I've seen advertisements for 'car trousers' - I believe they are formal or semiformal pants for gents that don't wrinkle even after long car journeys. Popular with travelling salesmen who drive a lot and still need to look presentable when they step out.

I have pants from Tilley and from Travelsmith that are wrinkle resistant. I also have very lightweight Railriders that always look just a little wrinkled.

Nope magellans.com travelsmith.com for great drip dry wrinle resistant clothing that dries easily. Works best for me
onebag.com

I don't think you need to wear 'long skirts' in Europe. That advice seems pretty out of date. Pants are OK, or however you would dress "weekend casual" at home in that same weather/season.

Travelsmith and Magellans are online travel clothing places that have things along the lines you are seeking. As does Lucy's (which is athletic wear but their WalkAbout cargo pants are fantastic, no wrinkles, can wash and dry overnight).

Generally for summer travel, I take linen or cotton capris (yes they get wrinkled) and nice cotton tops (patterned, tshirt type materials).

Chico's has a line of Traveler's wear that doesn't wrinkle at all. I have several core pieces that I can mix and match with other pieces.

http://www.chicos.com/store/browse/shelf.jsp?cat=Travelers&catId=cat40010

You need to keep in mind that it will be warm to hot in Egypt and Italy depending on the time of year. You might be better off with blended cotton fabrics that have a little spandex or just a little polyester. In my experience, they hold their shape better than 100% cotton and can still "breathe".

Norm Thompson has a line of women's travel clothing that you might want to check out as well:

http://www.normthompson.com/jump.jsp?itemType=CATEGORY&itemID=21&path=1%2C2%2C21

This link for Travelsmith shows clothing by fabric type:

http://www.travelsmith.com/women/shop-by-fabric/

Chico's Traveler's line is made from a synthetic knit fabric that I find VERY hot to wear. Generally I like Chico's (actually wear that brand a lot) but would not travel with the "Travelers" pieces in warm or hot weather. It's true they don't wrinkle, but they also don't breathe, at all.

The Traveler's line also weighs heavy. I do take one pair of black pants for evening, but that's it.

I recommend travelsmith. com
You will find many useful items there.

I've had wildly varying experiences with TravelSmith products. A couple pieces I bought I loved and wore forever (one fantastic black silk knit cardigan I wore for years). But a couple times were badly made & I sent them back right away.

I agree with thursdaysd also about the weight of Chico's Travlers line, and interesting one pair of black pants is all I have in that fabric, and yes they are incredibly versatile (but still, not good for heat).

Wow...great tips, please keep them coming.

We had the notion of longs skirts/dresses for italy from this page:

http://www.journeywoman.com/ccc/

where you enter a country and fellow traveller advises what the wear - where.

so Suze this isn't like this any more - could we 'get away with' jeans and trousers perhaps. mind you both style will require ironing (that we own).

Will browse the travel smith and megallans site for sure - looks like jury is out on the chicos site....

What rubbish. Ignore it!

And there's no reason to take clothes that need ironing. I don't even wear clothes like that at home...

Of course you can wear jeans and trousers in Italy!! The only thing you need to think about it being properly covered for going into churches (no shorts and tank tops).

You're *traveling*, you don't need to worry about wrinkles or ironing either.

I'll have to check out that Journeywoman website and see if I can figure out why in the world they are suggesting you need long skirts to travel around Italy. If anything it sounds like a horrible idea, I mean can you imagine getting on and off trains with your suitcase and a long skirt you're tripping all over -ha!

I doubt it's worth the effort suze. I've looked at that site a couple of times over the years, and never found it even worth bookmarking. (And I'm a solo woman traveler.)

OK, I looked at the website. First off those tips are just coming from and old people posting, just like you and me here. They are not in any way an "authority" on the matter or even necessarily correct.

For example here's one of the quotes:
<<If you have blonde hair, cover it up as the Italian men will be like bees round honey>>
That is THE MOST RIDICULOUS travel advice I've read in a LONG time. Sorry but it's just stupid!

