the perfect travel outfit:
This past week, I went on my honeymoon. Yes, I did get married a year ago, but who wants to plan a vacation and a wedding at the same time? Not me! I could have maybe managed planning an all-inclusive resort trip, but I\’m not a beach person–my family always went to the mountains, not the ocean. More on our (amaaazing) vacation as soon as I sort through my pictures–but today let\’s chat about travel clothes!
When I fly I am very particular about clothing: I don\’t want any part of my legs touching the airport/plane seats, so I always wear pants or leggings. I don\’t want to be too hot or too cold, so layers are a must. I want to feel somewhat cozy and/or snuggly in case I take a nap, and I don\’t want to look like a mess leaving the airport. Usually I wear leggings, a tee, and a Juicy Couture velour hoodie I have had for literally ten years, but that wasn\’t quite living up to the \”handmade by allie J.\” bar.
I had already been planning for a while to make a big wrap coat/cardigan for travel when Allie(!) over at Indiesew contacted me to let me know she needed testers for the new Seamly Summer Collection–I had even purchased the Lisette for Butterick 6244, but never made it since it was a woven and I wasn\’t sure what weight would be best. Luckily, the Seamly Wrapped Cardigan was exactly what I was looking for in a travel piece–super comfortable since it\’s a knit, versatile so you can wear it several ways during your trip since it doubles as a wrap dress, and long enough to cover your butt in leggings if you care about that.
This is the tester version, size small–the final version is exactly the same as the tester, but the instructions were massively improved. It\’s a bit of a fabric hog with all the drape but once you have it all cut out it\’s a quick make and so worth it! I used this coral knit from fabric.com because I had it on hand, but I think it would be wear-every-day versatile in a navy, charcoal, or black, and a pretty floral would be nice to wear belted as a dress, don\’t you think?
The Seamly Summer Collection also includes a swingy tank and a tee, so if you are interested in seeing everyone\’s items, be sure to click on the links below!
Airport and airplane seats are gross! Pants are a must for me too. I even take wipes and wipe the area around my seat. I love this coral wrap on you. This wrap is 100% something I would wear but it somehow manages to look young and fresh on you.
I find it strangely yet deeply satisfying that your cardigan matches your sneakers. I wish I looked that pulled together when I was dressing for comfort! The last time I flew I wore flats because I did NOT want to have to untie and re-tie my shoes after security checkpoints. I did wear a cardigan, but with jeans and a loose blouse because my few knit dresses are either too ratty or (weirdly) too dressy. Gotta work on that!
Since right now I have to tote for myself and my little guy when traveling, I dress as streamlined as possible for flights. I find a maxi dress works best; full leg coverage plus some air movement. I really only have a couple layering pieces, but plan to add some more cardigans come fall.
I love the pink cardi and the matching shoes! Can't wait to read about your trip. I always travel with a big Portolano cashmere wrap in black. It's both my extra layer for cold flights and my blanket for a snooze. And I wash it by hand when I return because I'm also a bit of a germaphobe in public spaces.
OK, you absolutely just cracked me up when you said you don't like your legs touching the airplane seat! I always hate when I forget to wear socks, and have to walk through the security barefoot. Totally skeevy. Love the cardigan, that coral color is gorgeous!
I am no germaphobe, I travel by public Transport a lot (because Europe), but I always wear pants too, because I like to get into odd feet-on-the-seat positions on planes and trains and don't want anyone to see my undies. I would wear leggings now for the same reason, but I am only a recent convert (because pregnancy), so I usually wore stretchy slacks, a knit top and like you a huge cardi and a cashmere shawl. And flats, though I take off my shoes and put on thick socks for long flights and my acrobatics.
It really helps your matching if you just buy/make everything in pink 😉 I like wearing flats too but i have to bring socks to slip on through security and on the plane!
A maxi dress is the perfect thing for travel! I only have one maxi dress (from j crew) at the moment but I really want to make some more maxi-length pieces, I've seen a lot of tutorials for jersey maxi skirts that look super cute.
How luxurious! That sounds really perfect for travel.
I love your card! Especially the colour. I have actually been thinking about making this Seamly draped card (with the sleeves like you have), but I'm not sure how much fabric it needs because the info on the site doesn't state if the fabric requirements are for the version with or without the sleeves. How much fabric did you end up using?My travel wardrobe includes slip-on flats (for the same reason Caitlyn gives, the hassle of having to remove your shoes at security!) and also a very big scarf that can double up as a blanket if I'm cold on the plane, a shawl if I'm going to a country that needs me to cover up in certain places (like going into a temple in Thailand for example) and also works as a sarong for the beach!I love the idea of the wrapped cardi working hard for your travel capsule wardrobe though – the fact that it can double as a dress if wrapped up (and secured with a belt I presume?) is so great.
Same! I usually pack my pure barre sticky socks (like slipper socks) and wear those through security if I'm in flats and on the plane! It's so much more comfortable.
I think the fabric requirements are for the version with sleeves–unfortunately, I just used some stash fabric I had so I'm not sure if it was exactly 3 1/8 yards. I wore mine wrapped and belted to dinner and I thought it was really cute, but I did wear some short shorts underneath since it is pretty short worn that way (I'm 5'7\”).
I always pack a pair of socks in my purse to wear through security and on the plane, and I do the same if I'm traveling by car (though not if I'm the one driving).
Oh yes. Travelling in pants is a must. Also, I dress for destination weather, rather than departure point weather, which might meaning being chilly/sweaty on the way to the airport but also means I adjust immediately on arrival! I was considering a blanket cardigan just like this for my summer travel this year but ended up making a kimono instead. Bigs up to travel layers across the board. : )