Summer Travel Essentials from Tradlands
Summertime – in my world, a season marked by the sound of bees buzzing around flowering gardens, of hot days spent at the beach digging your toes in the sand, of highly sought after cool breezes blowing through light cotton clothes, and the occasional bit of seasonal freedom: a laid-back road trip.
In case you missed it, before the real heat of summer hit I was excited to share my experience with you in this post about Tradlands, an American company that produces some of the best-fitting shirts (plus, they're ethically made) I’ve ever come across. Shirts, in fact, perfect for summer road trips.
More recently, Tradlands released their new summer collection which features gorgeous nautical blue tones, on-season bright whites and subtle cream colors in flattering feminine shapes and patterns that were inspired by menswear shirting.
Among the collection, you'll find super soft yet durable cotton Tees ideal for the adventurous outdoor woman, slightly textured but silky smooth linen tunics perfect for beach revelers, and various new short-sleeve and long-sleeve styles of the classic Tradlands button up which work for just about everything from drinks on a patio to camping in the wild.
The Catt in Ruby
This isn’t your ordinary department store T-shirt. Unlike most of the tees I’ve tried in my lifetime, the Catt Ruby feels incredibly strong, well-made, and despite its traditional box-cut shape I find it exceptionally flattering on a female silhouette.
There’s no doubt in my mind that this tee will spend many summers with me (and many winters layered under button-ups and sweaters!).
The Catt comfortably stays put all day long, sitting casually on your hips without riding up even when bending and stretching (like I did this past week in the bountiful fruit orchards of the Okanagan). Made from mid-weight cotton, the shirt feels soft and light on the skin, while the resilient hemming makes it incredibly durable. Perhaps my favorite feature is the neckline, which happens to be constructed slightly larger than normal, revealing a bit more skin for a more feminine cut.
While I’m absolutely in love with the flaming red color, the Catt is also available in Chalk, Cavern (black), and Heather Grey.
The Eartha
Let me start of by saying: I adore this print. To some, the graphic white palms may be slightly reminiscent of your father’s old Hawaiian summer shirt, but the style and colors of the sophisticated Eartha are anything but kitschy and dated.
This beautifully refined long-sleeve shirt is what I’ve been living in for much of the summer so far. It’s been light enough to use as a beach cover up, but I especially love wearing it in the evenings as a slightly dressier option for dinners al fresco.
Summer seems to be synonymous with lighter colored clothing, but the Eartha stands out from the crowd with its dark yet lighthearted design.
While the navy blue tone of the Eartha might not be for everyone, Tradlands also released one other shirt in their new summer collection which features this striking palm pattern, the Petula. This is a lovely short-sleeve option in a brighter blue color, perfect for warm weather days.
The Ess
This is the classic summer shirt.
Crisp white cotton with a subtle black 8-pattern in the comfortable and characteristic fit the company is famous for. It really doesn’t get much better than the Ess.
And like all Tradlands button-ups, the Ess features an 8-button front which means no dreaded boob gap. The buttons themselves are extra thick and double stitched – they certainly feel indestructible.
For women’s shirting, there’s nothing comparable with the quality of Tradlands.
A few notes on traveling with Tradlands shirts
In my experience, Tradlands shirts pack well and really only wrinkle ever so slightly after being in luggage. Even after being squished inside my backpack for many long hours, then being unpacked and re-packed, my shirts still looked crisp when I eventually wore them. In general, I roll all my T-shirts into packing cubes and fold the collared shirts into little squares.
Perhaps, what I love most about bringing Tradlands shirts on the road (and wearing them at home) is that they truly go with almost everything. I can throw them in my bag without much thought regarding color combinations or packing for the right events. These shirts can be worn with shorts, skirts, jeans, or simply over a bathing suit. They can be dressed up for fancy nights out or dressed down for backyard BBQs.
In essence, Tradlands shirts are made for real life.
A special discount for Sidetracked readers
If you'd like to bring along one of these lovely shirts on your summer travels, Tradlands is offering Sidetracked readers a 15% discount off all orders site wide (including sale items!) with the code "TRAVEL". This discount code is good until July 31.
Do you own any Tradlands shirts? Have you taken them with you on your travels? I’d love to hear what you think – let me know in the comments below!
Please note, the kind folks at Tradlands sent the three shirts seen in this article to me at no cost, however my opinion and thoughts expressed herein are entirely my own. I'm inspired to write about brands and products that I personally use and believe will benefit others.