The person who was wear long skirts, was saying you shouldn't wear mini-skirts, that was the point they were making. Not that you had to wear skirts at all.

Trousers, jeans, capris are all OK. In the summer I've worn top-of-theknee length skirts in Italy with sandals and a nice cotton top and that seemed perfectly appropriate.

When I travel I wear my SAME clothes as I do at home for that same season. I pick the nicest 3-4 outfits for the weather and pack those. I don't go out and buy all new stuff from specialty travel websites. Sorry but I think that's just silly (and expensive and not necessary).

I do understand about dressing modestly especially in extremely conservative and highly religious countries. But I do not think the major cities of Italy fall into that category. You will see all kinds of people dressed all kinds of ways. There is no sterotypical "proper Italian woman" way to dress.

As a tourist/traveler I say your aim is to look nice, pulled together, dressed appropriate to the weather. And most important *comfortable shoes* for all the walking you'll be doing.

Sorry I didn't mean "old" people posting, I mean "any ole people".

I also (as a solo female traveler, although no where near as experienced or adventuresome as thursdaysd) find that particular website not particularly accurate or useful or matching my own experiences.

woohoo, thank you thursdaysd and suze for clearing up the misconception derived from that web site.

so as long as i dress 'neat and tidy' and of course comfortable as i would on a 'day trip' in my own country (subject to the season) we shouldn't cause a 'stir' in italy or our holiday experience wouldn't be deminished by it!


great!

Egypt would be more culturally aware of course!

well yes, I wasn't planning on buying an entire wardrobe - especially at the prices the companies are asking for - for this trip, just was thinking of enhancing my wardrobe (as I need a few replacement pieces, anyhow)to fit in with the countries culture and not stand out too much like a tourist to attract any possible 'extra' costs or street sellers!

please keep the information flowing! greatly appreciated

Orvis has excellent wrinkle free clothing. Look at their "scrunchy" cloth clothing.

I am *always* shopping for travel clothing. Not for one particular trip, but I just have it in the back of my mind now when I'm buying new clothes (how will this pack, how versatile is it, etc.).

ps- I confess, I never iron anything anytime anywhere. My ironing board at home has dust on it -haha. So I certainly don't worry about that when traveling.

I wear my "travel" clothes at home...

WOW. Doesn't anyone else here just lightly spritz their clothes with a spray bottle and shake out the wrinkles? A teaspoon of fabric softener in the water helps, but is not essential. I travel for weeks with one carry on bag and never buy special "travel" clothes. Although, dark colors are more forgiving.

suprisealot: In Italy, be prepared to cover up respectfully in churches, other than that, just wear what you like.

No need to buy travel clothes that are usually that unattractive. Use tissue paper between the folds of the
item you are folding and into a plastic bag

"travel clothes that are usually that unattractive."

Huh? Which catalogs have you been looking at? And who wants to mess with tissue paper when they're not traveling for a business meeting?

Rather than dark colors I find a pattern of some sort to be the most "forgiving" for not showing stains or dirt. Pretty much all my tops are a print of some kind, not solid colors. With neutral or dark colors for the bottom.

Exercise pants, whether shorts, capris, or long, tend not to wrinkle. And if in black, can look like slacks if you avoid color piping. Ditto with exercise shirts and such (like under armor or champion). And being thin, they can be layered easily. Also, many provide sun protection.

"Doesn't anyone else here just lightly spritz their clothes with a spray bottle and shake out the wrinkles?"

I do that - or I hang them up in the bathroom while I shower. The steam does the work for me.

Nope because I don't have a spray bottle with me when I'm traveling (lol). I do hang stuff up either to air out at the end of the day, or in the bathroom to steam a little when I'm in the shower.

