While I go on and on about packing light and buying clothing made specifically for travel, it doesn’t mean that I don’t also want to look good and be fashionable (and also comfortable) on vacation. It can sometimes be a struggle between pretty and functional, but with the new selections in travel clothing, you can now bring functional and attractive clothing with you, wherever you go. With Spring almost here, it has put me in the mood to talk about lightweight clothing for your Spring and Summer travels, including those for men.
You may have noticed
that the stores are moving out jackets and sweaters and replacing them with
bold-colored items and swimsuits. You may want to look the other way before
thinking about putting on a bikini or swim trunks (as I find I do after the
winter), but drawn to the brighter colors of everything else. It’s okay. We all
slightly panic when faced with racks of tiny bathing suits and our lack of
winter exercise and extra calories. Take a look at the new trends for clothing:
flowing fabrics (linen and lightweight knits), brighter colors, bold patterns
(including florals and polka dots), khakis, wedges (for the ladies) and safari-inspired
pieces. Of course there are more that I probably haven’t mentioned or haven’t
even noticed, but these are ones that are easiest to bring into your Spring
travel wardrobe and, with some staple pieces, can be worn for many vacations to
come.
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Fashion 'Fraidy Cat
It’s lucky that
almost all travel clothing and activewear is lightweight and contain
moisture-wicking fibers, so you always look your best, even when the sun is
beating down. Many pieces even include omni-shield (or similar) that
incorporates fabrics treated with SPF so you can look great and also avoid a
nasty sunburn. They are usually also quick-drying (so you can pack less and do
a bit of laundry), pill-resistant and wrinkle-resistant. With shorts and tanks
(and often many short sleeve items) you may even find bug-repellant pieces that
work great in a tropical setting.
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Don't forget that booking travel through merchants on Ebates also saves you money with their fancy cash back program. While Travel Week is over and double cash back has come and gone, you can still get discounts on many of your favorite travel websites...and this week is Spring Fashion Week, which means double cash back on many clothing merchants, including LL Bean, which has fantastic clothing for travel as well. If you're not signed up yet, do it now!
Join in the discussions on Spring Fashion on the Frugal Living Community over at Blog Frog or right here! There are several great members over there that are fashion experts and can also tell you how to look great for less! Join in some of the conversations, including my latest on Spring Travel Fashion. Do you have a favorite piece of Spring clothing? Tell us about it!
New Discussion:
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| Photo provided by Magellan's |
If you like what you read on the Shereen Travels Cheap blog, make sure to subscribe on the right with the handy-dandy drop-down menu.Fashion 'Fraidy Cat
If you’re really reserved and a bit scared to bring new prints and colors to your travel bag, you can start off slow by purchasing a nice range of khaki and neutral colored pieces. They are always going to be in style. Ramp it up a bit with a bright item, like a scarf, belt or shoes. If you love color, but don’t want to overdo it, find a few tops that have some brighter colors, like orange, coral, yellow or spring green and pair it with neutral bottoms. TravelSmith, Magellan's, Lucy, Columbia, LL Bean and other retailers can help you incorporate neutral OR spring colors/patterns into your collection with their stylish lines.
I Just Need a Little Oomph
Already have a
great travel wardrobe, but think it’s looking a little bland, because the
colors are all in the same family? Grab some bold and colorful jewelry (or
ties) to keep it looking fresh and for a pop of color. It’ll renew your
confidence when you go out sightseeing and make you feel like your travel
pieces got an overhaul, when it really only needed a mini-makeover.
No More Stinky Clothes
Look for clothing made of bamboo or soy, as these pieces are cool to wear, wick moisture from the body and don't retain odors, so if by some chance you can't wash your clothes and need to rewear a piece, you will still smell fresh and look as good as the first time you wore it.
Pack Twice The Clothes in Half The Space
Double your travel pieces by finding attractive reversible clothing. TravelSmith, GoLite and other companies have affordable and stylish items that can be used two ways. It's especially useful when cruising or when you know you will be going out several times. You can pack less, but still wear different outfits.
Some of my Frugal Living fashion buddies have told me that an absolute must for ladies who travel is a pashmina/shawl. They are fantastic for keeping warm on the airplane and chilly weather conditions and you can use it for a multitude of other things: beach blanket, emergency towel, skirt, picnic blanket and more. They can also pack down into a small space.
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My Feet Hurt Already!
Fashionable
walking shoes can be found. You don’t have to rely on just your trainers
anymore for a decent shoe to keep your feet comfortable all day. Find pretty
loafers, wedges, sandals, mary-janes and more. You can go from sightseeing to
dinner and still look stylish. If you are limited to 2 pairs of shoes (as I
limit myself), it’s always good to have a pair of comfortable and nice looking
shoes that can work with a dressy outfit as well as your normal walking around
clothing (whether that’s khakis, a skirt or shorts). You don’t want to take
shoes with you that are going to look great, but kill your feet after just a
bit of walking. It will ruin your day and make you hate your vacation…and yourself
for bringing those shoes. Find wonderful options with brands like Clarks, Born,
Aerosoles, Columbia and more.
Once you get
them home, make sure to break them in and test them out before packing them in
your travel bag. I make sure to wear them during a variety of activities for a
couple of weeks. In that time you can see if they hurt your feet, have too much
stretch, pinch, become less cushy, receding arch support or any other problems
that can occur on vacation. Believe me, no one wants to feel like cutting off
their feet on a trip, no matter where you are, so do everything you can to
prevent foot soreness by getting the right shoes. You may have to pay more for
a good pair, but that pair can last you for years, so it’s well worth the money
you spend. Don’t forget that not all shoes in a brand’s line will be the same,
so just because you got some wonderful Clarks sandals that you can walk all day
in, doesn’t mean that you’ll have the same experience with a pair of their
loafers. (This is just an example, not a dig at Clarks. There is never
consistency with any shoe or clothing brand with the variations of
styles. It’s virtually impossible.)
Do you still need help on packing? Check out my previous posts on packing lists and packing light. Remember: the more you practice, the better you'll get and soon you'll be able to pack faster and lighter and more efficient. For links to other travel clothing sites, see my list of favorite sites on the right sidebar.
Take Shereen Travels Cheap with you everywhere with Kindle! Subscribe on Amazon and get each blog post sent right to your Kindle the instant it gets published. Don't have a Kindle? That's okay, too. Download the free Kindle reading app on any of your web-enabled devices, like your iPad or Android, and it works just as good! (or you can buy yourself a brand-new fun gadget!)
Always look your best and save time by bringing along a canister of dry shampoo. Instead of taking the time to wash your hair every day (which is bad for your hair anyway) or to give yourself a quick new slate for a night out, spray some of this dry shampoo from Tigi on your roots to pull out excess oils and keep your hair looking just washed for an extra day or for a few more hours when hitting the clubs. Keeps the shine, but eliminates the oil that makes your hair look limp and dull.
New Discussion:
By Shereen
author of Shereen Travels Cheap
author of Shereen Travels Cheap
When you're on vacation you want your feet to be comfortable with all the walking, but you also want to look good and get something that will work for the weather and all your outfits.
I find that Easy Spirit, Aerosoles and Clarks have great shoes that are stylish and comfy, plus you can get cash back on all your favorite brands with Ebates! I try to find a new pair of walking shoes each time I travel (mostly because after my vacation, I love them so much that I wear them out).
Do you go for style over comfort when you travel, comfort over style or do you try to find a good balance between the two?
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