the Ultimate Clothing Guide for Full-Time RV Life

When my husband and I decided to move into a tiny trailer, I knew I would have to significantly reduce the size of my wardrobe. As someone who always had an outfit for every passing trend, I took this as a positive opportunity to filter out all of my clothes and start completely from scratch.

Instead of collecting poorly made shirts from Forever 21 and Shein, I now have only a few key pieces that I research and invest in that make sense for my lifestyle and comfort, year round.

If you’re moving into an RV, about to take a cross-country trip or just want to start from scratch on a practical wardrobe, here’s some advice on how to get started.

FabricS

Fabrics are one of the most important things to consider in your wardrobe. Living in an RV, you may have less opportunity to wash your clothes, or you may choose to wash them by hand. With this in mind, you need to choose fabrics that don’t absorb smells and dry quickly.

The best fabrics to look for when living in an RV are synthetic fibers, like polyester or nylon. I also recommend merino wool for items like socks and sweaters. These fabrics will dry quickly and won’t absorb moisture, which is ideal for RV living.

THE KEY PIECES

To start your wardrobe, you need a few foundational pieces to build off of. Below are descriptions of my wardrobe pieces and how many I have of each.

Here is a list of clothes I keep with me, but keep in mind that not every piece here is a one-size-fits-all for every RV-lifer.

• Two Tank tops/Undershirts: Nylon or polyester. Pick tank tops with neutral colors that you can easily pair with other clothes. Make sure the tank top straps match the style of your bra straps.
• Three Short Sleeve Shirts: Nylon or polyester. Pick thick, durable fabrics. Avoid pieces with excessive accents, beads or graphics. Keep it neutral in style and color.
• Two Long Sleeve Shirts: Nylon, polyester or merino wool. Thermal shirts and UV protective fabrics are great to have in your arsenal.
• One Cover-Up/Button Up Shirt: Nylon, polyester or synthetic blend. Great for layering, I keep a thin button-up top with me which I can easily put on or tie around my waist depending on the weather.
• Two Pairs of Shorts: Nylon, polyester, or nylon-spandex mix. Make sure that the length is comfortable and practical for long car trips.
• Two Pairs of Pants: Nylon, polyester, or nylon-spandex mix. Play with your preferences here; leggings, cargo pants and hiking pants are all great options. Avoid denim material.
• Ten Pairs of Underwear: Polyester. Avoid uncomfortable pieces or intricate lingerie. Stick with bikini or boy short styles (or whatever is most comfortable for you; but always pick comfort).
• Three Bras: Polyester. Pick an appropriate level of support for physical activity with simple designs. Avoid underwire; comfort is key. Stick with neutral colors. I recommend having black, skin tone and white colors in your arsenal.
• Six Pairs of Socks: Merino wool keeps your feet cool and dry like no other material. Stick with ankle height socks; they’re the most versatile. 
• Two Pairs of Shoes: Keep a hiking or work boot and a casual sandal in your closet. For the sandals, choose a pair that go on quickly in the car, but have ankle support if you need to run.

EXTRA PIECES

Depending on the climate you stay in and activities you engage in, the pieces you add on to your wardrobe may look very different from mine. We tend to stick to living in warmer climates, so if you’re planning a trip in Alaska anytime soon, this part is probably not for you! With that in mind, here are some small pieces I’ve added on to my wardrobe and why I have them.

• Bandana: I use a bandana regularly to keep my layered hair back from my face. In a bad situation, it can also be used as a tourniquet.
• Swimsuit: Since a lot of our camping is done in Florida, I keep a swimsuit with me for impromptu beach visits.
• Rain Poncho: In case of unpredictable weather, a rain poncho is a portable option that doesn’t take up a lot of backpack space.
• Trucker Hat: It keeps the heat off my face, but it’s also a fun accessory.
• Winter Shell or Pullover: We don’t often camp in freezing areas, but we do sometimes experience the range of 20° – 30° weather. When this strikes, I like to have a thick layer to put on top of my basics. I recommend fleece or merino wool.
• One Nice Dress: I keep one versatile, semi-formal dress with me at all times. Even though our life is pretty rugged, you never know when a wedding, funeral or other formal event may pop up! 

BRANDS

Sustainable, durable clothing is a worthy investment when you have a limited wardrobe. Once upon a time, I only hunted on the clearance racks. Now, I would much rather pay a bit more for a high quality piece that I don’t have to replace again in a few months. I’ve learned the hard way that buying cheap always comes back to bite you when it falls apart later. The added bonus is that if you’re willing to pay a bit more, you can also support ethical and sustainable businesses while you do it.

By minimizing your wardrobe to a few high quality pieces, you’ll almost never have to shop for new clothes, and ultimately save more money. Here are some brands I recommend that make long-lasting, sustainable clothing options for your RV life. This post is not sponsored.

Teva

Teva makes versatile sport sandals made from recycled materials. Their sandals are a great option for a quick-go, comfortable and sporty shoe that will last a long time. They also come in a lot of great colors and styles to choose from!

REI

In addition to selling some great sustainable and long lasting brands, REI has its own line of clothing with RV-friendly fabric options, including some recycled fabrics. If you are on a budget, they’re a great mid-grade price option without compromising quality.

Patagonia

A great option for your winter shell, Patagonia makes durable and versatile clothing. They use low-impact materials and pay living wages to their workers. On their website, they even sell their own secondhand clothes at a discounted price!

Smartwool

As long as Smartwool exists, I will never look for a different brand of socks. At the risk of sounding very weird, I cannot stress how much I love these socks. (Again, this post isn’t sponsored…but I wish!) These socks are comfortable, extremely durable and one pair can last you for years. They’re a great choice for summer or winter. They also use some recycled materials in their products.

Do’s and Dont’s

To summarize what we’ve covered, here are some basic do’s and don’ts for your RV life wardrobe.

Don’t: Wear cotton or denim. Cotton and denim absorb sweat and moisture, which is not friendly towards the labor-intensive lifestyle of living in an RV!

Don’t: Pick clothes that are a part of a passing trend. No one wants to drop good money on a piece that you’ll wind up embarrassed to wear in a couple of months!

Don’t: Pick impractical pieces. Avoid pants and shorts without pockets or with difficult buttons that you’ll fight to put on.

Don’t: Pick bulky clothes that won’t dry out and are hard to pack. With minimal space, you need to keep how large your clothing pieces are in mind for ease of packing.

Don’t: Buy clothes that don’t match and coordinate with each other.

Don’t: Buy clothes that are poorly made. Please take my word for it; it really is a worthy investment!

Do: Wear synthetic materials like nylon or polyester to keep you smelling fresh between laundry days.

Do: Stick with classic pieces and colors that are tried and true.

Do: Ensure that you’re comfortable in all of your clothing. Clothes should fit you well and feel great on your skin.

Do: Wear clothes that are lightweight, easy to layer and don’t take up too much space.

Do: Purchase clothes that have variety, but that can all mix-and-match well together.

Do: Invest in a few high-quality pieces that can withstand your lifestyle.

Do: Make sure that whatever pieces you choose to buy, they are 100%, unapologetically you!

What clothing pieces are a must for your RV life? Let me know in the comments below!