All dressed up and everywhere to go: how a passion for fashion fuels the style-conscious traveler

• Over half of US travelers (57%) pay close attention to their appearance every single day, but two out of five (42%) actually care more about their physical appearance while on vacation than when at home
• Just over half of US travelers agree that looking their best while on vacation is important (52%) with just under half dressing their best for vacation photos that are sure to make their way to social media (48%)
• Style choices can be the key to feeling great while on vacation. Four out of ten US travelers say that wearing a vacation wardrobe is the secret to vacation confidence (43%)
• The effects of vacation style last much longer than the trip itself. Two in five US travelers (42%) have felt inspired to make changes to their own personal style after being on vacation. 

New York, New York - Travel and fashion are a perfect match with just over half of all US travelers agreeing that looking their best while on vacation is important (52%). Whether functional or fashionable, a vacation wardrobe is a big part of any trip, from planning and packing to the actual vacation experience itself.

Booking.com, the global leader in connecting travelers with the widest choice of incredible places to stay, is championing the all-encompassing nature of travel and its ability to inspire the way we live our lives, including the experiences we have that impact our style, confidence and our fashion choices while traveling.

Research conducted by the company across 21,500 global travelers from 29 countries uncovers how fashion influences travel and confidence and impacts style choices while on vacation and beyond.

Look good, feel great

Vacations are a time when we leave our worries at home, escaping and immersing ourselves in a new environment. It’s no wonder then that three out of ten US travelers (30%) feel more confident while on vacation than at home and want to be photo ready no matter the backdrop - whether it’s a stylish apartment balcony or villa complete with infinity pool. Vacation wardrobes have a significant part to play in this, with four out of ten US travelers citing their travel wardrobe as the secret to vacation confidence (43%), even over the relative anonymity that traveling can give us (42%).

When delving deeper, US travelers’ top reason for vacation confidence is being with people they’re comfortable with, like friends and family (68%). When it comes to not feeling confident on vacation, three out of 10 US travelers say it's because their wardrobe is functional and not fashionable (31%). 

Beyond confidence, a travel wardrobe has the ability to influence day to day moods while on vacation. When asked how style choices make them feel, the top three emotions listed by US travelers were being comfortable (63%), relaxed (52%) and normal self (45%). What’s more, the data shows that the vacation style feeling lasts much longer than the trip itself with two out of five US travelers (42%) feeling inspired to make changes to their own personal style after being away.

Style stimulation

Before the actual trip comes the often stressful vacation prepping, such as researching, planning and packing. Just over half of US travelers agree that looking their best while on vacation is paramount (52%), as is wanting to dress their best for vacation photos which likely end up on social media (48%). In fact, one in five (18%) travelers are so concerned with their appearance while on vacation that some would rather spend money on a wardrobe than on activities during the trip.

When planning their travel apparel, US travelers seek inspiration from friends (75%), family (69%), TV programs (42%) and fashion and style influencers (36%), mining them for ideas of what to take as part of the all-important vacation wardrobe. But there are also aspects of a vacation that can inspire a style revolution:

And a little healthy competition can be a driver to dressing better as one in four US travelers (24) have a desire to dress better than their companions on vacation, which may influence what they take along with them.

Top fashion designer and Booking.com style ambassador Christian Cowan shares his style secrets: “It’s no wonder that what we see around us on vacation can transform what we wear at home. We get used to the norm of dressing a certain way back home but when we travel, our minds expand and we become open to new possibilities with style, fabric and color. Watching the locals is the best way to get inspiration. Experimenting with local style and translating it to your look back home can make you feel like a new person, whether it’s simply wearing your hair differently, trying a bolder color or tying on a scarf in a vibrant local print.”

Traveling outside the comfort zone

When it comes to style, travelers are not afraid to step out of their comfort zone while on vacation, trying new and different outfits that bring out hidden facets of a personality. One in four US travelers (25%) say their vacation outfits are brighter and more colorful than an everyday wardrobe and one-fifth (21%) even choose more daring clothing while on vacation. Only a small minority (7%) say they are more reserved or understated while on vacation. Traveling can also bring out styles only worn while on vacation, but never at home:

Christian Cowan adds: “A vacation is the time to get experimental with your style, the environment often allows you to be bold and adventurous with prints, textures, and accessories. It’s the perfect time to try out a new look that you wouldn’t necessarily wear at home, whether that’s due to a different culture or different climate. When it comes to vacation style I have one piece of advice: go big or go home!”