I absolutely love road trips. I went to college in upstate New York, about a four-hour drive from where I grew up (three-and-a-half if I was feeling particularly feisty), and when sophomore year arrived, and I was allowed to have a car on campus, one of my favorite things to do take the drive to school with friends and music, and then explore the very scenic countryside in which my school was nestled. When we had our senior week down in Myrtle Beach, I drove for fourteen hours down the country with a friend of mine, and it was the best, even though I do remember feeling like I wasn’t going to make it out of some of the ghost towns in North Carolina alive. Oh, how I miss my car, a blue Honda CR-V named Papa Smurf, now that I live in NYC. But that’s a story for another day.
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However, one of the only problems I ever really encountered during one of my many road trips was that if I ever wanted to stop the car to get out and explore, I could never picture of myself anywhere. Why? Because my go-to road trip outfit generally consisted of crappy sweatpants, leggings, and gym clothes. I’m not a generally self-conscious person, but I do hate getting photographed, and if my outfit and makeup aren’t 100% on-fleek (did I use that right/what is fleek/am I old?), I will point blank refuse to get my picture taken. The 3 outfits can be worn even while traveling in a camper or an RV. If you are planning on an RV road trip check out Camperfaqs for their RV rental ultimate guides.
So, in honor of all, you road-trippers out there (psst, jet-setters, you’re welcome to use these outfits, too) who are tired of the sweatpants and baggy clothes look, here are three outfits that are way better but are still just as comfy.
1. Jeggings
Don’t hate on jeggings, guys. I used to think they were the weirdest invention until I was gifted a pair of HUE jeggings, and I realized just how wonderful they are. You just have to find the right pair. Throw on a graphic tee and some sandals, grab a backpack for all of your road trips essentials, and you’re good to go! If you’re feeling adventurous, you could go Contributing Editor Kelsey Manning’s route and just wear the shockingly-cute PajamaJeans!
Get the look:
- Mid Wash Distressed Molly Jeggings ($84, River Island)
- Weekends Are For Waffles Women’ Dolman Tee ($29, Etsy)
- Rizzy Flat Sandals ($39.99, Nine West)
- Casual Sporty Backpack ($68, Topshop)
- Quay Invader Shades ($40, Nasty Gal)
2. A cotton maxi dress
The maxi dress is probably the easiest thing you could ever wear on a road trip, simply because one piece essentially takes care of your entire outfit, and it looks put together without any added effort. Plus, cotton is a great choice because it’s cozy and breathable, and you can wash the car-snack smell out of it when you arrive at your destination. If you get cold in cars (or planes—like I said, jet-setters can use these looks, too!), just bring a sweater or chambray shirt along for the ride!
Get the look:
- Patagonia Kamala Maxi Dress ($59.25, Backcountry.com)
- Oversized Chambray Boy shirt ($74.50, Madewell)
- TKEES Lily Matte-Leather Flip Flops ($50, Net-A-Porter)
- Mudd Felt Floppy Hat ($18, Kohl’s)
- Aviator Sunglasses ($9.32, H&M)
3. Skinny sweatpants
Okay, I know this is technically cheating because these are, in fact, sweatpants, but they’re cozy, fit well, and still give off a high-fashion look. Bonus points if you pair them with sneaker wedges, though flat Keds will work just fine.
Get the look:
- Skinny Trouser Sweatpants ($69.50, J.Crew)
- Flowers Casual T-shirt ($6.99, Romwe)
- YHF Los Angeles The Tufa Sunglasses in Silver ($28, Karmaloop)
- Ash Azimut High-Top Wedge Sneakers ($315, Neiman Marcus)
- Keds Women’s Champion Eyelet Sneakers ($49.95, Infinityshoes.com)
Would you wear these outfits? What’s your go-to road trip look? Tell us in the comments!
