Modest Travel Outfits: What to Wear and Pack

Travelling modestly is mostly about packing pieces that do several jobs and survive being crushed in a bag. Get the fabric choices right and a carry-on will cover a fortnight without you repeating an outfit anyone notices.

The travel-day outfit

What you wear on the plane should be the bulkiest thing you own, because it is not taking up luggage space. It also needs to work for a long day of sitting in cold air.

• Soft wide trousers or a jersey maxi dress — nothing with a rigid waistband.
• A jersey hijab, which will not need fixing after a nap.
• Slip-on shoes for security queues.
• Your heaviest layer, worn rather than packed.
• A large scarf or pashmina — blanket, pillow, extra covering.

What to pack for two weeks

Built on one palette so everything combines, roughly:

• Two maxi dresses.
• Two pairs of wide trousers.
• Three tunics or long tops.
• One open abaya and one kimono.
• Four to five hijabs, mostly jersey and cotton.
• One prayer garment, folded small.

That is around fourteen items producing well over thirty combinations. Our capsule wardrobe guide explains the underlying logic.

Fabrics that travel

• Jersey and modal — crush-proof, wash in a sink, dry overnight.
• Crepe — looks smart, resists creasing, the best abaya fabric for travel.
• Crinkle cotton — creased by design, so it cannot look creased.
• Linen — unbeatable in heat but arrives crumpled; accept it or avoid it.
• Silk and satin — leave at home unless the trip needs them.

Dressing for the destination

Hot climates

Loose, pale, natural fibres. Covering is an advantage in strong sun, not a burden — the reasoning is in our guide to dressing in heat.

Conservative destinations

In much of the Gulf, North Africa and parts of Southeast Asia, modest dress is the norm and you will be comfortable. Carry a scarf regardless — many religious sites require covered heads, shoulders and knees, and that applies at churches and temples too.

Places where you may attract attention

Some destinations are less used to visible modest dress. Nothing about your packing needs to change, but a light kimono over a maxi dress reads as fashion anywhere in the world, which some travellers prefer.

The small things that matter

• Extra undercaps. They weigh nothing and heat ruins them fast.
• Safety pins in your bag, not your case.
• A travel steamer or a hotel bathroom. Hanging a dress during a hot shower removes most creasing.
• A drawstring bag for shoes — useful at mosques and temples alike.
• One outfit that is smarter than the rest, for a dinner you did not plan for.

Umrah and pilgrimage travel

These have their own requirements, particularly around fragrance-free products and footwear. See our Umrah and Hajj packing guide.