Traveling in Style- Simplified
As we embark on new adventures, our travel wardrobe often becomes an afterthought, secondary to booking flights and planning itineraries. Yet, besides learning a few phrases and understanding cultural norms, dressing appropriately is a profound way to show appreciation to the people of our host country. Just as we'd be mindful of our attire when invited into someone's home, dressing thoughtfully for our holidays is essentially the same – a gesture of respect to the destination that welcomes us.
But of course, dressing for holidays isn't just about being mindful of our P's and Q's; it's also about injecting a little of our personality. When we make an effort to dress up, it's a way of communicating that the situation we are in matters to us. Paying attention to our travel wardrobe is the first psychological step to enhancing our holiday experiences.
However, for the sake of comfort and unfamiliar temperatures, we often resort to the "tourist fare" of T-shirts, jeans or shorts, and sandals. This sloppy tourist attire projects a clumsy or even smug disregard for cultural and social nuances. Worse, it can inadvertently set us up to fall prey to tourist traps or receive abrupt service, as it signals a lack of engagement with our surroundings.
When packing our travel wardrobe, we also want to be mindful of subtle faux pas. One commonly made mistake is packing clothing choices based on our imagined (and often stereotyped) ideals of assimilating with the local culture or to symbolically participate in it. This phenomenon – sartorial mimicry – has become even more prevalent with the rise of influencers using travel spots as "thirsty" backdrops for their social media posts. There is a fine line between dressing well for our own esteem and in respect to the host city, and using our travel spot as merely a location for self-promotional photo shoots.
Holiday dress often functions as a performative break from the conventions of daily life. Therefore, we are not suggesting that you shouldn't experiment with your travel wardrobe. Your travel wardrobe should absolutely allow for a little escapism and, most importantly, align with the sensory experiences you desire during your journey. But always equilibrate that ensemble with your personality, not a caricature!
To simplify packing the perfect wardrobe, it makes sense to plan your activities during your vacation and select coordinates accordingly. A general rule is to dress elegantly (smart/club casual) for indoor activities (unless it's an event that calls for formal wear), and casually for outdoors. Always start by selecting shoes that are suitable for the planned activities, and then choose colors that complement them. A thing to note is that what is defined as 'casual' is subjective. In Italy, for instance, dressing like you're going to the beach in the city, even during a heatwave, is often frowned upon. And even if the locals wear flip-flops in the city, that's not a valid reason for us to trot around the city in flip-flops – it hurts our feet, and we never know when we may want to stop somewhere nice for a drink or a meal impromptu.
In consideration of traveling light, we must select coordinates that rotate well, so you are not wearing the same clothing on consecutive days – this also helps your clothing last a little longer before needing a wash. Consider re-wearing the clothing you use for indoor events, such as theatre, dinner, or museum visits, where the environment is cooler and the duration is shorter. Send the clothing you have used outdoors to the cleaners more frequently. Think wool during colder seasons and linen and cotton during warmer seasons. Whenever possible, keep the leisure activities for the hotel gyms!
In the current context of over-tourism backlash, dressing well is even more important. It demonstrates our commitment to making this shared experience enjoyable for everyone around us – a small yet significant act of courtesy that fosters mutual respect and enhances the collective joy of travel.