When the things in your wardrobe aren’t right for your upcoming summer trip to Europe or beach vacation in Cancun, it’s time to go shopping for stylish travel clothes to take with you. The type of travel clothes we prefer are lightweight, comfortable, flexible, and versatile – but still stylish.
There’s no reason to give up style when you travel. You don’t have to reduce your wardrobe to beige pants and shapeless dresses. There are far better ways to fill your travel wardrobe. Below are a few of our favorite travel brands and styles. We only include versatile options that can be mixed and matched and paired with layers.
Mix and match is the name of the game in travel. If you’re looking to streamline your travel wardrobe with versatile, stylish pieces that will help you cut down on luggage, there are some great options below.
These are travel clothes that I personally wear on our trips. They’ve been tested and approved by me, so you can be assured they meet our high standards.
Find the best travel purse, and our most recommended carry on luggage, guaranteed to fit in the overhead bin. We have lots of other packing recommendations. See all of our travel gear reviews.
How to Choose the Best Travel Clothing
We’ve come to understand that the best clothes are quality clothes: they use the best fabrics that don’t scratch, snag or pill, they have extra features like hidden pockets and secure zippers, and they are designed and constructed well so they lay right and don’t become annoying. We’ve come to rely on a few favorite travel clothing brands for reliable, high-quality travel clothes.
Our favorites are Bluffworks, Arc’teryx, Mott & Bow, Columbia, SCOTTeVEST, Free Fly Apparel, Unbound Merino, and Aviator USA. When it comes to finding great travel clothes that are both functional and stylish, it pays to stick with the top brands that have proven themselves with reliable styles and great customer service.
Creating a Versatile Travel Wardrobe
For most every day travelers there are a few things you really can’t go without. If you buy the right set of travel clothing, you won’t need many items. They will be multi-functional enough to be mixed and matched for all situations, like dining out at a nice restaurant, hiking, airplane travel, etc.
For women, we recommend stocking your travel wardrobe with the following versatile items: (Click the links to jump down to our recommendations below)
- Travel pants
- Versatile skort
- Versatile shirt
- Comfortable pair of capris
- Women’s dress
- Travel jeans
- Lightweight jacket
Best Travel Clothes for Women
★ Our Favorite Women’s Jeans: Mott & Bow Slim Boyfriend Jeans
I’m a sucker for a good pair of jeans, and I’ve definitely found that at Mott & Bow. I actually have a few pairs of these jeans, both in the boyfriend fit, which is a modern slim fit with a mid-rise that’s not baggy like some boyfriend fit jeans are. Pair them with Mott & Bow t-shirts for the perfect pairing.
They are a nice medium weight demin that’s soft and flexible, so they don’t feel like they’re painted on and won’t allow for easy movement. They do have some elasticity to make them moveable, but they don’t get baggy with repeated wear, which is great because I often take only 2 pairs of pants for a 7-day trip.
Key Features
- NYC-based clothing company
- Super comfortable
- 23% elasticity for comfort and fit
- Stylish, modern cut
- Fit true to size
- Don’t stretch out with repeated wear
PrAna Womens Halle Pants
These pants are made with 97% Nylon and 3% Spandex. The four-way stretch design with reinforced knees makes them really comfortable to move around in, so they’re great for all types of travel situations. I find them to be fairly wrinkle-free and quick to dry.
There are two pockets in the back with flaps sealed with silver buttons, plus a secret hidden pocket on the top right leg, which you can see fairly well. The front closure consists of a zipper and two silver buttons. Aside from being really durable, breathable and water resistant, the Halle travel pants also have a roll-up feature, so you can easily turn them into shorts. They come in three different lengths and it’s important to get the one that fits you right.
Woolx Piper Pocket Leggings
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If you’re always on the hunt for that perfect pair of travel leggings, the ones that check all the boxes for comfort, function, and style, the WoolX Piper Pocket Leggings are the ones I’d pick. They’re made from a premium merino wool blend that feels luxuriously soft against the skin, but more importantly, they perform. These leggings regulate temperature naturally, keeping you warm on chilly flights and cool during long walks in the city.
