I wean dark trousers..I am always cold so skirts are a no-no. In winter (assuming not on business), black cambio jeans (have a bit of stretch). In the summer, I have a great pair of banana republic cotton trousers. Look OK, comfortable , and if I spill anything, it isn't usually obvious!

thanks so much for the advice! these are all great ideas. Ooby, I think that going with the type of material in those gauchos -- which are super cute -- is a really good idea. i tend to get cold on planes, so i'll probably go with something that covers me a bit more. i've honestly never owned a pair of linen pants, but have heard good things about how they're really airy and light -- i never even considered how wrinkled they'd get. that would drive me crazy :)

Scarlett and Tries2PakLite thanks for the links! they'll be really helpful in my search for the perfect airplane pants :)

If you are going to travel with linen you better be willing to wear it wrinkled! After awhile that's just how it's supposed to look - really.

I have a great pair of beige wide leg ankle length pants that worked great in europe in summer. I would not wear them on the plane though! Pack flat in the bottom of your suitcase.

If you don't want wrinkles, truly you should consider cotton/poly blends instead. I know that doesn't sound as 'cool' but you will look much neater.

For the plane I wear some kind of knit, cotton or rayon with a touch of lycra works well. Last time I wore black knit pants and similar fabric cardigan style jacket, with a fitted tshirt under.

ginafay, for something that covers you more, consider "palazzo pants"...essentially full length gauchos. As I said earlier, I have a pair from Lerner New York.. and I found that Victoria's Secret has them online as well:
http://www2.victoriassecret.com/comm...amp;rfnbr=2239

I assume you could find them about everywhere, just as with the gauchos.

Shhhhh! There's <i>lots</i> of Chico's Travelers stuff on EBay. But wait until I finish shopping before you go there, OK?

Having said that, I love linen and think it's OK that it wrinkles--it's supposed to look that way--sort of tropics casual or something. I find the poly and poly blends don't breathe and leave me feeling very clammy.

I wear linen in Europe a lot....it looks good when wrinkled and is very stylish and cool in warm weather. Black linen pants are my usual wear on the plane.

Always fashionable (in some circles) - &quot;Smooth skin, wrinkled clothes.&quot;

What others have said about WRINKLES--and for the rest of the trip also whenever you have to put it in your luggage. There are quite a few things between linen and sweat pants. How about microfiber? Nice smooth knit?

Here's another vote for yoga pants, which are comfortable and with a matching cotton shirt can look pulled together. Also, if you want linen, I suggest Eileen Fisher (new with tags! on e-bay)) heavy linen or linen with spandex and/or viscose which are a little more wrinkle resistant than pure linen. But now I always travel in my yoga wear. In January, the airline lost my luggage when I went to a professional convention to conduc interviews. I did the interviews in my travelling yoga outfit (I always carry a fresh bra and shirt in my carryon luggage) and because the black pants were black and not the floppy kind I got by. Have fun in Italy!

Lucky has super comfy cargo pants that are like pajama bottoms and are very stylish. I wear them on all of my trips.

Website is luckybrand.com

As Gretchen wisely points out there's a million possibilities between linen, jeans, or a sweatsuit!

Palazzo pants have been a long time staple of mine for summer travel (printed rayon fabrics work well).

Take a look at travel catelogs or online at TravelSmith, Isabella Bird, Chicos, etc. for ideas.

ooby, i was actually looking at those palazzo pants on victoria secret's site. very cute and they look super comfy.

Suze and CheBird and I'll have to check out some of those sites.

Thanks to everyone for the tips!

Hi,
I just purchased two pairs of linen pants for $19.99 each at H&amp;M on a visit to St Louis last weekend. One black pair and one brown pair. I think these are made out of a linen material that doesn't wrinkle a lot. They are very fashionable. I bought them for my trip to Italy in may.

Talbot's has a lot of linen and stretch linen blends right now. talbots.com.

Be aware! The &quot;travelers&quot; clothes from Chico's are part rubber! That's why they stretch so much. Just think about wearing rubber clothes in Italy in the summer.....you would sweat to death. When I was shopping for my Sept trip last year, all the sales people were trying to get me to buy this fabric (and I have some I wear already) - don't even thing about taking this in the summer!

Also, super wide legged palazzo pants may look nice and comfy, but do think about catching your foot in them on the stairs! Been there, done that. Nearly killed myself the last time they were in style.

Happy shopping ladies!

I was in a Chicos frenzy when they first started selling the &quot;rubber&quot; travel outfits. I paid a fortune for a whole slinky wardrobe for a trip in the warm weather and thought I would die!! The stuff was clingy all right, clinging to me! It felt like I was wearing wet plastic wrap.

I like linen too, especially the kind which is supposed to wrinkle, it breathes and doesn't cling.

Sea Urchin,

So have you noticed that the rubber fabric &quot;grows&quot;? I have short legs and had to get the pants hemmed when they were new. Hung them in the closet and every time I wore them they seemed a little longer, until finally they were dragging! I thought I was shrinking, but I'm too young for that.

Now I hang them draped over a pants hanger, so they don't &quot;grow&quot; on me!

Wow, I've never been to Chicos, and I was going to head over there this week to look for travel clothes. Glad I read this first.

Also -- Suze -- didn't I read somewhere today that you'd had trouble with some Travelsmith clothes? Thanks.

For a short flight, I wear jeans..but if the flight (or the train travel) are a bit longer, I wear a very comfy smooth knit with a bit of lycra I bought in Rome, they are wonderful, I look even smart with them , heheh

Maire,

Go ahead and look at Chico's. They have a wide variety of fabrics, blends, cottons, hand washed linens. The &quot;travelers&quot; clothes are great - just not in the summer in a humid climate!

I had some disappointment with TravelSmith's &quot;cool max&quot; tees. They pill horribly and I threw them out after my trip.