I mentioned last week about the Travel Handmade series that the Sewing Summit blog is running again this year, and yesterday, the last one, was the most interesting for me. Reading all of these posts and the ones by others headed to Sewing Summit has given me the idea that there are several camps of traveller when it comes to what they will be wearing and carrying:
1. The dressing to the 9s camp – Melissa Eplin, who penned yesterday’s article, is definitely in this camp, and this is what she will be wearing as she goes:
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| Borrowed from http://melissaesplin.com |
She firmly believes that one should dress up to travel, not dress down, as the outfit above attests to – trendy, dressy, she could walk straight into a party when she gets there kind of thing. She even has a pattern to make the t-shirt on her blog if you want to give it a go (so tempting, but no time!!!) Alas if I were to wear those shoes I’d break my neck, and as for skinny jeans, well, my rower’s thighs do NOT fit in them, but she rocks the look.
2. The dressing waaay down camp – I’ve read about this phenomenon on a couple of blogs, where people have been observed wearing their jammies to travel. Now I’ve not seen this, even on the super-long haul flights to Australia, but apparently they are out there, in all their comfy glory:
I have my limits on comfy, and frankly I don’t want everyone laughing at my Cookie Monster Jammies. Or Elmo…
3. The dressing for the ‘professional’ traveller camp – the outfits worn by every bus tour of middle aged to elderly tourists, and there’s even a website to tell you what to wear (although if I ever find myself wearing a turtle neck and slacks, please just shoot me) The Guardian also has an article on what to wear for the young and trendy including a (bargain) £655 cashmere tracksuit, how lovely…
4. The practical traveller camp – this would be my camp, where luggage allowance plays a part, along with comfort. If I’m heading on my annual trip to Ireland, where scrambling over bogs and rocks and hills plays quite a large part of the experience, I wear my hiking boots when travelling (let me point out, however, that I do have the laces undone and ready to go at security – do everyone a favour if you’re wearing awkward footwear, anticipate security, don’t look dazed and confused at the person asking you to remove them to get scanned). Hiking boots are not light, trainers are, pack the trainers, wear the boots, and change at the airport at the other end.
For this trip I’ll be walking around warmer areas, and I have walking shoes for the journey. They’re light weight, but still heavier than my converse!
Jeans are heavier than walking trousers and peasant dresses, again, wear the jeans.
Layer up – planes are cold, airports are hot, and for SS I know my destination temp is not going to be tropical, so on top it’s a long sleeved top where I can push the sleeves up when I’m warm, let them down when I’m cold.
I also have a Weird Fish jumper, which is heavier than the fleeces and cotton jumper I have for when I’m away, but not too warm, and with the zip can be quickly hauled on and off:
Finally, I have a lightweight raincoat with loads of pockets (to accommodate any slight over-weight limit parts of my hand luggage). Okay, part of this is because I know I will be coming back into the UK, where it will likely be raining in November, however there has been more than one occasion where I got to the other end and it was raining and I was the only one expecting it, which is especially satisfying when you have to walk across the runway to the gate ;o)
What camp do you fall into?
I think I am with you. I rarely dress up, and I would rather not be seen in my jammies. Arizona was just voted the worst dressed state in the country LOL. I think it is because the majority of us live in shorts and tee shirts the majority of the year. It is very casual here in the SW, so bring casual.
Same as you really, wear the heaviest bulkiest stuff… lol I too would be flat on my face in seconds if I attempted nice shoes, and my ass is the size of a beach ball so no skinnies here either… But if I looked like that, you bet I'd be dressed to kill…
I'm in the dress up for travel camp, I find people are a lot more helpful when I do. I often travel alone with my kid and two sets of luggage I need kind strangers (men mostly) to help haul my suitcases on and off the train to the airport. I also find it helps me get through security faster. Looking cute pays off for me 😉
I would just make sure there was plenty of space in my suitcase for lots of fabric to bring back!
