Women Travelers - New favourites for travel wardrobe

I am late to the legging party, I think because I did the legging thing in the early 80s and did not want to look like my 80s self again (especially now that I'm in my mid-40s). This summer, however, I was seduced by the Boden catalogue and its tunic/legging combos, and I fell hard. (Boden is a UK-based retailer that now offers its very distinctive, colourful clothes via the internet in the U.S.) I've now accumulated a wardrobe of about half a dozen tunics an assortment of leggings, from Boden and Athleta, and a couple of pairs of boots.

I took the Boden wardrobe on a whirlwind business trip this past week and it worked incredibly well. I had to travel just with carry-on luggage because I couldn't afford to have my luggage get waylaid: I had business meetings the morning after I arrived in two different cities and I didn't want to have to fly in work clothes. I packed one pantsuit, 2 tops (from Boden), 2 tunics and 2 pairs of leggings, plus the tunic and leggings I wore on the plane and a nightgown. I also carried on a lightweight raincoat and a pashmina. The tunics and leggings packed down so small, I probably could have fit them into my purse, and the wrinkles hung out in half an hour. I also managed to fit workout clothes (running shoes, leggings and tshirts) into my carry-on, which often isn't the case when I pack bulkier clothes.

The tunic/legging combo was extraordinarily comfortable for the plane - like wearing pjs but far more stylish. I got compliments (and this never happens to me when I fly) from a flight attendant and another woman business traveller. The flight attendant noted that I managed to look incredibly comfortable and as pulled together when I got up in the morning as when I got on the plane. The tunic/legging combo also worked well at the hotel. Unfortunately, I spent most of the trip working in my room. When I did venture out for meals, it was so easy to throw on a tunic and leggings and look pulled together enough to eat in the upscale cafes and bars at the Four Seasons (BA), Copacabana Palace (Rio) and Hyatt (Sao Paulo). I also went out for dinner one night with my suave, male colleagues in BA, who took note of my recent weight loss and said that I looked fabulous :) One of the tunics (in wool merino) was long enough (about 2" above my knees) to be wearable as a dress, and that's what I wore for one working day in the office in Sao Paulo before flying out that night.

I was a little worried about travelling in boots as opposed to shoes, but it turned out that getting in and out of zip-up boots at the security line was just as easy (if not easier) than dealing with shoes. The boots I wore (with a 1.75 inch heel) were higher than ankle height (maybe an 8" height?) that covered the top of the leggings and worked with the suit I packed.

I've got another short business trip coming up next week and then a study holiday (a week of Spanish immersion classes) in Mexico in November, so I'm planning use the tunic/legging combo again for these trips, and expect to be able to travel light again.

For those who want to check out Boden's clothes, have a look at bodenusa.com. If you sign up for emails, you should be able get at least a 10% off coupon. Oh - and one other thing to mention. Boden is one of the internet retailers included in Marriott's ShopMyWay mall (4 points per $ spent) and the points I've earned for purchases have posted quite reliably.

Thanks for your post, which tunics have you tried? I'd never seen their site but checked it out after your post and the clothes look wonderful!

Thanks for the tip. I'm doing the GOOGLE.

Thanks for your post, which tunics have you tried? I'd never seen their site but checked it out after your post and the clothes look wonderful!

I really splurged this fall and bought a number of them. I lost almost 35 pounds earlier this spring and needed a new, more fun wardrobe.

I bought two of the "Fun-Loving Tunics", one of the Empire Line tunics, one of the merino retro spot tunics, and two of the flower burst tunics from the summer (clearance sale). The fabric of the fun-loving tunics is a bit fragile (be careful with heavy-handled purses and bags directly on top of it), but the others have stood up well so far. Boden also has some lovely tunic-length cardigans (in the knits section).

One of the things I like about Boden is that you get customer reviews (so you can get a better sense of how things fit) and also detailed garment measurements. One thing I don't like is that it's sometimes hard to figure out the exact colour combination (sometimes the website is a bit off).

