Clothing For Travel

( Originally Published Early 1900's )

The first and last rule as to CLOTHING is to take as little as possible. A famous traveler-author makes it a rule to lay out his outfit for a new trip in three piles-1. The things he is sure to use every day; 2. The things he is likely to need two or three times a week; 3. The things he may need. Then, throwing away the second and third piles, he goes on his way rejoicing.

A reasonable list will depend on the form of travel, the place of travel, the time of travel, the length of the journey, and personal habits. On a cruise, where the one ship serves the traveler as home from beginning to end, there need be no particular limit. In any other form of travel only a very definite maximum of baggage space is possible. Across the North Atlantic, on the short route across the Pacific, on any journey north of the Mediterranean in winter, early spring, or late fall, and in Argentine and Chile or New Zealand, or the seas about them during our northern summer, a heavy overcoat and medium heavy winter garments are essential. The same will hold for winter in the Mediterranean. A light top-coat or its feminine equivalent is needed for any other trip at sea, unless it is all within a few degrees of the equator. Those who care less for style than for ease of getting about may get along with a fairly heavy sweater instead.

On land, winter clothing is best in all of Europe from about November first to late March, and from October first until the middle of May in Great Britain and Scandinavia. About the same may be said of Japan, and of China north of Shanghai. Even Canton has a couple of unpleasantly cold winter months. The highlands and all the capitals of western South America, except Santiago, call for at least moderately heavy spring and fall garments at all times. South Africa never gets colder than our April. The Mediterranean may be likened to our northern states with the four winter months taken out and three or four scorching months intercalated between July and August.

In the West Indies, almost all the islands of the Pacific, Central America, Panama, and the east coast of South America as far south as Rio and Santos, summer clothing is all that is needed at any time. Even northern Manchuria can be tropically hot in July and August. Korea is uncomfortably warm for about four months, southern Japan even a month longer than that, Rio de Janeiro, Montevideo, even Buenos Aires, swelter for most of the two months on either side of Christmas and New Year's. So much for the general weight of the clothing to be selected.

On shipboard men traveling first class will find it advisable to have a tuxedo (never full dress), and women the corresponding demi-toilette. A cap that can not easily be blown off is essential to male comfort anywhere at sea and a soft hat with considerable brim for ladies. A raincoat, useful in almost any clime, will suffice at least the unpretentious man as a bath-robe, afloat or ashore. Most ladies will consider a light kimono necessary in the same capacity. Bedroom slippers may be of the most compact variety. Rubber soled shoes without heels are useful for deck sports and promenades, but are not indispensable. Two pairs of ordinary shoes should be the irreducible minimum. These should never be brand new, but fairly well broken in before the start. Steamer rugs are best rented along with the steamer chair. On the average summer trip to Europe all outer wraps except a combination top- and raincoat may best be left at or sent on to the port of departure. The exception to this is for those who intend to spend some time in the higher parts of Switzerland.

SAMPLE LISTS FOR A SUMMER TRIP TO EUROPE

Men:

1 Business suit (dark, medium weight)

2 Summer suits (at least one dark and not easily soiled)

1 Light sweater

6 Shirts (3 crepe or silk, 2 cotton, 1 light flannel, collar attached, all unstarched)

12-15 Collars (semi-soft advisable)

6 Sets B. V. D.'s or similar light underwear (Heavier if accustomed to it in summer at home)

2 Pairs shoes (comfortable and broken in. Shoes are the one thing you cannot depend upon getting satisfactorily abroad)

Presentable raincoat or waterproof topcoat

1 Light felt hat

1 Panama hat (foldable)

1 Cap (medium weight)

12-15 Handkerchiefs

4-6 Neckties

3 Suits pajamas (2 silk; 1 cotton or light flannel)

2 Pairs garters

Light slippers

1 Pair washable gloves

6 Pairs cotton socks; 3 pairs silk; 3 pairs light wool

The following things may be very useful, depending on conditions :

