STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

Hey! So I was just about to write back to your email when I saw this post and decided to reply here because I can post pictures. Anyway, sorry I didn't see this earlier. I actually went to India last year and LOVE talking about it to anyone who will listen so I'm surprised I didn't respond.

Anyway, in India you'll defintely have to dress modestly. At a minimum - a calf length skirt or pants, short sleeved shirt, no midriff. It's not as if you'll be stoned for dressing more revealingly, but it just feels inappropriate. I started to feel weird wearing tank tops around the boys I was with even if it was only us in a hotel room. I also recommend tons of linen. Personally, the wrinkling doesn't bother me, but I know it does some people.

Here's my wish list/clothes I've bought for my trip to Sri Lanka...


Of course it's totally ridiculous to buy such expensive things for a trip to South Asia. If I wasn't being an idiot, I'd go to H&M and Old Navy and buy a bunch of stuff.

I also brought tons of beaters and wore them under everything. I have a long torso, so that way if my shirt was a little too short, my stomach was still covered. Also, if my shirt was too low cut. I don't think this is entirely appropriate, but whatever, it's a cultural exchange. I was also told not to wear t-shirts, but I don't really think this is that big of a deal as long as you're not at a nice restaurant or trying to make a good impression on someone. For shoes I just wore Reefs or Havianas literally every day. Too hot for sneakers or anything, and the streets are so dirty that anything you wear should be washable as it will get filthy.

As far as a bag goes, it's really a personal preference. I don't know what your trip will be like, but India is full of last minute chaos so I liked having a backpack in case I had to walk to a different hotel because ours lost our reservation or something. Also, where I stayed, elevators weren't in abundance. I think this looks like a good back pack and I was just trying to talk my roommate into getting it...

I'm not sure if it's big enough, but in my opinion the zipper that goes all the way around the sides is key. Back packs that just have a hole in the top are so inconvenient for traveling because you can never find anything. Also, this one has a separate shoe compartment below which is good because your shoes will get disgusting. I also put toiletries in there to limit the chances of them spilling on my clothes.

Hope this helps, and have fun! My trip was probably the best month of my life.