We very often receive emails like “How to dress when traveling?” . While it is quite simple to answer for a vacationer, the question becomes more complex when we talk about dressing for business trips .
Repeated journeys, distance traveled, an often busy schedule: it is difficult to carry too much baggage. We then adopt an optimization logic: everything must fit in a single bag . We remember George Clooney in the very good In the Air , never parting with his same suitcase.
The story of a man traveling more than 300 days a year, whose entire life fits into a suitcase (and a Miles card).
Very logically, we find ourselves limited in terms of the outfits to put together. How to get to the essentials with just one piece of luggage? Besides, what is the essential? How to deal with temperature variations? Are there multifunctional parts? What about style in all this?
To support my point, I relied on the experience of the first interested parties. We went to interview two nomadic entrepreneurs .
Very specific needs
Our first interviewee is Kumiko Matcha .
A globetrotter at heart, he likes “being able to go from a bar to the savannah”. Adventurous, he needs clothes with which he can go into the Asian jungle during the day, comfortable and very practical, but which he can also wear in an urban setting to party in the evening, without looking like a tourist.
Rather, he has a minimalist vision, taking up the triptych “ the good, the beautiful, the true ”. Little business for " go anywhere, anytime " , absolutely off-road. Clearly, we are talking about versatility taken to the extreme.
Valentin Van Nhut, founder of the premium matcha tea brand Kumiko Matcha.
Next we have Bruno , consultant and speaker specializing in chaos theories and crisis management. Very urban, his trips are mainly made in large metropolises. Because of the need to look professional, he needs relatively formal clothing (no t-shirts for example, unlike Valentin).
He is indeed very concerned about the image he projects. When he gives a lecture, he calls himself "on stage", both literally and figuratively. His audience is there to hear him but also to see him, "there is an actor or star side, even if it can seem pretentious" , hence the importance of a well-groomed appearance.
It is also a way for him to feel comfortable and confident.
Bruno Marion is also the author of the book Chaos, instructions for use .
Two very different profiles. However, you will see that they come together more than one might think.
Techwear, a ready-made solution?
In his excellent file on the subject, Milone wrote:
Techwear refers to a category of clothing that includes special fabrics with advanced technologies, construction techniques that go beyond the traditional, as well as cuts allowing maximum mobility.
Originally reserved for clothing intended for sports such as mountaineering, brands quickly looked into it to take advantage of these specific features.
Rich style, it expresses a multitude of different influences. We talk about urban techwear for pieces with an urban design: despite their technical properties, you would mistake them for their classic counterparts. A bit of the best of both worlds, if you like.
A 100% urban techwear outfit, who would have guessed it? (Outlier - F/W 15)
What properties to look for when traveling?
The technical features that can be found are numerous, ranging from super-stretch fabrics to anti-frost fabrics. We can no longer count the innovations and progress in R&D.
Obviously, needs vary from person to person. That being said, some are found in almost everyone:
- Wrinkle-resistant clothes,
- Breathable textiles,
- Water-repellent fabrics,
- anti-odor technologies,
- Extensibility and comfort of materials,
- Easy maintenance.
Which urban techwear brands for which pieces?
We will start with the brands favored by our respondents.
Without a doubt, Bruno and Valentin cite Outlier for its pants . Originally developed for cyclists, they won't be afraid of flying or the tundra (well, maybe a little of the tundra). Valentin even crossed a river in their Future Works model.
On Reddit , we find the testimony of someone who did a huge trek with it. In his “ 1 year, 1 outfit ” experiment, blogger Matt chose Outlier chinos again. Worn for a year, almost every day (alongside an Apolis jacket and Viberg shoes)!
Likewise, their t-shirts and shirts are very popular , particularly for their ability to dissipate heat and prevent sweat. Some models are also wrinkle-resistant. The brand therefore enjoys excellent sympathy and has become essential for all fans of urban techwear.
If you want to explore this avenue further, Geoffrey tested it right here .