I probably fall in 4, but you may want to leave the coat! You'll have a lot of fabrics coming home with you!
welllll, my flight leaves at 11:30 pm – i'm thinking jammies for the first leg and then i'll change in LAX into something more appropriate to show up in 🙂
also, I ONLY own flip flops out here… so weight of shoes, not a concern, i'm going carryon all the way 🙂 Should be interesting…
In my head i'm a number 3. People used to dress up like that when they travelled and I think it makes it something special.
However, I am really a number 4 too!
I totally want a cashmere tracksuit, it would be so practical for actually exercising I am sure! Actually, you will look like almost everyone else, add a nice scarf and folks will think you are Miss #1.
Hey, why do you have a picture of my hubby on his way to work?!!! 😉
Oh I am so just wearing the 'jamas next time we go to NZ!!!
Comfort all the way – and a big scarf/pashmina type thing – emergency pillow, blanket at the airport etc.
Have fun playing dress-up x
If I thought I could get away with pyjamas, I'd totally do it.
This trip I went for the comfy half slob look. I wore leggings and a shortie dress and then added the scarf as if that would somehow make me look like I was ready to go to a party at the other end.
I'm not a seasoned traveller but I'm very much into the practical because I find any form of longer travel stressy so I want to be comfortable first and foremost. I also don't want to drawer attention to myself so I wouldn't ever be in my PJ's – I think you can only travel stylishly in your PJ's if you're under 5. My brother and his wife were saying just the other day how airport security are always SOOOO rude in the US. Yes we know they're concerned after 9/11 but they don't have to be so nasty and rude.
I'm in the stay at home camp! Husband is off to San Francisco on Tues so I'll be quizzing hime about it, hopefully he'll be falling into the 'bringing back lovely fabric and a present for the boy whose birthday he is missing' camp!
Oh, I'm a number 4 definitely, couldn't possibly tell you what I've Had to travel in on occasions! Practical wins the day, and also allows for more fabric storage on the way home! As for those killer heels, well,yep, they'd,have killed me before I get down the stairs let alone out the door!
What an organised traveller you are! I do well to remember my toothbrush! X x
I am a jeans, leggings and layers girl for sure. No fancy stuff for my travel wear that's for sure.
I am a jeans, leggings and layers girl for sure. No fancy stuff for my travel wear that's for sure.
I always forget about the cold airplane and ask them now to turn up the air…yes, I'm the annoying one. I fall in to the layers practical group most of the time. I like this post.
Scuse me! I may be the middle aged traveller, but you can NOT accuse me of being in the professional camp. Walking trousers or shorts and polos and microgrids on top. Agree about the boots and walking shoes.
If I have to pare down then its quick dry knickers – three pairs, one to wear, one to wash and one as a spare. Same goes for walking tops – modern material, because cotton may be nice, but it doesn't dry quickly. You really need to take four pairs of walking socks though. Even the best take more than 24 hrs to dry – of course you can always hang them off you rucksack, but walking round the sewing summit that way might cause a few comments.
As for cashmere track suits – gawd help us, who thought of that? No, let me guess, there'll be a lovely logo to stop them being naff.
Dad
comfort is what i like to travel ………….but not jammies ,jeans comfie shoes and layers as they freeze then boil you as you fly :)))
I love travelling and am trying to get back to it (after illness) – I love soft comfy trousers (North Face do some amazing fleecy ones)- layered tops – t-shirt, sweatshirt, etc., and trainer type (not white)lightweight shoes and socks. A Pashmina for cold planes. I aim to look smart/casual and definitely not middle aged. I take the kitchen sink in hand luggage.
I'm not going to venture into advising here – the last thing you want to do is look like your mother 🙂
That first chick has obviously never travelled long haul. I am definitely in the comfy camp, will be wearing sneakers to save packing space even though it offends my fashion sensibilities, but really want to find some Salomons for walking in as they're half the price in the US… And I'm layering up for sure. Have 'travel-wear' – quick dry, no iron, go anywhere stuff. Which shoes to pack apart from sneakers is baffling me at the moment.