In fact, pretty much the only useful thing I could find (beyond pictures of girls in heels in the ruins…the last time I wore heels was May, and that was for a wedding, so, well, NO), was this post from Travel Fashion Girl. Those general recommendations are on point, and I thought it would be helpful to show some of the things I wore, given the time of year that we went (early August).

Don’t Wear Hiking Boots

If you are NOT trekking, hiking boots are heavy, cumbersome, and seriously not necessary. Machu Picchu is mostly stairs and fine gravel paths. There is no strenuous hiking involved if you are just going to the ruins. Flip flops would have been fine (I’m young, fit, and consider flip flops pretty much the most comfortable pair of shoes I own, so take that into consideration). As long as it didn’t rain–the stone does get a touch slippery. I was glad to have light trail running shoes for the hike to the Sun Gate.

Even If It’s Chilly in Cusco, Machu Picchu Gets Warm Quickly

Machu Picchu is a good 4,000 feet lower than Cusco, and even if it’s brisk in the morning, down is truly overkill in August. The coldest place–seriously–was the dining room in the restaurant in the evening. When the sun comes up, it gets warm, and it gets warm fast. Light, sun protective layers are great, but don’t expect to be cold. I wore my Patagonia Better Sweater for probably 40 minutes the morning we got up early to see the sun rise.

I Own Four Better Sweaters Because They ROCK

Sun, Sun, Sun

Beware of the sun–either wear UPF items or lots of sunscreen. The first afternoon we were there, I lathered up my arms and through a SPF shirt around my shoulders for extra protection. For the morning we were out until about 11am, I wore a UPF shirt (seen under my Better Sweater above, from Lululemon) so I didn’t have to worry about it. The altitude + the exposure means that there is a lot of sun, powerful rays, and lobster-esque visitors.

Sunglasses + Hat + SPF

Bugs + Bugs = More Bugs

I’m usually like the biggest bug attractor ever, yet I didn’t have issues in Peru. Granted, though, I didn’t give the pesky things much of a chance: long pants, bug spray with deet, and often a long-sleeved shirt. However, given the lovely welted legs we observed at Machu Picchu, and the myriad of forum posts on how bad the bugs are at Machu Picchu, I’d error on the side of caution. Bug gear may be in order, depending on the time of year you visit, and always wear long pants that they can’t really bite through.

Athleisure Items Are Fantastic

As much as that word sort of makes me want to vomit (can’t wait till THAT one goes in the Oxford English Dictionary), they are really awesome for Machu Picchu. I wore a pair of Anatomie travel pants (yup, I have multiple pairs due to an amazing giveaway win), and a cute longsleeve with a tank top every day (usually Lululemon or Athleta). Mixed and matched appropriately, many of these items can be dressed up (lose the hat, switch out the UPF top for an oxford over a tank, and gain a scarf or long necklace), and were perfect for Machu Picchu and Peru more generally.

My Fave Pair of Anatomie Skyler Pants

All photos again courtsey of my mom, who likes to take photos of me when I don’t notice because I’m a total grump about people taking photos of me.

On the upside to my tardiness, I have now worn most of my Anatomie items and can speak more to how their clothes wear, feel, and perhaps most importantly how they wash/hold up.

So let’s talk pants. I ordered a tank and a cute jacket as well, but I feel as if the pants are really why people shop at Anatomie and are probably the most useful traveling item.

Skyler Pants

Since Anatomie pants are what they are known for, I had to try more than one pair!  These Skyler pants are straight-legged (more so than the Paola and almost matchstick), and probably one of their most popular pairs of pants. Unfortunately, I had to return the first pair I received because the button wasn’t attached when I received them. I pulled them from the bag and out it flew. I think it was a fluke as of the three pairs of pants I received, there were no other issues and the replacement pair looks just fine.

These pants also fit me like a glove, are the same material as the Paola, and seriously pack into the tiniest space imaginable. They are very, very cute but just a bit too tight for me to comfortably wear to work. For travel, they are fantastic. I just put them on last weekend to run to the store, then flew in them to Jamaica. They were perfect in Kenya–lightweight, breathable, and really comfortable.

They do not collect smells and they do not stretch out more and more each time you wear them. Big points.