If you are looking for technical polo shirts, Ministry of Supply is for you. “As comfortable as a t-shirt,” Bruno tells us, they keep their fit and are super breathable.
The brand has become best known for its technical formal shirts, with its " Apollo Shirt " fitted with "temperature-regulating NASA fabric". Since Bruno is also a speaker, he obviously needs dress shirts, and he gets almost all of them from Ministry of Supply.
Very intrigued by this shirt, I was able to test it. First thing, the sizing is American style: you can downsize without any problem. In terms of fabric, we are dealing with a stretch fabric that goes very well in a formal setting.
Regarding the technology, perspiration actually dries very quickly and the stretch is very appreciable. When it comes to temperature regulation, don't expect a magical fabric, but it is true that compared to a classic shirt , you can feel a little difference.
On the outerwear side, Bruno, who is very cold-tempered, dresses in but especially in Norrona . The latter offers Gore-Tex parkas filled with Primaloft or Polartec Alpha, making them waterproof and “ warm as down ”.
More surprisingly, Bruno, although in search of sobriety, invested in an Acronym shirt. It is a black shirt, in Schoeller Dryskin fabric (the same as our Schoeller pants ), with two pockets at the hips.
One of the two pockets present, a rather unusual feature on a shirt.
And the famous transport strap system!
Problem: Acronym pieces are very expensive - this shirt, around $500 - but Bruno, experienced in techwear, is so satisfied that he would even be ready to buy a second one as it perfectly meets his traveler's expectations .
With Arc'téryx Veilance , Acronym is every techwear fan's ultimate dream. Even beyond the excellent quality of the pieces - imperative given their prices - the brand has been able to build a very strong universe, with a very marked futurism, but well executed and credible. The designs are stylish and full of ideas, Benoît is also a fan (and will surely write a file about it one day). We even find an Acronym coat in the latest video game in the Deus Ex series.
Image from the Deus Ex trailer, where we see a nice product placement for Acronym :)
If you're not already familiar with it, watch this video to learn more about the brand, where the many features of the clothing are exposed.
As a bonus, we find the selection of Milone brands :
See more...
- EFM Menswear
- Endless Ammo
- eclectic
- Finnistere
- Indochino Tech Suits
- Levi's Commuter Line
- Makers & Riders
- Ministry of Supply
- Camel Active
- Canada Goose
- Proof NY
- Stutterheim
- SWRVE
- And Wander
- Aether
- Arc'Teryx
- Herno Laminar
- Isaora
- Jiberish Grand Cru
- ma.strum
- Mission Workshop
- Nike NSW
- Outlier
- Nanamica
- Nau
- Sioux
- Stone Island
- Triple Aught Design
- Ten-C
- The North Face Purple Label
- Uniqlo
- Cole Hann
- non-native
I can only invite you to browse it. You may be surprised by the strong aesthetic that brands incorporate into their creative process.
And the natural materials in all this?
Natural materials don't go by the wayside though! On the contrary, it is often to natural materials that we add technical synthetic fibers, that we apply a finish... Adding nylon will prevent the merino from pilling, for example.
Two brands specialize in technical clothing based on merino: Ice Breaker and Smart Wool . Their hoodies and underwear are unanimous.
Valentin swears by merino wool underwear because you can wear them for several days without problem: body moisture is well evacuated and, according to Valentin, it is very easy to wash by hand because stains do not penetrate at the heart of the fibers.
Fun fact, he almost only wears briefs, and not boxers, always with the aim of reducing bulk to the strict minimum, and also because he finds it "sexier"...
We can find all the underwear made from merino, from briefs to boxer shorts. According to Valentin, preferring a more compact brief, they can even be used as a swimsuit and will dry very, very quickly.
Valentin and Bruno are also big fans of Mission Workshop , which offers good merino hoodies . A brand originally intended for city cyclists, it quickly entered the closed circle of recognized urban techwear brands thanks to its truly urban designs and its intensive use of Schoeller materials.
