A versatile travel dress can help you stay cool on vacation, while also looking completely put together (even though it took you all of five minutes to get ready). It’s also one of the best items in your wardrobe that can be dressed up, dressed down, and used for all seasons. Accessories add a bit of flare, while leggings and boots get you all set for winter.
And while we love a LBD (Little Black Dress for those of you who forgot), you no longer have to stick to black. There are loads of colors and patterns that can be your travel workhorse as you traipse across the globe with your kids. These are our picks for the best travel dresses.
1. Kosan Go Travel Dress
The Kosan Go Travel Dress is all in! Not only is it wrinkle-free, odor blocking, moisture wicking, quick drying and UV protecting, but this travel dress also has spots to hide your money, lip balm, and pockets for your phone and passport. You can also adjust the length of the dress, creating two styles of dress, so no one will ever know that you wore the same outfit twice (or more) while traveling.
2. Hybrid & Company Fold Over Maxi Skirt Travel Dress
Packing a travel dress that can be worn in multiple ways just means you can pack one less thing in your carry-on. Ex Officio has long been a household name for serious travelers. We love the Hybrid & Company Convertible skirt that can be worn with a tank top or T-shirt during the day and then converts to a dress for a night out on the town. It can also be worn as a swimsuit cover-up in a pinch.
3. Athleta Sunlover Hilo UPF Travel Dress
Any travel dress that we can wear with sandals or sneakers means we just found something to wear that allows us to keep up with our kids. The sporty Athleta Hilo Dress is made from sustainable materials, and has assymetrical sleeves. Plus, as every mom knows, black can hide anything—juice stains, sticky fingers, and even marker. Add a colorful necklace, pashmina and a pair of cute sandals and you’re all set to hit the town at night.
Related Article: 10 Best Travel Pants for Women
4. Prana Yarrow Travel Dress
Some may call this a shirt, while others will call it a dress. We like to call it both. And why not, when we can get two outfits out of it? Wear the Prana Yarrow Dress with a pair of skinny jeans and a T-shirt for a casual look as you wander through the city, or on its own with a belt and booties to give yourself a few more defining curves. Throw some leggings underneath and riding boots and you’re all set for winter.
5. Inspired Anytime Midi Travel Dress
Patterns are always fun and flirty with this ModCloth dress. Its cinched waist adds instant definition to your figure, making it flattering for all body types. You’ll be comfortable strolling hand in hand with your kids, while also turning heads as the other moms wonder how you rolled out of bed looking so good.
6. Floral Maxi Travel Dress
Asymmetrical lines add a little class to any look. It’s easy to go from casual to elegant in this Floral Maxi Dress by simply adding a bit of jewelry and changing up your shoes (sandals, heels, even sneakers work). The rayon fabric hides wrinkles, the floral print is perfect for special or casual occasions, and the A-Line cut is flattering for all.
7. GRECERELLE Women’s Casual Loose Pocket Split Maxi Travel Dress
Boho chic meets the T-shirt dress as pockets are added to this split maxi dress that comes in a number of colors. The Rayon/Spandex blend make it comfortable and easy to shake out wrinkles over night as you travel from city to city. Simple accessories, like a big bag, long necklaces and big bracelets add a bit of flair. You can knot the bottom of the dress to show a little more leg and add a new dimension to the outfit… or simply cover up that stain from the chocolate milk your kid just spilled all over you.
8. Woman Short Sleeved Casual Flaired Midi Travel Dress
When you need to look professional on the road, but have no time to iron once you get there, you’ll be happy you have this dress from HUHOT. The forgiving Polyester/Spandex (patterned dresses), or Cotton/Spandex (solid) blend let you throw on this flared dress and hit the ground running so you can get to the theater, dinner with the in-laws or your next school function right on time.
9. Artful Home Color Blocking Deborah Tunic Travel Dress
Hipster moms take heart—we can still show off a bit of our fashionista while we’re on the road without pulling out the steamer and iron every morning. Artful Home creates classic pieces for the fashion-forward traveler who wants to be comfortable while touring through Europe or hailing a cab in New York City with her tiny tots in tow. Pockets make it easy to snatch up that pacifier from the coffee table before you leave the house, as well as keep your phone handy to snap cute pics of the kids across the city.
10. Maternity Knee Length Wrap Travel Dress With Belt
We didn’t forget about you pregnant mamas out there who are headed out on your babymoon. As your baby bump grows, you can still look adorable in our favorite Mother Bee dresses, including this wrap maternity dress. It even looks cute with sneakers if your feet just aren’t up for sandals or wedges any more. We haven’t relegated you to the land of black fabrics either. Nope! Now is the time to show off that baby bump with bold patterns and vibrant jewel tones. Embrace your body and show it off as you cross the globe. Don’t put it away once baby arrives, either—it doubles as a nursing dress!
Related: 7 Maternity Dresses Made for Travel
11. Women’s Long Sleeve Pocket Casual Loose T-Shirt Travel Dress
The loose, flow-y style of this T-shirt dress is perfect for travel. You can dress it down with a casual flip flop or sneakers, or dress it up with a dressier sandal or heel and the right accessories. It’s made of rayon and spandex, making it stretch in all the right ways. And of course, every mom loves a dress with pockets: for storing your phone, tissues, and other little necessities for your kids.
12. The Globe Trotter Travel Dress
The name says it all. The environmentally conscious will love this dress from Summersalt, as it’s made from a sustainable TENCEL™-blend, and it resists wrinkles! Pack this for your next trip, and you can wear it for a day of sightseeing, a night out, or even wear it to a beach as a cover-up.
13. Trench Wrap Travel Dress
The flattering wrap design of this trench dress by Cuyana makes it perfect for day to night transition. It’s wrinkle resistant, which is always a plus for anything going in a suitcase. And while pricey, it can be paid in four installments using AfterPay. It’s the perfect dress for the fashionable mom.
14. The Japanese GoWeave Wrap Travel Dress
Dresses hitting just below the knee seem to be all the rage these days. You’ll be on trend with this GoWeave wrap dress from Everlane. Wrap dresses compliment every body type, and this one is light and drapey, making it perfect for moms on the go.
15. Milumia Maxi Travel Dress
You can’t go wrong with a flowy maxi dress. Available on Amazon, this boho-chic travel dress is available in a 3/4 sleeve or full sleeve and several different colors and patterns. Dress it up with strappy sandals, a straw bag, and statement earrings. Or, throw it over a swimsuit and pair it with a sun hat for a day at the beach.
Keryn Means lives in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. with her husband, two boys and one fluffy little pup. She is an award-winning travel journalist with bylines on Thrillist.com, Travel Age West and more, and loves to talk travel on ABC’s Good Morning Washington. You can find Keryn dragging her two boys around the DC area most days and across the globe several times a year. Follow along on their adventures on WalkingOnTravels.com and on Instagram.
What to Pack for Your Next Trip
Women’s/Mom’s Comfy Fall Outfit with Jeans and Combat Boots
Men’s/Dad’s Outfit for Hanging Out by the Beach in the Fall
Boy’s Casual Fun Outfit for the Fall
Girl’s Jacketless Fall Outfit with Uggs
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