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Saturday, March 17, 2018

Where can I find a space-saving, time-saving, weight-saving travel outfit?

Problem
I want to take as little luggage as possible. My luggage should not weight a lot. I should be able to match things up quickly.

Answer
I used to have a simple travel scheme for weekends away and short travel trips of less than a week. I had black long skirts and knee-length skirts and trousers, a day white blouse, a black ribbon tie to add quickly to turn my daytime blouse into an evening white blouse and red scarves and long cardigans in red, plus a black jacket with a removable hood.

My other staples were a wrap around black Thai silk evening skirt, which fitted me whatever my weight.

I travelled with two pairs of sandals which both had velcro or touch and close straps. One pair was sturdy for daytime. The other pair was smarter for the evening, either gold or black with a fancy flower or decoration.

I am always looking for adaptable clothing.

I regularly hunt on Amazon, eBay, Etsy and the internet for the magic words:
adjustable length
bridal train
convertible clothing
convertible dress
convertible pants / trousers
detachable
detachable bag
detachable collar
detachable dickey
detachable lining
detachable strips
dress and jacket
fake collar
false tail
four-piece outfit
inside pockets
lightweight
matching hat
matching hood
multi-bag stacker
multi-purpose
multi-way
multi-way bra
multi-way dress
overskirt
raglan sleeves
removable collar
removable sleeves
reversible
reversible dress
reversible hat
reversible skirt
skirt suitable sleeves
space-saving
touch and close
trouser suit
two-way
Velcro.

Convertible skirts and matching reversible tops
https://heleneclarkson.com/products/halle-reversible-skirt?variant=4634228260894

Convertible Dresses
Convertible dresses generally are tube shape and can be pulled up over your bust to make a knee length short dress, or pulled down to make a skirt or calf-length dress. Sometimes they came in two lengths.

You often get two large scarf lengths from the centre which can go over one shoulder like a saree, tie behind the neck like a backless beach sarong (if it's the weather for this kind of half outfit, and if you are the type who doesn't mind being half-naked in an outfit which looks like a large shapeless bandage and is likely to slip off. Suits slim glamourous types. Otherwise you look like you just stepped out of the shower in a towel.

I bought one second hand from Avon. it just looked crumpled. I ordered another one from the USA. I wanted a jolly colour, but it looked like beach wear and crumpled.

However, I realised that a long skirt with an elastic waist could be pulled up. If you had a matching scarf, you could attach it with safety pins at the front and back to cover your arms and shoulders, and bustline if that looked more elegant.

You need a good figure or support underwear in an outfit which has no cut. It can be either clingy or shapeless - or both, in different places. The quality of the fabric makes all the difference.

Women
Amazon
Convertible dress makes 20 outfits, they say.
Bandeau style in dark plain colour, looks sensible to me.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ultimate-Travel-Dress-convertible-outfits/dp/B0762476ZR?th=1&psc=1

Canadian Weekenders
Years ago I bought a black skirt from a party-selling event in a neighbour's house, selling Weekenders, a brand which started in Canada.

The black skirt had two long ribbons or belts at the right and left from the waist, four ribbons in all. They were designed to be tied into a bow and the front of back or both, or one side or both. Alternatively as cross straps.

I bought a set or rings, one pair square and one pair round. you pulled the right him though one of the rings and the left hem through another of rigns to shorten the hem and make a fancy scalloped effect, with ruching at the side.

I later had the idea of tyeing together the two corners of a slit skirt to shorten it. This, similarly to the Weekender skirt tie-up, created what looked like a different outfit (especially  if the drawn up effect reveals a lace-edged slip or underskirt.


J D Williams
Reversible Gilet
https://www.jdwilliams.co.uk/shop/reversible-gilet/tm353/product/details/show.action?pdBoUid=7201#colour:Navy%20Multi,size: about £35.
They usually have a skirt and top to match in reverible colours, sometimes a dress with matching skarf. You may be able to get leftover stock at the end of the season, or used items through ebay.

Men
Button front, roll up tab sleeve shirt, various colours, about £16 plus postage:
https://www.bullring.co.uk/shoponline/product/ed038400666d/buttonfront-rolltab-sleeve

https://www.mountainwarehouse.com/stride-mens-stretch-zip-off-trousers-p17693.aspx/black/
Various colours; about £50 plus postage.

Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.


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