Women's Travel Skirt
Jack Wolfskin Women’s Desert Skort
One of my favorite skorts for traveling is from Jack Wolfskin. It comes in dark blue and dessert green. The waist is a comfortable elastic with drawstring. The inner short is a lightweight mesh that is silky.
The skirt is a light, soft textured fabric, with active moisture management and odor inhibiting properties. The material also has a UPF 40+ sun protection built in. If you’re a light packer, you can be confident that this skirt will suit many occasion and it doesn’t wrinkle easily. There are two regular pockets. This is the most comfortable skirt (skort) I own. I love the built-in shorts.
Women's Travel T-Shirts
Woolx Crew Neck & V Neck with ultralight merino DuraLite® fabric
Woolx t-shirts are one of those pieces that quietly earn a permanent spot in your travel wardrobe. Made from merino wool, they strike a really nice balance between comfort and performance, feeling soft against the skin without the itch people sometimes associate with wool. They have a flattering, easy fit that works just as well for a long travel day as it does for a casual dinner out.
What stands out most is how well these shirts handle repeat wear. You can wear them multiple times before needing a wash, which is a huge advantage when you’re trying to pack light. They regulate temperature surprisingly well too, keeping you cool in warm weather and adding a bit of warmth when it’s chilly, making them a reliable option across different climates.
They’re not the most budget-friendly t-shirts you’ll pack, but they deliver real value over time. Fewer washes, less bulk in your suitcase, and the ability to mix and match easily all make a difference on the road.
Mott & Bow Tees
I’m a little bit addicted to these Mott & Bow t-shirts. They are super soft and very lightweight, plus just the right length. I can easily pack 5 of these shirts in a very small space, leaving room for other essentials like another pair of shoes. They come in a whole bunch of different colors, so you can really mix and match.
If you buy them in a 3-pack, you save about 10%, and in a 6-pack you save about 17%. Definitely worth it, especially since each pack has all different colors. They also come in short or long-sleeves.
Pair them with the Mott & Bow jeans featured above and you have a really great wardrobe for travel that’s simple to pack and really comfortable.
Womens Travel Dresses
Woolx Cassie Dress
The Woolx Cassie dress is one of those rare travel pieces that feels as comfortable as loungewear but looks polished enough for a full day out. Made from the same soft merino wool as their t-shirts, it’s breathable, lightweight, and easy to wear in a range of temperatures. The simple, flattering silhouette makes it incredibly versatile, whether you’re exploring a new city or heading out to dinner.
One of the biggest advantages of the Cassie dress is how low-maintenance it is on the road. Like other merino pieces, it resists odors and doesn’t need frequent washing, which is ideal when you’re packing light. It also dries quickly and resists wrinkles, so you can pull it out of your suitcase and wear it without much thought.
While it’s more of an investment piece, the versatility really makes it worth considering. You can dress it up with sandals or keep it casual with sneakers, and it layers easily with a jacket or scarf.
SCOTTeVEST Daisy Dress
I love this Daisy Dress. It’s got more pockets than you’ll know what to do with. It comes in three colors: black, navy, and plum. I have the navy. I love it so much because it’s stylish, comfortable and functional, which is a lot to ask of a travel dress. I haven’t found another that I like as much as this one.
I can wear it for all occasions – just casually while walking around during the day, or dressed up for dinner, or to a show or play. It’s an all-around great dress. Like I mentioned earlier it has 8 pockets, some with zippers (like the one in the back), where I can stash a few things to keep my hands free.
The material is super soft and breathable, with 65% bamboo to help regulate body temperature to keeping you cool and comfortable. I’ve found that it doesn’t wrinkle easily and it’s really easy to care for.
Other items I really like from SCOTTeVEST are the Fireside Fleece Vest and the Suzie QZip Sport – a high performance fabric pullover.
