Travel Fashion by Guest Blogger Nizhoni!

I've got some pretty amazing friends. Ones who are super smart, super talented, and super adventurous. Though the first two definitely describe my lovely little "sis" Nizhoni, it's the adjective "adventurous" that seems to capture her spirit best. Having been out of the states for the last few years, she's traveled extensively while teaching English in South Korea, expanding her horizons culturally, physically, and fashionably. She definitely embraces the idea of "smart, simple, chic." Here, she tells you how you too can be just as adorable, comfortable, stylish, and travel-savvy as she is: all inside a backpack.

Packing Light 101: My tips for being a fashionable hippie backpacker

By Nizhoni Betley

February 15^th, 2013

Realistic Fashion While Traveling

As I check out the latest photos from the celebrity gossip rags, I can’t help to notice a pregnant Kim Kardashian sightseeing in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil with Kanye West, while wearing a long flowy dress and strappy stilettos. Is she really climbing the narrow cobbled stairs of the favelas in heels? How is she holding up the hem of her long dress and taking one handed pictures with one of those enormous National Geographic cameras? HOW? Then it strikes, me…Kim Kardashian is not traveling, she’s “pamper celebrity traveling.” That means, she is doing ZERO walking. She’s basically making an appearance in a foreign country, same as she would a club back in the states. Her entourage is taking her to a few select sights, where they roll up in their escalades, she gets out for a few minutes, tweets some photos, and then gets whisked back to her 5 start hotel. This is NOT how I travel. I stay in hostels, ride behind motorbikes, and walk EVERYWHERE. So while, I want to look cute paparazzi ready, just like Ms. Kardashian, I need to take a more realistic approach to me travel ensembles. That means, “I keep the heels at home.”  

The Backpack

When I travel, I only carry one backpack. It doesn’t matter if I’m going to be gone for 2 days or 2 months. One backpack is all I ever bring. When traveling you have to be as flexible as possible. The first step in being flexible, is having the ability to carry everything you need. With a backpack, I don’t have to check in any luggage, so I can go through the express check in or check myself in at the airport. Also when the plane lands, I don’t have to go to baggage claim and wait for my luggage and pray that it hasn’t been lost or on a flight landing at a different time. By cutting out the baggage claim aspect of traveling, I can pretty much get through immigration and out of an airport in 30 minutes.

Now, what exactly goes in my backpack? Well it all depends on where I’m going. It’s much easier to pack light when going to tropical countries. Summer clothes are generally small and light weight, plus you don’t need too many. Let me share with you, what I packed on a recent two week trip to Vietnam and the Philippines.   

Inside my backpack, you will find:

1 pair quick dry capri pants (military green)

1 pair quick dry long khaki pants, which can convert into capris

1 pair of jean shorts

2 short sleeve shirts (cream and beige)

1 tank top (black)

1 longs sleeve shirt (to either sleep in or use as a rash guard to avoid jellyfish stings)

1 lightweight long pair of pants to sleep in

1 hat

1 swimsuit

5 pairs of undies and socks

2 bras

1 pair flip flops

1 pair chucks

1 rain jacket/windbreaker

1 hoodie

1 handkerchief

1 pair brassy stud earrings

2 long necklaces

1 short towel (strictly for drying after washing)

1 sarong (to wear on occasion and use as a beach towel)

1 bag containing all my toiletries, which definitely includes a bottle of sunscreen SPF 50.  (*note: remember all liquid containers in carry-on luggage must fit into one clear plastic bag AND each bottle must be under 100 ml).  

1 iPad for entertainment while waiting in airports

1 day bag

The City Trip

The first leg of my trip was spent visiting Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Since this was a “city trip” certain items in my backpack were used more frequently than others. For example, exploring the city required lots of walking, therefore my trusty converses took me to sites such as the Notre Dame Cathedral, the War Remnants museum, and the Reunification Palace. I also wore my capris the majority of the time in Vietnam. Capris are the most appropriate bottoms to bring while traveling. They are not as constricting and covering as pants, but they still provide your leg with protection from the sun and adhere to local levels of conservatism. Most Asian countries are on the conservative side, so as a way to respect local norms as well as not draw too much attention to yourself as a solo traveler, it is best to stick to capri pants and tops with sleeves. Many of the temples you visit in South East Asia are either Buddhist or Muslim. Both will require you to at least cover your arms and legs if you want to take a look inside.    

