What Not to Wear Whilst Travelling
If you’re planning that dream holiday to a far flung paradise or a backpacking adventure around the world, it’s important to know what to take and what to leave behind. With limited space in your rucksack, you’ll want to avoid carrying unnecessary bulk. Before digging through the contents of your wardrobe, take a look at this handy guide.
Revealing items
Checking the religious customs of the countries you plan to visit is an important first step in choosing appropriate clothing. To be on the safe side, always avoid revealing clothes when travelling to places that are strict about religion. Women should leave the miniskirts and tank tops at home, whilst guys should ditch the shorts and sleeveless tops.
Be extra careful when visiting areas of religious significance or churches. Always keep shoulders, knees and feet covered as a sign of respect. Women should wear long skirts or pants and always carry a shawl which can be used to cover up when needed.
Offensive clothing
This can include any item of clothing that displays religious and military symbols. These can often be seen as vintage and trendy in western countries but may be offensive in some regions where the customs and culture are different from your own. A seemingly innocent message on your t shirt may be misconstrued and taken literally. This also means avoiding clothing with curse words or offensive graphics.
Bright clothing
Depending on the countries which you plan to visit, bright and funky clothing can bring you unwanted attention. A hot pink tank top may seem trendy but don’t be surprised if the locals aren’t impressed. In a different culture, with its own sense of style, you may look like you’re wearing fancy dress. (By the by it’s definitely not a good idea to wear funny costumes or horror outfits if you don’t know the area well!). Stay chic and casual with refined colors such as navy, tan and grey.
Expensive jewelry
Travelling on a budget can often mean staying in some less than luxurious places and you’re likely to meet some unsavory characters along the way. But if you take the right precautions, you can enjoy a safe trip without having any valuable items stolen. Leave expensive and flashy jewelry at home to avoid unnecessary risk. You won’t miss your favorite silver necklace when you’re partying in a tropical paradise or trekking through a Peruvian jungle. It’s also one less item to worry about.
Open-toe shoes
Unless you’re planning to spend a significant amount of your trip at the beach, you won’t be needing those open-toe shoes. In less developed countries, wearing flip flops can be very unsanitary with a greater chance of infection if you have any small cuts. Some studies say that you shouldn’t wear them at all. A sturdy pair of comfortable leather shoes is much more practical. They’ll keep your feet protected and you won’t have to worry about insect bites on your toes!
Don’t make the mistake of over packing on your next getaway. If you leave these items of clothing behind, you’ll have more space in your luggage for those essential items.