Susan Pants

Like the Rosella Jacket, the Susan Pant adds a little bit of super cute detailing to a pretty simple design. I love the zippers on the back and on the pockets. The only thing I don’t like about these pants is that the low-rise fit doesn’t work for me quite as well as the Skyler and the Paola. But that’s ok, I like them anyway and they are a bit dressier which is perfect in places where you need something functional, too. Disclosure: I initially ordered these pants in khaki, and felt the material was just a bit too revealing for me and was just a teensy bit see-through with dark underwear. I don’t enjoy when I have to pay attention to things like that (because I always forget until I’m dressed and about to leave the house), so I just exchanged them for navy, problem solved.

Let’s talk wear and tear:

These pants have washed extremely well. I do wash them on the cold, delicate cycle, and hang to dry. In terms of wrinkling, I am not always diligent about pulling them out of the wash quickly, but even when I forget, once I put them on any existing wrinkles just seem to disappear. I’m pretty wrinkle-phobic and I’ve never decided not to wear them because I thought they looked too wrinkled. And in terms of durability, so far, so good. They seem to be holding up great after many washes, wears, and sliding in and out of the land rover in Kenya.

This fabric is unique, and I’ve not really come across anything like it before. Even when it’s hot, these pants don’t make you hotter (and I don’t like pants when it is hot). And when its cool, these pants provide way more warmth than I was expecting considering their paper thinness. Even three pairs of these pants might equal the thickness of one pair of yoga tights. They are that compact. So I can see why these are revered as “the perfect travel pant”. But they are pricey–it’s really personal choice whether you want to make the investment or not.

They also dry in a flash. Which is good if you have to sit in the sun and sweat–literally it takes just a few minutes for the fabric to dry again.While I didn’t wash these by hand in Kenya, they would have been dry the next morning I’m sure.

And the elephant in the room:

Anatomie pants aren’t cheap. I had honestly considered buying a pair before I won the giveaway with my own money, but didn’t because I couldn’t find any reviews from people who hadn’t received a pair for free (in exchange for a review on the blog). Sure, mine were free too, but I won them rather than being compensated for them. I know, I know, all bloggers say “I only review things I actually love and would buy myself” but how many of them would really buy $200 travel pants?   There is nothing wrong with being compensated with an awesome pair of pants–but I just couldn’t quite decide if they were THAT awesome.

Anatomie frequently has some good items on sale, and I would say–without any hesitation–that buying these pants on sale is definitely worth it. If you frequently buy $200 pants and aren’t concerned with the pricetag, these are definitely worth it. If you want to splurge on yourself, these are definitely worth it. But even I, who spends quite a lot on clothes, does not spend $200 on a pair of pants. And while I love these pants, I really do, I still cringe at thinking of spending $200 on them. So I hope mine last forever.

And honestly, the price tag (yes, I know, which I didn’t pay), is the only negative I can really find with these pants. So if money isn’t holding you back, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

And again, a huge thanks to Anatomie and the giveaway hosts. I love my items and they have already gotten a ton of use.

Preparing for rain in the spring when traveling can be frustrating–you don’t want to be hot and sticky, but you don’t want to be wet, either.  You don’t want to have to pack coats for rain and coats for non-rain days.

And…let’s be honest…I don’t want to be the guy/girl wearing a trash bag under any condition.

So here are my favorite picks for traveling in the rain–except for the Melissa shoes by Jason Wu, I own the pieces below (or a close comparison) and really like them all. I’d love to hear from anyone that has the Melissa shoe and how they hold up in the rain/water, but I thought they were an excellent pick since they are all PVC.

Jackets: If you are heading to a city, a classic trench (like the Coach version pictured) is a great way to go. These aren’t always super water-proof, though they generally are great for a casual shower–mine repels water really well. If you hate carrying an umbrella like me, you might opt for the longer Patagonia Torrentshell coat, which is stylish enough to get you by in the city but is totally, ultimately waterproof. Maybe not what you wear into a Michelin starred restaurant or over a cocktail dress to a wedding, but probably ‘good enough’ the rest of the time.

Now what if you are doing something a little more active or adventurous? For many situations, the long Torrentshell is a fantastic cross-over coat. You can go from wandering around a European city to sitting in a Land-Rover looking at elephants, and it’s still functional and stylish. For example, mine has been both gorilla trekking and to Naples, Italy in early spring. I really like the extra length when I know I’ll be sitting (as it will protect some part of your legs), wearing tights, or wearing pants that are in no way waterproof.

But sometimes something a little more technical is just the better way to go. I got an insulated Patagonia Torrentshell for Christmas, and really like it. It’s not crazy warm (i.e. not o.k. for Antarctica) but it’s warm enough when you throw on a baselayer or are being super active. It’s not super heavy like a parka, so it’s easy to pack. But absolutely watertight. Finally, for the occasion where rain may not be super likely, or where packing space is realllly at a premium, check out Patagonia’s Houdini.

