Interailing summer dress

[fleeceandwellies]

Hi I'm going to be inter-railing this summer. Its going to be hot and I'll have a rucksack. I'm looking for a bomb proof dress that can literally be screwed up and chucked in a bag for the evenings. I'm 56, 5ft 4 size 10 , decent boobs, nothing really above the knee pls. Cheap and needs to be able to be slung in a sink and wrung out to dry over night. Is there such a thing? thank you

I can remember going backpacking with my husband about 20 years ago and he was a veteran and I was very much a novice. He took me to an outdoor shop and I bought all these sludge coloured shirts and shorts on his recommendation ( I didn’t quite go for the zip off trousers / shorts but not far off. ). Got into Thailand and my god the other back packers were all in little colourful vests and sarongs and I was wearing my clothes the colour of elephant poo. It’s like all my taste went out the window. Never again.

I have a few viscose and polyester patterned dresses that come out of the machine dry. I know polyester is frowned upon but they look like new 10 years on. The viscose one is extremely thin, ten years old but showing its age. Not very environmentally friendly but, for number of wears value maybe its not so bad. Also impossible to stain or crease. I think a cotton tshirt or jersey dress would be damp in the morning unless you can dry it outside. Man made will dry hung over the shower rail on a hanger, Or, wrapped in a travel towel if its still a tiny bit damp.

I'm another saying Cheesecloth. It's so light, breathable & doesn't need ironing, drys quickly.
I would buy from H&M/Zara rather than Me &Em though if interailing. It's called Muslin in H&M & there are several knee length or longer dresses.

Another vote for mountain warehouse!

So I went on the Mountain Warehouse and was scrolling through the "Women's Dresses and Skirts" section...

Mine arrived this morning (must stop clicking links in the Mumsnet style and beauty - I purchased an apron last week, for goodness sake (although I love love love it)).

Got this in sage green and it's lovely. Not shiny, material feels OK for the price, not nasty sticky polyester. High neck (I burn easily so it's a plus), skims over hips with generous material. Purchased for stylish dog walking / hanging around without looking like a scarecrow (someone I admire said "Oh, saw you walking your dog" and I know I was wearing ripped shorts and ugly baggy t, the shame!). It's a great length for summer evenings, casual yet classy looking. I'm a 16 - 40C bust - got the XL and it's perfect. Working at losing weight so have the brown in L. No regrets.

Or I've noticed that gauze seems to be used sometimes too - though what I think they really mean is crinkled gauze (as gauze is usually smooth). The main thing is that it's already crinkled!

Just thinking that seersucker would also be a good choice for the same reason, though it tends to be slightly heavier. But she only wants the dress for evenings, not when travelling with her backpack, so would probably be fine. All my Me + Em cheesecloth dresses are bargains from eBay, so they get worn all the time in summer!

Let me guess - you went for the ghillie's overalls, didn't you ...

(Khaki & ruffles are in - I bet Nigella's got one!)

@EleanorMc67 yes so true. it's also described sometimes as double cotton. I've been tempted to look in eBay at the Me & Em dresses now. I really don't need any more dresses...

Wonderful! That is just what I'd want to wear on a hot night in Rome 🤣

At least they only showed you options that fit one person 😅

To be fair, at first glance it’s not a fabric I would go for, does look a bit synthetic and I normally go for natural fibres. But having worn it, it’s very comfortable, doesn’t crease, feels cool, looks smart and washes and dries really well. I saw two people wearing different colours in London today and both looked very cool and put together.

I can't open the Uniqlo link.
Whats the name of the dress ?

@limetrees32 it's called Ultra Stretch AIRism Dress (Sleeveless)

Cotton jersey or bamboo that works with a layer. Don’t get something polyester. In the heat it will be like wearing a plastic bag. Cap sleeves to avoid shoulder sunburn and make carrying a rucksack or bag comfier.

Just wanted to say have a fantastic time interrailing! My summers interrailing were some of the best experiences of my life. Enjoy yourself!

Look for a Plisse fabric dress. The ones with the lines in them. Usually thin, look nice, dry really quickly and can be crumpled up in a bag and come out looking great. I bought one 6 years ago and still going strong. It was by a brand called Weekday but I dont think they do them anymore, such a shame!

Why are so many travel dresses plain colours? Sweat shows horribly on plain material.

I was going to suggest there too! They do a lot of jersey dresses but mine is lighterweight fabric, really cool and the creases just shake out of it.

I was also going to suggest mountain warehouse

Oh these are lovely! Do you have any idea how the sizing works?

Have you heard of a brand called halara? They do a lot of products and I think many are crease less.
thehalara.co.uk/collections/flowydress?promo=collection.menu3.dresses-skirts.all-dresses.flowy-dresses.4&h_unc_307=1

It's pretty shitty on the environmental side of things though, especially people- & planet-wise. It's also meant to do quite a bit of greenwashing.

Something I try to check on more, these days, especially if I'm buying new.

We’re doing a similar trip and have just returned from a short one where I wore my hush Kendall black playsuit to death.
So flattering and comfy. Has poppers so going to the loo isn’t an ordeal.

I thought you meant poppers at the crotch, until I looked it up ...!! (That would be too much like a romper suit for my liking ... though admittedly quite useful!!)