How To Build A Travel Capsule Wardrobe

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How often have you come back from vacation and realized you only wore half of the clothes you packed? If this sounds like you then consider creating a travel capsule wardrobe to make packing a breeze. I used to pack way too many clothes, even for short vacations, and then come home to find that I wore the same few items over and over. Save some space in your suitcase for souvenirs by following my tips for a travel capsule wardrobe.

travel capsule wardrobe items

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What Is A Travel Capsule Wardrobe

A regular capsule wardrobe is a small set of clothes, anywhere from 15-45 items, that you can mix and match to make a lot of outfits. A travel capsule wardrobe is going to be on the small end of that, probably 15-20 items. I don’t typically include jewelry, accessories, underwear, and activewear in my capsule wardrobes, but for this packing list, I decided to include them so, technically, it’s more than 20 items. The main point of any capsule wardrobe is to get the most versatility out of your clothes so you can make decisions quickly, not to see how few items you have.

Just like all of my capsule wardrobes, this can be used as a guide for you to create your own travel capsule wardrobe. Since most people go on vacation in the summer, or go to a warm place, I based this on warm weather clothes. Feel free to change out or add different clothes if you are travelling to a cold weather location. I also based it on a 7 day vacation, so you can add or remove clothes for a longer or shorter stay.

How To Pack Like A Minimalist

what to pack for a travel capsule wardrobe in a carry-on suitcase

I used to think that packing smart was trying to fit as many clothes as possible in the space I had, but now I think it’s smart to only pack the clothes you need. Start with a small suitcase and pick the bare essentials – clothes you know you will wear. If you start out with a large suitcase then you will be tempted to fill in the extra space. Plan your clothes around what you will actually be doing, not what you think could happen. Choose pieces that mix and match easily. Neutral colors are great for this but don’t be afraid to add a few pops of color to make it interesting. Pack items that are versatile and that you can wear for multiple occasions. You could even lay out the clothes on your bed and see how many different outfits you can create with them.

Figure out which items can double up. Maybe a dress can double as a swimsuit coverup. Dresses and other one-piece items are great for a travel capsule wardrobe because they take up less space. I’m starting to prefer one-piece swimsuits because it’s only 1 item and I hardly ever wear them long enough to make the bathroom experience annoying. And you can find some really cute one-piece swimsuits these days! Decide what you will wear for the car ride/plane ride so you don’t have to worry about it when you’re ready to leave. I like to wear my most bulky items for travelling, like sneakers, so I don’t have to pack them.


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    Travel Capsule Wardrobe Essentials – How Many Clothes To Pack

    summer travel capsule wardrobe items
    • 4 tops. I like to have a combination of t-shirts, tank tops, and 1 nicer top.
    • 3 bottoms. Shorts, skirts, pants, jeans, whatever you like to wear. Jean shorts and flowy skirts are both super versatile for summer vacations.
    • 2 layering pieces. Cardigan, jacket, kimono, vest, etc. It’s always nice to have a long-sleeved layer for air-conditioned buildings.
    • 1 dress or jumpsuit/romper. I like to pack 1 of each, actually. Dresses and jumpsuits are versatile pieces that can be worn for many occasions.
    • 3 pairs of shoes. These will take up the most space so try to only pack a few that you can wear with all of your outfits.
    • 1 swimsuit. If you plan to actually get wet, maybe take 2 so you always have a dry one.
    • 1 swim coverup. This could be the same as the dress/jumpsuit/romper.
    • 2 sets of activewear clothes. Tanks, t-shirts, running shorts, leggings, etc. I have to admit, I usually take more than this because I love working out but I hate wearing sweaty/smelly workout clothes. Do what works for you.
    • 2 sports bras. Take as many as days you plan to workout.
    • 1 pair of gym shoes. These are good to have if you plan to walk a lot, even if they aren’t always the most stylish.
    • 1 set of pajamas/loungewear. Don’t forget your PJ’s!
    • 2 pairs of socks. You can shove them in your shoes when packing so they don’t take up much space.
    • 2 bras. 1 skin-tone color and 1 with removable/versatile straps.
    • Underwear. Use your own discretion here! 😉
    • 1 hat. Great for sun protection. Read my blog post about sun protective clothing.
    • 1 pair of sunglasses. Again, great for sun protection and they look stylish!
    • Jewelry. This is really personal preference. I like to have a couple of options for earrings and necklaces. They don’t take up much space and they can change an outfit so much.
    9 outfits for a beach vacation

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    summer travel capsule wardrobe

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