Women's Travel Capris
Fly Free Women’s Breeze Cropped Pant
There are so many things to like about these cropped pants. They are super lightweight and breezy, so they can hold up to really hot sticky weather in Europe in the summer. They also have a 50+ UPF rating, which is a huge added bonus.
The quick-dry fabric is great for light packers who don’t mind doing some sink laundry. They don’t come out wrinkly and they’re dry overnight.
I also like the wide elastic waistband. It’s stretchy enough not to feel like it’s cutting into your circulation when you’re sitting for long periods of time on a flight and it has a drawstring, to tighten, if you want. They’re really quite comfortable and versatile – great for just walking around or even for hiking.
They come in a bunch of nice neutral colors too, so they can be paired easily. I would recommend sizing up, as I found the calf of my usual mediums were a bit tight.
Anytime Outdoor Capri Pants – Columbia
Columbia’s Anytime Outdoor line is great for travelers. I really like these capris, but I also really like their pants. The material is very soft and lightweight. It’s got a bit of stretch so it’s easy to move around, but they don’t lose their shape.
They are probably the most comfortable pair of capris I have. I would wear them every day if I could.
The drawstring isn’t really necessary as long as you get the right size, so I’ve removed it. It felt like it was always in the way. None of the pockets have zippers, but the back pocket does have a Velcro closure.
Another drawback is that the material does pill quickly once you start wearing them – mostly in the crotch. It doesn’t make them any less comfortable, but it would be nice if that wasn’t an issue.
Lightweight Travel Jacket
SCOTTeVEST Fireside Fleece Vest
A vest has great functionality for fall and winter, when you’re not quite chilled enough for a full jacket, but you’re looking to keep your core warm. This Fireside Fleece Vest is a great investment as a travel jacket, because it’s got both form and function. There are no less than 15 strategically placed pockets in this vest.
I have the charcoal color which I feel goes with just about everything I own. I wear it over a long-sleeved shirt most of the time. It’s a bit heavy (with all those pockets!), but it’s well fitted and sleek, so no one’s going to notice that you have a bunch of stuff tucked away – keys, cell phone, wallet, chapstick, sunglasses, even a tablet! There’s a place for it all.
The vest is also very soft and warm. The fleece is quite cozy. It’s 100% polyester fleece and it’s machine washable.
Fly Free Bamboo Lightweight Hoodie II
This lightweight hoodie is great for cool nights. It’s a thin t-shirt material, so it’s not providing a lot of warmth, but just enough protection from a breeze on a cool summer night. It has a UPF 20+ rating so it’s great to cover up with in the sun. The crossover hood covers your neck well, and there are thumbholes in the sleeves.
I’ve paired this with Free Fly’s Cropped Pant. They are both very lightweight and breezy and perfect for a walk on the beach in the sun, or for wearing out on the water. It’ll keep you cool and covered.
It comes in 9 different colors (as of writing) and a large range of sizes. If you buy your usual size, you’ll likely find that it’s a bit loose, but it does shrink a little when washed. I don’t recommend tumble drying it.
Arc’teryx Atom Hoodie
The Arc’teryx Atom Hoodie is one of the best lightweight travel jackets I’ve owned. It really lives up to its name in that it’s super light and can easily be stuffed into a backpack while traveling. Just because it’s light doesn’t mean it’s not warm. It has a thin layer of internal insulation, topped with a super soft outer layer that is water resistant and protects against wind.
The hood is treated with a water repellent and it’s insulated, so you can trust it will hold up in all conditions. Really, it’s perfect for mild conditions where you just need a light layer to keep warm, but you don’t want to carry around a bulky fleece or jacket.
CONCLUSION
The clothing you take on vacation needs to be lightweight and easy to mix and match, so you can get the most out of your luggage space. We love these versatile and stylish travel clothes to form a wardrobe that can go anywhere with you.
Laura Lynch, creator and writer of Savored Journeys, is an avid world traveler, certified wine expert, and international food specialist. She has written about travel and food for over 20 years and has visited over 75 countries. Her work has been published in numerous guidebooks, websites, and magazines.
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Cool suggestions!
I want the jacket shown in the cover photo!