You can dress comfortably and look good too. Stick with the basics, timeless shirts, pants, jackets, dresses and skirts. Choose your travel clothes with an eye to coordination, everything you bring should look good together. When I went to China I chose to wear mostly black, black pants, black jacket, black shirts, with a couple of colorful shirts in the mix.

There are some basic color choices. Analyze your wardrobe, you might find that you favor one of these already. Is your closet full of navy pants and blazers? Do you stick more to the browns and tans? Do you own 20 pairs of shoes, but 18 of them are black? Or, do you have tons of clothes and nothing to wear because nothing matches?

Think about your color choices. Select the basic shade that you feel the most comfortable in and that looks most complimentary to you. Even if you wear nothing but jeans, they come in all sorts of colors and styles.

Next, take your measurements. Be honest with yourself about this. You will look and feel your best if your clothes fit properly, not too snugly and not too loosely. Determine what sizes you wear now, not at some ideal time in the future.

Try on all of your favourite clothes and look at yourself in the mirror. If you don't have anything that looks particularly flattering and is also comfortable, head to the best quality clothing store you can find. Try on a few different styles. Note which styles and fabrics are the most comfortable and make you look your best. Don't buy anything while you're out. This is just a fact finding mission. Note that the drapier the fabric, the more it will reveal your figure, flaws and all. Stiffer fabric can help camoflage a spare tire or a fuller thigh. Select styles that draw attenion to your best features. And consider wearing solid colors, preferably unornamented, on your least favorite features.

Now that you know which color, size, styles and fabrics look and feel the best on you, it's time to go through your closet and make a list of the clothes you'd like to pack. As you select your wardrobe, try on each piece. Look at it from front, sides and back, top to bottom. If you don't have a full length mirror, invest in a couple. You'll want to make sure everything still fits as well as you thought it did. If you're planning to wash your clothes in the sink while you're in China instead of taking them to the (expensive) laundry, it's time for a trial run. If you wash it at night, is it dry by the next morning?

You have a good idea about which clothes to take, now. Start thinking about filling in the gaps. A serious consideration is the climate. If you're going to the tropics in August, you'll want to wear lightweight cottons, or some of the new synthetics that wick away moisture. If you're travelling to more northerly destinaions in the middle of February, a couple sets of silk long johns and a polartec vest might be good additions to your wardrobe. Research the climate as soon as you accept your referral. Heating and air conditioning are not availble in most buildings in China, other than the hotels. Plan ahead, you won't regret it.

Once you get there, you'll be doing a lot of sight seeing. Get a good pair of walking shoes that look as good with your dressier outfit as with your casual clothes. In addition to good walking shoes, I brought a pair of really excellent Teva sandals with me which I wore almost every day in China. These sandals were made for hiking. They were one of the best decisions I made for the trip. It was hot and humid, especially in Guangzhou, so I was glad to have them. Whatever shoes you decide to bring, make sure you get them in advance, so you have a chance to wear them around for a while. You don't want to find out your new shoes give you blisters when you're a half an hour out on the Great Wall.

If you're like me, the sewing in the toes of most socks can be uncomfortable and even cause blisters. Get socks that are smoothely knit together.

After you're home and you've gotten your pictures back from the developer, you'll realize that there are a large number of photos of you in your night clothes. When you're selecting your pajamas for the trip, think about all the people that will be looking at your China pictures when you get home, and in the years to come.

You will spend a few days in Guangzhou, and many of you will stay at the White Swan. There are swimming pools at the White Swan, which are a great way to spend some time while in the tropical heat. Don't forget to bring your swimsuit.

I've heard people say that you should bring old underwear on your trip and just throw it away as you wear it. Then you won't have to wash it. Maybe some people can do that, but the thought of it made me blush. I bought enough new underwear for the whole trip and washed it when I returned home. Make sure to bring a plastic bag to put your dirty laundry in.

You've selected your basics, it's time to think about extras. Don't forget a hat, sunglasses, retractable umbrella, and your most important accessory, your money belt. Get a moneybelt that fits comfortably and that is made of a breathable material. If you like to wear ties, scarves, jewelry or other accessories, consider buying some in China. They'll lend a touch of the exotic, make great conversation pieces, and you may not have the opportunity to acquire these things again. I wish I had treated myself to a couple of nice things while I was in China. Next time I'll budget accordingly.

Remember to pack light, and have a great trip.

Packing List
• Wear: One nicer outfit with walking shoes
  
• Pack: One pair casual pants, casual tops, night clothes, undergarments, socks
  
• For Hot Climates: Walking sandals, swimsuit, hat, sunglasses
  
• For Cold Climates: Silk long johns, gloves, muffler, hat, coat
  
• Forget the purse, bring a Diaper Bag instead