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Do any of you fulltimers bring along a dressy or dressier outfit? I am a jeans and T shirt gal but if something unexpected happened that required more formal clothing (funeral), it would be more convenient to have it along; especially if I had to leave my rig and fly somewhere to attend. Considering that I haven't been to a funeral in several years, the chances are slim that one will be forthcoming soon, but just wondering what you do.

I am so charged up to get back on the road after visiting with the FL GTG ladies and men. Started cleaning out my cubbies and found the dressy outfit and HEELS! Yikes!

Joan

Joan, I have an LBD (little black dress) in my closet along with black dress pants. Both of these are a material that doesn't wrinkle easily. I have a couple jackets that can go with either. I also have black heels and black wedges. I have various tops that can go with the slacks also. I also have an outfit of slacks and long coat that is in brighter colors. I have another of slacks and sleeveless top that can be dressed up or down. It is in a turquoise color. Other than that, I have lots of jeans, shorts and tees. I figure I have an outfit to carry me through anything.

I have two pairs of "dressy" slacks and about 4 tops packed away under my RV. One pair is black and I have a black top I could wear to a funeral, should one occur, so that is my funeral outfit. The other slacks are beige. I have a couple of other tops and one jacket that I could wear for business if something happened where I needed semi-business clothing. All of these outfits are thin material, kind of silky or polyester, so they don't take up much room. (Two tops are very stretchy, thin shells that could go under my one jacket.) I have a pair of black semi-dressy sandals with low heels that would go along with them.

I have a few (maybe 3-4) other slightly dressy business-type outfits stored in a bin near the door of the storage locker where my furniture is stored. If I really needed it, it would be easy to retrieve and/or ship to me. I also have a couple of very dressy outfits suitable for a cruise stored there also. Don't think I will ever need them, but I wanted to have the option since I am still working online part-time and might have to appear somewhere at a meeting sometime.

I think if you choose outfits carefully, you could practically pack an outfit in a small shoebox. I am not planning to wear any of this soon, but I figured it was easier to be prepared than to have to go shopping in a hurry sometime. On the other hand, I do have more storage than a lot of people do, and I am still working at least a little, so I have more reason to be prepared than most people.

Dawn and Judy, like you my outfit is black and it is the "Travelers" from Chicos so it packs small and doesn't wrinkle. I found other attire that I used for a business convention but since I am once again retired, will not be needing those clothes.

Joan

I used to have my black outfit. But I have been to a funeral since I went full time and didn't wear that. Can't remember the last time I wore black at a funeral. I can put together a few different outfits from what I have that would be appropriate for most anything. Hardest would be a black tie event, which used to be pretty common for me. If that happened, I'd probably need to go shopping. I did bring one pair of fancy shoes, but think I've gotten rid of them in passing years. I do have one quite fancy sun dress that could make it if it were a warm climate.

I have 2 dresses hanging in the closet....1 red sleeveless...& 1 black & gold sleeveless...I call them my wedding/funeral dresses... since that's mainly when I wear them....I also have a pair of black pants which are too big for me now as I bought them before I lost weight a couple of years ago...hence will have to get some new ones...black slide shoes, brown/red slide shoes, and a pair of dress sandals....when I get back to PA I'm going to "purge" the closet and pickup some "new fashions"

P retty much what all these ladies have said. A basic, covers most semi dressy, the lady might have some sense of a polished look, events outfit, and if something really really special comes up, I can always go shopping...... And as you have already noticed, these sort of events are so rare....folks may be seeing the same black pants and dressy top of wrap/jacket!

For years I carried a long skirt and dressy blouse with us when we traveled - in fact they are in the Alfa. This year I did not bring anything dressy - just a pair of black slacks. And of course this year we were invited to a very formal reaffirmation of wedding vows and reception - used the black slacks, a scuffy pair of black shoes and a black polyester pullover - from now on I'll carry at least one dressy thing with shoes. You never know.

Good one, Soos - sorta like saying "leftover wine"!

Seriously tho, it's a lot like packing for a cruise: One pair of dressy black pants can make a dozen different outfits and today they are accepted just about anywhere. Just add a pretty top.

Pooker

Travelinana wrote:One word of warning on shoes...I learned from experience when shoes get near 8 to 10 years they might fall apart literally while you're wearing them. I have always had a hard time getting rid of shoes and I had the sole fall off of one pair of heels at a wedding, another in church, and yet another walking to my truck from the house. They won't show any signs either. One pair had only been worn one time but many years before...When I downsized I had to throw some away and I had a hard time doing this but why take them to the consignment store only to have someone else suffer the embarrassment?

Ditto. Had same thing happen several times. Weddings are my big curse with broken shoes. And no one carries Shoe Goo in their purse Even happened to my beloved river sandals (10 yrs. old. and once they're perfectly broken in ). In Maine last summer put them on to hike along lake and go kayaking and the whole sole just came off up to the heel. Flop, flop, tripped on my face. Luckily, someone had some Shoe Goo to glue it back together and made it through the rest of the trip. Big problem trying to find a pair to replace them. Took hours and lots of stores to find a pair that fit the same anyway, my 2 cents worth

I have had a few shoe blowouts too. When I was still working we kept seeing something on the carpet. It was my cork sole shoes falling apart. I try to keep an extra pair of shoes in my van for emergencies. I won't get rid of shoes I like unless they do fall apart. My DH will take duck tape and wrap around his boots when they fall apart. We are some real sharp dressers here.

Martha

Acadianmom wrote: My DH will take duck tape and wrap around his boots when they fall apart. Martha

My ex DH had an old Cadillac that he loved. When the roof (forgot what they call it but it looks like a convertible, but isn't) started to crack, he duct taped the entire thing. The silver color worked with the color of the car but I was mortified.

Joan

I don't have any "dressy" clothes. I actually avoid anything that requires "nice" clothes.
My husband has t-shirts and shorts or business ware (button ups and ties)... and his office is in the middle... so we need to go out and buy some polos and jeans...