Today's post is in collaboration with Organic Basics and contains gifted product and affiliate links. As always, all opinions are my own. Keep reading 'til the end for a special discount for wayward readers!
The key to a successful outfit lies in its foundation – as does the key to a successful packing list.
Whether you’re planning to be gone for one night or one month, just about every travel wardrobe can benefit from the inclusion of a base layer. In the summer, these layers can act as portable air-conditioning, wicking sweat away from the skin and shielding against odor; in the colder months, base layers serve as barriers between the oils of our skin and garments, working hard to extend the amount of time between washings (ideal for dry-clean only sweaters and outfit-repeating). They also have the benefit of taking up little real estate in a suitcase, eliminating the need to pack a larger quantity of bulky items. Plus, many of these garments are made from technical fabric, which makes them easy to hand wash in a sink, hang to dry overnight, and wear again the next day. I’ve tried plenty of options over the years, from fast-fashion pieces that are questionably made and start to permanently smell after a few wears to costly silk tanks, which are beautifully made but typically have triple-digit prices.
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A little over a month ago, the team at Organic Basics reached out to Michael and me to see if we’d be interested in trying out a few of their sustainably-made basics, and I won’t hide the fact that I was excited about the opportunity. I’ve long admired their no-nonsense approach to clothing, use of diverse models and customers in their marketing, and, perhaps most of all, sustainable production practices – but I wondered if the product would live up to the hype. We each selected an item from the site to put to the test. He chose the Men’s SilverTech Tee and I picked the Women’s Starter Pack, which includes two Cheeky Thongs and the Invisible Tank, all in black (edit: this pack now comes with briefs).
Shipping from Denmark wasn’t the fastest and the free shipping option doesn’t include tracking. While we were disappointed the items didn’t arrive in time for our hot, hot trip to Cartagena, we knew we’d have plenty of opportunity to give them a try at home with no end in sight for our 90°F+ days, and in cooler climes as well.
Right out of the box, we could tell these garments were different than other innerwear items we’ve owned. The invisible tank felt so buttery-smooth it practically slipped through my fingers, and Michael wondered aloud how there could possibly be metal in such a soft tee. While I typically shy away from synthetic fabrics due to their use of virgin plastics in the production process, my tank and underwear are both made from 82% recycled nylon and 18% elastane. The SilverTech tee Michael chose is made from 82% organic cotton (grown without the use of harmful pesticides and hand-picked), 12% SilverTech Yarn (a polymer fiber coated in non-nano silver), and 6% elastane. The recycled nylon is sourced from a textile manufacturer in Italy, and the organic cotton is grown off the coast of the Aegean Sea.
All of that means nothing, of course, if the product doesn’t fit.
We consulted the size chart before ordering but still held our breath. After all, how many times have we measured our bodies and scrutinized model photos only to receive garments that don’t match up with the manufacturer’s statements?
Thankfully, the size chart Organic Basics provides is accurate, and the sizes we chose worked perfectly. Michael found the medium SilverTech Tee had a relaxed, but not oversized, fit on his frame, and my small Invisible Tank and medium Cheeky Thong hugged my skin exactly like this type of garment should. With a smaller top half and a larger bottom half, I found myself quite grateful for the ability to mix and match sizes in the Starter Packs, as this is a luxury not all retailers provide.
The fabric of my tank and underwear are burdened by as few seams as possible, which makes them weigh even less while miraculously managing to lay flat over my skin – unlike other seam-free garments I’ve owned in the past that roll at the undone ends.
We’ve worn our items in a multitude of ways over the past few weeks, both as base layers and as a main layer (well, just the tops of course!). Silk tops glide right over the fabric of the Invisible Tank, yet it’s stylish enough on its own due to its matching square-ish front and back necklines. And despite having a bit more fabric than other thongs, the Cheeky Thong gives me a VPL-free silhouette in denim and thin dresses (I don’t often talk about underwear in this space, but since the blog has been around for a couple of years now it feels like we’re all friends here!). This is important to me both in the workplace (with enough to worry about, I don’t want to have to fret over whether or not my underwear is visible all day long) and as we travel, where I want the focus in photos to be on the destination and not a panty-line.
As for Michael, he’s worn his SilverTech Tee while working around the house, to the gym, out in the city, and most recently – on our trip to Raleigh, where our flights were canceled twice and we had to stay three extra nights. He wore his tee for the majority of our trip, and even after three or four sweaty days and an outdoor rock concert, the tee still didn’t smell. For someone who tends to change two or three times in a day, this shirt has been a game-changer.
With that, we’ve sent all of these items through the washing machine (but not the dryer) a few times to see how they would hold up. Frankly, they still look as good as when they emerged from the packaging. Moving forward, I’ll wash these items on the same schedule as I wash the rest of my clothes: only as needed. I always wash my underwear after each use, of course, but prefer to wash innerwear items after two full-day wears due to sweat and the oils in my skin coming in close contact with the garment (but if I’ve only worn something for a few hours I’ll wait longer before laundering). No matter what, I make sure to wash my items in a Guppyfriend bag to prevent microplastics from leaking into the waterways. Michael is a bit pickier about wearing things more than once, but I suspect our experience in Raleigh may lead to some changes.
Honestly, it feels like a bit of a relief to have these items on hand for our next trip: two weeks in Europe (though I can only speak for myself since I know packing hasn’t crossed his mind yet!). When folded in quarters and rolled, the Invisible Tank takes up about as much space as a pair of socks, and the Cheeky Thongs are so tiny they could easily be shoved in the cracks and crevices of my bag. I appreciate that the tank is stylish enough to wear on its own, and I can’t wait to pair it with my leather jacket when the temperatures start to dip. I suspect you’ll see it many times over on the ‘gram!
– And that’s another thing I’ve really appreciated about this brand. On their Instagram and with their hashtags I see a lot of diversity and body-positivity. On their website, I see people who look like me (she has stretch marks on her butt? I have stretch marks on my butt!) and who most beautifully do not. More than that, Organic Basics seems to practice the sustainability that they preach. Travelers can even purchase carbon offsets directly from their site – just $15 offsets the effects of your last international flight (this option is no longer available, however, users can elect to browse the Low Energy version of the site to save energy).
Organic Basics Discount Code for wayward Readers
And I’m happy to share that Organic Basics is extending wayward readers an exclusive discount! You can take 10% off your next order with the code WAYWARDBLOG. Thanks for supporting the brands that support this blog!
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- Exclusive Discounts + Promo Codes
Have you tried incorporating a base layer into your travel wardrobe? What products on the Organic Basics site would fit best with your travel style?
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