Last summer, after years of putting it off, I broke down and invested $67 in a pair of nylon khaki zip-off-above-the-knee travel pants. They were lightweight. They were quick drying. They didn't wrinkle. They were perfect for a vacation that included planes, trains, boats, hiking trails and beach jaunts.

Perfect. Except they were hideously ugly. They came all the way up to the waist. They didn't flatter anything. The bland color was boring.

Before you start folding your own pair of practical, but embarrassing, travel pants for this year's summer adventure, check out what's new in stores for travel wear. Designers have taken the fiber technology -- quick drying, lightweight, UV protection, wrinkle-free nylon blends -- and have added chic style.

"We've taken fabrics that are easy to care for, and we've just updated them, introducing a lot of color, introducing prints, updating the silhouettes," said Wendy Sockolov, product developer of women's apparel at TravelSmith.

She said the goal was to appeal to the catalog company's key customers, who want their travel clothes to make it beyond one wear but don't want to look frumpy when traveling.

"She wants to look and feel fresh but get as much mileage out of her clothes as she can," she said.

All of which is important if you're like a lot of travelers, who want to pack less, but want less fuss in the care of their clothes. "It's important that what you bring is easy care, washable and something that doesn't have to be ironed," said Cheryl Fairchild, owner of the Raleigh luggage store The Globetrotter.

While out searching for new travel wear, some of the biggest surprises were at Orvis at Triangle Town Center.

One pair of thick black nylon pants called Contourwear has a mid-rise and flared leg. They're tight but stretchy around the derriere. They zip off just above the knee to double as a pair of fitted Bermuda shorts -- not the billowy or cargo-style shorts of most convertible travel pants. They're an investment at $98, but they've got a stretchy UV protection fabric, they're wrinkle-resistant and designed to relax to fit any body.

For something more feminine, check out Orvis' mid-calf stretch nylon skirt that zips off above the knee. It sounds frumpy and awkward. But it's a chic straight skirt that can go from conservative to casual, an important characteristic when jaunting to countries where women are required to cover their legs.

It's made with a wrinkle-resistant stretchy poly blend coated with Scotchguard. There's a zipped pocket designed to fit a passport. And it has UV 30 sun protection. It comes in black or khaki and sells for $110.

And then there are the hoodies from Buzz Off's ExOfficio partner. Up until now, most of the offerings from the Buzz Off line, created in Greensboro, have been practical button-downs, pants and hats designed to keep away insects. ExOfficio now has a cotton/poly blend hooded front-zip sweater that's moisture-wicking and has sun protection. Orvis sells it for $69, and it comes in light blue, khaki, coral and charcoal.

Don't get too cozy with many of Orvis' new looks, because the company is just sampling them. The trendier cuts are a departure for the store, which usually caters to more traditional core travelers. The new looks appeal to slightly younger, more sophisticated customers, said Dawn Fisher, Web merchant at Orvis. "They have a niche with the more active, outdoorsy person who wants to look nice," she said.

Another travel wear surprise came from Patagonia. Great Outdoor Provision Co. and some REI stores have the outdoors apparel company's strappy dress made of organic cotton and moisture-wicking polyester and spandex. With its contoured tank top design, the dress is stylish enough for a nice dinner, but can be casual with sandals and a layered button-down. It comes in light blue and black and has a surprisingly reasonable price for Patagonia -- $48.

CoolMax is also making dresses. The company, known for its moisture-wicking camisoles and T-shirts, now has a tank dress made of the popular wicking material in celery, black and blueberry ($69 at Travelsmith.com).

While The Globetrotter in Cameron Village is best known for its luggage, it, too, is stocking chic travel wear. The store has a collection of colorful nylon jackets and matching camisoles that are pre-scrunched for a puffy, wrinkled look. It's the perfect jacket to stay warm and stylish and it doubles as a fluffy pillow on the plane. The jacket sells for $158, and the cami is $68.

REI also continues to build on its travel wear inventory. Men have have nearly a half-dozen styles of wrinkle-free, lightweight nylon khaki pants -- several of which are convertible. Women also can pick from a selection of convertible pants and quick-dry capri pants. The store also has a selection of practical, yet feminine, olive and khaki skorts -- shorts built into short skirt.

Many of the new styles are so wearable and stylish, you might not want to wait until vacation to wear them. And for some companies, like TravelSmith, that's the goal.

"We want the clothes to be able to make sense for everyday wear, not just travel," Sockolov said.