No I’m not paid by Patagonia, but I do own like 30 Patagonia coats (gulp)…

The Houdini packs into it’s pocket–the size of a fist, and is surprisingly water resistant. Perfect for rainforest mist/drizzle–it will keep you dry in a downpour for a few minutes, too (we found that out in Costa Rica). It’s also a great choice if you just need a bit of a windbreak on top of a fleece underlayer.

I will say I really would have liked a short leather jacket…I don’t have one, and I had hoped to find one. Unfortunately (but totally understandably), their leather jackets I liked were on sale and sold out in the size/color that I wanted.

In this post, I’m going to review 3 of the 7 items that I ‘purchased’ with my winnings–and hopefully give you a little more insight into the clothes by comparing Anatomie’s clothes against other brands that I frequently wear.  Anatomie has been having a lot of good sales recently, so keep an eye out for their pieces as a bit more affordable price points.

Anatomie has lots of pictures on their website, but I think it’s hard to see how things fit sometimes by looking at pictures of models. So here are just a few pics.

Item #1: Paolo Pants (Top Left)

I will admit that I went against the recommendation of the Anatomie stylist helping me who recommended I order an XS pant based on my measurements. I ordered a S, and it fits like a glove, though the waist is just a touch big. For reference to more common brands, I usually wear a size 2-4 in J.Crew, a size 2-4 in Athleta, and a size 4-6 in Lululemon, depending on the item. I know that the pants are supposed to be fitted, but I would have liked to try a medium as I tend to be pretty conservative in my clothes, particularly while traveling. And I have a horrible habit of buying clothes that are just a bit too big…so I kept the S in an attempt to change that habit.

Anyways, these pants are crazy, crazy thin. Much thinner than I was expecting, and much thinner than most other pants I own. They look nice enough that I could wear them to work (lax business casual). I can see why they are perfect for packing. You could seriously take 6 pairs of these pants and it would take up as much room as two normal pairs of slacks. They do not seem to wrinkle, as advertised.  These are black; I would be too self-conscious to wear in a really light color (khaki or white). While the fabric isn’t revealing, it is quite fitted. These have a slight bootcut–very slight, closer to straight leg.

I’m not totally sure these pants are winter appropriate, but are fine for spring/summer/fall. I had read that some people put tights or something under them…but I can’t stand layering pants to save my life. I grew up in Wyoming and hate long underwear. With a passion reserved for things like cooked carrots. So there will be no layering.

Item #2: Lucille Top (Bottom Left)

I decided to order some things that aren’t quite “me”, as I need to branch out. This top combines a bit of edge with classic tailoring, and I like it. I ordered the navy/black combo. It’s comfortable, extremely lightweight, and I really like the jersey material. The sleeves are a net mesh. I ordered a medium (as suggested by the stylist), but a small would have been fine too, I think.

I definitely agree that this can go from jeans, to a suit, and back. Which is really, really great for trips to conferences or other places where business formal needs to meet casual, but pulled together. This is probably not something I would have purchased with my own dime, but it’s stylish and easy–two of my top requirements for any item I wear or buy.

Item #3: Rosella Ruffle Jacket (Top Right)

This item was on sale and too cute to turn down. It’s a jacket with a bit of a twist, adding a bit of puff to the shoulders and detailing on the bottom hem. I received the grey, L, as that was all that was in stock. While a M would have been better, the grey is not too large and I really think it’s adorable and lightweight. It will be perfect to put a lightweight sweater underneath for spring.

Overall the quality seems pretty high, and the materials definitely different than other stores. While crossover “street” pieces from both Athleta and Lululemon tend to seem more “athletic”, because of the fabric, these pieces are definitely meant for the street. But that doesn’t mean they aren’t lightweight, stretchy, and comfortable. I’m excited to take the Rosella Jacket to Jamaica in May, and I definitely bet that the Paolo pants will head to Kenya in my suitcase.

I definitely err on the side of preppy, and these clothes are more chic and European, for sure. I think it’s great to have these mixed in to my wardrobe. Take a look and see what you think. Obviously I’ll have to revisit these items once I pack them on a trip, too!

Part #2 will detail the other four items I purchased! Well…was given. Still incredibly excited to have won.

(also pictured: Dagne Dover Tiny Tote in Linen, BaubleBar Bracelet (similar))

Have you tried Anatomie Style’s travel clothing? What do you think of these pieces for travel?