Must Have Fashion For Your Backpack
Gap years have become really popular with adventurous young people who want to travel the world. And for good reason, travel truly broadens your horizons and helps you decide what it is you want to do with your life. You can see the most amazing sights and meet the most interesting and diverse people, catching it all on camera. So other than “where shall I go?” the other all-important question is “what shall I wear?” The good news is, you’ll be tanned and relaxed, so anything will look good!
Packing light is essential as you will be carrying all your possessions in your backpack. Everything you take will need to be scrunched and screwed up to make sure you can fit it all in. So it’s a good idea not to pack anything that will need to be ironed before you can wear it!
Bulky shoes will be out of the question because they will take up too much room and weigh you down. Flip flops are a must for any holiday maker, because they are cool, light and comfortable, as long as you aren’t doing too much walking. Flip flops are also easily replaceable and cheap – useful in case they go walkabout (pun intended!).
Depending on your location, a bikini (or nine) is on every girl’s list when filling up that backpack. A bikini won’t take up too much room in your bag and certainly won’t need ironing before you wear it. Most gap years incorporate a sunny location and a beach or two along the way and having your swimming gear on under your summer dress, makes a quick dip much easier.
It’s easy to keep up the cool, bohemian look without packing every item in your wardrobe, because the key is simplicity and understatement. Depending on your location and travel plans, a shower to wash the sea water out of your hair every time may be unrealistic. In any event, your daily haircare regime is likely to go out of the window, so embrace the curls! It’s a good idea to pack a hat or a headscarf to cover unruly hair, but also to cover up in the sun.
Cover ups like these may also be useful, especially if you’re traveling in Asia where to gain entry to some religious and historical places you may be required to cover your shoulders.
A cotton or silk pashmina or large scarf will therefore be invaluable. There are many gorgeous colours and designs sold in Europe and in the East and the good news is, nobody at home will have the same one! They will fit easily into your bag and won’t weigh you down. Also think about packing a fold-up rain mac… just in case!
You want to avoid taking any expensive or irreplaceable items with you. Security is an issue for every traveller, especially if you visit crowded cities, hostels, or campsites along the way. You will want to keep your bag close to you, or locked up in the dormitory, at all times. Take advantage of the festival trends and source tie-up t-shirts and cut off shorts, all of which can be picked up cheaply on the high street.
Whilst it may be too hot for jeans during the day, packing one pair of longer trousers is a good idea for long flights, waiting, or bus journeys. As jeans can get away with not being ironed or washed too often, it’s worth packing a pair, just in case, and they are often useful for casual evenings when it may be a bit cooler.
