How Not to Look Like a Backpacker While Living Out of a Backpack
Not pictured ever: gypsy pants and hemp necklaces. (Photo: Christine Amorose/C’est Christine)
“It hurts to be beautiful,” my mother told me as I squirmed the first time she plucked my eyebrows. That’s the beauty mantra I grew up with: Anything deemed comfortable automatically makes me suspicious. Understandably, then, I don’t believe in “travel clothes,” and I cringe when I see multipurpose pants, cargo shorts, or money belts. If you wouldn’t wear these things at home, why would you wear them abroad?
I don’t claim to be stylish at all times, but recently, a travel blogger in Chiang Mai asked me if she could borrow clothes for a wedding because I always seemed so “put together.” And my friends are always telling me that I’m so stylish when I’m traveling. Yet while you may think that means I’m one of those people who lug around a huge suitcase, the truth is that I travel with a 15 kg (33 lb.) front-loading pack (with three packing cubes) and an oversized tote — yet I still manage to avoid copious hemp bracelets and gypsy pants. Here’s how to not look like a backpacker while living out of a backpack.
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1. Go for jewelry and makeup. I swear by simple, basic clothes when I’m traveling. But when I want to spice up an outfit — whether it’s for a night out or just because I’m in a chic city — I turn to makeup and jewelry. A lady never goes out without earrings, as my mother likes to say, and I don’t feel complete without a couple of rings and at least one other piece of jewelry. My makeup bag has just the basics — pressed powder, blush, bronzer, neutral eyeshadows, and mascara — but it’s enough to make me look like an improved version of myself.
2. Wear solid colors. Of course patterns are fun, but solid colors make it so much easier to mix and match. I always have tank tops and V-necks in black, white, and two or three bright colors.
The kangaroos are totally digging her outfit. (Photo: Christine Amorose/C’est Christine)
3. Choose black on the bottom. I have a short black tulip skirt, loose black shorts, loose black pants, and black leggings. Sure, it’s a bit predictable, but there’s a reason why Parisians swear by black: It classes up an outfit, makes you look slimmer, and goes with everything. Really.
4. Pack a pop of color. To avoid being too too boring, always carry a fun, colorful piece. I’ve got one pair of crazy purple shorts, and they’re perfect for spicing things up.
Wearing the sunset on your pants = winning. (Photo: Christine Amorose/C’est Christine)
5. Carry a real purse. I cringe when I see women sporting backpacks or fanny packs in place of a proper purse. It’s one thing to rock a pack for a day of hiking or for a festival. But other than that, what is it about being in a different country that makes a purse obsolete? My black leather “satchel” is extremely useful when I’m traveling in cities; I feel most comfortable with a cross-body bag on busy streets or public transportation.
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6. Invest in an LBD. Chanel said it best: You can’t go wrong with a little black dress. The LBD is my ultimate going-out-in-a-city secret. I have a little number that knows how to multitask: It can be worn with a low front / high back or high front / low back. It can also be worn by itself, or with a skirt or sarong for a classier look.
So classy! (Photo: Christine Amorose/C’est Christine)
7. Have a pair of fancy flats. You only need one pair of embellished flat sandals. Just one. They dress up any outfit without taking up a lot of space. I live in Havaianas for the rest of the time, but my silver leather sandals are key for a night out, particularly in restaurants or clubs that enforce a dress code (flip-flips are often refused).
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8. Scarf it up. Scarves are the ultimate multifunctional travel tool. I travel with four of them at all times, and they function in myriad ways. They warm me up around my neck, they cover up my bikini, they act as a pop of color in a neutral outfit, they pull my hair back, they can be a towel on a sandy beach, and they can even be a blanket on a chilly plane. Not sure how to tie one? Watch this amazing video from Nordstrom, in which you learn 16 ways to tie a scarf. Guaranteed that you’ll learn something brilliant (like how to wear a square scarf as a kimono!).
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