go for an upscale version of the outfits for a car ride.
When you like these outfit “recipes”, you may also want to get my style recipe book How to Dress for Success in Midlife for recipes for all kind of dressing situations. Buy it now.
Photos: G. Kramm
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