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Article on dressing for vacation ... Does it resonate?

Helena

Veteran

Hi friends, I just read this interesting piece about dressing for holidays and thought I would share: https://www.bbc.com/travel/art.....on-holiday

How do you dress on holiday, and why?

For me, my priorities are to not stand out, and to not offend local sensibilities ... Then its about packing as little as possible! I tend to lean hard into my minimalist side, paring down colour palette and pieces to see how far I can get with a small selection. I don't want to fuss about clothes on vacation although I do* enjoy having the time to do my hair and makeup in a leisurely way. I tend not to shop for holidays, unless there is an event or something I genuinely don't have something for. I am a little bit not a lot sensitive to looking like a tourist ... I figure I probably will, but I want to avoid the costume effect à la White Lotus mentioned in the article.

DH and I are going to Dublin in the fall for a work event, and the only thing I plan to buy is a long dress for a semi formal evening because the long dress I have now is emerald green and I will not be wearing bright emerald green as a tourist in Ireland

Although I don't really do it myself, the idea of dressing differently on vacation to express the freedom vacation provides, makes total sense to me!

Curious your thoughts! Xx

*Thanks Jenni for the correction!

Dressing

39 replies

Latest reply was from Suntiger

Irina

Veteran

It resonates in a way with me.

I don’t care if I look like a tourist. What is important is a feel of the place and being comfortable in the environment. I do research into a place we are going to visit to get an idea how dressy it might be.

Basically, I wear smart casual for urban and casual for more rural areas. And I still like being myself, so no floral sundresses or shorts for me
I travel with a carry on bag and I take time planning my vacation wardrobe. I do have a beach capsule but the rest is my usual clothes. Only a few pieces I wear more on vacation than at home - a skirt, a pair of thin white linen pants, hats. The rest is not vacation specific.

Aquamarine

Veteran

“For many of us, we are working on laptops all day or may have uniforms at work, and we dress for function and comfort. So, a holiday is an opportunity to explore a different part of ourselves. A part that is perhaps more carefree, joyful and relaxed."

^This. My suburban life has become so casual. For me, travel is an opportunity to wear something a bit different or elevated than my day-to-day clothing. Of course, practicality and not sticking out too much come into play. But everyone is so casual these days in my corner of the world that I look forward to any occasion to up my game, so to speak.

Interesting article…food for thought for sure! Thanks for sharing.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Helena, a trip to Dublin for work! How exciting, and hope you find just the right dress. Maybe in a softer green?

To answer your question: the thoughts in the article do not resonate with me personally.

I never pack carry-on! I bring gifts and take stuff back for ourselves when we go on holiday. Our home is filled with travel treasures for that reason. I stock our pantry too. And I love to have outfit options.

I wear what I usually wear when we travel. My style does not change! I'm not sure if this makes me look like a tourist or not? Depends where I am! When we travel, there is a mix of casual and dressy, so I bring both dress codes. (My casual is on the dressy side). Even when we travel with the doggies, we are casual with them during the day, but dress up to go out at night. My style is covered, so I don't need to worry about baring legs and arms in places where that is not preferred.

I am always kind to my feet, so I being practical is natural.

I might buy something new for a holiday if I feel like it, or the need arises

Dee

Veteran

Well, it seems inevitable that I might look a bit like a tourist due to the fact that I'm packing certain items for only a couple of weeks and doing carryon. My practical nature will kick in, and if wearing comfortable footwear and casual clothing is being a tourist, then I'm guilty. But all the same, I'll likely be visiting a lot of the typical tourist sights anyway, so I'm not going to really stand out that much.

I tend to pack smart casual, using whatever I already own. I don't really dress any differently as a tourist than what I would wear going places back in my own hometown. I have a 4 seasons wardrobe, so I'm pretty well covered despite the destination.

I feel that with globalization and the casualization of fashion, more people worldwide are more similarly dressed than in previous decades. I also think that some of the old fashion style clichés of some countries from the past no longer rings true anymore.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Helena, so happy to hear about your upcoming trip and can't wait to see the options you come up with for the new dress! Hope you will post for us.

Interesting article. I like how it went into the history.

I identify a bit with several people's answers so far.

1. Like Aquamarine, I often (purposely) travel to more urban areas, and since my work from home style in my suburban locale is more casual than my preferred style, I take this as an opportunity to step things up a bit, bringing my more smart casual and even a few dressy items along. I rarely shop for anything new for travel.

2. Having said that, I am all about being comfortable outdoors in whatever weather. No matter what, at home or travelling. So that means I will do everything in my power to be prepared, even if that means buying a new raincoat (or whatever) to make the trip easier. I take layers, options for different levels of formality in different weather situations, and multiple pairs of footwear in part to ensure ongoing happy feet...which leads to my next point.

