The world has become a ‘global village’ in more ways than one. As a result, more people than ever are travelling abroad. In the past, travelers dressed up for their journey, be it by plane, train, or ship. It was expected that you would ‘put your best foot forward’ as it were, and dress as if one were going to church or the country club for dinner.
Additionally, travelers understood they were not just on vacation, but they were in essence representatives of their home country, and commonly dressed to impress.
As travel became less costly, it became more accessible to all and the destinations we could travel to open up greatly as advances were made in both politics and technology.
Now, travelers are no longer expected to dress up when they travel, however, there are certain things you should still consider when choosing what to wear for travel.
- Seat Mates
One of the things people very typically never think about is their potential seatmate. It is understood that people who travel together will plan to sit together on the train or plan. However, as the old Scottish saying goes, ”Best laid plans of mice and men oft go awry”.
Therefore, you should keep in mind that you and your travel companion could be split up, and seated next to child, elderly person, or a person who holds certain religious ethic and beliefs.
It is not necessary to wear a suit and tie, or a Victorian-style dress with a high collar and long sleeves. Just keep in mind that the outfit you might plan to wear while sitting next to your partner could suddenly become inappropriate and make both you and your new seatmate uncomfortable.
- Local Religious Customs
The purpose of traveling is the final destination. You should keep in mind that when you disembark from the plane, train or ship, you will be walking into the destination of your choice, even before you leave the terminal.
In this age of the Internet, you can research your destination to find out what, if any, restrictions may be enforced due to religious beliefs, or other local customs and laws.
This information will not only help you choose what to pack, but also what you should wear on your journey so that there is no problems from the time you arrive.
- Dress Head to Toe
Shoes are often at the bottom of the list when thinking about what to wear when we are traveling.
Yes, women typically think about what shoes go with what outfit for their time at their destination of choice, however, you have to get there first.
Keep in mind; there will be a lot of walking through the terminals, a lot of standing in line and a lot of waiting around before ever boarding. You will certainly want to wear comfortable shoes for all this, as well as shoes you can walk in when you arrive.
While athletic shoes (tennis shoes, trainers, etc.) are worn in most countries these days, there are certain considerations with regard to other types of shoes. You will need to consider whether you will be requiring nice, dressy shoes as well as what is socially acceptable, and also hygienic. You will encounter a wide range of situations, from dog (or other animal) feces, insects and various surfaces outside your home location. So, you may want to think about closed, sturdy, comfortable shoes. Certainly never wear new shoes that have not been broken in.
- Layers
It is often chilly on airplanes, and trains can be a bit warm. It is wise to dress in layers so that you can apply or remove anything necessary to suit the temperatures. If you wear a nice top and a cardigan over it, the cardigan can be removed if needed, and re-applied as the evening cools. Likewise, a windbreaker over a nice shirt, such as a polo-type shirt, can make comfortable and visually pleasing attire.
Conclusion
Above all, no matter what you do end up choosing to wear on your adventures, you will want to choose comfortable fitting, breathable, and wrinkle-resistant clothing. You certainly do not want to walk off the plane, train, or ship looking like a stowaway.