Are you gearing up for an upcoming trip? If so, you’re probably preoccupied with travel arrangements, hotel bookings, and other plans. But in the back of your mind, you’re also thinking, which clothes and shoes should I pack?
Chances are you’re planning on packing your prettiest dress or nicest dress shirt, thrown in with your nicest shoes and accessories. But is this really the best plan? Vacation is about comfort and relaxation. Who wants to be stuck in a stuffy outfit and uncomfortable footwear, especially in summer?
Fortunately, there are ways to look nice while traveling without compromising comfort and convenience. The following are five fashion essentials worth packing for your upcoming adventure:
Stretchy pants
Does your travel itinerary include long flights sandwiched between one or more layovers? If so, consider wearing stretchy pants on travel days. They’re comfortable without being frumpy. With this in mind, consider packing a few more to wear during your trip. While pants aren’t the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of warm-weather attire, you’ll probably be spending more time in air-conditioned environments than you expect. Given the way businesses and other entities like to crank the thermostat down in summer, stretchy pants will keep you warm without causing you to sweat when stepping outside.
Cargo shorts
Upon arrival, you’ll probably be spending most of your time out and about, exploring the sights and sounds of your destination. Throw in the need to bring various items along, such as your wallet, sunglasses, and various self-care items, and you’ll probably need to bring a backpack or purse along. But what if you didn’t? Enter cargo shorts. While they have a reputation for being bulky and outdated in terms of fashion, many top clothing designers sell streamlined shorts with convenient cargo pockets. You might not even notice they’re there. By wearing cargo shorts, you have the opportunity to keep important items on your person without lugging around a carryall. Combined with the fashion-forward style of modern cargo shorts design, you won’t regret it!
Slip-on shoes
Comfortable footwear is one of the keys to a wonderful vacation. Skip the tight-fitting dress shoes, high-end sneakers you’ll worry about getting dirty, and other impractical shoes. Instead, opt for slip-on men’s and women’s shoes designed for comfort and convenience. Trust us; between the need to quickly remove your shoes to get through airport security to needing shoes you can wear all day without harming your feet, slip-on shoes are the way to go. Better yet, they’re as stylish as they are comfortable.
Basic t-shirts
Tops come in a wide variety of cuts and styles. While variety is the spice of life, it’s also a way to disrupt any attempt at convenience. By opting for a multitude of basic tees instead of a diverse array of different style tops, you minimize the pressure to pick the perfect one. Instead, you grab one, throw it on, and that’s all there is to it. We suggest five or six solid-color t-shirts, starting with a plain white t-shirt and working your way to black. V-necks work too, but we insist on avoiding graphic tees and sticking strictly to solid colors. It’s all about simplicity.
Swappable components
Do you wear a smartwatch? If so, consider utilizing it for the sake of simple yet stylish travel fashion. The swappable nature of smartwatch bands makes them an easy accessory to highlight an outfit. From solid-color rubber watch bands to patterned designer bands made using high-end fabrics and other materials, the list of options is practically endless. Thanks to their affordability, it’s easy to stockpile on a rainbow array of watchbands certain to spice up any travel outfit.
Summer is the season for travel. If you’re preparing for an upcoming vacation, stop and consider what you plan to wear. Instead of fancy attire, no-nonsense shoes, and bulky accessories, consider downsizing to more modest and practical options. Not only will you be more comfortable, but you’ll also remain stylish. It’s a win-win! While you might not want to put every tip in this article to practice, you’ll most certainly benefit from applying one or two to your travel plans.
Michael Driver is a freelance writer from Texas. He enjoys covering topics related to history, movies, travel, and sports. Michael can be reached at [email protected]