The World Race can be a very versatile environment. People come from all sorts of backgrounds and subcultures. Racers learn to adapt and involve fashions from all over the world into what they wear, whether it be dressing up in a traditional Central American dress to bummin’ it in basketball shorts. What you wear reflects your personality or passions.
Below I have compiled my wardrobe that I have brought with me on the World Race. This is my current wardrobe, after three months I have given away or sent back a lot of items I originally came with. It is compiled with minimalistic staples in predominately gray-scale with touches of denim and splashes of color through a scarf. Having neutral colors creates an environment to push creativity with this simple principle: less is more. It is easier to be creative with less options. One has the ability to mix and match any combination.
- One example is black toms, black jeans, white V-neck shirt, heather charcoal hoodie and a denim jacket. A timeless American icon look (as worn by Tom Cruise, Zac Efron, Ryan Gosling or James Dean).
- Another example is simply a heather gray or cream v-neck shirt with watch and black jeans.
- Keep it simple and keep it black. Black shoes, black shorts and black crew neck shirt.
- To add some color and an artistic attempt of verisimilitude, one can add a plaid scarf over a crew-neck shirt and with a denim jacket. A scarf can protect your neck from the hot Central-American sun.
- Wearing long-sleeves, such as a thin cardigan or a long-sleeve denim button up, can be beneficial and actually keep you cooler by preventing the sun light from heating up your arms.
- Layers are fun, but keeping it simple with just one shirt can also be trendy.
All of these products can be found at H&M, Urban Outfitters, Forever 21, Target or American Apparel for moderately decent prices. If you would like to imitate this attire, you can always try to find these at the stores and find cheaper prices online at Amazon or Ebay. I found my Americal Apparel hoodie online on Ebay for about 60% cheaper than at the store. My black shorts were originally jeans I found at a thrift store, Goodwill. You can build an outfit for very cheap, you can also build an outfit for a very expensive price. A general rule in all things consumers purchase is that you get what you pay for, if you buy a cheap product…expect a cheap product that will wear out soon and will fit poorly.
Remember this timeless truth: black looks good on everyone.
While on a layover in Los Angeles this last weekend I met and had lunch with a journalist from the Wall Street Journal. Over the course of a few hours I got to know this gentleman and the question proposed to him by a woman on our squad was, “What would you like to see more of on World Race blogs?” He mentioned how he would be interested in seeing our daily lives, where we slept, or what we wore. I really am fascinated by fashion, it is a way for me to express myself creatively and a fun hobby. It is important to me to be well presented. As I am finding more ways to think outside of the box than the traditional missionary lines, I found the desire to write a blog about fashion on the World Race.
Thank you for reading!
-J
Follow me on instagram @texasfornever.