3. Except for very short trips, I don't do carry on. We tend to go to a place, stay there for four to ten days, and then go to another place for a similar length of time. I'm ok carrying my bag up and down stairs a couple of times.That's why I train with kettlebells! The desire to look the way I want and feel comfortable and confident, plus save room for possible purchases, far overweighs my desire to travel light. I figure with one suitcase and a commuter backpack, I am travelling light. I still have one hand free at all times.

4. Having said that, I rarely find time to shop when we travel and almost never buy anything apart from gifts for those left at home! I'm not sure why that is. Maybe I'll make an effort to change that on my next trip. I did buy a bra once at Selfridges....

5. I also make at least several more casual trips per year, travelling by car and/or transit. These are working trips to lakeside or beachside locations close to home. I pack differently for these, in the sense that for these trips, I tend to bring mostly my more casual options from home, rather than my dressier options, and I include a bathing suit and a sunhat, and I bring my smaller (carry on size) suitcase instead of my larger one.

I think what remains constant whether I'm travelling or not is that I always want to dress like me, as Irina and Angie said. That might make me stand out as a tourist in some places (does it? I don't know....) and it might make me look like a native in others. Looking or not looking like a tourist isn't really topmost on my mind. Being comfortable in my clothes and my skin, is.

JAileen

Veteran

I can’t remember a trip where I have worn a flowy dress. Some here may have seen some of my travel posts. I’m usually wearing utilitarian gear: hiking boots, Goretex, down, and fleece.

Helena

Veteran

Thanks everyone for sharing you thoughts!

You've got me thinking more about what "looking like a tourist means" ... I guess in my mind it conjures images of the costumey version of a tourist. Something like if I went to Paris in a Breton shirt and beret with red lipstick or something, or the aforementioned bright green in Ireland ... Doing the stereotype of the country I guess. In the sense of carrying a backpack say, or looking like myself where my version of style is not the norm, I'm fine with that too even if it makes me look foreign to the place (once it's respectful of the dress code of wherever I am).

Fun food for thought and something lighter to ponder in a heavy world, in any case! Xx

Irina

Veteran

Helena, I used to recognize American tourists in major European cities because they mostly wore shorts, sneakers or gear sandals, hats and t-shirts.

To me, this is a typical tourist look. But globalization and general acceptance of casual wardrobe, made this look more international and common.

Lisa

Veteran

One of my first international trips, I was so excited that I purchased outfits for the trip and dressed up everyday. In dresses and heels! (Yes I wore heels walking around Paris and London, it was not a wise move).

I am not a dress gal and I am not a shoes gal either, the trip has great memories but I also remember how uncomfortable I was the entire time because I wore clothes and shoes that were not "me."

I will still shop for a trip (I recently purchased a few Hawaiian shirts for an upcoming cruise) I have learned to stay away from items I know I will NOT wear, like dresses!

Irina

Veteran

Lisa! OMG, I, too, wore high heels on my first trip to Paris. Also, brought a midi evening dress in red!!! but fortunately, never had a chance to wear it. I have great memories of that trip but remember huge blisters I got, too

Sal

Veteran

I was thinking recently how people on their 20s buy a travel wardrobe and are so much more stylish than I was as a backpacker with very few clothes. And how social media has made curated styles photos so much more important. Sipping prosecco in your floaty dress for example.

I am not immune as I am considering what to take on our Europe trip - what is the perfect dress to wear shopping at the market or to visit Versailles.

I don’t buy something that I won’t wear again for travel - but I will add something that I think will be useful in the future. And I can’t seem to manage carry on only or very rarely. In the US this year they were vigilant about checking bags anyway as the lockers were overfull so with the best intentions of carry on - you may end up with the bag in the hold.

I like to shop when I travel- for myself l, the home and gifts.

Finds are pieces found on vacation.

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Jenni NZ

Veteran

The article didn’t really resonate with me either, but mainly because I never touch Instagram and so I am not taking photos of myself for others to see (unless the photos are for the forum, ha ha, which will be for seeing the outfit details!)
I feel our forum members are pretty much divided into whether they wish to do air travel with only carryon for ease, or always with a suitcase like Angie and Suz. I agree that it’s different if you are travelling in your own country with a vehicle, you can take more. I am in the suitcase group, I love dressing up if I can on holiday (mainly for restaurants but also for resort pools if those are part of the holiday- so nice swimwear and cover-ups, pretty footwear.) I am travelling next weekend for a week to Tropical North Queensland (Port Douglas for anyone who knows where that is) and it will be much warmer than currently cold and rainy Auckland. My packing will mostly be practical but will include some pretty as above. The trip is for sister-in-law’s 60th birthday and 8 people are going- her, her husband, us, and 2 other couples who are her friends. It will be resort, restaurants, beach, tours, a market and some shopping. So I will cover all those types of activity in my packing. Looking like a tourist in Australia is not much of a worry as Aussie and Kiwi culture has a lot of similarities.
Your trip to Dublin sounds wonderful! Say hi to Molly Malone for me- I haven’t seen her since 1989