<<<so as long as i dress 'neat and tidy' and of course comfortable as i would on a 'day trip' in my own country (subject to the season) we shouldn't cause a 'stir' in italy or our holiday experience wouldn't be deminished by it!>>>

Yep! Don't dress like a complete slouch and you'll be fine! Cover your knees and shoulders when you want to visit churches in Italy. For me, I'm cooler and more comfortable in lightweight, loose pants than I am in shorts (it keeps the sun off my skin) and then I don't have to worry about dress code.

As Suze and thursdaysd pointed out, that one website is something of a joke. I saw plenty of blondes in Italy and they weren't being mobbed with men, nobody was looking at them at all. Wearing pants (even jeans) is completely acceptable.

For Egypt, it was the same thing. Loose cotton/linen pants (make sure they're not see through depending on where the sun is!) kept me covered, but cool and comfortable. I generally wore t shirts. I kept a 100% cotton, very lightweight long sleeve shirt in my daypack to cover my arms when I would be in the sun alot. A lightweight scarf also lived in my daybag incase I wanted to visit a mosque.


For dealing with wrinkles, I simply hung up my clothes the night before and flicked water off my fingers at them a bit before I got in the shower. Between the heat and damp (steam and water drops) most of the wrinkles fell out overnight and while I was in the shower. You're traveling, don't worry about an iron.

Our female tour guide in Egypt wore jeans or cargo-type pants, and 3/4 to long sleeve cotton tops everyday. She had a seemingly endless supply of those beautiful embroidered cotton tops you will see everywhere except hers were often tie-dyed in addition to the embroidery.
Very pretty, casual, stylish, comfortable, cool, sun protectant, and modest.
You'll be packing in and out of buses, vans, etc., tromping around in sandy, dusty places. You won't care about a few wrinkles while you're looking at Karnak and neither will anybody else.

Yes, there is wrinkle free clothing. I have or have had:
Coldwater Creek, Chicos, Eddie Bauer, Gap, Columbia, Eileen Fisher, Nike, it's about everywhere these days. Talbots offering new line too. It's all very thin and therefore can pack much more. Leave home the jeans, sweats, bulky sweaters and anything that takes more than one day to dry completely. Also, see ExOfficio line.

Go through your closet or the store and give your clothes the scrunch test. Many of them are wrinkle free already.

If you want to look pressed and sharp, you can do that too. I have a pair of pants from Coldwater creek with a permanent crease in them. Lightweight yet warm for winter.

If you like long flowing skirts, there's plenty of those that are reversible too. Great for summer, much cooler than pants.

OMG reversible skirts? Where? Where?

I used to have a one-piece black dress that I could wear anywhere anyhow... it died. Now I am searching for a replacement before heading to europe and Morocco. I'm an XL. I plan to try these catalogues having already struck out with the malls.

I did however find a pair of wicking, fast dry, super light weight black exercise pants that should fool all but the most descrimiating eye!

TF

TravelSmith has offers some reversable clothes - tanks, skirts, dresses.

I'll second the recommendation of Lucy.com. In some cases, you can't easily tell their pants were primarily designed for working out. Some of their styles have recently been updated, so it's even more true now.

OK. I bought one of those long reversable skirts at PackingLight.net (they are in my area so I went in person, the people were very very nice!). It's not my style, but for Morocco it is gonna be coooooool, yet meeting the mores. Otherwise I got two pair of non wrinking black pants, one at Penny's and one at REI... And I just bought a light packable rainjacket from Cabella's online for $15.00 that folds up into it's own pocket, but, pursuant to advice elsewhere here, I'm gonna put my heavy books in the pockets to avoid the weight problems for carryons. HAHA! (Wonder if I could wear several pair of shoes....

I used to have a great cotton and acrylic black dress that could go absolutely anywhere dressed up with extras... REI has a few if you are no larger than a 12 or so...

and Packing light has some super gorgeous all weatherish rain coats, that are as light as a feather... I couldn't justify it to myself but...

