Totally Frivolous Post about Travel Clothes
 

Awrighty, I warned you it was frivolous, but here goes:<BR>I succumbed on one occasion to the succulent prose of a travel clothing catalogue (words will get me every time....) and purchased some ridiculously overpriced stuff that really wasn't particularly attractive.<BR><BR>Anyway, I just received my new perfect-for-sleeping-on-the-airplane-without-looking-really-awful dress: cotton/lycra mix, black, long, V neck, no wrinkles at all after its travels to my house: 12.50 from the clearance at Victoria's Secret. (I warned you it was frivolous, didn't I?)<BR><BR>Not sure if they've still got any, but it sure beat T*******Sm*th!

Amy....do tell more. I agree with you about T-smith. I always fall for their no wrinkle, easy care prose, and when the stuff comes it is awful. And clothes for travel can never be frivolous IMHO. I will now go to the VS web site, Tahnks for the info. Judy :-)

Amy, <BR>How can clothes be frivolous? Comfort makes all the difference. I bought a pair of T***smith Tencel jeans on EBay for 15 dollars and have lived in them ever since. They are lightweight and more flattering than denim. But will definitely check out the clearance. Thanks!

Amy,<BR><BR>you must have gotton the last one! I went to the website and looked under &quot;clearance&quot; but everything I saw didn't look too comfortable (bra-dress?) for the plane! :)<BR><BR>In defense of Travelsmith, I will say that my husband got their wrinkle free, wash &amp; dry in about 10 minute pants with the security pocket which saved us recently acquired ATM money in Madrid when someone picked his pocket (they got his &quot;cheater&quot; reading glasses, but not the money in the zipper inside pocket). They had a warehouse type sale locally and he purchased about 3 more pairs!<BR><BR>Melodie

Melodie, are you on a mailing list for T*****S****'s warehouse clearances? I've seen their signs tacked up in SF, but I'm usually on my way to somewhere else at the time. If I had prior notice, I might check it out.<BR><BR>A lot of women on the board are happy with Chico's travel line, but I'm wary of the fabric, since I like silk, cotton and linen.

I've got some GREAT stuff from Travelsmith, but I must confess I didn't buy it through the catalog and I didn't pay catalog prices. I like to see how clothes are made and try them on before I buy them.<BR><BR>First of all they have an outlet store in the East Bay (SF area for you out-of-towners) that is open Thurs or Fri through Sunday. It's not as good as it used to be, but sometimes you can get lucky.<BR><BR>But the spring warehouse sale is truly a traveler's dream. I have gone several times and gotten fabulous bargains, from pants to sweaters to coats. Highly recommended!!

While we're on the subject. . . <BR><BR>I remember seeing an article recently about &quot;dressing to speed through airport security&quot; that mention a company that was making underwire bras without metal wires or hooks. After being scanned at the airport last year because of my bra, I swear I will wear only sports bras or camisoles now when I fly.<BR><BR>Regarding Chico's--I have only recently started liking and buying their clothes. In the past, Chico's struck me as offering unstructured, comfortable clothes for women who have something to hide. But lately I found a wonderful pair of straight-leg, flat-front twills and a pair of low-cut, boot-leg trousers, as well as a beautiful silk shirt there. It seems to me that they may be changing their line a bit. They still have things that would probably be considered &quot;Classic Chico's&quot;, but have added other items as well.<BR><BR> <BR>

Elle, you're right about Chico's and larger size women, and since I am barely 5'3&quot; many of their shirts and jackets are way too long on me. But some of their travel stuff is just terrific. It never wrinkles, it's as comfortable as pajamas, it looks good, and you can wash it in the sink. I have a lot of clothes from Chico's that I have collected gradually and almost all on sale, and I'm a definite fan. Generally I don't like or buy synthetics, but I find their fabrics have a nice feel and think their clothing is well made.

I'm another Chico's convert. For years I've noticed their stores but never went in because the clothes seemed big and baggy and I'm relatively thin and petite.<BR><BR>When looking for decent travel clothes last year I ventured in and got a pair of black pants. They were so comfortable and fit so well that I've gone back and bought a long black skirt and a sleeveless black top. Not only are the clothes great for traveling, I've worn them to work a lot.<BR><BR>Granted, the Chico's jackets are big and boxy, but the basics work welll with my other items and mix and match well. The clothes appear to be high quality and I've literally balled up the skirt and pants in my suitcase and they've come out looking perfect.

There is a Chico's outlet near me, and I am going to check it out on Saturday.

