Around the world in one skirt

Are you trekking, hiking, fishing, camping or just on the road this summer with limited laundry access?

When my GF Joan and I visited India, we each brought a Macabi skirt, perhaps the most ingenious garment I've owned.

The skirt's longest-possible length (available in 32, 36 or 38-inch options) met the requirements for touring cultural sites, and by using durable snaps placed on side seams, the skirt rose to knee-length option for less-conservative locales.

Extra-deep pockets, one with a zipper, secured our valuables far more comfortably than a money belt. This feature alone earned its price.

Visit the Macabi site to see how one skirt converts to a long and knee-length skirt, pants (dhoti style) and shorts.

Joan chose charcoal gray; mine (shown in photo above) was a fern green (since discontinued).

Worn in its longest mode, it's a classic gathered skirt with pockets- not exciting, but acceptable travel wear, and the farther off the beaten path you're going, the more you'll favour function over fashion.


Snapping it shorter gives a hipper, vaguely Rick Owens look; Joan wore hers with a tank (when we were at a oceanfront resort), and looked au courant. You can also play around with one side snapped up, one side low, which looks cool too.

They traveled, washed and airdried like a dream, thanks to the light, supple microfiber. Too hot for the 100F-plus temperature/100% humidity of Goa, but fine for Delhi's mid-80's.

Macabis aren't winter wear (though could go through fall with silk or thermal long johns). They're ideal for 12-hour flights, hopping on and off buses, browsing markets or exploring anywhere except the chic corners of world-class cities, where you'd look a bit 'adventure travel' in one.

Terrific service from the site, and an extensive size range. At $80, excellent value, and they even pack into their own pocket.

Some women buy two and that's all they wear!