What to wear when travelling?

I am going to be travelling through parts of CA in July along with doing some volunteer work. I was wondering what is typical for females to wear?

I actually usually wear long (just below the knee) skirts and wanted to know if that would be fine. I know that when I do things like hiking, I'll have a pair of capris but for the most part, are knee length skirts fine for the general day (at hostels, beach, buses, in town etc)?

Depends on where you are going but I find longer skirts are always acceptable although I usually take zip off pants and can adapt to either shorts or long pants. If you are hiking in the rain forest you may want long pants and I find I am a little more comfortable wearing capris or long pants on the chicken buses so my legs don't stick to the seats or get cut on the cracked vinyl.

When walking in the jungle or forest, a pair of light long pants are the best. Hiking pants have plenty o pockets, and if you go with the light ones, can be almost as comfortable as a skirt. You'll want them because insects can bite through thin nylon, and most certainly under a skirt. They like ankles, legs, and yes, anywhere warm and available. Being covered up is a good idea. I find that a very light shirt is best for the top, long sleeved, one with plenty of air holes. They usually don't get through the thicker fabric unless you have some serious insect troubles. In that case, I'd rather not be in the jungle or forest at all.

just to add a little more to the jungle walking part, you will want long pants, and presoaked in Permethrin, to repell ticks and medium high boots and long socks