HTH

TF

TravelinFeet, you reminded me of the opening paragraphs of the Poisonwood Bible. The family is wearing almost all that they own to get on the plane.

Let's talk about packing light
You have the skirt and skirts are good for traveling because you don't have to wash them as much as pants.

How many books are you taking and why?

TravelinFeet: If Travel Outfitters is in your area -- you are in my area

If you didn't see it when you were there, Jon (the owner) does a short packing demo that will really help you.

Other than well-fitting dark jeans (too hot for some climates of course), black washable silk slacks/trousers are my most prized travel clothing item.

thank you all fodorians -

the above comments are a great resource, and I have visited all of the websites listed! many different versions of packing light and many many choices for clothing styles...the reversable skirts are a new thing for us but look great and may be a worthwhile investment! even for home lol

Slowly compiling packing list and tips for these countries and trips in future.

our general concept of how females should dress in each country has changed, and seen through Travellers Eyes. not taking in miss leading information from other sources. Thanks to everyone.

we are thinking of going for conservative patterned pieces or khaki skirts/trousers in Egypt opposed to dark trousers or skirts...but will pack the LBD and black trousers for Italy to 'smarten' things up a bit.

As for books!?!? we were going to take just the basic segments of travel guide/maps that we need and of course our travel documents. A book for the plane that is good but cheap and can be 'tossed' on arrival.

the steaming is a great tip, as we too can not see us carrying a spray bottle in our luggage. mainly because everything will need to be dual (or trio) purpose or able to used three times on our trip to qualify to get into our bags. free steam from the shower seems a low tech way for us!

please keep the comments/tips/hints flowing!

I still don't know what to do about jeans, but am working up my courage to leave them home. After all people existed for millions of years without jeans lol. Instead I'm bringing light weight capris.

My problem is Cannes and Rome, vs Mosques and a desert tour on camels. Some parts hot some parts reeeeeally cold (sleeping in the desert at night).

I added, yesterday, two very thin quickdry wicking layers, a white T shirt and a hooded but dressier light zip up -- things I will use for years ... and figuring that in a pinch the hood can also work as a head covering... I'm going to add one black and white shirt and am done.

I also broke down and bought a 25 incher -- hoping to leave room for purchases! But if I pack and there's a lot of room left, I may yet switch it out for the 22".

It's the "other stuff" that takes up the room. Meds (have to pack them in original bottles which takes up a lot more space than putting them in one container!) and presents for the children in the Berber families (I was told to bring simple things like balls as "they have no toys")

TF

25" is a fairly large suitcase. You might want to do a "practice pack" and weigh it. It's not just the size that's a concern, it's you having to lift it and haul the weight around.

<<if I pack and there's a lot of room left, I may yet switch it out for the 22".<<

I would use the reserve approach. I'd pack hoping to fit into the 22" and only move up if you really have to have the extra room.

You don't have to keep meds in their original bottles. Why do you think that? Just a copy of the label into a ziplock snack bag is OK.

"Meds (have to pack them in original bottles which takes up a lot more space than putting them in one container!) "

I agree w/ suze. Did someone tell you to bring original bottles? Even the labels aren't totally necessary (but it might be a good idea for Morocco).

If you look at the TSA website? They don't say original packaging, only that >>We recommend, but do not require, that your medications be labeled to assist with the screening process.<<

Also aren't meds and med devices separate from the other travel allowances?

"Also aren't meds and med devices separate from the other travel allowances?"

Yes, but the 'allowances' only apply to liquids.

I assumed TravelinFeet was was talking about pill-type meds, but in any case, one does not need the original containers.

If you're going when it's going to be hot to a hot country, go with the skirt. I live in So Calif and it gets hot here. A skirt is much cooler than any pants you can bring.

A 25 incher is a large suitcase. I don't think I've ever seen anyone on this website recommend a suitcase that large. 22 inch is fine, really.

There's a couple of problems with a 25". Number 1, if you cant figure out how to get your stuff into a 22, you're bringing too much. That's how you run into weight problems. If money is no object and you don't mind extra charges when you get to the airport go ahead.

