Do you travel with linen clothes?

Old May 14th, 2007, 05:39 AM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,251
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Do you travel with linen clothes?

I'm asking because, although I wear linen at home when it's hot, I've never taken it on vacation because of the rumple factor. I hate to iron at home and would never, ever consider taking a travel iron with. Plus, the types of places we stay are unlikely to have irons for use even if I were so inclined to spend my vacation ironing.

I'm asking because we leave this week for Turkey. I anticipate some parts will be hot and I would be more comforable in linen than in the more synthetic ex-officio travel capris I typically take. I learned the hard way in Vietnam this winter that synthetic fabric travel apparel may look nice and fresh, but it is not as comfortable. So, I am considering taking a couple pairs of linen capris.

If you take linen clothes, do you just ignore the fact that they will look awful after being compressed in a suitcase, worn for days, and then handwashed in a hotel sink? Just curious. Thanks.

julies is online now  
Old May 14th, 2007, 05:42 AM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,023
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
You know what? I don't even wear linen in "real life" anymore. Can't stand how it looks like a wrinkled mess the minute you do something like sit on a bus for 5 minutes.
beaupeep is offline  
Old May 14th, 2007, 05:44 AM
  #3  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 49,560
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I love linen and linen blends in the summer and always take at least one linen sundress and a pair of linen pants or capris. I'm not too concerned about the rumpled factor, but I do usually hang them up in the bathroom, run the shower on hot full tilt for a few minutes, and smooth them out with my hands/fingers. Works well enough for me (but mind you, I'm not aiming for that totally crisp look and would probably not wear those linens out for fine dining).
StCirq is offline  
Old May 14th, 2007, 05:45 AM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 43,531
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 1 Post
Yes I do. But they must be made in a very simple fashion so you can press them by sitting on them, don't laugh, I do that or drip dry them and "Press the seams with my hand.
cigalechanta is offline  
Old May 14th, 2007, 05:47 AM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,336
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I love linen in all neutral colours. I wear it wrinkled and I like the look especially at the beach.

highflyer is offline  
Old May 14th, 2007, 05:50 AM
  #6  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,642
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Yes, I wear linen blends most of the summer. They look fine. Good linen blends don't wrinkle that badly.
I try to avoid seriouly dressy occasions in the summer so I don't have to fret over a few wrinkles.
BTilke is offline  
Old May 14th, 2007, 05:57 AM
  #7  
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,238
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Yes, I do, linen blends-and in Europe, you see a lot of linen being worn, by both men and women.
Girlspytravel is offline  
Old May 14th, 2007, 06:07 AM
  #8  
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,510
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I like linen in the summer, too. I never iron it when I'm traveling, but I always pack a small spray bottle that I can fill with water.
I hang my wrinkled clothes up in the bathroom, spritz them with water, and the wrinkles come right out. If I'm in a hurry I blow the hairdryer on them for a minute. It really works!
marcy_ is offline  
Old May 14th, 2007, 06:15 AM
  #9  
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 25,422
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
I wear linen a lot and also some linen mixed with lycra (say 2%) which seems to solve the rumple factor
bilboburgler is offline  
Old May 14th, 2007, 06:36 AM
  #10  
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 375
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Have you tried linen blends, or silk blends?

I try to buy natural fibers when selecting all my clothing. Both linen and silk can be blended with cotton and it has less of a wrinkle factor. Luckily since Hollywood is finally on the green kick, more designers are using these materials and there are more designs to choose from now.


But I do have to admit, I bring along my travel size steamer (made in Italy)It is compact and all you do is add tap water. Looks like an iron but is a steamer.
parisnow is offline  
Old May 14th, 2007, 07:07 AM
  #11  
 
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 23,200
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I could never bother with a steamer or an iron on vacation (part of the reason I do not look as neat as I would like) but I do often take black linen pants and shirts...I pack them with tissue paper and do not worry about the inevitable wrinkles.
ekscrunchy is online now  
Old May 14th, 2007, 07:38 AM
  #12  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,020
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I thought at first this was the same thread I responded to the other week asking the same question. I too am a linen lover and always wear it when traveling during warm months. I use tissue or plastic bags (like you sometimes get in stores with a new purchase, or from the cleaners) to pack it, which does help. I don't mind pressing a few pieces with my travel steam iron when needed. Our internist (who is also a friend) is a linen lover and told me one day that linen is chic even when wrinkled! I have to agree.
Giovanna is offline  
Old May 14th, 2007, 07:48 AM
  #13  
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 4,464
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Once the temperature hits 70, I am into linens. I think linen always looks chic, even when wrinkled. When packing, I use hangers and cover with dry cleaner's plastic bags and they always arrive relatively wrinkle-free.
OReilly is offline  
Old May 14th, 2007, 08:14 AM
  #14  
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 10,310
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
julies, rolling the capris helps too.
gomiki is online now  
Old May 14th, 2007, 09:08 AM
  #15  
 
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
no
why would you want to iron daily?
don't do it
worldtalker is offline  
Old May 14th, 2007, 09:36 AM
  #16  
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 57,890
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I take linen blends - so the wrinkling is much less. And I do the hanging in the shower to minimize wrinkles. Also- cotton is very cool, either woven or knit - and wrinkles less.

(No ironing. If it's some sort of special event that I MUST be unwrinkled I have the hotel iron the outfit.)
nytraveler is offline  
Old May 14th, 2007, 10:55 AM
  #17  
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 384
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Always travel with linen and NEVER iron. I would rather be comfortable than worry about some wrinkles!
travel2live is offline  
Old May 14th, 2007, 11:59 AM
  #18  
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,238
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I can't tell you how many European men and women I've seen walking around Paris and Rome, Germamy in the summer and spring in wrinkled linen suits and separates-no one seems to mind that much.
Girlspytravel is offline  
Old May 14th, 2007, 12:11 PM
  #19  
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 45,322
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Hi julies, yes I do wear linen or linen blend both here at home where it gets very hot and on vacations when the weather is hot. I have linen clothes I have purchased is Italy and they are still beautiful. All of my friends in Italy wear linen and they just don't fuss about the wrinkles. I don't like synthetic materials so linen, cotton or silk is my preferance.
LoveItaly is offline  
Old May 13th, 2010, 09:31 PM
  #20  
 
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
yes, i am also a linen lover, wearing linen shirt and linen socks in summer, never think about the wrinkle, just wear it!lol
nikslinen is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -