Shopping for women’s travel clothing can be a challenge. On one hand, you want clothing that is functional (more on that below), but you also don’t want to look like a ‘typical’ tourist is traditional hiking pants and sneakers. I  always try to pack light when we travel, so I’ve become pretty particular with our travel clothes. Since we try to pack as few items as possible, we like to make sure we are bringing items that will last and be versatile.

Our criteria for travel clothing

When looking for new travel clothes, we always try to look for items that are:

• Durable
• Lightweight (although this can be challenges in winter months)
• Dries quickly (in case we need to wash it to rewear)
• Can be worn more than once (without getting funky)
• Doesn’t wrinkle (at least not much)
• Is relatively stylish (We still want to look good in our travel gear!)

While it’s not always the case, we’ve found that ‘atheleisure‘ clothing lines are usually a great places to start since their clothes often fit most of the criteria above and can transition between city and adventure travel well.

My  Favorite Women’s Travel Clothing Sites

• Athleta– – I’ve been shopping at Athleta since the brand launched for good reason. Their ‘atheleisure’ clothes are durable, versatile, and usually pretty on-trend. While not the cheapest clothing line, I find their pieces to be a great investment for women’s travel clothing. I also love that Athleta has recently become more inclusive in the sizes they offer, with several items available in sizes from 00 to 26, including some items in petite sizes. TIP: They typically have sales at least twice a year (winter and summer), where you can get some great steals. I bought a normally $75 rashguard for less than $20 this past summer, which I will come in handy when we go to tropical destinations!

Best for Business Travel

• • Margaret M– When I discovered Margaret M’s slimming pant’s line (sizes 0-18), I pretty much only wore them for work. Now, I’ve realized they make great travel pants that can be dressed up or down. They are incredible comfortable, flattering, and still somehow look polished. They now make skirts and shorts in addition to multiple styles of pants in fun patterns, but the Marlie Straight Leg Slimming Pant is still my favorite, which I now own in five different patterns. 

• • Elizabeth & Clarke- This line is favorite for their ‘unstainable’ fabric technology (in sizes 00-18). As a chronic spiller, I can attest that their shirts do, in fact, resist staining! I mostly wear their clothes for work travel, but their blouses can easily be dressed down for a casual look in the city. My closet now features several of their shirts, but I get the most compliments on The Parker style.

Best for Active wear and Adventure Travel             

• Backcountry– Whenever we plan an adventure trip (such as hiking, camping, etc.), I end up visiting Backcountry to find our gear. They have a wide selection of some of my favorite outdoor brands like Prana, Northface, and Patagonia. TIP: Check out their sale section for some great deals on last year’s styles that are still usually totally cute and fully functional.
  
• Woolx- Though this company sells many more items, I’m particularly a fan of their  wool t-shirt (yes, a wool t-shirt) (sizes XS- 2XL). Their clothing is definitely an investment (the t-shirt is $70), I’m convinced it’s worth the investment. My tee is incredibly soft, lightweight, and has resisted retaining any kind of smell despite wearing it to exercise in. It somehow keeps me cool when it’s hot, yet somehow it also acts as a great base layer for this chilly Wisconsin winter. I expect to have this shirt for years to come, and for it to be a staple in my travel and exercise wardrobes. TIP: They also makes men’s clothing.

Best for Just About Anything Else You Need

• • Nordstrom– Ok, so a big department store probably isn’t much of a ‘hot tip’, but I’d be remiss to not list Nordstrom here since I’ve found some great travel items there. Nordstrom carries some of my favorite travel brands, like:
    • Blondo– for waterproof, yet stylish shoes and boots
    • Caslon– for inexpensive, cozy knits that pack up well
    • Chantelle Lingerie– for my favorite travel underwear ever     

If I still can’t find what I’m looking for, I turn to the experts at Stitch Fix

If I’m really having trouble finding pieces for an upcoming trip, I sometimes turn to the styling experts at Stitch Fix for help. I’ve admittedly had mixed luck with Stitch Fix- I’ve returned entire fixes more than once because the style was off, but I have found a few good finds. When we traveled to Dubai last October, I had trouble finding pieces that would be light and summery enough while still being modest. I explained the situation to my Stitch Fix stylist, and she ended up sending me a cute blouse that I was able to wear at least twice on the trip. TIP: Stitch Fix also has men’s and children’s clothing now.

Special offer for PlanIt Wandering readers: Get a $25 credit by signing up for a new Stitch Fix account and making your first purchase and via my referal link.

Be sure to visit Trip Planning Toolkit to find more tips on travel clothing and packing.