When you're out in the world, there's two things you need: a sense of adventure and... pockets. While most men's clothes have plenty of pockets, women's wear—even women's travel gear—often don't. Happily, a few companies understand the plight and have designed dresses with pockets, so you can go bag-free.
Toad&Co Nixi Dress
Toad&Co is great about hiding pockets in its women's clothing. Case in point: the Nixi Dress, a super flattering, simple outfit that has a hidden zip stash pocket at the back to keep all your valuables. I love that this pocket is tucked away in the back of the dress, so that it doesn't make you look bulky. The dress itself is perfect for travel, thanks to the Tencel fabric, an organic cotton/quick-dry poly/stretchy spandex blend.
Duluth Trading Wearwithall Ponte Dress
Carry the essentials with you in Duluth Trading's Wearwithall Ponte Dress, which has a small zippered pocket hidden in the princess seam that can discretely hold a credit card, room key, and cash. The ponte knit fabric is lightweight but still substantial enough to be worn year round, and the longer length and long sleeves make it appropriate to wear pretty much anywhere (especially when paired with leggings).
Melissa McCarthy Seven7 Dresses
Melissa McCarthy (yep, that Melissa McCarthy, the actress) has an awesome plus size line that's great for travel, and many of her pieces include functional pockets. Her Buttondown Pleated Dress is comfortable but still dressy, and this High Low Tunic Dress would be perfect over leggings for a long plane ride.
Romwe Maxi Dress
For more conservative destinations, the Romwe maxi dress is a great choice, as it's long-sleeved and ankle-length. Two practical pockets are at the front, and the Romwe can be dressed up or down depending on accessories. It's also a very stretchy, loose fit, so you'll be comfortable wearing this one on the plane.
Merrell Indira Cowl Neck Dress
This cozy dress from Merrell feels like you're wearing your favorite sweater, but looks a million times more pulled together. The ponte double knit fabric hides flaws and resists wrinkles, and the cowl neck helps keep you warm. Two subtle pockets on the side are great for warming up hands or storing your wallet and phone.
Coolibar Beach Cover-Up Dress
Headed to the beach but want to leave the beach bag behind? This cover-up dress from Coolibar not only has UPF 50+ sun protection, it also has two big front pockets. The lightweight fabric will actually help keep you cool even though it's long-sleeved, and its coverage means you won't have to worry about missing spots on your back with the sunscreen.
Toad&Co Mizdress
The Mizdress is another great dress from Toad&Co—this one has two deep pockets that can warm your hands and hold your stuff. The Mizdress is perfect for colder weather, since the Samba 230 fabric is designed to add more weight and warmth. It also packs extremely well, as it's super wrinkle-resistant. This one pairs well with leggings, and is also long enough to be worn alone in the case of unexpectedly warm weather.
Columbia Departure Point Dress
Headed to a Zika zone? Pack Columbia's Departure Point Dress, which has an omni-shield treatment to help protect against bug bites. The dress is wrinkle-resistant as well, and has zip-closed security pockets.
Royal Robbins Torrey Thermal Dress
The Royal Robbins Torrey Thermal Dress is perfect for apres-ski, or any time you want to feel like you're wearing a comfy sweatshirt, but still look presentable. It's made from an eco-friendly mix of cotton and recycled polyester, and has a hood to keep you extra warm. The hand pockets even have zippers, so you don't have to worry about anything falling out.
Lole Women's Call Me Dress
The Lole Women's Call Me Dress is the ultimate in comfort. It's made from a stretch fleece fabric that's warm and soft, and it has a collar that acts like a scarf to keep cold air out. The two hand pockets are big enough to hold even the largest smartphone.
More from SmarterTravel:
- Best Lightweight Fall Jackets for Travelers
- The Best Fall Wardrobes for Every Kind of Traveler
- Best Fall Boots for Walking
Read the original story: 10 Travel-Friendly Dresses with Pockets by Caroline Morse, who is a regular contributor to SmarterTravel.