Fashion Police! A Traveler’s Guide to Fashion Don’ts

There are always going to be those styles that we’ll look back on in five or ten years and think, ‘What the hell was I wearing?’––and the backpacker look is one of them. With spring and backpacking season closing in on us, here are five fashion–backward backpacker trends to stay away from. The entire backpacker look is comprised of the worst fashion trends to date. Vagabond is not a positive term.

1. The Man Bun

Women do top knots and buns because they are too lazy to fix their hair. Men do top knots and buns because they can’t afford a haircut. This trend has brought hippy to its lowest depths. If you want to look like a dirty backpacker that can’t afford his next cigarette, this is the look for you!

2. Pajama Pants from Thailand

These pants make you look like you just rolled out of bed, in a bad way. They look comfortable in the least fashionable way possible and have that awful elephant print all over them. I believe these pants are worn to make the individual look like they know a lot about meditation and yoga, but in reality they make the person look like every other culture appropriating ‘burn-out’.

3. T-Shirts with Foreign Beer Logos

These shirts are for humble bragging about travels abroad, and bring no substance to a person. If you thought these shirts set you apart, you’re wrong. We all love beer. Try something more savvy or intellectual if you are going to wear a printed tee.

4. Sandals with Pants

So it’s hot, but only on your feet? Being comfortable isn’t always the best choice and sandals will only expose your feet to the elements of sunburn and grime off the dirty city streets. The sandal-pants combo has been a long time no-no, but its still gaining traction in some circles. The reason this is a fashion don’t? It makes you look like you don’t know what weather to dress for.

5. Oversized Backpack in a City

An oversized backpack is the telltale sign that a person wearing one of these in a city doesn’t know what they are doing. If you are in a city, there are paved roads to wheel your luggage around on. If you are staying in a hostel or a hotel, you don’t need a backpack. Backpacks are entirely essential when trekking through a forest or climbing a mountain, but you can’t fool anyone walking around the streets of Bali with one of these strapped to you. Not only do they look stupid, but they are the central source of complaints from backpackers.

Travel in style this spring and avoid these fashion don’ts. Remember, no one wants to make friends with someone who looks like they haven’t showered.