How to Dress Modest While Being Comfortable
Being from the Western world, there really is no rule on how to dress in public. You see anything nowadays, which is why it is easy to forget that the rest of the world does not abide by our fashion rules (or lack thereof). As a tourist, it’s important to be respectful when traveling to a country with a more conservative culture. I’ve been to several countries where this is the case, like India and Egypt. Being a woman, I was always afraid to attract unnecessary attention by not dressing appropriately. However, my concern was always that modesty would eliminate both fashion and comfort. A lot of the more reserved countries experience much higher temperatures, so the last thing I wanted was to be so covered up in 100+ degree weather. Luckily, traveling to several conservative countries has taught me what kinds of outfits to bring along that allow me to dress modest (and fashionably) while being comfortable.
You’ll find that packing for a conservative country is actually easier than you think. My suggestion is always: dress less and add more. Yes, you read that correctly. You can still bring along your favorite travel outfits, but also bring add ons — things that can be removed/added easily to an outfit. This will be super helpful in keeping cool during high temperatures as well.
Chances are you will spend a lot of time in high tourist areas, which will be more relaxed in terms of dress code. Even conservative countries have areas that seem to ignore a dress code. For example, in Egypt, the Giza Pyramids is perhaps the most visited destination. You’ll hear that you should be a bit more covered up here, but you will find tourists at the pyramids in shorts and tanks. However, this also all depends on where you are and when.
When I was in Egypt, I woke up for sunrise thinking the pyramids would be open right away. I actually had to wait a couple of hours. As I was sitting by the entrance waiting for the gates to open, I noticed there weren’t many tourists awake yet (they start pouring in in the early afternoon). The only people out at that time were locals. I was wearing a strapless dress, and definitely felt the stares. I think a guy was even catcalling. Awkward, being the only tourist around that early in the morning. Of course, once I saw the rest of the tourists later on in the day, I felt much more comfortable.
Most of the time, you can get away with showing a bit more skin at high tourist areas.
Jerusalem is not a very conservative city, but within the Old City, there are many historical and religious sites where you must dress appropriately.
I’ve always been told that hotels are one of the few places where anything goes in terms of dress code. Be aware of the kind of hotel you’re staying in though. In the popular hotels, like the Marriot for example, you’ll find tons of tourists. Wearing short shorts or bathing suits is totally fine. However, if you’re staying in a smaller place, dress more modestly. I stayed in an inn right in front of the pyramids, run by all men. Even in Israel, a lot of places aren’t that conservative, but in Galilee, we stayed at the Kibbutz Lavi Hotel. The hotel is actually very popular in the area, and a lot of tourists stayed there. But, it is a Jewish-run hotel in a kibbutz, so there were also a lot of conservative Jews staying there. I definitely wouldn’t have been comfortable showing too much skin at this hotel.
So what exactly do you pack? Like I said before, bring lots of add ons.
Scarves are an absolute must and one of the most versatile travel accessories. It pairs well with many outfits, it’s lightweight, and easy to throw on or off. If you don’t want to carry it, it doubles as a head wrap too (or you can tie it to your purse)! A simple Pashmina will do the trick. I prefer a big enough one that can cover your head while also covering your shoulders/ arms.
You can find these anywhere (especially from street vendors back home). You can also buy from the locals to have them as souvenirs. I started buying scarves in every country I go to now. Having a scarf also allows you to wear sleeveless dresses to keep you cool in the heat, while still having the option to cover up.
Scarves are great for entering religious sites as well. In Islamic Cairo, for example, it’s not required to have a head covering everywhere. But we did enter a mosque right next to the Khan el-Khalili market, so having a scarf was perfect. I just draped it over my head and shoulders to enter the mosque and wrapped it up to continue on through the market.
Scarves will also come in handy on chilly mornings. Even in super hot countries, the early mornings before sunrise can still be a little cold. Have a scarf to keep warm that you can later take off once it starts to heat up.
Maxi dresses! I cannot stress enough how great maxi dresses (or skirts) are for travel in general, regardless of the destination. For one, they are great for photos, especially really flowy ones. Second, you get to have your legs covered, but the light fabric and flowyness allows air to seep through. You can get maxi dresses with sleeves or without (perfect pair with a scarf). I literally have a whole suitcase with all sorts of long dresses that I specifically use for travel. I shop a lot from Shein, and I’m wearing mostly their dresses in my travel photos. The dress below is just one of the many I have from Shein.
You can also shop some of my Amazon faves below!
Alternative: If you’re not into skirts/dresses, leggings will also do the trick. They’re also light weight, which will keep you cool in the scorching heat. Just remember to pair it with a long tunic so as not to be too revealing or inappropriate. Keep in mind though that sometimes, even leggings have to be covered up with a long skirt. Because they hug your body, they can be inappropriate for places like the Dome of the Rock, even if you wear a tunic that covers your buttocks. I wore a long vest with a jumpsuit underneath, but the bottom part hugged my legs like leggings. I was told that was too tight and I had to cover that up to enter.
Long sleeve button-down shirts and cardigans are also good to have. Look for one that is a light weight fabric and one that you can roll up the sleeves. This way you can still wear a tank top, and throw on your button down when you need to cover up your arms.
Footwear is much more flexible. There is no rule on what shoes you should wear, but of course, you want something that’s comfortable. Definitely bring a long a pair of sneakers, you never know when you might need them. Most of the time though, you’ll probably want to just be in open toe shoes to keep your feet cool.
I opt for sandals instead of any kind of flats. Flats will end up with a smell after a day in the heat. I’m fine walking with flat sandals, but if you need more of a support, I love sandals with a footbed. They are great if you plan to spend an entire day out, as they’re super comfy. Birkenstocks are popular, but you can get the same style shoe on Amazon, or in stores like Marshalls/ TJ Maxx.
Lastly, as a woman, a safety pin is always your best friend! I carry a bunch of these with me every time I travel. You can do a lot with safety pins and turn an outfit to be more modest-looking. I have a lot of dress with either a high slit or a low neck, but with a few pins, it’s an easy fix.
Hope this guide helps! If you have any questions on packing for a specific country, send me a message and I’ll get back to you with answers!
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