Traveling in Skirts: The Undocumented Tips (Part 1)

As I've been working on the prep for my August mission trip to Thailand (check back in to read my posts about it!) I've been looking up what clothes to wear, useful long-flight tips, etc. Although I've traveled to Guatemala and Germany, Thailand is a completely different ballgame. I've found some good stuff, except for one thing: the info about traveling wearing skirts is sadly lacking. And in case you need a heads up on why this bothers me, I wear skirts, not pants!

So...yeah. Everyone's recipe for a "comfy airplane outfit" and suggestions for good attire include ingredients I do not use: leggings, yoga pants, and pants/shorts in general. Sigh. So...what are comparable, skirt only-outfits?

Good question. And I could find absolutely NO answers.

So I decided to write a post on some travel tips for girls who wear skirts! While I might not have found the perfect airplane outfit or what I should wear to Thailand yet, I have had experience traveling in skirts and therefore have plenty of pointers that I can start out with. So here is Part 1 of my traveling in skirts series! (More to come after Thailand, and when I find that perfect airplane outfit...)

Tip #1 - The Perfect Airplane Outfit?
I don't have a "go-to airplane outfit." There, I admitted it. Honestly, I think the reason why is simply because I haven't found it yet! And it does depend a bit on my destination, since (let's admit it) skirts aren't always as versatile as pants unless you find the perfect skirt. The top and shoes are pretty easy to figure out; it's the skirt that may take some more thought. But I do have a couple pointers to help point you on your ways to yours.

• Make sure it's comfortable. This should be common sense, but seriously. The first few times I traveled, I wore a jean skirt that I survived wearing, but it just wasn't as comfy as it could've been. Then I switched to a jean skirt I'd had for years, so it was more comfy, but I think for Thailand I'm going to up it another notch to something even better!
• Check it for extra pockets/bumps/other slow-downs. What I mean by "slow-downs" are aspects of your skirt that may make your adventure through security more difficult. For instance, remember that first jean skirt I wore? Well, the first time I wore it through security, the lady was trying to figure out what the thicker sections were that showed up on the picture - were they pockets? What was going on with the skirt? Turns out it just had thicker, bunched-up jean as design, but it held me up. The second time I wore it I had no trouble, but keep in mind what might stop you in security.

Tip #2 - Versatility Takes More Thought

As I mentioned earlier, skirts just aren't as versatile as pants can be, but you can make a pretty comparable packing list if you work hard enough. 

• Try to find comfy and durable materials 
• Try for neutrals  - black, tan, or blue, for instance - or at least colors that you have a lot of shirts to match with 
• Try for appropriate lengths. If you're going somewhere hot, find versatile shorter/cooler lengths and/or materials. If you're going somewhere cold, find versatile long and warm skirts that you can easily hid leggings underneath. If you're going somewhere average or that it differs, either pack a little of each or find mid-length, basic material skirts - and jean skirts work well in this category.
• Try for both dressy or casual. This one can be harder, but will you be a casual tourist part of the time and need to look a little nicer the other half? Find skirts that you can make nice or casual based on the top and shoes you wear with it. Jean skirts and maxi skirts are two of my favorites for this category. 
• Try for no slips or a lot of slips. While too many ladies these days seem to forget what a slip is, I still use them when a skirt requires it and you should too! But, then you have to pack more, right? Well, slips usually don't take up much space and you can reuse them a few times. So either pack skirts that don't need slips so you don't have to pack them, or make sure you have more than one skirt that needs a slip so you're not packing it for just one outfit. Also, keep in mind what length and kind (cotton or more silky) that you'll need.

Tip #3 - Skirts are More Material to Pack 

I've found that the hardest thing about traveling with skirts is packing them. I've watched as the friends I traveled with unpack pairs and pairs of pants, leggings and shorts while I've narrowed it down to essentially no extra because they wouldn't all fit. Granted, it doesn't help when you pack a lot of jean skirts, because jean just always does take up more space, but if we're talking summery skirts vs. shorts, well, it's still a losing space battle because there's just more material. Not to mention, the extras you pack to go with your skirts -slips, leggings to wear underneath - are yet another thing to pack. So just keep this fact in mind while packing. 

Tip #4 - Different Destinations = Different Skirts

While this tip may be fairly obvious, it needs to be said. As I'm working on what clothes I need for Thailand, it's a totally different list from my usual Guatemala list, or from what my Germany list was. No maxi skirts or jeans for Thailand! So do keep destination, weather, etc. in mind.

Tip #5 - Different Activities = Different Skirts

This, too, should be a no-brainer, but it's still a good tip, and one I should've taken into better consideration when I went to Germany (although in my defense, I really didn't have much of an idea what all I would be doing!). I didn't do too bad my first time in Guatemala (for missions), but I learned a lot for the second and third trips. I knew that I would need different skirts for the work sites (old jean skirts) than I would for doing ministry and our tourist day (maxi skirts), and then of course for church on Sunday (a nicer skirt). If at all possible, get a pretty good idea of what you'll be doing so you know what kind of skirts to bring. 

Tip #6 - My Favorite Skirts

I have some go-to and favorite skirts I use for traveling - at least, so far in my travel life!

• Maxi skirts. These are great for cold to fairly warm temperatures and great for being a tourist or doing ministry. And they're just so comfy! If it's one that requires a slip, I use one of a more silky material because cotton makes it bunch up funny.
• Jean skirts. These are good for cold to fairly warm temperatures and, depending on the style of them, also good for adventures like hiking or being a tourist. No slip required. 
• Cotton, Peasant/Gypsy skirts. These are good for warm to hot temperatures and for tourism, ministry, or slight adventures. I use a cotton slip with these.

Tip #7 - Sometimes you  Need a Pair of Pants

Yes, I know I said that I wear skirts and not pants. However, there are some situations where a pair of pants just makes better sense to wear - or clots, if you prefer those and they cover all the way down to your ankles. For instance, on mission trips (since they are mostly all that I travel for) you never really know what you'll be doing, esp. on a work site. I always bring a pair of jeans with me in case, and twice I have deemed it better to just go with the jeans. And one of those times I was very glad I did! If it makes you too uncomfortable, you can always wear a skirt over the pants. But depending on your destination and possible activities, bring along a pair.

So yes, I hope these will be useful for all of you fellow skirt-wearing travelers, and I should be following this with Part 2 and maybe 3 somewhere down the line...so check back to find more! And happy travels!