I am another person who would not dress from a dollar store to save space, I take an expandable bag too. I have thrown out magazines and bags from stores to make room, but not my clothes.

I always take my favorite clothes that I love on a trip, it just makes me feel better.
In the morning I lay them out on the bed and tell them what a nice day we are going to have so they had better perk up and resist wrinkles, then I put them on and with a loving pat on my own bottom - off we go.

"and tell them what a nice day we are going to have"
Pinch me, please !!!!!!!!!!!
Confession : I talk to a dog ...

It is not happenning, I feel my question makes people ... unpredictable.

I feel the same way about microfiber as many of you about dollar store stuff.
I do not let syntetic's touch me !
... and my family !
So, I'll better go with dollar cotton then best microfiber ! But that's me.

I promise I will not put a shame on the image of the US abroad(I speak with a great accent, (they will not immediatelly guess) so I will NOT tell them where I am from if I'll feel I am not dressed proper enough to make my country proud ! Or if I tell - I will name some imaginary place like "Zhenovia&quot. And if I feel my clothes not appropriate for the event I will pray for Europeans not to be as snobish as some of my American fellows and not judge Zhenovia by my appearance.

I have so much fun reading this thread, thak you all.
We know a lot about each other underwear now, don't we ?

Do not hide your heritage, be proud of it.

I have enjoyed reading this thread and all the views of what to pack. I pack stuff that I won't cry about if it doesn't make it home. I hope all the undies, shirts, pants, etc. make it home, but you never know -- and I carryon only. I wash out clothes and bring along a clothes line I bought at Sharon Luggage with suction cups on the end and a twist line so you don't need clothes pins.

ncgrrl
who wears cotton undies and speaks with a southern accent.

I don't think we are talking about wearing rags over to Europe. We all have clothes that are at the end of their useful life, whether because of wear, fashion or redundancy,but which are hardly dowdy. Frankly, I'm guessing even those of you who suggest you are wearing only nice stuff have a few items that you SHOULD throw away, but keep wearing! I think it is a great idea to take these items out for one last hurrah (sp?). And it is smart, as mentioned above, to take things you won't miss should you (or the airline) lose them. And if the clothing is going into the trash anyway, what does it matter whether it is a European or US landfill.

Just to throw a monkey wrench into the conversation, when I have run short of anklets (socks) on a trip, have purchased several pair at a dollar store and lo and behold, I love them, cannot wear them out, they are lasting and lasting and lasting, better than some of the much more expensive. So you could be caught in that turmoil, they would not wear out well enough to throw away. GOOD LUCK. halfpint

Hey guys, I think it's TK MAXX, not TJ!
GOOD stuff! Can't wait to got there in March

Here in Indiana, it is T J Maxx

It's TK Maxx in the UK and TJ Maxx in the US.

I don't go along with the "bring junk clothes & throw them away" plan. When I travel I want to bring my nicer things both for comfort and looks. Nothing ruins a vacation for me more that suffering in uncomfortable underwear, and I want to look & feel decent in my outer clothes too. Americans have a bad enough reputation as it is, don't want to make it worse by dressing ugly. I'd rather bring less clothes that are nice and/or patronize the local laundromats.

Just my two cents.

I think we'ver reached a definitive conclusion on the topic: Some of us think this is the best idea since sliced bread while others of use wouldn't do this if our lives depended upon it.

Once again, this board highlights the wonderful diversity among Fodorites. We all have different points of view and that's what keeps this so interesting.

(Surprisingly, no one has managed to use this thread as a jumping point to a political discussion. Uh, oh. Maybe I've done it now. )

Calamari I had to LOL about your kids and their clothes. The day before my 11-year-old went back to school after this Christmas break, he announced that he was going to take a bath and "even use soap". This is the same child who, when on vacation, is told to brush his teeth and says "But mom, I don't brush on vacation."

There's a little more information here than I'd like to know about underwear! I save on space by purchasing sample sizes of whatever I can and tossing them along the way.