by Emily Mcbride

Created on: January 27, 2009   Last Updated: February 13, 2009

With many long trips, particularly the college-style summer backpacking adventures, or any destination requiring a long flight, it is also important to consider what you will wear while you are travelling, as many clothes that are perfectly comfortable and appropriate for walking around a European city, or for that matter through the jungle, will make you unhappy if worn during travel. What follows are general "travelling outfit pointers" to keep in mind:

The Comfort Factor: This is a no-brainer. If you're going to spend long periods of time in planes, trains and automobiles, you're going to want to do so in comfort. Nonetheless, comfort means different things to different people. My most comfortable traveling outfit is a stretchy skirt and tights. Don't forgo the type of clothes you normally wear because you're worried they won't be comfortable enough. If they're good to go about your daily life, they'll be fine for traveling, so long as you avoid items with lots of buttons, ties, bits that stick into you, and clothes that are difficult to go to the toilet in a tiny space in.

The Not-Looking-Like-a-Dogs-Breakfast Factor: This is probably not so important on a bus in Bolivia, but when flying, it pays to look slightly put-together. For one thing, if you enter the plane looking like you've been sleeping rough for the last three weeks, you'll inevitably look ten times worse by the end of it, the time at which you may have to make your case to various immigration officials, greet long-lost family members, or catch your first glimpse of Paris or Tokyo. If you do want to wear your pyjamas on the plane, it can be a good idea to bring along something else to slip into before landing.
Moreover, if you dress neatly, bring a tie as a man or wear a skirt or decent trousers as a woman, you stand a chance of getting bumped up into business class. Most airlines have dress codes for business class, at least for non-paying customers, and the lure of bigger seats and better food may well be motivation to dress smart.

The Culturally Appropriate Factor: Also known as the "They-Don't-Wear-Pyjamas to School-in-Madrid Factor." It's respectful, and sometimes simply wise, to do as the Romans do. So, in some countries, and might mean dressing demurely, in others it might mean dressing for breakfast. Usually as a tourist you are not required to conform to all the measures of how people dress in the country, but making an effort not to offend will make locals happier, and possibly lead to your having more and better interaction with them, and a better and more authentic traveling experience all around. This can also encompass covering up a little more whilst travelling among the general population of the country. A skimpy tank-top may be most comfortable for hiking through a tropical forest, but it may cause you grief in much closer proximity on a bus full of locals from a vastly different culture.

The Inevitability of Having to Go Home Again Factor: If you're flying to the Caribbean or a resort on the Spanish coast, it's tempting to only bring shorts and sandals and sundresses. However, quite apart from the possibility, however remote, of bad weather in your destination, it's important to remember that travelling can involve lots of cold airports, delays, stopovers in less tropical climes, and so on. Wearing your jeans and jacket on the plane can be a good way to make sure you have some cold weather essentials with you, without wasting precious room in your suitcase.

At the end of the day, wear what makes you most comfortable without offending anyone, and keep in mind that looking presentable, or slightly more, can play to your advantages, however tempting it may be to pass a long flight in your yoga togs.

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