Travel clothing? Ok or just wrong?

[EllenRose]

I can't quite believe I've agreed to it but family and I are holidaying in Paris, Rome, Lake Como and Zurich but travelling by train - which means travelling light as the prospect of lugging enormous suitcases is not good.

Dh set off on a review of all travel clothing websites last night and starting flagging zip off trousers and such like for me.

Opinions from those who know best please - where best to shop for wrinkle free, comfy clothing and shoes but without making me look like I've entered my later years in life too soon (no offence meant to fabulously stylish well travelled ladies)? We'll be gone for about 10 days or so and staying in apartments or hotels - don't need to be wildly glam but I'll be in Italy and Paris so effortless chic would be marvellous

Don't do it. You would feel ridiculous in stylish places like Paris in khaki zip-off trousers from Rohan - they are meant for hiking in the tropics and that sort of thing.

Just get light-weight things you can layer, and preferably that are meant to look a bit rumpled. I like the lightweight linen knits from places like Wrap and Poetry, but I know they don't meet the approval of MN's style gurus.

Go for a narrow range of colours so that everything can be worn with everything else and you can wear the same two pairs of shoes with everything (one on, one in suitcase - make sure they are comfortable shoes for walking). If you are going to be staying in apartments at least some of the time you will be able to do laundry.

Very tricky - wear basics (dark clothes are best for travelling) and glam up with a nice scarf? When are you going? If not in summer, then dark denim will look smart and practical.

You will have to accept that your feet will need to be comfortably shod in sensible shoes but with a nice scarf no one will look at your feet.

Noooo, you can't wear zip off trousers on that holiday. And I hope your DH won't either .

I think the trick is to pack a capsule wardrobe in neutral colours (like black/white/grey or navy/white/grey or whatever suits you) with one more "interesting" colour (like pink or yellow or whatever you like) for some tops and accessories. I always lay out everything I want to take on my bed, like this. The clothes in the link were obviously for a beach holiday but you could adapt it easily for your destinations I think.

I found these packing these great for keeping your bag or suitcase organized.

No zip off trousers please - you will not wear these at home so will be a waste of money.

No whites or very pale colours as you will not be able to wash these easily and these will get grubby quickly.

Second layers and scarves! Invaluable for being prepared for all temperatures and looking chic at the same time. I love packing

Oh thank goodness, I can tell dh tonight absolutely no zip off trousers . fritzigreeneyes that is exactly what I am going to have to do with the clothes, not least of which because I have to identify how big a rucksack I have to take
madaboutchoc we are going in the summer so will have to be fairly lightweight but I am liking the idea of brighter accessories / tops to distract from the comfy shoes

Why do you have to take a rucksack? Lightweight trolley suitcase is more practical for packing/unpacking clothes.

When I have a city holiday I pack silk dresses, shirt dresses, wrap dresses, etc. and wear jeans/t-shirt/cardigan on the plane. A lot of lightweight dresses can be handwashed and dried very quickly - on our last visit to Rome I would wash dresses in the morning and they would be dry by the time we'd finished breakfast.

Dresses are much more stylish and cooler for walking around - wear sensible flats, take some jewellery and a pair of heels for evening and you're away.

Have a fabulous holiday - it sounds lovely.

We'll be doing quite a bit of walking between trains etc. so not sure how well the wheelie cases are going to cope. Also dc's have been told they need to carry their own kit - if they all want wheelie cases I can see train travel being a bit chaotic but still researching at the mo.

Don't go for a rucksack - lightweight wheeled suitcases are the way to go.

I just did a couple of weeks round Japan (on/off planes & trains, moving on every couple of days) with a medium-sized wheeled suitcase, which weighed about 14kg on the way out (18kg on the way back ) - perfectly manageable on and off trains and up and down stairs (if necessary).

I find it is things like toiletries, shoes and all the cables/chargers/adaptors for phones, cameras, ipods etc that weigh me down far more than clothes. Oh, and getting a kindle has saved me a load of holiday suitcase space.

worldgonecrazy - that was exactly what I was looking at whilst dh was perusing the zip offs! I thought dresses would be more comfortable anyway and easier to smarten up if need be. Thank you - glad I'm not on the wrong track.

My Japan trip was with DCs, and they each have their own wheeled suitcases - they are 13 and 9 now, but we started doing long-distance rail trips across Europe when they were 8 and 4, and they have been pulling their own suitcases since then. Small suitcase plus small backpack for stuff wanted on the journey is the way to go.

Oooh thanks exexpat - that is good to know, I have a feeling we will end up having all the heavy stuff so a wheeled one might be better with smaller bags for the genuinely day stuff.

Crossed posts thanks

Spent 10 days on a train holiday last summer - from London to Tuscany via Paris. I agree with all the people who say pack lots of nice light things, I got some gorgeous evening 'vest' type tops, light trousers, nice flat sandals/pumps that you can wear for day/evening. What pulled it all together for me were scarves, earrings, a huge chic pair of sunglasses and red lippy. You need a light but fairly large-ish wheeled suitcase but not so large that it can't go in the overhead luggage space where you can keep an eye on it. My boyfriend used a medium Antler duolite for the 10 days and it was perfect. You will have the photos forever - say no to the travel clothing & have a great trip.

You need a few of the £1.99 Mumsnet H&M dresses!

totally agree about dresses, easy to pack and you don't have to think about what 'goes' with what. I like this one from kew they have £25 off selected dresses from tomorrow until Monday online.

Laura Ashley have a sale on too, I like this one and this one

Patterns are good for hiding travel stains too! Method do an excellent concentrated laundry detergent for laundering along the way. Very jealous of your trip btw, sounds fantastic!!!

I've got some very fine merino 'travel clothes' - a skirt, a dress and a t shirt, all in black. They are cool in warm conditions, stay fresh for several wearings and don't crumple.

Mine are icebreaker brand, they do outdoor clothing but have a travel range. They also do colours, but I prefer black. A few good accessories are the way to go for travelling. I've got some havaianas that I feel comfortable enough wearing for evening if I get a good pedicure before I go.

Enjoy your hol - sounds fab!

We do a lot of travelling as a family as well as a couple - small to med trolley style suitcases as well as one small rusksack (for carrying water/snacks) worked best for us.

Fab, thanks for the tips on the luggage, off to google now.

hellonheels thank you for the 'travel clothes' tip too - pedicure will be a must (before and after I expect) and was thinking havaianas would be good to stash in the bag.

silk is your friend when travelling - it takes up next to no space and is great in the heat. And as someone else said, you can wash it in the morning and it's dry by evening.

Linen trousers are good too, although they do crease a bit

Hadn't thought of silk - good idea. Linen is ok, I think a bit rumpled might be the look of 2012

Roll don't fold clothes so they don't crease.

Some nice adaptable clothes on EKO site. I like the short dress with the pockets. Add leggings /cardi if cold. Jersey is good too.