Packing light – reversible/convertible clothes

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In addition to taking quick-wash-and-dry clothing with  you (covered here), another winning way to pack is to get multiple uses out of the same item while having it look different.

One of the great things with some pieces of clothing is that they are reversible or convertible.  Sometimes reversible means the front and back can be switched and other times the item is turned inside out. Convertible is sometimes very basic  (like taking off pant legs to make shorts) and is sometimes more complicated (using snaps within the garment to make sleeves shorter or the shirt wrap or drape differently).

For example, these are great skirts that are patterns on one side and solid on the other side. This means you can wear it twice with the same or different shirts and it looks like a new outfit. They have other similar skirts in different colors too. They are also usually quite affordable, usually well under $30.

Another option is reversible tops (usually scoop neck to cowl, or scoop to v-neck, etc).  For example this one from Chicos that has a high neck on one side and a lower neck on the other side.  Some versions also have a different color on the inside, giving you 4 different ways to wear it.

 

Further, there are multi-way cardigans like this one from Angelina (which also by the way makes some of my favorite leggings).  This can be worn as shown, or as a drape neck front, or scoops on the sides, or as a wrap.  All this by just using a couple of snaps. There’s a short video with some options if you follow the link.

There are many options for convertible bridesmaid style dresses (search for “transformer”, here is one that I chose just for the picture). They are available in many colors and a few  patterns, but many very much look like bridesmaid dresses and aren’t things you could wear normally, but some would work.

 

But here is a simpler one that is a skirt and a strapless dress. I do not have this one because I HATE RAYON SOOOOOOO MUCH, but other people seem to like it a lot. So I’ll post it as I can’t find any that aren’t rayon.

 

 

 

There is also a company called Encircled, which makes several multi-way garments that are really nice.  I have the Chrysalis Cardigan from them, and a shirt that has a scoop neck or a drape neck and is reversible (front to back).