Last summer I bought two silk skirts with black backgrounds, one with pink/red/orange the other blue/white/aqua prints. Skinny elastic waist, slight flare at the hemline. They roll up into skinny smooth rolls for packing and look great at day or night. Look for stuff like this at Ross or Marshalls or TJMax or even your local department store on sale. You can wear them all year long (under jackets or sweaters or with blouses) and you can wash them in Woolite if you don't want to dryclean. They take up no more space in your luggage than a pair of pantyhose. I've even carried one in my handbag when I knew I'd want to change out of the bluejeans I'd flown to the West Coast in, into a skirt for a client lunch. (It was 15 degrees on the East Coast when I left early in the AM, and 75 in LA)

I was looking in my closet to see what I already had for my 6 weeks in England this summer (I was tempted to go the Travelsmith route, as well, but I'm a poor student, so I have to make do). I was happy to find that my favorite black dress is actually perfect for travel. It's a black wrap dress from Nine West - rayon/polyester blend with pretty lace details at the neck and sleeves. Perfect for a night out. Practical, too - I tried and tried to wrinkle it, and it still looks great. <BR><BR>If your department store sells Nine West, they almost always have a version of this dress in stock, and some are more casual, as well. Last time I looked, my store (Proffit's) has one in a pretty spring-like print. I have another version in an olive print with a gather at one side of the waist. That one will be rolled up in my suitcase, as well!

I decided that I needed travel pants with zipper closures on two of the pockets. I was going to Paris again and after a brush with a pickpocket in 1999 I decided I should have something to at least slow the buggers up. I usually carry my passport, most of my money, and my credit cards around my neck, under my shirts, so that they a little hard to get at. I like to take a few euros with me in a more accessible place, but which also makes them available to a light fingered Louis. <BR><BR>Unfortunately these pants do not hold a crease. I could walk around the block and they would look like I slept in them all night. Talk about looking rumpled, I would take first prize. So you can imagine the disheveled look I presented after arrival at CDG. <BR><BR>But the trousers do have zippers, ones that don't slide easily despite trying a little silicon lubricant on them. So when I need my wallet I am like Barney Fife trying to pull his pistol out of his pants when he is in &quot;plain clothes.&quot;<BR>So far no ripping sounds but on one occasion I was ready to go find a pickpocket to help me open the zipper!!<BR><BR>My wife said I look so seedy in the pants that a pickpocket would probably figure I was not worth the trouble. (Wonder if one of them would give me money rather than trying to take it??)<BR><BR>Maybe that was why the waiter in a little Paris restaurant just about blew a gasket and leak serious oil when my credit card did not work. My wife got up to go get some money at a bank a short distance away, and this guy was jabbering away like a magpie and evincing considerable agitation. <BR>He though my saggy-baggy look signified I was broke. <BR><BR>But AE traveler's checks to the rescue! I spread a couple of them on the table and he could see that this &quot;bum&quot; at least had money.<BR><BR>At least the pants are good for sloshing through the sleet in Switzerland.<BR><BR>

For those of you going to a Chico's outlet soon, keep an eye out for the &quot;pink dot&quot; specials. Earlier this week, I purchased a cute sweater and jacket, for $2.99 each! Not kidding! I do own nicer clothes, but c'mon, for $2.99, who cares what it looks like!

Iregeo, which Chico's outlet do you go to? There is one near Sacramento, but it's a bit of a drive for me so I don't go often.

I got the TravelSmith blazer with many pockets. Great for traveling with all the pockets passports and tickets are safe and there is room for all sorts of other necessities(?) and then it can do double duty as the obligatory jacket.

Bob.<BR>Your description of the zippers made me think back to a couple of cheap daypacks we bought a few years ago for a trip.<BR><BR>The zippers were so bad that I almost had Dor on the street a couple of times trying to break in to her pack.<BR><BR>We were joking about them, saying that if you find yourself face down on the pavement, you know you were picked.<BR>

Marilyn, a brand new Chico's opened 2 weeks ago in the Camarillo (CA) outlet. By the way, I neglected to mention that my 2 purchases were originally marked $58 and $78. Boy, would mom be proud of me!

<BR>Marilyn - (sorry if I speeled it wrong)<BR> I was wondering where in Sacramento the Chicos is located? I looked it up and it says in the Pavillions. Do you know what that is near? Thanks

Daisy: The Chico's outlet where I try to get my bargains is in the Vacaville Outlet Stores. Don't know if that is the same thing as &quot;The Pavillions.&quot; Wish they had one in Gilroy at the outlet stores, because I actually prefer that group of stores.