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Also, do you mean you “don’t” enjoy doing hair and makeup in a more leisurely fashion, which is what you’ve written? Or do you mean you “do”enjoy that?

cat2

Veteran

The Hawaii comment made me laugh. I guess it might be a stretch for a Brit to don a Hawaiian shirt, but beach culture is so thoroughly a part of much of the US mainland and some parts of Canada and of course Australia that to me
it doesn’t seem odd to see anyone in beach wear. What I wear on vacation is a location and weather appropriate subset of the things I already own. I pack like Angie, checking a bag that has room in it for fun stuff like local honey, sea salt and spices. My dad did the travel catalog approach of buying things in tech fabrics with tons of teeny little zippered pockets. I don’t take that approach at all; I am not heading out on an archaeological dig and don’t need to look prepared for one.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Ha cat2 you are funny! Not looking prepared for an archaeological dig- makes me think of the first scenes of Jurassic Park
Also… Australia AND New Zealand!

Kate

Veteran

My style doesn't change on vacation. My biggest concern is making sure I have shoes that go the distance for whatever we're going to be doing, and to try to pack minimally. I usually fail on the minimal packing, but I'm getting better. I do shop for myself and hubs when we travel and bring back gifts. Our home is definitely a reflection of our travels and I love that.

Sometimes my style of dress stands out; other times not. The place where I felt the most at home sartorially with my style of dress was Copenhagen.

LJP

Veteran

This brings back a cringeworthy memory - it's funny now but it wasn't then- haha. It was my first trip to LA as a buyer for Ricki's ( a now-defunct women's clothing chain - think The Limited) and we had dinner reservations at Spago. This was in 1989 or maybe 1990 when Wolfgang Puck actually manned the kitchen and I was super excited at this prospect Now this was also in the era pre-celeb photos in People or US and pre-internet, (obviously ) so I had no clue what actual Angelenos wore, never mind to Spago. I knew that nothing I owned would pass muster so I had to buy a new outfit. I also was lacking in any sort of personal style (not that I have much now but I was even less dialled in then, despite my job) so I bought a bright pink (why, Lisa, why??) linen-look blazer, a black/white polka dot rayon tank/shell top, and I wore black linen look bermuda shorts. I have no idea what shoes I would have worn and I don't even want to think about it. I also had a fake Chanel bag . I know, isn't this the picture of LA cool? Sitting at the next table was Meg Ryan and Dennis Quaid, and I was gobsmacked at how THIN and tiny she (and everyone, really ) was. I could not stop staring. I doubt my co-workers were any better or differently dressed than I was, with the exception of our Lead Buyer who was older and far better adapted to her surroundings. I think back now on this and shake my head at my just-fell-off-the-turnip-truck suburban Canadian look

Runcarla

Veteran

Fun article to read - because I love everything about planning a trip - maybe more than actually experiencing the travel! LOL!

To answer your question: the more I travel, the less I feel compelled to purchase something specifically for a trip capsule! I might choose slightly dressier items than my day-to-day usual if the vacation is urban in nature (‘cause I live in a small town where life is very casual) but otherwise, everything is from my closet.

I do feel one can identify North Americans abroad - especially men - by the fit of clothing. Europeans, including Brits, seem to favour leaner silouhettes, or do oversized in a tailored and purposeful way, whereas North Americans seem to just ‘size up’, and say: it’s more comfortable!

cat2

Veteran

Runcarla: American men have their own shoe tip offs as well, picking clunkier styles.

Jenni. I am with you on the resort and vacation pieces; I like dresses, skirts, etc., and most of our trips are to beach or wine country locales where those pieces shine. We do city trips as well, which are great for a dressier mix where my base of black pieces comes in handy. Your next trip sounds great!

Lisa

Veteran

Irina - *high five blisters in Paris twin* Thank goodness we are wiser now.

Brooklyn

Veteran

I liked the last part of the article about not worrying about judgement when you are on holidays. People work hard for their holidays and I think they should dress in whatever way makes it more pleasurable for them, subject to any local cultural norms. If they want to live their La Dolce Vita fantasy while O/S, good for them. If they want to just be practical or blend in, that’s good too.

I prefer urban city holidays with lots of walking and outdoor activities so I wear my usual casual clothes during the day: flat shoes, hat, sunnies, cross body bag, clothes that give sun coverage. I expect I would look different from the locals because the locals are not on holiday. They are dressed for work, for indoors, and not for 10K of walking. In the evening on holidays I enjoy the opportunity to dress up a bit. It’s part of the holiday experience for me. As a result, I am definitely not a light packer.

