Brief insight from packing - YouLookFab Forum

Tl; dr version: Whatever restrictions and needs that you need to incorporate when packing, the process underscores which clothes you love best (ie feel fab in) and which clothes leave you feeling very frustrated.

Early hours of the morning, and I'm packing for a conference in Germany and a layover on the way back in New York. There's nothing like packing when you're tired, and haven't finished your work, to allow for those insightful moments regarding your wardrobe.
As much as there's a convenience factor when traveling, there are nevertheless certain garments that have to be packed. For this trip, like previous trips, I have three needs:
a) conference/work wear
b) daily wear
c) skirts/dresses for religious services

Conference wear: black trousers, black top, flats.
Daily wear: skinny jeans, blouse, cashmere sweater, long cardi, tank top
Skirts/dresses: two hours of trying things on. Ugh.

I have all of these skirts because in theory, I love skirts, it's how I wear prints. But ugh! In practice, my weight fluctuations have left me feeling pretty alienated from what I wear. Sure, SO and Mum think that I'll lose the necessary weight, but this higher weight is from proper eating and working out. If I stop working out, then sure, I'll drop the water weight, and the clothing will fit better. But every.single.skirt. has me feeling very really uncomfortable with my body, whereas the skinnies, even at this heavier weight, still have me feeling fab.
Note: I travel regularly, I should be a pro at this. But the skirt factor leaves me second guessing each skirt, as well as the tops, since I prefer fitted tops for skirts, but looser tops for skinnies.
TIme for bed and an early rise to reassess.

9 years ago

Staysfit

Veteran

Safe travels! Remember to bring an extra photocopy of your passport! (I hope Suz had one ). I'm surprised skirts are harder to fit when your feeling bloated than skinny jeans. For me it's the opposite. Skirts are so forgiving. Although it may depend on where you hold your weight.

crutcher

Interesting post...have a safe trip...Your rec/for travel in skirts wouldn't work for me either...Staysfit...I would prefer the skinny pants...Ah that is why we have so many varieties of ice cream...we are all so different..Have fun...

Beth Ann

My advice? Particularly for business travel, wear what is appropriate, and (even more importantly) what makes you feel confident and relaxed. Honor your body right now, and don't be deterred from exercising and making healthy nutritional choices! You don't have to create a body to fit the clothes, the clothes must fit and function well, or they stay at home in the closet! There are other ways to add a bit of dressiness, femininity and fun to a travel wardrobe: great footwear, scarves, bags, bold jewelry and color, for example. These can keep things fresh and interesting!

gradfashionista

(website)

Thanks. Staysfit, it's not bloating, it's just gain.
Beth Ann, I eat healthily and lift heavy weights, and nothing deters me from doing otherwise! This is why I get frustrated with weight gain. If I stop working out because of traveling, then I usually lose some weight, but as soon as I resume lifting, the weight returns.
It's more that packing brings to light the problem of when you are socially coerced into a wearing a kind of garment that really doesn't work you because of fit issues.
I'm going to hunt around for skirts in Germany, maybe I'll have luck and discover that the shops there use a different model than the ones in the U.S.

shiny

I relate! And traveling tends to leave me more bloated than usual -- not just food and being off my schedule, but the air on the plane. I prefer dresses over skirts for this reason. For traveling it's also much easier since it's just one piece, not skirt + "skirt top."

My go-to travel dress is a black RL jersey dress that has strategic ruching rather than a fitted waist. The jersey is substantial and has held up to countless wear & trips - doesn't wrinkle. Since it's pretty basic & plain, I can wear the same dress multiple times, just swap out a difference scar & accessories.

For this last trip, which was vacation not business, I took the long sleeve BR midi dress instead, but same idea.

Otherwise, best skirt for travel is a VC tube skirt.

DonnaF

Have you ever tried ponte skirts? I sized up in a scuba skirt so that it fits like a normal pencil skirt, and it is very flattering and forgiving. I had to try (and return) a bunch to get sufficient length and the right cut. My skirt even fit DD who is basically a size larger than I.

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