earl30

My wife would rather stay home than travel wearing cheap underwear. And my mother would die if I were in an accident in Europe and was discovered wearing Dollar Store jockeys.

SeaUrchin

Oh, Degas, you are funny.

Women's styles change so often, that even something five years old, if it isn't a classic style looks dated.

I agree with Carrolldf, I want to look and feel sophisticated and beautiful on a trip because it is one of the happiest events of my year and I want to reflect that in my continence.

I treat it as the special time that it is to me.

SeaUrchin

Ha, I meant countenance, the other word does say something for disposable undies though, lol.

earl30

pink jogging suits go out of style?

escholtzia

Actually, I will go to the 99 cent store and buy umbrellas, washcloths and disposable raincoats. I do not trash them, though-they go to Oxfam.

dlm531

Oh Degas! There's nothing like a sharp-dressed man!! LOL

Tat

"guy with some flashy new discount duds"
was a joke, right ? Please, if it wasn't - do not reassure me, OK ?

I want to ask you, travelers, all you (soon us) are looking for Prada backpacks those are used as "truks" to store items while walking around, sightseeing, right ?
How is it possible to looksofisticated and beautifull while carying "truck", child and running after husband.
Even if I saw stud with discount duds - I do not think he would see me (that obviously trying to catch up with that bold hunk who is trying to catch up with that 25 y/old French-cream-brulle-beauty-Queen

easytraveler

Guess this thread proves that we are pretty individualistic and each has his/her own style of travelling.

Me, I've done so many business trips overseas and worn so many conservative business suits that, when travelling for my own pleasure, I say: bring on the Dollar Store t-shirts!

Comfort, convenience, and more comfort. I'm not into image projecting when busily gawking at a gargoyle.

ThinGorjus

I have a friend who is the heiress to a newspaper forune. She loves to buy stuff from TJ Maxx then throw it away whilst on holiday. She says that way she will have more room in her luggage for all the jewelry she purchases.

StCirq

carrolldf:

You've coined a fabulous new travel phrase:

<<love at first site>>

=D>

HeatherH

I don't tend to "pack and throw away" clothes, but I do leave behind any cosmetics/shampoo type stuff. I also "nestle" my luggage. I will take the medium size piece with the small one inside, just pack the small one, and on the way home, I have a whole suitcase for my new stuff. (What can I say, I love to shop!) Yes, I have two pieces of luggage to worry with on the way home, but I take a taxi to return to the airport anyway, and they connect so it is as easy to pull two as it is to pull one!

Bitter

What a vicious circle or cycle this could become: I can just see the Europeans latching back onto the Flashdance look, as teams of Americans arrive in their slightly worn legwarmers and oversized Firenza sweaters. Then, upon returning home (sans legwarmers and sweaters) those Americans would read in Vogue how the Flashdance look is all the rage in Europe and crossing the Atlantic. And so it would go...

SeaUrchin

Thingorj, TJMAxx has designer clothes too that are in style, probably just closeouts. I have some really nice bags and scarves that were great "finds" at those stores such as Marshalls, Ross.

But they are not so inexpensive usually that I would toss them unless I were an heiress.

carrolldf

St Cirq -- I wondered if anyone would catch that.

mcgeezer

Because I recycle, reuse and try my best to look after Mother Earth, I have to wonder why you are wasting so casually? The point for me isn't the room in the suitcase or the cost; it's the room in the landfill. How much room can your underwear take up?
Wear what you want to bring home and if it's time to throw away some old socks and underwear do that, then dispose of those discreetly. Since you asked; I think it's disgraceful to waste.
But that's just my opinion.

crepes_a_go_go

How much room can underwear take up? And besides, I need my pantygirdle just as much in Paris as I do here at home! Except for cleaning house or working in the yard, who wants to dress in clothes ready for the trash bin?

Christina

I have to admit I'm in the camp of Seaurchin, McGeezer, Crepesagogog, et al. I would never take clothes with me traveling that are ready for the trash bin or Salvation Army. yuck. I would never wear underwear that is so worn out it is ready for the trashcan. I also wouldn't wear underwear from the dollar store. I care about my underwear and what it looks and feels like. I might wear clothes like that to do yardwork or wash the car, which is when I do wear things maybe ready for the trash heap.

Taking a few pair of nice microfiber panties which wash and dry quickly takes up hardly any room in the suitcase. I don't really wear Tshirts so that's not an issue for me -- at least I wouldn't wear them in public around Paris.

I also really don't like our disposable society and the idea of buying clothes just to throw them away after one use. I probably could afford to do that but I wouldn't, because I think it's wrong ecologically.

I will tell you one thing I do pack and throw away. Little bottles of shampoo or toiletries, as someone else said. Also, paperback books for reading. I know a lot of people may not take books on trips, but I read a lot and like to have something to read at various times (on the plane, to relax at night, etc.). So I will take paperback books that I don't think I will want to read again or that are secondhand or "junk" novels, and throw them away when done. I don't throw away guidebooks, however, as I've read some people do, because they are more expensive and I often want to refer to them or use them again.

I am not a big shopper and don't need a lot of extra room for purchases. I usually have a little extra room in my suitcase when I pack for any new purchases, or even buy a cheap totebag or something to put them in which can be checked on the return flight. This can be good for shoes or anything bigger which might not fit in your original suitcase and aren't breakable.

cigalechanta

I would think you should put your best foot forward because we travellers represent our country and I think you will be setting a good example for your children. The only dispoable things I bring are terry wash cloths because you usually are not supplied with them at most places.

mcgeezer

I have a half shelf in my library devoted to paperbacks that I save for airplanes. These are light reading books that I usually pick up for a quarter at the library's book sale.
I agree with the micro fiber undies, it only takes a moment to wash them out, if your really lazy then hop in the shower with them on. They will be dry by the time you're finished site seeing.
I carry a small folding duffle for any knick knacks I pick up along the way. If I ever buy anything large then I ship it home.

Calamari

mcgeezer- hop in the shower with your micro fiber undies...

That reminds me of when my kids piled into the bathroom at our hotel in London after a very long hot dirty day. They felt that they and their clothes were so dirty that they "washed" their clothes and shoes in the tub while they were bathing.