The 2nd problem is hauling it around. Fill it up and lift it over your head. How does it feel? Drag it around the block a few times. Still okay?

3rd problem, that may not be a problem. Are you renting a car? What kind of hotel rooms will you be staying in? Top of the line? 25 incher not a prob. Smaller hotels could be a problem. You may be walking over it. Do all of your hotels have elevators?

Regardless of what exactly you are going to be doing, you'll need to be able to handle your own suitcase often. Even just getting it on and off the carousel at an airport and into a taxi. Pack the 25" and walk around the block a few times with it, seriously. You'll rethink things.

When I travel I always end up wearing the same few things over and over again. The trick is figuring out what those 'perfect pieces' are in advance.

Some people take clothes that they plan to discard while they travel. That's fine, I don't do it because vacation is the time my husband has a camera on hand and will snap pictures. I don't want to be wearing something that doesn't suit me. By the time I'm ready to give up the clothes that I love, there's something wrong with them.

If you start with a neutral top and bottom then it's easy to find the other clothes that work with them.

The OP bought the reversible skirt so already, she has 2 bottoms. A nice pair of black pants and a top that can be dressed for evening and some day tops.

Someone mentioned bringing the LBD. That's fine as long as it can be worn in the day as well. Versatile is the key to one suitcase traveling. That doesn't mean you have to look frumpy either.

2 FYI's

#1 - You can buy Chico's Travelers pieces [and I guess the other brands mentioned above] on ebay for some really good prices.

#2 - After a 25 day trip last spring [where the temps varied greatly] to Copenhagen, Oslo, Stockholm and Paris with just a carry-on, I now only travel that way. Packing made a huge difference. In case you have never seen this; check it out. It works!!

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/06/business/06PACK.html

This is the actual packing link:

http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2010/05/06/business/businessspecial/20100506-pack-ss.html?ref=business

Wow she takes a lot more clothes than I do.

Me too, but it is a great way to get a lot of stuff in that bag!

It's not actually a suitcase, it's a rolling backpack, way smaller than a 25" suitcase which I agree is too big. But of course I'm going to put it on and go around the block a few times. What I take isn't going to change tho, it's just a question of how much extra room I have and whether I want it enough to give up having the carryon ability. (three pants, one of which I'm wearing and several tops. Pjs are actually shorts and t-shirt Can't get much less than that. Tho I am bringing a comfy pair of keds and a hiddeous Tilley hat for the same reason -- comfort)

I am bringing gifts for Berber hosts and their children (Ideas still needed tho please -- these people are so poor and yet of course proud) and, of course, am leaving room for bringing things home. Otherwise I find myself scrambling my last day trying to buy another bag to pack in lol.

I'm actually not going to have to handle my bags most of the time, but enough that I do want to be careful about weight.

The problem isn't the planes or the TSA it's the other countries with the meds. One of my doctors had a patient detained for over four hours at customs somewhere because she didn't have her meds in its own bottle. They actually insisted on talking to the doctor. The state dept says to do it that way, and to have a doctor's note explaining why you have pain killers.

In fact some countries in Asia are way more strict than that, and you have to file forms ahead of time in order to bring medicine in. After I read all the rules they have in Thailand, not to mention that they actually enforce them, I knew I wasn't going there in a hurry.

I am also taking very small containers of topicals, and bandaids and moleskin and so forth, as I really WILL be in the middle of nowhere sometimes, and don't want a burn or blister or infection to louse up the trip. (As recommended by Rough Guide and/or Lonely Planet).

Interesting -- I never heard that medicine was an additional allotment? All I know is that I pack so that if they take my carryon away, I can grab the meds out anyway and keep them with me.

OH yeah... the back pack has a zip-away backpack which can be used as a carryon, but then, when you're rolling or carrying it zips back on so you don't have two items. Not sure it's as handy as it sounds, but we'll see.