NT10 is a code for New York Times readers that will get you 15% off, free shipping and free returns for another week or so. If you log in via the Marriott portal's internet mall, when you get to the shopping bag page, you'll have to reenter the promo code. But it definitely works - I've accumulated a boatload of Marriott points for my Boden binge.

One other thing I'll mention is that, with 35 pounds gone, I'm fairly slim these days (5'7", 125 pounds). Boden clothes seem to fit me well but take note that the clothes tend to be a bit narrow in the shoulders and arms, but fairly forgiving to tummies and pear shapes (at least according to the reviews).

I really splurged this fall and bought a number of them. I lost almost 35 pounds earlier this spring and needed a new, more fun wardrobe.

Congratulations on losing the weight!

Thanks for posting - I've been hearing a lot about Boden, may have to try them out. Did you buy Boden's leggings as well, or go with something else?

Like you, I've had a hard time getting back on the leggings bandwagon. I bought leggings from J Jill last month, but took them back as they seemed no different than footless tights, and I didn't feel dressed wearing them with a mid-thigh dress/tunic.

Thanks for posting - I've been hearing a lot about Boden, may have to try them out. Did you buy Boden's leggings as well, or go with something else?

Like you, I've had a hard time getting back on the leggings bandwagon. I bought leggings from J Jill last month, but took them back as they seemed no different than footless tights, and I didn't feel dressed wearing them with a mid-thigh dress/tunic.

I bought Boden's leggings and I also like Athleta's (athleta.com, also part of Marriott's internet shopping portal). Both brands seem a little thicker than tights, so I feel comfortable wearing them with short (mid-thigh) tunics. (I wouldn't be comfortable with either brand if my butt were actually showing, but as long as the tunic is longer than that, I'm ok with it.)

I also might give Victoria's Secret a try - I noticed last night that they have a wide range of colours and also 3 different lengths (including a 32" length for tall people).

I really splurged this fall and bought a number of them. I lost almost 35 pounds earlier this spring and needed a new, more fun wardrobe.
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One other thing I'll mention is that, with 35 pounds gone, I'm fairly slim these days (5'7", 125 pounds). Boden clothes seem to fit me well but take note that the clothes tend to be a bit narrow in the shoulders and arms, but fairly forgiving to tummies and pear shapes (at least according to the reviews).

You don't have to be young or slim to get compliments on a tunic/leggings outfit. I've been wearing this combo in wicking nylon/poly/viscose mix in warmer weather, as well as merino in cooler weather, and am amazed at the number of strangers that comment favourably to an old, fat Aussie.

The thing I like most is that tunics work as swimsuit/gym cover-ups, dressy or casual, night or day with the right choice of accessories, and my leggings ( more opaque than tights) are great as gym, day or sleeping wear, as well as giving extra warmth under normal skirts or pants...

I get a lot of this stuff from Taking Shape (http://www.ts14plus.com.au/).

Clicked through to Boden's website and noticed their models smile and pose a bit more "vacation photo" like. Nice to have that rather than a standard model pose all the time.

Clicked through to Boden's website and noticed their models smile and pose a bit more "vacation photo" like. Nice to have that rather than a standard model pose all the time.
Actually when I looked at their website I found the photos kind of annoying--you can hardly see the clothes! I realize they have photos of the garments laid out flat also, but it doesn't let you see how they look on actual people standing normally.

The Boden stuff looks nice but after 43 years with this body, I know better than to order any clothing online. Do they have any retail stores?

Thanks for posting this! I got a Boden catalog a while back, but couldn't find much about whether people like the clothes or not. I'll have to go take another look...

Actually when I looked at their website I found the photos kind of annoying--you can hardly see the clothes! I realize they have photos of the garments laid out flat also, but it doesn't let you see how they look on actual people standing normally.

The Boden stuff looks nice but after 43 years with this body, I know better than to order any clothing online. Do they have any retail stores?

I don't think they have any retail stores in the US (only in the UK). If you use the following promo, you get free shipping, free returns and 15% for another week or so: NY10.