And above all, let's admit it, their videos are often magnificent, full of delicacy and the desire to explore:
For higher temperatures, Bruno wears Outlier shirts constructed on a linen base. The use of cotton is more marginalized: it absorbs humidity much more easily.
Note that Valentin, during his trips to Asia, completely banned cotton from his suitcase. It overwhelms it with all the ills of the world: too slow drying, stubborn odors, a breeding ground for bacteria, etc.
We are quick to strongly condemn cotton but let us still remember its advantages in the context of a normal wardrobe:
- It costs much less than merino,
- The variety of colors, weaves and textures is almost unlimited, one of its strong points in my opinion,
- And it is so soft to wear next to the skin unlike merino, which can sometimes be a little rough.
What shoes to wear when traveling for work?
This is the great drama of Bruno, who despairs of not finding Richelieus or technical derby shoes. Clark's Gore-Tex line has little effect on it, and it's easy to understand why when you see the design of these shoes. We are therefore forced to make do during the time of our appointments.
Otherwise, Bruno swears by black sneakers (I'll come back to the color story below), from Stan Smith to Common Projects to Axel Arigato .
On Benoît's advice, he also bought a pair of Feit brand running shoes. This is also a budget to plan for but Bruno, who only eats organic food, is very sensitive to the natural latex used by the brand.
Comfortable, versatile, Bruno also wears them because his activity allows him the suit/sneakers twist.
In his treks, Valentin uses specialized shoes, such as Merrell for his motorcycle trips. For now, the importance of protecting yourself comes before aesthetics (don't try to climb a mountain in desert boots ). When he's on a date, he usually wears Nike Fly Knit .
What about the costume?
No one has really found their ideal technical suit for traveling.
Otherwise, Bruno wears a merino/lycra suit which gives him comfort. The best models were at Prada a few years ago but have a fairly dissuasive price (around €2,000). Benoît campaigns for Bruno to wear a fresco suit from Husbands , an absolutely wrinkle-free and airy wool, but he refuses because he only wants to wear black.
If you really want to wear a technical blazer, you will find what you are looking for at éclectic , a real French gem.
What type of luggage?
As I said, the most practical - but also the most common - is to limit yourself to one piece of luggage.
The suitcase remains the most practical, because it is easy to transport in an urban environment. On the other hand, as soon as you leave the city borders, a backpack is essential .
Bruno highly recommends TUMI bags and panniers to us, they have been following him for 10 or 15 years
It is typically a direct competitor to brands like Triple Aught Design , for example.
Made in America, Goruck bags are very strong, so much so that soldiers use them in war.
On his Youtube channel SuperVagabond , Valentin shows us how his bag is organized:
And because this thing excites me, here is the Race Case from SuitSupply: a suitcase that transforms into a scooter to play as Paul Walker at the airport.
Summary of (urban) techwear brands worn during professional trips
In Valentin's suitcase
In terms of brands, Valentin’s preference goes to:
- Pants: Outlier , The North Face ,
- Outerwear: The North Face ,
- Underwear and t-shirt: Ice Breaker , SmartWool ,
- Hoodies: Mission Workshop ,
- Sneakers: Nike Flyknit ,
- Shoes: Merrell ,
- Luggage: Goruck backpack.
In Bruno's suitcase
For his part, Bruno prefers:
- Pants: Outlier ,
- Polo: Ministry of Supply ,
- Outerwear: The North Face , Norrona,
- Shirts: Outlier , as well as a favorite from Acronym ,
- Hoodies: Mission Workshop ,
- Sneakers: Adidas Stan Smith, Achille by Common Project , Feit , Axel Arigato ,
- Luggage storage: Tumi .
How to pack your suitcase?
How to optimize your luggage?