Re: meds - some don't stay stable unless in a light proof bottle. Get your pharmacist to review them and if possible put them in the smallest bottle possible or perhaps blister pack -they pack flat and are labelled appropriately. Or get them put in several bottles and throw out the empty ones as you go along.

I've traveled solo in Egypt and Italy. My long Tilley skirts were great for both- easy to rinse out and very comfy. Hot weather and trousers don't work well with me. I had trousers as well, but was more comfy in the skirt. Jeans are very heavy and hot to wear.

If you can afford it- get an e-reader - I love my iPad- I have been able to get e-guidebooks for my upcoming trip to Europe. Also - Evernote which allows me to clip articles from the web and make tagged notes to cover many aspects of my trip. Trip it to keep my Itinerary notes. As the new iPad is out- iPad 2 has been discounted and there are probably iPad-1 even cheaper.

When I was in Italy I bought some lovely things- so picked up a cheap tote bag to carry them and checked my suitcase - small carry on coming home.

Oh, by the way- I planned to buy a hat in Egypt- but wasn't able to find one- so take one with you. The consumer products are not as available in Egypt as in other countries- mind you things may have changed since I was there in the late 80's.

You can just take whatever you want to take with you as the countries which are open to tourism are having no offense for the clothes but still you can take something at-least to cover half legs and also the skirt type wrap-ons will also make it for you.

Okay since I am a blonde, I need to plan a trip to Italy pronto! I wouldn't mind the attention! LOL

One year, we were traveling with family from place to place around Austria, Germany and France. Trying to stay in a carry on sized luggage (22 inch rollaboard), I packed lots of underwear that was easily rinsed out in the sink, socks, and many tshirt type tops that were neutral in color that would go with shorts, pants or skirts. The tops I bought at Target on sale for about 8 dollars each. They were short sleeved either v neck or round neck plain ts. I bought 10, several in black white and some colors. I figured at 8 dollars, I could throw them out if I wanted to buy something in europe that was pretty to bring home with me. They worked out great and were cheap and easy to pack. I added a few different tops to offset my constant t shirts in all the pics.

I agree that the chicos travelers brand does not wrinkle and can be heavy weight. I also have the black pants.
I think cotton pants or skirts would be best. I am more of a pants person myself. The churches just want your shoulders covered and I don't think long skirts are necessary anywhere.

For the person traveling to morocco, my friend's daughter traveled there with a group and had to have closed shoes that covered her feet and long pants or skirts. No sandals No open arms or legs for the females anyway.

"For the person traveling to morocco, my friend's daughter traveled there with a group and had to have closed shoes that covered her feet and long pants or skirts. No sandals No open arms or legs for the females anyway."

When was that? And what group? Absolutely not my experience - I do cover shoulders and knees, but for Morocco I didn't cover all of my arms and feet. Sounds more like restrictions for the Middle East.

Don't stress too much about Egypt. There were women there wearing all kinds of things so just dressing conservatively like you would back home and you'll look fine. Nobody is worried about wrinkled clothing when you on hols so long as they don't look like they have come out of the rag bag! I saw quite a few pairs of hot pants! eew

Since I moved to the Poconos almost 5 years ago, local shopping with minimal stores about 40 min away, malls about 1 hour away in Scranton, I have been shopping at the Salvation Army in the closest local town. Left most of the clothes I wore to Africa there. I have gotten Chico's, Coldwater Creek, Talbot's etc.there, also a brand of traveling clothes called Citiknits and all my friends now check it out after complimenting me on my outfits and I told them I got it at the "SA boutique"! So if you want inexpensive clothes and have a SA or Goodwill shop nearby, try it, you'll like it.

Karen

I am looking for a pair of women Wrinkle free pull on comfortable pants for the plane trip, good looking, preferably multicolor,full length for I need to wear special ugly travel socks , thank you for all your tips and sites recommendation.
CDR