Last Updated on 6th January 2024
Have you ever walked around an airport wondering how some people can look so stylish and presentable even after a long-haul flight while others look like they’ve just rolled out of their bed and put on the first clothes they could get their hands on?
They may seem like two different breeds of travellers, but in reality, they’re not. The only difference is that the first have learned how to dress appropriately when travelling while the latter don’t have any clue (or don’t care about) how to put together a travel outfit. This also means that anyone can master the art of dressing smartly while on the go if they wanted to.
It’s perfectly understandable for comfort and convenience to come first when you’re getting ready to hit the road. After all, you’re not going to dress to the nines to enjoy a quick city break or wear high heels to explore the world. But that doesn’t mean style should be ruled out.
As a jet setter, you can wear clothes that are practical and look perfectly put-together at the same time. And if you don’t believe that’s possible, here are some smart tips from fashion designers that will prove you otherwise.
Plan your outfits in advance
No matter where you want to go or how long you plan to stay there, travelling around the world always requires thorough planning, and that includes choosing your attires carefully.
You can’t just leave things to the last minute and pack a bunch of random clothes in your suitcase a few hours before departure, or fumble around the house wondering what outfit you should wear on the plane just before you head out.
Not unless you want to end up under packing or overpacking (which is most often the case) and look unkept and dishevelled all throughout your journey.
You should plan your travel outfits just like you plan every other aspect of your trip, be it purchasing plane tickets, booking accommodations, making arrangements for airport parking Heathrow, and so on. Since you wouldn’t leave these tasks to the last minute, you shouldn’t put off packing your clothes either.
Preparing in advance will give you enough time to decide what clothes you should bring on your trip. Since you can only pack a limited number of items (and travelling lightly is always preferable to dragging huge luggage around), you need to narrow down your options until you’re left with the essentials. Anything more than that will mean carrying dead weight with you.
And how exactly can you avoid that? By taking into account several factors like the weather conditions for your destination, the activities you’ll engage in and the length of your stay. Once you’ve got that figured out you can choose the clothes that fit your travel needs and start putting together daily outfits because you also want to make sure you can create nice looks with the items you’ve chosen.
It’s recommended to pick versatile pieces that coordinate well with each other, so you don’t spend hours trying to mix and match clothes to put together an outfit. Also, clothes made of wrinkle-resistant fabrics are great for travelling since they are low maintenance and will ensure a well-groomed appearance even after long hours spent at the airport, on the plane or exploring the great outdoors.
Stick to monochrome looks
Colourful clothes may give off that vacation vibe we love and brighten up your adventures, but they’re not the easiest to wear or combine, especially when you have many other things to keep you busy. So, instead of worrying about colours and avoiding fashion faux pas, you can take the easier route and lean towards monochrome looks. Clothes in different tones of back, white and grey are simple yet impactful and will give you an air of understated class with very little effort.
But what if your outfits end up looking dull and lifeless instead of chic and classy? If you feel the need to spice up your ensembles, you can always add visual interest with accessories or footwear. A fun scarf, a stylish hat, a trendy belt, a pair of sleek glasses, minimalistic jewellery or colourful shoes are some of the finishing touches that can perfectly complete your monochrome look.
Learn to layer
Even if the weather forecast for your route seems favourable, keep in mind that weather is inherently unpredictable, so there’s no guarantee it will remain the same throughout your travels. That’s why it’s best to be cautious and prepare for all kinds of unexpected situations. If you want to dress for changeable weather and transition your outfits from day to night effortlessly, layering provides the best solution.
There are a few basic rules for layering clothes the right way so you don’t like a walking wardrobe. First, you have to start with the thinnest layers and work your way up to the thickest. Then you should choose a start colour (usually lighter) for the base and consider how the rest of the colours you put on top combine with it. And lastly, make sure each layer is able to work as a standalone outfit.
If you’re finding it difficult to keep track of all the clothes and items you need to pack, you can let technology lend you a helping hand. Travel apps and tools are a dime a dozen these days, from transportation and navigation apps to parking services like Parkos or currency converters. So, it’s not surprising there’s also a variety of travel list organisers and packing planner apps for every type of traveller. OneBag, Packr, and PackTeo seem to be quite popular among globetrotters, but there are many others you can check out.
Wrapping up
Packing clothes that are both practical and stylish for a long or short trip can be a real challenge, even for experienced jet setters. Hopefully, the tips above will help make the selection and packing process if not enjoyable at least tolerable.
