Have you ever packed for a trip and end up bringing the kitchen sink, just in case?! There is a better way! You can pack lightly and look stylish with a travel capsule wardrobe. Let’s dive into how!
FAQs
- What is a travel capsule wardrobe? A travel capsule wardrobe is a small, curated collection of clothing that mixes and matches easily to create multiple outfits. It’s perfect for packing light while staying stylish.
- How many pieces should be in a travel capsule wardrobe? Most travel capsules include 10–15 items total (not including underwear or accessories), depending on the length of your trip and climate.
- Can I still look stylish with fewer clothes? Absolutely! With the right color palette, versatile pieces, and a few well-chosen accessories, a small wardrobe can go a long way in creating stylish outfits.
- What should I pack for a 5-day trip? A great 5-day capsule could include: 2 tops, 2 bottoms, 1 dress, 1 layering piece (like a jacket or cardigan), 1–2 pairs of shoes, plus accessories to change the vibe.
- How do I choose colors for my capsule wardrobe? Start with a neutral base (like black, white, tan, or navy) and add 2-3 accent colors that you love and that work well together. Stick to pieces that all coordinate.
- Is a capsule wardrobe good for all kinds of trips? Yes! Whether you’re headed to the beach, a city break, or a countryside escape, you can build a capsule wardrobe tailored to the location and activities.
- What accessories should you pack for traveling? Accessories are a great way to add spice to a capsule wardrobe. Pack accessories like belts, scarves, hats, or jewelry.
- What bags are good for a travel capsule wardrobe? A sturdy carry-on suitcase, a personal item bag, and a purse are great bags for a travel capsule wardrobe.
What is a Travel Capsule Wardrobe?
A travel capsule wardrobe is a small, curated collection of clothing that mixes and matches easily to create multiple outfits. It’s perfect for packing light while staying stylish. The purpose is to pack less so if you can fit everything into a carry-on suitcase and a personal item, that’s great!
Why a Capsule Wardrobe Works So Well for Travel
It can be tricky lugging around tons of bags on your trips. They can be heavy and bulky and it can cause space issues in rental cars and ride shares. Plus, do you really need everything that you packed?! Most likely, no. Taking time before any vacation to strategically plan your outfits and pack lightly will help you travel with less stress and less baggage!
As a woman that has traveled the world with my family of 6, I can attest that traveling with less bags is so much easier! In the span of a year, our family visited 17 countries and 29 states. We traveled with 4 suitcases total and we each had a backpack. It was so much easier only having a few bags to carry through the airports and cities and it eased the decision fatigue when wondering what to wear.
Since that year of world travel, I have continued to take several global trips a year and I always try to just take a carry-on and a personal item. It’s much easier to maneuver through lines, escalators, elevators, and streets with fewer pieces of luggage in tow. Once I started packing a travel capsule wardrobe, I can’t look back!
How to Choose a Color Palette for Travel
The key for packing a capsule wardrobe is to start with a color palette. If you haven’t already gotten a color analysis done, you need to! It will help you determine what colors look best with your skin tone. It’s amazing to see the power of color in your life! Wearing the wrong color can make you look like you have dark circles under your eyes or a double chin! But wearing the right colors can help you look youthful and fresh. It’s wild! (check out my friends Tressie and Chandler for a color analysis!)
But back to packing a color palette. Choosing several colors of clothing will help you pack less because your tops and bottoms and accessories can mix and match easily. Start with a neutral base (like black, white, tan, or navy) and add 2-3 accent colors that you love and that work well together. Stick to pieces that all coordinate.
After I got my color analysis, it made it really easy to pick a few colors to pack my wardrobe around. Look at the pieces you have in your closet and pick colors that go well together. If you have a rainbow of colors in your suitcase, you’ll end up packing a ton of clothes that can only be worn once.
How to Maximize Outfits with Minimal Pieces
Once you have a color palette picked out, pack pieces that are versatile. You want to be able to wear something more than once. My personal rule is I don’t pack it unless it can be worn at least 3 different ways. For instance, pick a skirt that can be worn with several different tops. Pick shoes that can be worn with several different outfits.
With a color palette and versatile pieces, you will pack a lot less clothing but have a lot of outfit options between the individual pieces. You want everything to mix and match well. This way will help you maximize outfits with minimal pieces.
