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I tend to find myself quite often in hot and humid climates because that’s just how I like my weather. However, a lot of the times these countries are also quite conservative. Places like Morocco, Indonesia, the Maldives, and India require women to cover up a bit more and that can be a bit of a dilemma. Women’s clothing for hot & humid countries tends to be skimpy, making it an issue if you need something to wear in conservative countries. That and the fact that once you hit a certain age, butt cracks and hot pants are just not cute anymore (well, to be quiet honest, I never thought they were!).
So what to wear in India & Co? After more than four years as a full-time traveler and woman of a certain age (lol) I have sorted out my travel wardrobe and apparently, I did well. At least that’s what some people tell me. So I thought it was high time to share some of my favorite cool summer dresses and some of my favorite stores.
Many travelers tend to go for a local wardrobe when traveling to a country like India and as long as you wear your sari there and not to a fancy dress party at home I see nothing wrong with it. That said, I need someone to get me in and out of a sari and generally need a wardrobe that works in more than one place.
While I tend to wear skinny jeans with stretch, an oversized silk shirt, and cotton cardigan on long flights (with either a sports bra or a strapless bra I can take off for sleeping by the way!), that uniform doesn’t go very far in 100% humidity.
In general, I gravitate towards cotton, linen, bamboo, hemp or even something like cashmere or merino if I need a cardigan for a cool night. Natural fibers are it for me though there are some great new materials on the market now that are equally breathable which is the important thing.
When it comes to styles and colors, I am a little bit all over the place: much navy and black, some bright blue, mainly solid colors but also some crazy prints. I tend to like pieces that are not too frilly but I don’t mind a good peasant shirt.
Some of my go-to brands include Oysho, 9 Seed for beach cover-ups, COS for more structured formal pieces, and Anokhi. The latter is probably the best answer to the question of what to wear in India. While I came across my first Anokhi caftan in a boutique in Stellenbosch, the best place is to buy their pieces directly in India.
If you want to come prepared, here are some pieces I currently covet for my upcoming trips. Just note that this is not a comprehensive packing list as there are so many various climates within India – this is simply what I would recommend in any country which is hot, humid and a bit more conservative! If you are looking for an India, Indonesia or Morocco packing list for what to wear read on here.
Fall 2022*: What to wear in India
(*and other hot & conservative countries)
Dresses
A couple of years ago I was looking for appropriate clothing for Morocco when I came across a long, black Weekday dress on sale. It turned out to be perfect: covered up, but light, airy, and insanely comfortable. With it, I had found my travel style and have since worked hard (aka retail therapy) on expanding my wardrobe with perfect loose cotton dresses.
Mind you, white is a lot better if you are going to a hot place I think but then again I am a slob who cannot wear something white for longer than a minute before spilling something on me.
Depending on where you go and the occasion you can do a knee-length or shoulder-free dress as long as it is long enough. When in doubt have a cotton scarf or pashmina with you so you can cover if you feel uncomfortable or want to enter a temple or mosque.
Make sure that when you are anywhere but the beach that your dress is not see-through. The number of times I have admired someone’s underwear through a long dress…countless. When it doubt, wear a pair of leggings or hotpants underneath.
Shirt dresses & tunic tops
If you travel to various countries regularly as I do, it is key to create a versatile wardrobe. For me, that means, a shirt dress that might be okay to wear in Bali can be transformed into an appropriate outfit with some leggings for the rest of Indonesia.
Pants
I love harem pants and if they come with a drop-crotch I love them even more. Seriously, harem pants and loose-fitting cargo pants are my favorite when I travel to hot and humid countries but have something a little more active planned or a long bus ride ahead of me.
While I haven’t gotten one yet I also like a good romper though I will say – make sure you don’t wear one when using a squat toilet! Rompers are tricky to maneuver at the best of bathroom times and trying to hold a bunch of fabric around your ankles and not pee on it is not for the fainthearted. And yes, I have seen that happen!
Bags
Regardless of where you travel to, you will want to have a bag that is safe and practical. I recently discovered the belt bags from 1 People which fulfill both of these premises. On top of it, they are chic and 100% vegan as they are made with Piñatex®.
Shoes
When it comes to shoes, I hate to break it to you but I am a stereotypical German who won’t go anywhere without her beloved Birkenstocks. It is in my DNA.
I love their new line which is made from plastic and thus, waterproof and incredibly light, as well as their regular ones if you need something a bit sturdier. In fact, I even hike in my Birkenstock thongs as they are a firm part of my long term travel packing list.
In addition, I think a pair of ballet flats, Toms or low-rise Converse are great. Basically, anything that you can take off easily – many countries will require you to take your shoes off before entering a home or a place of worship.
Scarves
I used to own an impressive collection of scarves once upon a time. Since I have started traveling I have scaled-down but I still have a couple of options with me: one warmer one that will double up as a blanket on the plane and a cotton one that also works as a beach towel or sarong.
I have only selected a few options because if you want to buy one thing in India it is a beautiful scarf or a pashmina!
*I will update this post as the year goes on since many shops from the northern hemisphere don’t have the most choices at the moment for lightweight dresses. However, this also means you might be able to score some fabulous things on sale!
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