Silk makes wonderful travel clothing. I make regular trips overseas to visit my manufacturers and to get inspiration for the Simply Silk range. In fact right now I am on a trip to Vietnam, China and for the first time, to Laos. I’ll take some photos along the way and post them to the Simply Silk Facebook page so you can see what I’ve been up to.
Given that I’ve just left for a multi-country trip, I thought it was appropriate to share some thoughts on making packing for travel easier. Often I visit remote destinations and staying in the type of accommodation that won’t be listed in Condé Nast Traveller any time soon. This means I carry my own bags and have to be ready to hop on and off planes, trains and buses. Because of this I have learned to travel light and this is where I am always grateful for my silk clothing.
To ensure maximum room in my bag I roll all my silk pieces and then layer them in and around other items. I find this not only save space but also helps them from creasing so that when I arrive at me destination I don’t have to look for an iron.
I have also learned to be more creative with my wardrobe… that way a pair of silk pants can serve as sleepwear, comfortable plane attire, and then can be dressed up to go out in the evening. My longer silk slips can be worn under other dresses to keep me cool during the day, or layered under a kaftan as a glamorous evening outfit on those occasions where such a thing is required. In fact a kaftan is a one of the most versatile travel items you can pack.
I have a friend who loves to travel and she tells me she uses her silk kaftan as a scarf rolled lengthways and looped around her neck a couple of times, as a wrap on the plane, as a beach cover up and then throws on heels and a belt to go out at night. She also wears it tucked it into the waistband of long pants then blouses it over the top as a stylish shirt. She even used it as a sleep sheet once on an overnight train in India when she was dismayed at the state of the sheets and blankets handed out by the train porter. I chuckle thinking about her wrapped in leopard print silk chiffon while others made do with threadbare India Rail blankets.
The beauty of silk for those who travel off the beaten track is its versatility, is light and easily rolled to pack, easy to hand-wash in your hotel room where it will quite comfortably dry overnight. However if you’re a 5 star princess who wouldn’t be caught dead on a bus in rural Vietnam or a train in India then silk is also great for you. It folds up into such a small space in your bag that you‘ll have plenty of room to bring your holiday shopping home and you’ll look exceedingly stylish ordering cocktails by the pool in your silk kaftan or cover up or swanning into the bar in your silk pants and a sexy singlet or t-shirt.
Regardless of your preferred style of travel, I’d love to hear your tips for easy travel packing. Make sure to leave your comments below.
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