What to Wear on Trips Tips

I fully appreciate that the selection of outfits showcased on this blog do not immediately indicate an aptitude for choosing suitable holiday apparel, but I have learned from (some of) my mistakes. Accordingly, and considering myself sufficiently qualified, I make the following suggestions:

1. Always take a foldaway raincoat and/or an umbrella. Being soaking wet on holiday is only desirable in certain specific circumstances, such as swimming or water sports. Otherwise, it’s just miserable.

2. Take trousers/jeans/leggings with you; at least one spare pair, regardless of the warm weather you think you’re going to have. Mother Nature laughs in the faces of those who think the sun will always shine on them. Cold legs are not fun.

3. Take shorts/dresses (depending on your gender/preferences). Just for laughs, Mother Nature occasionally likes to spring pleasant surprises on the unsuspecting. Hot legs aren’t fun, either (unless that’s what you’re into, but that’s an entirely different conversation, and if that’s where your mind has gone, then it’s probably wilful misunderstanding on your part).

4. Take a shawl/sarong. This applies even if you’re a fella, since I’ve seen chaps denied entry to certain sacred sites because they’re wearing shorts (not considered respectful enough to enter the premises), alongside women with short skirts. Can also be used to cover shoulders or heads (for ladies), which can be problematic if on show in certain places. Also again useful if it’s suddenly and unexpectedly cold. It’s easy to fold up and stick in a bag.

5. Take a fleece/sweater. Again, in case it gets cold!

6. Take spare shoes. Don’t just rely on one pair. What if they break? I recall taking just one pair of flip-flops on a holiday, and they broke, uselessly flapping about with broken thongs. Obvs I looked ridiculous and had to just go barefoot when it happened. Nearly burned my feet, but never mind, eh? I wasn’t able to easily get out to flip-flop shops at the time, so a spare pair would’ve been useful. Luckily, I did have some other shoes packed; just not flip-flops. Which was a shame. On another occasion, a pair of walking boots disintegrated (I mean this literally. I left bits of my sole behind me as I walked). Not suggesting you lug an extra pair of walking boots about, but probably best to have something else available rather than just one set of footwear. Also, make sure you have sandals and shoes if halfway reasonable weather is a possibility but not a certainty, because one never knows if one’s toes will want to come out or stay in. It’s like the trousers versus shorts/dress conundrum. Only having sandals when it’s cold and wet = not good. Only having shoes/trainers when it’s hot = uncomfortable and sweaty. Yuck. This does not apply if you’re going to the Antarctic, of course. Use your common sense. Like I always do. Ahem!

7. Ensure you have comfortable shoes. Don’t try and walk around cities all day in high heels. I don’t bother with high heels at all on holiday; never end up wearing them. I expect men say the same. Mostly.

8. If you’re going somewhere where the weather really is likely to be wet and cold, take waterproof trousers. I once got awful cramp in my legs after getting my jeans completely soaked in the Lake District in winter. I don’t recommend this; it was jolly painful, especially when my legs came into contact with any cold air or surface. Sitting on a cold loo seat was distressing. More than normally so.

9. Take a swimsuit/trunks. Annoying if you get the chance to swim and then can’t because you lack the required attire. Mind you, I did swim in my pants and a vest once. No one noticed. They were biggish pants.

10. Take a spare pair of pants in hand luggage, along with a toothbrush. If your luggage is lost (which hopefully it won’t be, naturally, but you never know), you can’t wear the same pants for several days. Unless you like being stinky and filthsome. Yuck, again. N.B. The toothbrush is incidental here and separate to the pants. Don’t involve your toothbrush with your pants. Although I suppose it takes all sorts...

11. Not so much a ‘what-to-wear’ tip, but I’d recommend taking a laundry bag for dirty washing and bags to put dirty shoes in. I’m sure you do this anyway, as nobody wants to mix up their clean stuff with their dirty bits, do they (so to speak)?

So there you are: my top tips based on experience and my own folly. And a bit of common sense, of which I do possess a smidgen. Might add to this later when I’ve done something else daft that I didn’t think about in advance. Watch this space...