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In an effort to always pack lighter and smarter, travelers look for clothing and accessories that can serve multiple purposes or uses. Most people are familiar with the utilitarian convertible travel pants, but they are not the only option for versatile travel clothes on the market. Here are some clever, good looking, and useful convertible clothing for female travelers.

Convertible Clothing

Written By: Niki Landry

Dress

Second to the zip-off pants, convertible dresses are popular and come it lots of styles and configurations. I usually find many of the cuts to be unflattering and odd, but the lightweight dress below has some looks that I could actually picture someone wearing on the street without looking weird. That being said, you may have to order a few different types to find the styles and cuts that suit your body type. It may take a little trial and error to find your perfect convertible dress, but having one item in your bag that can be styled many ways is worth the effort.

Here are five more convertible travel dress ideas!

Skirt

Unlike the previous dress, this skirt is made with travel in mind. The performance fabric wicks moisture and has sun protection. This is a great feature because you can assume that a convertible piece would get more wear and use than a normal skirt. You could hand wash and it would hang dry quicker than some other selections. The skirt/top is styled casually in the photo, but I like that the black color could be easily dressed up with accessories making it even more versatile.

Tops / Bottoms

Bikini

Reversible convertible clothing is a no brainer; it obviously works twice as well, but a reversible bikini gives you four mix and match suit options. I often find reversible clothing will only have one good side; the reverse can sometimes have an odd color or pattern. This bikini from Patagonia is great because I like the rich colors on either side.

Maxi Skirt / Tube Dress

The simplest skirt to dress conversion is the maxi skirt/ tube dress. The gathering at the side helps to give the dress some shape, and if you want a little more structure you can pull in the waist with a leather belt. If you normally pack a maxi skirt on most of their trips, why not give yourself another dress option as well.

Take a look at this convertible dress skirt that is also reversible too!

Pants

As an alternative to the zip-off travel pants, Athleta has a cinch leg hiking pant. It doesn’t quite go to a short length, but it will gather and secure to a capri. I have found the quality and construction of Athleta pants to be exactly what they claim. This would be a more flattering option for anyone needing performance pants, but are not interested in leggings.

Take a look at our favorite travel pants for women!

Pants

A scarf is everyone’s favorite travel accessory, and this convertible clothing option gives you even more ways to wear the already versatile accessory. The snaps on the end allow you configure the scarf as needed into lots of configurations. It can also be used to cover your shoulders, tied as a traditional scarf, or snapped to create a circle scarf. It’s a simple addition that makes the scarf just a little bit better.

Bag

Lots of bags have additional straps changing them from shoulder to hand easily, but this bag takes it one step further. It can be worn at the hip, as a clutch, and cross body. All of these are great options when you are traveling. I’m not a huge fan of the fanny pack, but if you are going to do it, this bag is as good as it gets. As a bonus the fabric is easily wipeable and water resistant.

For more ideas, check out these crossbody travel purses!

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What are your favorite convertible clothing options? Please comment below!

For more ideas on convertible clothing, please read:

• Versalette: Convertible Travel Clothing
• Convertible Dress Skirt and More – How Many Ways Can I Transform this Multi-way Garment?
• Convertible Travel Pants for Women: Pack them or forget them?
• Travel Dress Must Have: Twelve Ways Convertible Travel Dress

Hope you found these convertible clothing ideas helpful. Please share with your friends on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. Thanks for reading!

Author Bio: Niki is an interior designer and artist from Louisiana. In addition to her design work, she writes for local and online publications sharing her experiences and passion for travel. Niki is currently adding stamps to her passport while building her design practice, Niki Landry Designs. nikilandry.com  nikilandrydesigns  niki-landry-designs-llc