USA wardrobe and footwear

[VelvetDuvet]

We're off to the US for the first time and travelling, a lot! Including New York, Miami, San Francisco, LA, Boston I'm having a bit of a nightmare trying to find suitable stuff. I wanted cotton dresses, of various lengths but no, shops just seem full of polyester cold shoulder stuff.
I've ordered a few bits from the hush sale, so waiting on that, have trawled shops and websites but drawing a blank.
I can't find any comfortable footwear that's not super clompy walking style sandals that won't work particularly well with the wardrobe I have so far.
So, you wise people of S&B can you give me any hints tips what to take/what to not bother with?
We're going for 3 weeks and won't have access to a washing machine for the first two. (I'm not keen on shorts, I look knock kneed in them)
I've got a month before we go, size 10 in most shops & im 5ft 4 if that helps.

I always recommend these sandals for lots of walking, I have then and they're amazing, so lightweight and comfortable, feels like I'm walking on clouds and don't rub even when wet. Plus it doesn't matter if they get wet or grubby, you can just hose them off or shove them in the shower. I have them in the brown, but there are several colours.

www.crocs.co.uk/womens-crocs-isabella-sandal/202465,en_GB,pd.html?cid=001&cgid=isabella#start=13

I'm in the US btw, and when I'm visiting somewhere warm/hot I tend to wear casual-ish shorts and tops, something like this.....

Right, not being distracted by toddler so perhaps can finish posting! I really rate Amazon for clothes, I have the below dress which doesn't look great in then photos but is gorgeous on, very comfortable, practical and flattering, plus looks a lot more elegant and expensive than it is. It rolls up very small and doesn't crease easily either.

I also have the top in the second link, again, looks rubbish in thenphotros but can't rate it highly enough for the same reasons as the dress.

www.amazon.co.uk/Flying-Rabbit-Dresses-Sleeveless-Beautiful/dp/B06XPFN35M/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1499089841&sr=8-4&keywords=Cotton%2Bsundress&th=1&tag=mumsnetforum-21

www.amazon.co.uk/d/Womens-Clothing/Hrph-Vintage-Summer-Sashes-Batwing-V-neck-Blouse/B01KLTZE28/ref=sr_1_50?s=clothing&ie=UTF8&qid=1499089733&sr=1-50&nodeID=1731350031&psd=1&keywords=Linen%2Bcasual%2Bshirt&th=1&tag=mumsnetforum-21

Birkenstock Arizonas? Very comfortable.

Have you looked at Whistles, Jigsaw and Warehouse for cotton clothes? Good sales on at the moment.

I wouldn't pack anything to be honest. Just buy somethings there when you see what everyone else is wearing.
Clothes are lovely in the states, and the cotton stuffs are cheap, and fab. Buy comfy sandals like havianas flip flops and clarks. Fill your suitcase!

Have a look in landsend, gap, target, coach, Tommy Hilfiger, Ralph Lauren, Nike, under armour and old navy for holiday clothes ideas.

Have you tried Gap, Seasalt, Joules and Uniqlo?

Two weeks without washing facilities is a long time, as you will need to plan to wear outfits once only (it's v hot in the States at the moment, especially if you are walking lots)

I would add a pair of decent trainers to your wardrobe list, especially if you have a day or two of rain and sandals are no good.

Don't worry about what you look like in shorts: almost all American women wear shorts, even if to UK eyes it looks as if they woudl be better advised against it...

Teva Universals Slide in tan leather? Birkenstocks Mayari?

Thanks for all your replies, I like that dress on Amazon Loup, never really thought about Amazon for clothing!
I've had a look on the teva site and keep umming and ahhring about it as they're expensive and not particularly something id wear but the slides aren't too bad price wise.
The straps on the crocs put me off as my feet tend to swell in the heat but as a complete shopaholic, I do like the idea of shopping while there, it's just the teenage boys who might object.
Gap is also a shop a never think of, we don't have a branch here anymore so will look on line.

Are Birkenstocks ok on narrow feet? They always seem to look quite wide fitting.

I have wide feet and Birkenstocks suit me very well...

Another vote for shopping is the US. I get most of my clothes there. Prices are usually good, for better quality. Drop into ah outlet mall if you get chance, for even bigger discounts on top brands.

Amazon is actually pretty great for clothes. Old Navy this season....colours/prints are a bit scary even on some of their basics, but there are a few nice bits, and their stuff is such good value, so comfy and lasts years, so well worth a look when you get out here.

I would also recommend American Eagle Outfitters, I think they have a UK website too which you can order from.

Also, a lots of the thrift stores over here are absolutely fantastic, if you can get to the bigger, department store type ones you can pick up some amazing bargains. I've consistently got Manolos, Prada and Jimmy Choo shoes for less than $10 per pair which all look like they've never been work. J Crew dresses previous season for less than $5 each plus loads of other bargains.

Sorry for the un-intentional change of name mid thread! WicksEnd is me too, not sure what happened there but wow Loup! Jimmy choos for $10. I think I might just take an empty case or two!

Its worth doing Velvet the artist also known as Wicks . If you google something like "best thrifting spots in x, y, z" forum entries on reddit etc will come up from with the best ones close to where you're going. In most of them the stuff is immaculate too, great fun having a rummage. Sometimes they even have 50% off everything days, but those can get very busy and hectic.

Also the stuff tends to be current too, so all the designer stuff I've got had been not more than two years old as people tend to wear once for an event and then donate as they then want new season stuff. I LOVE that mentality q

One other tip, if you like makeup most of the bigger Walmarts stock a line of cosmetics called NYC cosmetics (not NYX Cosmetics, they're different but also good) anyway, NYC are absolutely brilliant quality and dirt cheap.

Their nail polishes are about a dollar each and are the best polished I've ever tried, just as good as Chanel, Revlon, Sally Hansen etc. The coverage is excellent and its very easy to get it looking like a pro did it, even when you're as rubbish at DIY nails as me.

Try Uniqlo, which is my favourite shop atm, as it stocks lots of cottonseed & natural fabrics. Lots of pieces which are ideal for loo layering or wearing on it's own and it's quite affordable.

www.uniqlo.com/uk/en/home

That amazon dress is lovely!

Three words OP: fluff and fold. Launderettes in USA will do a service wash and give your own sweaty gear back to you, fresh and folded. Yes they do call it fluff and fold.

Thanks for all the great suggestions, I am a total beauty junkie so I shall look out for that! So glad I made this thread!
And thanks for the tip re laundry, that might save taking too many clothes and then I can have lots of space for lovely new ones!
Bought some pewter birkenstocks today and treated myself to a floaty Karen millen skirt to wear with vest tops.

I swear by Earth brand sandals (got mine from Amazon US). They are very comfortable and more stylish than some other "sport" sandals.

OP, unless you are camping in the mountains for two weeks, you'll be able to find a laundromat somewhere. They'll do fluff and fold or you can hang around and talk to the other patrons (which is what we do when we visit the UK).