Post: #1

I'll be living out of a bag for two months while traveling in Europe this summer. Wanting to look good while remaining practical and low maintenance, what approaches have you guys taken to have a good look on the road? The backpackers are easy to spot in South East Asia and I have taken care not to fit that mould before but want to stand out in Europe too, where the climate and style of nightlife has different requirements. I'm 22 if that is relevant.

Post: #2

First comes to mind:

Couple of v-neck shirts
Lightweight button-up shirts
Navy blazer + pocket squares (mostly for afternoons/evenings)
Boots (can be casual/formal depending how you wear them)
Boat shoes or similar style
Slim dark jeans
Khaki chinos
Aviator sunglasses

and of course enough socks+underwear for the duration of your trip.

Post: #3

I'd look at what backpackers are wearing and then do the opposite. Unless of course you want to shag backpackers; many of whom are travelling in the hope of being shagged. So yeah clean, short sleeved shirts, chinos, jeans and shoes that don't suggest poverty. But the most important thing: IDGAF attitude

Mike

Post: #4

Tengen has the right idea.

I would look at this article to put your attention grabbers together.

Style blogs like Dappered, Gentlemen's Gazette and Black Lapel's blog are examples of excellent resources to look at.

A travelers blazer or suit is the max I would recommend to add.

Magazines like Esquire, GQ or Maxim are more sales and advertisements than relevant to your needs.

Just get the basics like brown shoes with a navy blazer etc. if you are unaware of them and a few hours later you are golden for the trip.

Post: #5

I did an article here. Should be of some use, especially considering the length of time you are traveling.

Post: #6

That is very helpful Fisto. Overdue +1

Post: #7

Happy to hear you got something out of it!

Post: #8

(04-19-2014 07:38 PM)Fisto Wrote:  I did an article here. Should be of some use, especially considering the length of time you are traveling.

Great article. I bookmarked it.

My one big disagreement is with drinking alcohol on long flights. I do not drink alcohol on long international flights, even when I travel on a carrier such as Copa Airlines, which provides all the alcohol that you may otherwise want for free.

Flying at altitude dehydrates the body immensely. Drinking alcohol simply compounds that problem. I drink as much water as I possibly can. I even stay away from juice and soda.

Quote:Hydrate very well the night before the flight, preferably with electrolyte drinks.

Don't drink alcohol the night before the flight.

Avoid diuretics such as coffee, soft drinks and even chocolate (all of which contain caffeine).

http://www.today.com/id/41717532/ns/toda...g-flights/

Post: #9

(04-19-2014 06:41 AM)draguer Wrote:  I'll be living out of a bag for two months while traveling in Europe this summer. Wanting to look good while remaining practical and low maintenance, what approaches have you guys taken to have a good look on the road? The backpackers are easy to spot in South East Asia and I have taken care not to fit that mould before but want to stand out in Europe too, where the climate and style of nightlife has different requirements. I'm 22 if that is relevant.

Recommend checking out this video on how to fold a suit or sports jacket. Helped me big time.

http://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-pa...rip-2013-6

Would also recommend packing a shoe polish sponge, like a leather restoration polish. Works well on watch bands or leather jackets too. Also works on rubber. In addition buy a mini lint roller to bring along as well. Nothing worse than hairy clothes.

CEO

Post: #10

Tail Gunner, that must be why I feel like shit after flying. I've wondered about that for some time. Good to know. It also doesn't help that you can bring WATER past security.

You can always bring and empty plastic bottle with you and fill it up at the water fountain but I usually forget to do that...

Post: #11

(04-20-2014 11:22 AM)Fisto Wrote:  Tail Gunner, that must be why I feel like shit after flying. I've wondered about that for some time. Good to know. It also doesn't help that you can bring WATER past security.

You can always bring and empty plastic bottle with you and fill it up at the water fountain but I usually forget to do that...

I always make it my routine to take a bottle of water with me to the airport. I drink half of it on the way there. I blast down the rest while waiting in the security line.

