is there such a thing as wrinkle free clothes?
 

In the planning stages of dual country trip, with extremes. extremes in cultures and climates.
we are heading to Egypt and Italy.

We wish to respect both cultures but are finding it hard to pack appropiate, non-crushing clothes.
As females, we are aware to wear more conservative clothes in Egypt. but trying to find clothes (ie trousers, long skirts or dresses) that are either wrinkle free or are marketed as wrinkle free as a reasonable rate is becoming difficult.

where as in Europe it is said women are traditionally more 'femine' as in long dresses skirts and will betreated accordingly. just as in Egypt women who dress conservatively will be treated with more respect (differently) than those who dont..........so what should we pack and how to get it at a reasonable price?

please help, tips from packing to purchasing clothes, to each countries expectations (or traditions) on this would be great!!

I've seen advertisements for 'car trousers' - I believe they are formal or semiformal pants for gents that don't wrinkle even after long car journeys. Popular with travelling salesmen who drive a lot and still need to look presentable when they step out.

I have pants from Tilley and from Travelsmith that are wrinkle resistant. I also have very lightweight Railriders that always look just a little wrinkled.

Nope magellans.com travelsmith.com for great drip dry wrinle resistant clothing that dries easily. Works best for me
onebag.com

I don't think you need to wear 'long skirts' in Europe. That advice seems pretty out of date. Pants are OK, or however you would dress "weekend casual" at home in that same weather/season.

Travelsmith and Magellans are online travel clothing places that have things along the lines you are seeking. As does Lucy's (which is athletic wear but their WalkAbout cargo pants are fantastic, no wrinkles, can wash and dry overnight).

Generally for summer travel, I take linen or cotton capris (yes they get wrinkled) and nice cotton tops (patterned, tshirt type materials).

Chico's has a line of Traveler's wear that doesn't wrinkle at all. I have several core pieces that I can mix and match with other pieces.

http://www.chicos.com/store/browse/s...catId=cat40010

You need to keep in mind that it will be warm to hot in Egypt and Italy depending on the time of year. You might be better off with blended cotton fabrics that have a little spandex or just a little polyester. In my experience, they hold their shape better than 100% cotton and can still "breathe".

Norm Thompson has a line of women's travel clothing that you might want to check out as well:

http://www.normthompson.com/jump.jsp...ath=1%2C2%2C21

This link for Travelsmith shows clothing by fabric type:

http://www.travelsmith.com/women/shop-by-fabric/

Chico's Traveler's line is made from a synthetic knit fabric that I find VERY hot to wear. Generally I like Chico's (actually wear that brand a lot) but would not travel with the "Travelers" pieces in warm or hot weather. It's true they don't wrinkle, but they also don't breathe, at all.

The Traveler's line also weighs heavy. I do take one pair of black pants for evening, but that's it.

I recommend travelsmith. com
You will find many useful items there.

I've had wildly varying experiences with TravelSmith products. A couple pieces I bought I loved and wore forever (one fantastic black silk knit cardigan I wore for years). But a couple times were badly made & I sent them back right away.

I agree with thursdaysd also about the weight of Chico's Travlers line, and interesting one pair of black pants is all I have in that fabric, and yes they are incredibly versatile (but still, not good for heat).

Wow...great tips, please keep them coming.

We had the notion of longs skirts/dresses for italy from this page:

http://www.journeywoman.com/ccc/

where you enter a country and fellow traveller advises what the wear - where.

so Suze this isn't like this any more - could we 'get away with' jeans and trousers perhaps. mind you both style will require ironing (that we own).

Will browse the travel smith and megallans site for sure - looks like jury is out on the chicos site....

What rubbish. Ignore it!

And there's no reason to take clothes that need ironing. I don't even wear clothes like that at home...

Of course you can wear jeans and trousers in Italy!! The only thing you need to think about it being properly covered for going into churches (no shorts and tank tops).

You're *traveling*, you don't need to worry about wrinkles or ironing either.

I'll have to check out that Journeywoman website and see if I can figure out why in the world they are suggesting you need long skirts to travel around Italy. If anything it sounds like a horrible idea, I mean can you imagine getting on and off trains with your suitcase and a long skirt you're tripping all over -ha!

I doubt it's worth the effort suze. I've looked at that site a couple of times over the years, and never found it even worth bookmarking. (And I'm a solo woman traveler.)

OK, I looked at the website. First off those tips are just coming from and old people posting, just like you and me here. They are not in any way an "authority" on the matter or even necessarily correct.

For example here's one of the quotes:
<<If you have blonde hair, cover it up as the Italian men will be like bees round honey>>
That is THE MOST RIDICULOUS travel advice I've read in a LONG time. Sorry but it's just stupid!

The person who was wear long skirts, was saying you shouldn't wear mini-skirts, that was the point they were making. Not that you had to wear skirts at all.

Trousers, jeans, capris are all OK. In the summer I've worn top-of-theknee length skirts in Italy with sandals and a nice cotton top and that seemed perfectly appropriate.

When I travel I wear my SAME clothes as I do at home for that same season. I pick the nicest 3-4 outfits for the weather and pack those. I don't go out and buy all new stuff from specialty travel websites. Sorry but I think that's just silly (and expensive and not necessary).

I do understand about dressing modestly especially in extremely conservative and highly religious countries. But I do not think the major cities of Italy fall into that category. You will see all kinds of people dressed all kinds of ways. There is no sterotypical "proper Italian woman" way to dress.

As a tourist/traveler I say your aim is to look nice, pulled together, dressed appropriate to the weather. And most important *comfortable shoes* for all the walking you'll be doing.

Sorry I didn't mean "old" people posting, I mean "any ole people".

I also (as a solo female traveler, although no where near as experienced or adventuresome as thursdaysd) find that particular website not particularly accurate or useful or matching my own experiences.

woohoo, thank you thursdaysd and suze for clearing up the misconception derived from that web site.

so as long as i dress 'neat and tidy' and of course comfortable as i would on a 'day trip' in my own country (subject to the season) we shouldn't cause a 'stir' in italy or our holiday experience wouldn't be deminished by it!


great!

Egypt would be more culturally aware of course!

well yes, I wasn't planning on buying an entire wardrobe - especially at the prices the companies are asking for - for this trip, just was thinking of enhancing my wardrobe (as I need a few replacement pieces, anyhow)to fit in with the countries culture and not stand out too much like a tourist to attract any possible 'extra' costs or street sellers!

please keep the information flowing! greatly appreciated

Orvis has excellent wrinkle free clothing. Look at their "scrunchy" cloth clothing.

I am *always* shopping for travel clothing. Not for one particular trip, but I just have it in the back of my mind now when I'm buying new clothes (how will this pack, how versatile is it, etc.).

ps- I confess, I never iron anything anytime anywhere. My ironing board at home has dust on it -haha. So I certainly don't worry about that when traveling.

I wear my "travel" clothes at home...