Firstly, limit yourself in the pieces you take : your pieces will get dirty much less quickly (no odors, moisture evacuation, etc.), not to mention that you can easily wash them (quick drying, hydrophobic fibers and company). Valentin has become a huge geek on optimizing his backpack, where the usefulness of each item is carefully considered.
The frequency of washing merino underwear is a recurring topic on Reddit-type forums. There is no exact rule - effort and the degree of perspiration necessarily influence - but everyone agrees that you can wear them several times before. As for those preferring regular washing, drying is once again very fast (even if they wear out prematurely).
Next, look for versatility (except for special occasions). For now, Bruno is radical since he only opts for black
Without completely agreeing with Bruno - there is something more elegant than full black in my opinion - it is true that an all-black outfit, if it is well executed, exudes personality. This is explained, among other things, by the fact that strong characters have long adopted black as the one and only color, like artists, intellectuals, dramatic actors... contributing to making it also racy.
Indeed, versatility is just as important on a suitcase made of gray, blue and beige : outfits can be combined without color problems.
Otherwise, you do according to your preferences.
The limits of techwear, by Benoit
Reading this file, one might think that urban techwear is the solution to everything: perfectly versatile, with useful technicality... and one would be tempted to want a wardrobe made up only of a handful of technical clothing . And yet I'm opposed to it, mainly for a lack of variety.
Imagine that you have the possibility of nourishing yourself every day with a pill that contains exactly all the necessary macro and micro-nutrients. Your nutritional needs are perfectly met, and the act of eating is limited to the ingestion of a pill. That's techwear.
And next to it, you have normal cooking: you have to bother doing your shopping, cutting the food, cooking (which is often a real pleasure), washing the dishes, etc. In short, a lot of constraints but the pleasure is incommensurable compared to swallowing a pill. The variety of flavors, colors, tastes is incredibly richer, with all the pleasure that goes with it. Well that's a classic wardrobe.
So here is my point of view: to only have urban techwear is to miss out on many pleasures, many variations of a classic wardrobe: the elegance of a camel double-breasted coat, the drape of a suit wool or the texture of the dobby fabric of a shirt, for example.
Limiting yourself to urban techwear is a bit like settling for the food supplement over and over again, forgetting the pleasure of a dish in an elaborate outfit.
That said, from time to time, techwear comes in handy, typically for a weekend with friends where you have to travel very light.
Just like if you don't have time to eat one day, and you'd be glad to have your food pill.
“What advice would you give…?”
As you will have understood, techwear brands and their possibilities are numerous. There is then a selection work to be carried out, always according to your needs. Due to their characteristics, the parts can be quite expensive , but it is an investment for those who travel often.
As Benoît rightly says, urban techwear pieces respond well to a professional context but can become bland. In this sense, we do not recommend that you make it your uniform at work or in life, even if certain pieces can easily find their place in your "permanent wardrobe".
Mission Workshop Hoodie. Its design, relatively versatile, will be suitable in a lot of situations. On the other hand, you lose the variety that a honeycomb hoodie can provide, for example.
Because there are no interviews without advice, we asked Bruno and Valentin what they would recommend to a layman who travels a lot and wants to get into techwear.
For an urban, chic, super comfortable style, I would say go for two Outlier pants, have merino sweaters and underwear and a super comfortable suit. The same goes for shoes, it’s essential! -Bruno
On Valentin's side, it gives:
I would advise him to take two pairs of pants such as Outlier or The North Face, with t-shirts and merino underwear . Limit yourself in terms of numbers and always take a scarf!
(Urban) techwear is undoubtedly a very rich subject. To complete your reading, I recommend the Superfuture topic .
As usual, we'll find you in the comments for your questions. 😉
To find out more about what clothes to take when traveling
My clothing list for a minimalist wardrobe – CDL#91
[Off Topic] My equipment in Mongolia on a motorbike (2/2)
My passion for backpacks – Let’s Talk Clothes #43
My 8 versatile pieces for 2 weekends in 1 – Benoît’s checklist