I then have an empty plastic bottle to fill before I get on the plane. Or I just buy a bottle of water. I have noticed that some airports are far cheaper than others. Some airport coffee shops and restaurants will fill your bottle with filtered water for free if you ask, but I do not like waiting in line.

Once I fill the bottle or buy one, I then have something to drink while waiting for the drink cart to arrive, which can take awhile depending on where you sit. I still often feel somewhat dehydrated when I arrive, but not nearly as much as if I did not make those simple preparations -- or if I drank alcohol.

Sorry for derailing the thread.

Post: #12

For a place where nighttime temperatures rarely fall below 20 C/68 F, I suggest, starting from bottom to top:

1. One pair of casual boat shoes/top-siders or their equivalent for daytime. One pair of smooth leather chukka boots, oxford lace-ups, or brogues for night time. If you buy Gore-Tex, waterproof chukkas, you can use these during the day time on rainy days as well as at night. Use low profile socks with the boat shoes so it looks like you're going sockless. Bring dark socks for nighttime. Desert boots (brown suede chukkas) are also good, all-around shoes.

2. One pair of skinny, 7"-9", flat front shorts. One pair of lightweight, flat front, cotton chinos in khaki, navy blue, or grey. The navy is a little harder to match with other clothes than Khaki or grey, but in Europe many people wear darker clothes so it may help you fit in a little better and will look better at night. One cloth or web belt. If it has some leather in front like this you may be able to wear it at night instead of having to bring along an extra leather belt.

3. A couple of polo shirts and/or short-sleeve button ups in light cotton for daytime. Madras short sleeve, collared shirts look good and usually don't need to be ironed. One or two oxford shirts for nighttime.

4. A dark linen sport coat for nighttime.

5. Rain shell jacket or folding umbrella for rainy days.

6. A flat, ivy cap (also called a newsboy or driving cap). Looks much better than a baseball cap.

For cooler temperature places I suggest ditching the sockless look and the shorts and instead bring another pair of chinos. Bring long sleeve button up shirts instead of the polo and short sleeve shirts. Add a V-neck sweater, cardigan sweater, or shawl neck sweater and some kind of coat that you can wear both day and night, such as a wool blazer, Harrington jacket, field jacket, quilted jacket, or peacoat (if it's really cold).

Many of these clothes can be washed in your hotel sink and when hung up will dry by morning.

Post: #13

(04-20-2014 12:52 AM)Tail Gunner Wrote:  

(04-19-2014 07:38 PM)Fisto Wrote:  I did an article here. Should be of some use, especially considering the length of time you are traveling.

Great article. I bookmarked it.

My one big disagreement is with drinking alcohol on long flights. I do not drink alcohol on long international flights, even when I travel on a carrier such as Copa Airlines, which provides all the alcohol that you may otherwise want for free.

Flying at altitude dehydrates the body immensely. Drinking alcohol simply compounds that problem. I drink as much water as I possibly can. I even stay away from juice and soda.

Quote:Hydrate very well the night before the flight, preferably with electrolyte drinks.

Don't drink alcohol the night before the flight.

Avoid diuretics such as coffee, soft drinks and even chocolate (all of which contain caffeine).

http://www.today.com/id/41717532/ns/toda...g-flights/

Flying gives off the effect of dehydration but what it really comes down to is the electrical balance inside the body is whacked.

2 things that will change your life when you fly is take your shoes and socks off and make sure you are grounded against a metal object on the plane. Usually the foot rest under the seat in front of you is metal so that should be good enough.

Second thing you can do is bring an earthing mat or something along those lines and ground yourself as soon as you get to your hotel, house, hotel or wherever you are staying. I have also read that doing yoga on the grass works or walking around in bare feet on the earth works as well. There are new travel sized mats you can buy and just sleep on them when you land.