 

The Beach Trip

The second part of my journey was spent taking a big boat, to a variety of deserted islands and villages in the Philippines. During the day I snorkeled, explored see caves, laid out on white sand beaches, and mingled with fishing village locals. While on a beach trip, there is not much you need-a swimsuit, hat, and bottle of sunscreen is about it. You don’t even need a beach towel. In fact, along with the high heels, go ahead and leave the big bulky beach towel at home. Instead, invest in a sarong once you get to your beach destination. A sarong is quick drying and can be used as a beach towel, shawl, skirt, or dress. I used my sarong to lie out on the beach, then as a cover up as I walked through villages and mingled with the locals. Another indisputable key item to bring on a beach trip is a light weight long sleeve shirt and long pants. While on a boat, these items can protect from the harsh sun reflecting off the water, and when on the beach in the evening, they will protect you from sand fleas and mosquitoes. Furthermore, a long sleeve shirt can double as a rash guard to shield you from the stings of jellyfish, while snorkeling.      

Things to Consider:

Before packing for any trip, there are a few things you need to take into account.

-Weather/Climate: Will you be going somewhere hot or cold? Will it be during the rainy or dry season?

-Accommodations: Will you be in hostels, nice hotels, or camping? If staying in hotels, leave the towels at home. If doing the hostel or camping scene, just bring a small hand towel. You can always dry off in the shower stall and put your clothes on there if you are sharing a room. The bottom line is full size towels take up valuable space.

-The local level of modesty: Depending on what part of the world you are traveling too, there will be different local standards of appropriate dress. Do your research before you go and find out what kinds of clothes are respectful to the culture you will be interacting with. For example, tank tops while backing through Europe are the norm, but you will be totally out of place wearing a tank top in let’s say---Egypt. Also keep in mind that levels of conservativeness change from city to country side. Take care to dress even more appropriately when taking trips to less touristy places.   

-Modes of transportation you will be taking: Unless you are filthy rich and/or a celebrity, traveling is synonymous to WALKING, so bring shoes you can walk in. Also bring a hoodie. All airports and air planes are cold regardless of their departure and arrival locations.

Packing and Dressing Tips:

l  Try to bring “convertible clothes.” Pants that can turn into capris or shorts are ideal. As are convertible dresses or sarongs. These items can be manipulated in a variety of ways and be worn in many different “looks.”

l  Limit the items you bring. Remember you are “traveling” not immigrating. You don’t want to be tied down to your stuff. Plus, you are going to want to buy souvenirs as you travel, so you will need room in your luggage for the stuff you accumulate along the way. I love to buy kitschy t-shirts when I travel and wear them as I go. When I get back home, I take a pair of scissors to them and create all kinds of hipster worthy halter tops.

l  Keep the colors of the basic clothes you pack, in the neutral color scheme. This way, you can do lots of piece mixing, and spice up your outfits with cool local jewelry, t-shirts, hats and colorful scarves you’ll collect along the way.

l  Finally, remember you can always wash your clothes. Most hostels and hotels offer some type of laundry service, and if they don’t most touristy areas have little shops that will do your laundry. And if push comes to shove, you can always hand wash your unmentionables and leave them in your room to dry while you sightsee.

 

Leave Room in your Bag and your Heart

Traveling is all about being free and open enough to leave the comfort and familiarity of home and experience a new way of life. The best part of traveling is being able to walk in someone else’s shoes. To do this, that means you have to, metaphorically, leave your shoes at home. Pack so you have the freedom to be spontaneous and the space to fill your backpack with souvenirs for the body, mind, and soul.