As this is my last column before the end of the semester, I thought it would be appropriate to give some tips for fashion on the go, a.k.a. what to wear and how to pack for a trip.

Personally, I know that I am going overseas, and if I hadn’t already been overseas before, I would be in big trouble. Through my traveling experiences, I have learned a lot of little things that we can all do to make a fashion statement, even if we are thousands of miles from home.

First, it is important to realize that fashion here does not necessarily translate to fashion over there.

Cultural research is essential before traveling to another country, as to better understand what is polite and what is offensive. With that said, some cultures are more liberal than our own, and may wear less or tighter clothes than we might wear. Either way, if you are planning to visit an unfamiliar land, make sure you do your research so you don’t offend, or even worse, look bad!

Another important point to consider is that the clothes you decide to bring must pack well.

Cotton blends and other mixed fabrics tend to wrinkle the least, while entirely natural fibers crease at the drop of a hat. So even though those linen pants might be all the rage in Cairo, you will end up looking like you rolled around on the ground if you wear them. The best choices tend to be those that are comfortable and you wouldn’t mind getting ruined.

When traveling, and this is the only time you will hear me say this, it is usually best to go with something safe.

If you choose to take five outfits that look like they fell right off the runway, chances are the natives will think you look ridiculous. Out-there styles are great, but versatility is best when the number of articles of clothing is limited, because you never know what you will end up doing, or what the dress code will be.

I love to mix and match, and when you are away, it’s best to bring as many options as possible with as few pieces as you can.

Lastly, you should stratify what you pack – if you bring different kinds of clothes for different occasions, the chances of dressing out of place are less than they would be otherwise.

Even if you don’t think you will need it, pack at least one nice polo shirt or button down, because chances are you will go out to some nice restaurant on a whim.

There are lots of things you can do when getting ready for travel, but the best and most important tip I can give is pack early and when you have time, that way you are less likely to forget something.

Now when you are on a yacht on the French Rivera and the muscular Greek tour guide tells you how great you look, you can proclaim, “I know, right?”

I hope the concept translates.

Jordan Traxler is a first-year Business Administration major and may be reached for further comment or question at [email protected]