Staysfit

Veteran

My packing strategies vary depending on the type of vacation, I have done carryon and I have packed multiple suitcases. Regardless of advance planning, I usually find one or two items that go unused. I focus first on footwear. I don’t need to walk long distances on work days. The shoes that feel comfy at work can become shoes that cause blisters and misery on vacation. I test all my shoes by wearing them on a long outdoor walk a few weeks in advance; if they do not work, they do not go in my luggage. If the weather is not cooperative, I test them on my treadmill and vary the speed and incline to mimic outdoor activities.

I have a few travel specific items. For example, I have a light weight all purpose neutral color travel dress. It’s wrinkle free, takes up almost no space. It works in a pinch if I need to go to an unexpected event, or out to eat. Thanks Athleta! I bring it along regardless of what I have planned, and I almost always end up wearing it. It’s a style I would typically wear anytime, but I reserve it for travel. I also have a travel raincoat and pajamas.

The rest of my wardrobe when packing comes from my everyday items. I try to keep my look neat and most often pick business casual attire. I always pack some gear and am prepared for outdoor activities and exercise. I build a capsule of two neutrals and a color one neutral and two colors.

kkards

Veteran

Interesting read, both the original article and response on the post
i remember my 1st trip overseas , I’m my 20s thinking I didn’t want to be seen as a tourist. Getting there and realizing it didn’t matter what I wore, I was and would always be taken for an American. Today when I travel I want to dress in a way that is comfortable, both physically and socially. So I try to pack things that are me, but will also fit to the general vibe of where I am going.

Olive Green

Veteran

This is such an interesting thread. I realize that I now travel with at least a couple of business casual appropriate outfits, solid fabric and well fitting. Pants or jeans, good flat shoes, a really good seasonal coat, and some snazzy accessories. Hats, scarves, and jewelry dress this up and down. This works well when you need some visible credibility when checking into places, or have any problems, including medical. The last trip we took required an emergency vet visit, and I tell you, not looking insane when you are distraught is a real help when you need help in a strange town.
Having traveled as a backpacker, the way you are treated when you up the respectable factor, lol, can make a real difference in the experience.

Carol

(website)

Veteran

Hmm. I like to think I enjoy "participating" in a place I am visiting, without delving into stereotype, because that can look kind of stupid. Like if I were going to London tomorrow, maybe I'd bring a pussy bow blouse, but keep the rest of the clothes normal. If I went full Austin Powers, with a little suit and Chelsea boots, this could look kind of dumb.

A big one I like to observe in U.S. is portrayals of Southern or Western culture. If a person loves country music, they usually look good in a hat and boots, because that is what they wear a lot. If they just put it on to look like a Lynrd Skynrd reference, it can look stupid.

I am still after the perfect faded trucker cap, though. This would be after I went to Hawaii years ago, and had my first surf lesson, and the female instructor had long sunbleached, ratty hair, a deep tan, and a pink trucker cap. Trucker caps are a great beach look if you find the right one.

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Helena

Veteran

What a rich and interesting thread, thanks everyone for your thoughtful responses! I think Brooklyn nailed it:

"I liked the last part of the article about not worrying about judgement when you are on holidays. People work hard for their holidays and I think they should dress in whatever way makes it more pleasurable for them, subject to any local cultural norms. If they want to live their La Dolce Vita fantasy while O/S, good for them. If they want to just be practical or blend in, that’s good too."

Amen!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Such great stories! I enjoyed them!

Laurie

Veteran

Of two minds about this.

One of the best moments on travel ever was when my boys were young, and we went to Paris at Thanksgiving. Instead of a more sensible raincoat or puffer jacket, I wore a black cape-like coat that I pinned at the top with a geometric silver brooch. I bought it in a boutique in Union Station, DC when there were still nice shops.
Someone asked me, in French, for directions. Loved that!

When I was in my early 20's and Eurrailed for several months I slowly transformed from an '80's American in running shoes and a yellow windbreaker to generic Eurrailer in grungy London thrift shop attire - suede booties, oversized winter coat, scarves.

I prefer to blend in. But warmth and comfort do often battle fashion.

pirouette

Veteran

I travel a good bit in Europe most cities I blend in as I wear a lot of black and neutral colours. I was in Hamburg last week and most people wore jeans and tee shirts and trainers. A good raincoat is vital in Northern Europe. In Ireland you can pick out the tourists as they often don’t have rain coats! In southern Europe if I go to a beach resort I would wear a little more colour. I like to blend in when I go abroad but that’s also how I feel at home. I don’t buy clothes for holidays I wear mainly what I wear at home.

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