Travel Gear We Use: Favorite organic travel clothing for women

March 28, 2014 By

When I travel, it’s crucial for me to have an easily-matching, comfortable, stylish yet utilitarian wardrobe in my suitcase. Because I believe in the brand and wear it regularly, I recently became an ambassador of Aventura Clothing. I’m excited to devote a Travel Gear We Use segment to a few of my favorite Aventura travel outfits for spring and summer. If you’re not familiar with Aventura, as many are not, they take environmental stewardship seriously, from box and toner recycling in their warehouses and offices to their organic materials. I love their cotton blends for four-season travel, and because Aventura clothing is so versatile, I can pack less and still look good while on trips. Three Aventura pieces I’ll be wearing this spring (and why):

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1. Audra Dress paired with a fedora:

I love packing cotton dresses for travel. Why? I have a complete outfit with only one piece instead of two or more, and the right dress can be dressed up or down, ensuring multiple uses. The Audra Dress is my new favorite because it’s flattering while still loose on the body, which means I can feel comfortable during a full day of museum touring or city walking with the kids. It’s casual enough that I can slip it on over a swimsuit for a trip to the resort pool, but pair it with a scarf and fedora and nice sandals, and the Audra can go out at night, too. Pick up the Audra Dress for $67: a good price for a dress you’ll use all summer.

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2. Newberry sweater and Arden Capri:

Next to a light cotton dress, a basic pair of capris are my favorite spring and summer travel piece. The Arden Capri  is extremely soft and light, but comes to mid-calf for almost full coverage (or buttons up for warmer weather). I always need a good layering piece when I travel, and the Newberry Sweater fits the bill by being stylish, extremely soft, and of a good medium weight. I pack mine with a few camisoles, and have a warm cover up for spring days that could go either way. Tip: the Newberry is also my new best friend on chilly airplanes. Pick up the Newberry Sweater for $82 and the Arden Capri for $56.

3. Mayfield Top and Georgia hat:

Everyone needs at least two solid-colored, flattering sleeveless or short-sleeved tops in their luggage. My pick is the Mayfield Top: it’s long in length so it doesn’t ride up when I bend for suitcases or reach for my kids’ gear, and it’s just tailored enough to look fantastic under a dressy jacket or cardigan. I have worn the Mayfield to professional conferences paired with slacks and at roadside BBQs with my kids. Win-win! The Georgia hat goes with everything, shields me from the sun, and is perfect for uh-oh-I-can’t-wash-my-hair days (with happens to me a lot). The Mayfield is $47 and the Georgia hat is $29.

If you’re looking for additional eco-friendly, travel-friendly women’s clothing brands, I recommend MountainKhakis and Horny Toad. As stated above, I am an Aventura Ambassador. What this means: I am able to sample Aventura clothing picks and pass along my favorites to my readers. I am not paid for this position.

Find more gear in the Travel Gear We Use series (click below):

How to Choose the Right Backpack for Family Travel

August 6, 2010 By

I won’t carry the kid, but I’ll carry the pack!

I can’t travel without a trusty backpack, so while on our most recent road trip, I paid close attention to the types of bags and packs other families carried in and out of restaurants, museums, picnic areas, and on hikes and tours. As you’d guess, I saw a vast assortment of styles and solutions ranging from fanny packs to Camelbaks to messenger bags, and for good reason: the family pack is an important and personal choice!

Whether you opt to outfit every member of your family with their own packs or stick to one family pack for which you share the load (our choice), there are several features we’ve learned we can’t get by without:

1. Size matters. You don’t want a pack too big or heavy for the intended wearer. We’re not talking about backpacking here: you only need to carry the essentials. Likewise, not having enough space in your pack means you’ll be spending too much time searching for things squished inside or worse yet, leaving important items in your hotel room or car.

2. Lots of zippered compartments are good for more than just toddler diversion (although it’s good for that, too). A pack with multiple compartments means the difference between finding the sunscreen or the car keys quickly or trying to corral kids in the baking sun or a parking lot (or both simultaneously) while you search. Since we carry one family pack, I also make sure our pack has water bottle compartments.

3. Price isn’t important, but comfort is…and they often go hand-in-hand. I’ve yet to use a cheap backpack that doesn’t hurt my shoulders, neck, or back. (If you’ve found one, please let me know!) Mid-priced packs work great for us. Remember, you can use backpacks for much more than just hiking as a family: we like the hands-free convenience of them on planes, in museums (where permitted), and in the car (slung over a seat back to be off the floor), too.

For more tips on packing and luggage, see the other articles in our Travel Tips section!