Dayle, you are so right! Even the jacket grows as you are wearing it! It started out at my hips and was mid-knee by the end of the trip!! I kind of compare the material to a slinky!

I have been disappointed with Travelsmith's clothes and material too. Looks cheap for what it costs.

BTW, I was in Walmart (!) the other day and noticed they have the same "Chico" slinky travel material in a line of clothes. I was amazed after remembering what I had paid.

Like Dayle above, the trouble I had was specifically with "coolmax" t-shirt fabric. Exactly as Dayle said, they pilled just horribly and almost immediately! They also seemed to attract fuzz and stains. I also threw mine out.

I have had good luck with other items from their catalog.

Funny, my best pair of linen travel pants came from a Fred Meyer's on sale. Loose fitting, unlined, ankle length, neutral color.

This is bizarre---I have had no problems at all with my CoolMax t-shirts, (which I take only for hiking, wash out each day and hang to dry). They are five or six years old and show no pilling. So I checked to see what could be different. Mine are from LL Bean and are 100% CoolMax (which is just a proprietary name for a cottony-feeling polyester). The Travelsmith CoolMax tees are a blend with cotton---which may account for the pilling and other performance defects.

I have been pretty disappointed with all the clothing I have tried from Travelsmith, and like Suze no longer buy special clothing for travel---I just take my favorite "travel-friendly" clothes from my closet. Generally that includes a pair of lightweight Tencel drawstring pants, and a pair of cotton-Lycra side-zip, no-pocket slim leg pants from Eddie Bauer---they wear and wash/hang dry without wrinkling, and look good dressed up or down.

Re: Travelsmith, I will say I have 2 travel skirts from them that are fantastic. Cotton twill with a "secret" zippered pocket inside a side pocket. Great for the cc's and cash. Eliminates the money belt problem, and they don't wrinkle.

Too bad they don't offer these any more!

Maire,

Go to Chico's. They have some great clothes other than the Travelers line, which I tired of quickly (too warm, too heavy). I have some cotton blend (4% spandex)pants (both long and cropped) that I've washed in hotel rooms and found dry without wrinkles in the morning. Also have some lightweight linen pants that are very cool and comfortable.

Check out their clothes on their web site: Chicos.com Look at the sale section online and in the store. Get on their catalog mail list and you'll get discount coupons.

The shirts and jackets (my favorites) are good too.

Dayle---I think Ex Officio makes pants and skirts with those hidden zip compartments in the pockets. Both REI and Sierra Trading Post sell this brand.

Enzian,

Thanks! I was going to REI this weekend anyway. I'll check it out.

REI? Just wondering. I've got a trip to Italy coming up in August so I'm taking notes.
((c))

I was also wondering if there is anyone out there with the same problem that I have. I have long legs -- 33in. inseam -- but don't wear a "tall" size. I've been to Chico's, but the pants are all too short. Most pants are too short. Capris have been a Godsend, but long pants that travel well would be nice to have too, especially for the plane. Any ideas? Thanks.
((c))

<i>Rubber</i> travel outfits?
Sounds sort of kinky, like Fetish Travel clothes LOL

I like (love?) REI, but I find their clothes overpriced (and sometimes they fit weird). Most of my travel clothes are not official &quot;travel clothes&quot; but just nonwrinkly, comfortable simple clothes--mainly from Lerner NY&amp;Company, Gap, Kohls, and Old Navy. Just FYI.

Have fun shopping!!! :-)

Tries2PakLite:

A couple weeks ago I bought a pair of long, casual pants at Old Navy. They are the perfect length for me--I am usually between regular and tall sizes (I often buy &quot;tall&quot; jeans, etc. and get them slightly hemmed). They fit me perfect and I'm planning in travelling in them. They also roll up at the bottom so they can double as capris.

Tries2PakLite,

Yes, I have the same problem with Chico's and it's frustrating. They've made a few styles in tall and they sell in a flash so I don't understand why they don't make more.
I have the tall sized long black Travelers pants (I don't love these pants, but ther're good for travel in cool seasons) and another pair that just seemed to run long. I also bought one pair of tall jeans, which are great but have not seen the tall in jeans for a long time. I've bought some of the regular length cotton blends, which look like cropped pants on me and are fine with flats.

Eddie Bauer, Talbots and LLBean all carry tall sizes. I just bought a very casual pair of pants from LLBean that has a hidden zipper pocket within a deep pocket. I bpought a great pair of tall sized khakis at old Navy that I've had for years and wash and dry without wrinkling.

ooby and luisah -- thank you for the tips. I will check out Old Navy and Talbots -- Eddie Bauer and LLBean just don't fit me well.

The problem is that I need the long length in the legs, but not the extra length in the torso. It does make shopping for pants a real adventure. :-&lt;
((c))

Tries2packlite,

I have the opposite problem! Regular pants are always way too long on me, but petites are too short! &quot;Ankle&quot; pants just look like floods! When you have short legs, capris and cropped pants are not a flattering look....I hate always having to pay for alterations (except at Nordstrom).

Chico's dresses and skirts are way too long and they don't even have petites available. Unfortunately, I hate shopping (even if it doesn't sound like it).

Isn't it better to go into a store and try the clothes on, better than ordering on line? I take loads of clothes into the dressing room with me and reject most of them, it is so hard to find the right fit.

I'm sure that it's a better idea to go to the stores and try things on, but I've found that my sobbing disturbs some people. :'(
((c))

:))Tries

well this has nothing to do with linen pants that started this thread but to the posts directly above. one place i will use mail order/on line is shoes from zappos.com. IF i have a pair of shoes i love, i order exactly the same ones either as a replacement or in a different color. works like a charm.