I shop online a lot, as long as it's cheap/free to return things. That way, I also get Marriott points (for clicking through their retail portal to the internet retailer), plus points for whichever credit card (e.g., Hilton Amex) that I'm using. As long as I'm disciplined about returning things, it's not a problem. And once you get used to the fit of things, it's fairly straightforward. I probably buy 3/4 of my wardrobe on line (and then spend some time on the weekends "un-shopping" or "de-shopping").

I don't think they have any retail stores in the US (only in the UK). If you use the following promo, you get free shipping, free returns and 15% for another week or so: NY10.

I shop online a lot, as long as it's cheap/free to return things. That way, I also get Marriott points (for clicking through their retail portal to the internet retailer), plus points for whichever credit card (e.g., Hilton Amex) that I'm using. As long as I'm disciplined about returning things, it's not a problem. And once you get used to the fit of things, it's fairly straightforward. I probably buy 3/4 of my wardrobe on line (and then spend some time on the weekends "un-shopping" or "de-shopping").

I like shopping online, too, as long as the return policy is good. I especially love zappos.com for their overnight free shipping and totally free returns up to a year. I haven't been able to find the Marriott portal to get points while shopping online. Would you post the link please? Thanks!

I like shopping online, too, as long as the return policy is good. I especially love zappos.com for their overnight free shipping and totally free returns up to a year. I haven't been able to find the Marriott portal to get points while shopping online. Would you post the link please? Thanks!

Here's the link:

https://mrewards.shopmyway.com

Find it by going to Marriott.com, then click on Marriott rewards, then click on How You Earn. You'll see a list, including one for retail. Click on ShopMyWayMall.

I've found Marriott's portal to have a lot of options, to offer good point values, and to be reliable with respect to posting points. I don't think I've ever had a problem. (By contrast, Continental was only 50/50.) Marriott offers bonus points from time to time, and has good double point offers in the Christmas season.

The bad news is that zappos.com isn't part of any rewards mall that I've found (it was at one time, but stopped participating). So I usually go to shoebuy.com instead.

Endless.com is a good shoe/bag site with various reward points/miles programs.

AA Eshopping also has Boden for miles per $ spent.

So has anyone had an "enhanced pat down" while wearing leggings and tunic? The outfit sounds really comfortable but it seems like the security experience would be more invasive than while wearing pants...

So has anyone had an "enhanced pat down" while wearing leggings and tunic? The outfit sounds really comfortable but it seems like the security experience would be more invasive than while wearing pants...

I've wondered about this and what one earth happens with the invasive pat-down if one is wearing a DRESS??? My latest trip was way beyond disconcerting, with the unbelievable TSA groping. I made sure to wear thick fleece pants, but cannot fathom traveling in summer. I'm honestly happy I don't travel much by air anymore.

I've wondered about this and what one earth happens with the invasive pat-down if one is wearing a DRESS??? My latest trip was way beyond disconcerting, with the unbelievable TSA groping. I made sure to wear thick fleece pants, but cannot fathom traveling in summer. I'm honestly happy I don't travel much by air anymore.

In case some of you don't read TS&S, at least one TSO has said several times that because dresses and skirts are 'bulky' they will result in a secondary. I don't know what they would do with your thick fleece pants?

Now there is this alarming thread http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travel-safety-security/1148940-tight-skirt-will-they-do-private-visual-search.html

I have worn a skirt on 100% of my flights around the world this year, and only in a few US cities did it seem to prompt a secondary even after no alarm at the WTMD. A few times there were several women lined up for secondaries, all wearing skirts, and several of them were grandmotherly with long, A line skirts. :(

My choice for travel is always a skirt, for comfort and convenience.

Packing tunics is very similar to my strategy of packing dresses. I can go on a long trip with a small suitcase if I stick to dresses. On my last trip to Europe, I wore a comfortable, stretchy dress, tights, and boots on the plane and it was very comfortable.