Stay On Budget By Rewearing Travel Clothes

Your travel budget encompasses a lot of things, but adding a new travel wardrobe for each trip shouldn't be one of them. Do I purchase new things when I go on a trip? Of course I do, but most of the time it's a new pair of walking shoes, because my old ones have worn out. When I do buy new clothes, I rewear them over multiple trips, and sometimes they are still in rotation years later. 

Now, you may have seen me post about your "travel nightmare" on Instagram, which features a top I have brought on almost every trip I've taken in the last 10 years years, because I love it, but that's not the only one that I have reworn and taken photos with in the past, and will again in the future. I am a big believer in bringing pieces you love, that are comfortable, that go with everything, and never look dingy. Oddly, this mostly white shirt has stood the test of time, when any other white shirt would, immediately, look like a crime scene after just one meal. 

This athletic cropped top is lightweight, dries fast, and works great for a day out or as a pj top.

I have a few shirts like this. They are great for layering or wearing by themselves, making them perfect for almost any kind of weather. I feel good in them, which is important, and they don't make me stand out as a tourist. 

A good t-shirt can work in a lot of different ways and this green feels like a neutral.

Other items I'll include in my travel bag that I rewear often are a good pair of lightweight joggers and/or a pair of black pants that work just as well for a day out sightseeing as they do . 

This short-sleeve asymmetrical light pink shirt from Splendid is an absolute fave that goes
just about everywhere with me.

A boring black shirt is a good addition to your bag. I have several that I choose from every time I travel. You can't see sweat stains if you're going somewhere really warm. You can't see spills. It goes with, literally, everything. You can layer a great necklace to jazz it up. If you want to bring along bolder outer pieces, like a bright cardigan, it is the perfect compliment to that.

A plain, lightweight t-shirt is always something I throw in a bag or wear on the plane. Not only is it a good layering piece, but it's great when the weather is warm to be able to just look like a regular person wherever you are. I bought this t-shirt above at Columbia on sale and it went everywhere with me for several years. The picture of me and my mom in the bottom right was actually right after we had breakfast and I was heading to the Travel Goods Show. 10 minutes before this picture, I spilled food on me and was mad at myself, but I went into the bathroom and scrubbed it off, and it dried quickly and showed no stain at all, so I didn't have to go back and change.

When you're headed somewhere cool/cold, you should have some good long sleeve options. This lightweight shirt from Prana goes with most of the things I bring with me and is thin, but doesn't look or feel it. You can wear it alone or under a sweater or over a tank top. Should I get it in another color? I absolutely should, because it's one of my favorite pieces that doesn't weigh me down, but keeps me not too warm. 

Another great travel brand, Pact, has well-made pieces that are perfect for camping, hiking, or hanging by the lake, while also looking not at all like clothing made for those things. This light purple shirt is my go-to warm weather top that isn't a tank. It's another top that goes with everything and keeps me cool, but is super lightweight, so it works for layering multiple pieces if needed. 

The point is, you don't have to go broke packing your travel bag with new pieces on each trip you take. You can be like me and take the same core pieces, with one or two new items, like a fun top to wear to dinner and a better pair of walking shoes. When you do go to purchase a new item for your travels, I highly suggest pieces that are multipurpose, that can be layered, that aren't too heavy. Look for good fabrics and don't be afraid to pay a little more for higher quality pieces. If you can't afford good brands, even on sale, go check out Poshmark and pick up gently used (and sometimes still brand new) items for much less.  

My infamous striped shirt

I almost always do laundry while on a trip and rewear items anyway, so a lot of my pictures look like they could be from the same day. I'm never going to see most of those people again anyway, so I don't actually care if they remember that I wore the same shirt 3 days in 8 days. I'll tell you what though, I've almost never remembered what a person was wearing after I don't see them anymore. I suspect I'm in the majority. 

So, unless you want to get a perfect and unique shot of you somewhere specific, where yes, you should remember to wear something that isn't in 80% of your travel photos already, be comfortable, wear items you love, and don't stress too much about getting a new travel wardrobe for every trip, or even every new travel year. 

Do you have favorite pieces that you always take with you when you travel?

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