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We know that wool – especially Merino – is the perfect travelling fibre. But what about silk?

A lot of people consider it too delicate, creasing too easily, to pack for travelling. Not me! I try to keep my suitcase as light as I possibly can, without having to wash my clothes every second day or wearing the same three items for the entire holiday.

That’s when my silk comes in! My personal choice is sand-washed silk, which is velvety soft and has that special sheen unlike shiny or satin silk, so as a result will look just as good with jeans, as it does with a pair of matching silk trousers or a skirt. 

 Let’s look at the simple silk sleeveless shell top:

• Dress it up or down depending on your plans – pair it with shorts for sightseeing in the daytime, and then switch it up with silk pants for dinner or the theatre that evening.
• Easy to hand-wash in a hotel bathroom basin – just leave it to dry on a hanger, and have it ready to wear again the next day! 
• Remove easily almost any stain with a little bit of dish-washing liquid (a SilkTop secret tip!).  
• No need for ironing – put it on a hanger in the bathroom while you shower, and let the steam remove the creases for you! Disclaimer – you will need to iron the clothes if you are after the crisp ironed look – the steam goes a long way towards removing creases but doesn’t replace ironing.
• Breathable, natural fabric – it’ll keep you warm when it’s chilly outside, and cool in warmer climates.
• Really lightweight and small - you can pack half a dozen of them for the same space in the suitcase that would take for 2 cotton t-shirts, freeing up precious space in your suitcase for souvenirs. 
• Easily matched to the rest of your wardrobe – opt for classic colours like navy, maroon, ivory and black.
• And of course, for perfect layering – combine it with a Merino wool cardigan and you can’t go wrong!  

So, is this versatile and lightweight fabric too tricky to travel with?
From personal experience, we don’t think so.
But don't take our word for it - give it a go, you'll be glad you did!