That shit will make traveling more enjoyable. Also Tail Gunners points will help as well. But I believe grounding gets right to the core of why you are becoming dehydrated.

Post: #14

Dressing well, while travelling is pretty hard, since a lot of the stuff you put in your suitcase gets wrinkly. Anyone have any tips on how not to wrinkle up your clothes? Unfortunately I am not a good packer and also not really good at ironing either.

Post: #15

(04-21-2014 11:25 AM)DarkKing Wrote:  Dressing well, while travelling is pretty hard, since a lot of the stuff you put in your suitcase gets wrinkly. Anyone have any tips on how not to wrinkle up your clothes? Unfortunately I am not a good packer and also not really good at ironing either.

The problem is that packing to reduce wrinkling also reduces available space in your luggage. I pack a suit like this video describes for short domestic flights, but leaving air in a plastic bag becomes problematic for longer hauls where space is at a premium. You could pack a steam iron, but it once again becomes a space issue. Some people suggest leaving a shirt or sports jacket on a coat hanger in the bathroom while you take a hot shower. This video also shows how to properly fold a shirt, which is helpful.

Post: #16

My profile picture was taken when I was travelling in Peru. I was there with my fiance, we travelled around Lima and Cusco, hiked Maccu Pichu then went to the northern Coast to Trujillo and Mancora with a few small stops along the way.

A trip like that was fairly complicated to pack for because I had to bring both serious hiking gear and my standard issue dress clothes. I'd suggest things like jeans and cotton pants, several vneck tshirts and some light sweaters. I always pack 2 or 3 dress shirts that go well with both jeans and cotton pants. In Latin America, you can have the hotel clean and press them in a single day for really cheap. I don't usually bring a sport coat just because they're a pain to pack. For footwear, I always bring my Red Wing boots and usually a pair of sneakers.

Depending on where you are going, you may or may not want to stand out so it's always good to have options.

Post: #17

(04-21-2014 01:17 PM)Tail Gunner Wrote:  The problem is that packing to reduce wrinkling also reduces available space in your luggage. I pack a suit like this video describes for short domestic flights, but leaving air in a plastic bag becomes problematic for longer hauls where space is at a premium. You could pack a steam iron, but it once again becomes a space issue. Some people suggest leaving a shirt or sports jacket on a coat hanger in the bathroom while you take a hot shower. This video also shows how to properly fold a shirt, which is helpful.

That is a sick video, thanks for sharing!

Post: #18

(04-21-2014 04:29 PM)Tengen Wrote:  

(04-21-2014 01:17 PM)Tail Gunner Wrote:  The problem is that packing to reduce wrinkling also reduces available space in your luggage. I pack a suit like this video describes for short domestic flights, but leaving air in a plastic bag becomes problematic for longer hauls where space is at a premium. You could pack a steam iron, but it once again becomes a space issue. Some people suggest leaving a shirt or sports jacket on a coat hanger in the bathroom while you take a hot shower. This video also shows how to properly fold a shirt, which is helpful.

That is a sick video, thanks for sharing!

You can also take a 12" X 12" piece of cardboard and fold your shirt around it like the guy in this video does and hold it in place on the cardboard with paper clips or clothesline clips. I've done this before and my shirt was not wrinkled when I got to my destination. An easier way is to take the shirt to the cleaners beforehand and ask them to give it back to you folded rather than on a hangar.

Post: #19

One way to set yourself apart would be to simply avoid wearing cargo shorts, or better yet any type of shorts at all, when in the cities. I know it can get hot and you want to be comfortable, but shorts in the city in a lot of countries is generally a tourist tell.

Post: #20

(04-19-2014 07:38 PM)Fisto Wrote:  I did an article here. Should be of some use, especially considering the length of time you are traveling.

Great article Fisto. I'd give you another +1 if I could.

Post: #21

I think these Tretorn linen sneakers might be a good option for summer traveling. I wish they didn't have that bicycle toe, but they still look sharp and I imagine the linen material is very breathable.