Passports & Pearls: So Many Outifts, So Little Packing Space

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

So Many Outifts, So Little Packing Space

Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening. ~Coco Chanel

Every girls’ favorite part of going on a trip is of course, choosing outfits. My travel/clothing philosophy is do not pack anything you don’t want to be photographed in. On travel adventures, you’re going to take hundreds of photos in gorgeous places. You don’t want to look back at those photos later and cringe at your outfit and leave those pictures in a digital archive collecting digital dust forever.

Travel photos are some of your best memories and deserve to be printed out and framed to be shared with friends and family! You want to look your best in your travel pictures, right? If yes, then half the battle is packing the right clothing.

When I pack for my travels, I try and strike a combination of cute and comfortable. The clothing you pack should be aligned with what activities you’ll be partaking in on your trip. Obviously, you wouldn’t bring a bikini to Alaska, and I certainly didn’t bring my sexiest stilettos to hike Mount Kilimanjaro. What I did bring was cute and functional clothing that I could layer. Layering is the best tip I can offer you about clothing!

In terms of tops, I brought two workout tank tops that were made of stretch fabric and were moisture-wicking. Target has two fun work out tanks that are Champion, one pink and one blue. Over the moisture-wicking work out tanks, I wore both long and short sleeve t-shirts I already owned. My favorite one was of course my USC shirt that I wore to the summit because I couldn’t possibly hike Kili without representing my Gamecocks! I also wore a lightweight blue cotton pullover that could zip down several inches in the front. A great alternative Target sells is this adorable pink Champion cardio jacket.

I am sad to say that while I kept my tops and outwear relatively cute, I unfortunately failed to find a truly flattering and fun pair of hiking pants. Unfortunately, Lilly Pulitzer doesn’t sell hiking clothing yet, so until then I’ll stick with my Northface pants. I bought two pairs, one khaki and one black, that were able to zip off into shorts if it was hot out. In retrospect I probably could have gotten by with only one pair of pants, but it’s always good to be prepared with a spare pair in case of rain or mud. If you’re like me and are cold all the time, you will absolutely need long underwear to wear beneath your pants when you reach those higher altitudes where the temperature drops. Many outdoors outfitters like Dick’s Sporting Goods or REI offer their own pairs such as this REI pair. I hiked with a pair of Hot Chillys on to stay as warm as possible. I also packed my favorite Nike running shorts to wear in the tent and on the first and last days as we hiked through the rain forest. Though they’re $30, they’re a staple item in a college girl’s closet and they’re great for working out or running errands.

As far as undergarments go, I am sad to say I definitely was not wearing my cutest bra or pair of underwear. When hiking, your underwear must be all about function. I wore Champion sports bras that are inexpensive at only $17 and can be found at Target. For underwear, I’d recommend buying underwear specific for hiking that is a blend of nylon and spandex, is easily washable, and is antimicrobial. ExOfficio makes bikini briefs priced at $16 and while they aren’t as cute as some Victoria’s Secret Pink underwear, they have the necessary characteristics and will do the job. Because nights on Kilimanjaro can get pretty chilly, I wore my favorite Victoria's Secret sweat pants to sleep in and a comfy, long sleeve t-shirt.

Want to know what types of outerwear to pack? Read tomorrow's post to find out!