Travel-Friendly Fabrics & Packing Tips
If you want to avoid packing an iron or steamer (because those can take up a lot of space!) then there are some fabrics that are great for traveling. Believe it or not, wool is an amazing fabric to wear year round! It can keep you cool when it’s warm outside and warm when it’s cool outside. It is also breathable and odor resistant so you can wear something many times without having to wash it.
My favorite wool brands to purchase from are WoolX and Wool&. I love packing wool leggings, wool t-shirts, and wool dresses when I travel.
In the warm months, linen is a great fabric to pack. It’s lightweight and breathable but it can wrinkle easily. So here’s a trick for you! Hang up your linen clothing on a hanger in the bathroom while you shower. The steam from the shower will help release the wrinkles. You can also spray water on it and let it air dry. My favorite place to buy linen is NotPerfectLinen.
Don’t Forget These Accessories
Accessories are a great way to spice up any look! You can wear the same dress but switch up the accessories to completely change the look. Here are some accessories you’ll want to pack:
- belts
- hats
- scarves
- jewelry- earrings, bracelets, rings, necklaces
- purses
- shoes
- makeup…yes, makeup! Your eyeshadow, blush, and lipstick can add the perfect pop to any outfit.
Capsule Wardrobe Mistakes to Avoid
When creating your capsule wardrobe, avoid these mistakes:
- Don’t forget to check the weather! You can’t control the weather but you can do a little research and get a good idea of what the weather will mostly be like on your trip. There’s no need to pack a heavy coat if the weather will be warm. Pack only what you need.
- Don’t take into consideration what activities you’re doing on the trip. Pack clothing items that you will actually use. You don’t need to pack exercise clothing if you have no plans to exercise. Same with a swimsuit. Consider the activities you’ll be doing and pack accordingly.
- Don’t pack more than you need! We all get caught up in the “what if” train of thought and that can lead to packing way too many things! Be prepared, but don’t pack unnecessary things.
Sample Travel Capsule Outfit Plan
This summer I will be going on a 2 week trip to Europe and I only plan to take a carry-on and a personal item. When I plan my travel capsule wardrobe, I like to use Canva to map out what clothing items I’ll take. It allows me to visually see the color scheme, the versatile pieces, and outfits I can create with all the items. Here is a sample of what I will be packing on my trip:
Take note that I am packing a variety of tops, bottoms, dresses, and accessories that can easily be mixed and matched. This will give me a lot of outfit combinations! And bonus, it will all fit into a carry-on.
What Bags are Good for a Travel Capsule Wardrobe?
The bags you travel with are so important! You want your bags and luggage to be high quality, versatile, and space saving. Here are some bags I never travel without:
- Toiletry bag– I LOVE this bag! It holds all my toiletry items and then some! It hangs on a hook to make it easy to access. It’s a must!!
- Personal Carry-on bag– This is the perfect size for a personal carry-on item! I like to fit my toiletry bag, makeup bag, skincare products, computer, chargers, book, and snacks in this bag. It fits well under the airplane seat and it has lots of pockets to keep you organized. AND…it has a cool side pocket that allows you to secure it to your suitcase.
- Carry-on Suitcase– This is the BEST suitcase!! It’s the perfect size, the wheels move like butter, it has a lock, and fits great with the personal item bag. The quality is amazing and you can’t beat the price!
- Sapahn purse– I’m not exaggerating when I say that Sapahn purses are the BEST around! They’re handmade in Thailand, leather, and have the best style and color selection. I have too many of their purses to count!! All of their purses are the perfect addition to any travel outfit. Check out the best of their purses to travel with, but my personal travel faves are the Dominique and the Sarah Ann. Save 20% with this Sapahn discount code: JOELLEN20
Final Thoughts: Pack Less, Stress Less, Glow More
Take time before you travel to plan. Pick a color scheme, pack versatile pieces, look at the weather, plan your activities. This planning will lead to less stress and less wasted space! If you want to take your planning a little further, take time to put outfits together and try them on. Then snap a picture and save them in a an album on your phone so you can quickly refer to the pictures when you want to remember what to wear.
Planning before your trip will help you enjoy your time and glow more! Now that you have amazing outfits planned, don’t forget to take pictures so you can remember the amazing memories you’ll make!
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About the Author
JoEllen is a licensed aesthetician, certified makeup artist, and certified John Maxwell coach, speaker, and trainer. She works with women helping them look and feel confident. She loves teaching women simple beauty techniques so they can feel empowered to try it at home. Her motto is that when you look and feel good, you do good!
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