Folding umbrella Bathing suit

Masquerade costume (especially on cruise)

Pair low rubbers Silk bathrobe

Ladies.:

1 Traveling dress (dark and silk or similar material)

1 Travel suit (light wool or serge)

1 or 2 Semi-evening frocks (crepe de chine packs well)

2 Washable blouses

Coat or wrap (medium weight)

Raincoat or cape (light weight)

1 Soft sweater

2 Pairs comfortable shoes

1 Pair dress shoes

12-15 Handkerchiefs

6 Pairs silk stockings

2 Pairs stout cotton stockings

2 Pairs light wool stockings

Sufficient lingerie (crepe de chine or glove silk)

1 Pair slippers (preferably waterproof)

2 Hats (at least one crushable; either both felt or one felt and other Panama; both with brims)

Sandal rubbers

Folding umbrella

2 Pairs washable gloves

1 Silk Kimono

Perhaps:

1 Bathing costume

1 Masquerade costume (especially on cruise)

On some cruises "sport clothes" (knickerbockers, etc., and feminine counterparts) are much worn. On cruises in the West Indies or the South Seas, and South America as far south as Rio, white duck is advised (cotton or linen, rather than pongee, etc., since native washerwomen are not always gentle). The tuxedo will be essential if you are going in for society at all, especially in England, where all "gentlemen" dress for dinner. In that case ladies should have the corresponding costume. Other-wise, for the hurried trip, these formal clothes may be left with the heavy things, to be picked up again on sailing. In certain places the tropical helmet, and perhaps the colored veil (orange best to prevent sunburn and still not appear lugubrious) are needed. More than twenty years of tropical wandering convinces me that the flannel cholera bands worn by many white people in the tropics are a mere superstition.

Other Things to Take:

Only necessary toilet articles. These should not be ex-pensive nor heavy; aluminum or celluliod rather than silver, etc.

Soap (in light holder or container)

Fountain pen

Pencil (with extra leads)

Cheap good watch (leave the diamond-set one at home) (Perhaps 1 pair dark glasses or goggles)

If you wear eyeglasses, by all means take an extra pair in a solid case.

1 Nail and hand brush

1 Small clothes brush

1 Collapsible drinking cup

1 First-aid kit (some would include hot water bottle and medicine case)

1 Small sewing kit ("Housewife" at Army-Navy stores; 3 colors of stout thread; black, white and khaki for men; buttons)

For men, extra set shirt buttons (ladies corresponding equipment)

Extra shoe-strings

Silk, stout cotton or canvas laundry bag with drawstring. (Brown canvas one with lock fine for overflow baggage) Diary or notebook.

Visiting cards (much more important than at home, especially in South America and the Orient)

Vaccination certificate (may save delay or re-vaccination at some ports)

12-24 Baggage tags (Many countries require all baggage to be tagged with the name and address of owner before checking or expressing)

The question of the CAMERA to take is debatable. An ordinary box camera shoots a trifle more quickly, but is more cumbersome and the results usually not quite so good. Heavy intricate machines of the Graflex type are a nuisance. Personally I prefer the folding kodak, with all its faults, preferably size No. 3, for which roll films can most surely be found. Film packs are second choice for several reasons. Take nothing requiring a darkroom, though some tourist steamers have one. You can buy the more popular sizes of films in most large cities abroad, though they may not always be fresh. If traveling in the tropics, insist on films in sealed tins, whether taking them with you or buying there. Films can be developed in most large cities the world over. Only the explorer or semi-explorer need any longer carry a developing tank.

The question of BOOKS should not be overlooked. Certainly you will want to read a few on shipboard, and unless you are very catholic in your tastes indeed, those available in a ship's library may be only second choice. Half a dozen cheap editions of books you have intended all your life to read but never have found time for, take up little room and may be abandoned when you leave the steamer. Naturally the best formal guidebook to be had should be your constant companion. Other books might better be picked up one at a time along the way, particularly those of the country, if you read its language.