Capsule Wardrobe: The BUILD

Summer ushers in a season of trips, vacations, and adventures! So I thought it would be a great time to introduce the Capsule Wardrobe and challenge you to travel light this summer! In the past I used to over pack like I was going to be away twice as long as I was actually going for. I’m a girl who likes options, you know a different outfit everyday…gotta think of those photos! Today I have become a little more savvy and efficient when it comes to packing for a trip without sacrificing my choices.

The purpose of a capsule wardrobe is to minimize the items you bring while maximizing the number of outfits you can put together. This is going to be a struggle for the “but I might need this” packer or the fashionista. But let me tell you, this makes traveling to any part of the world that much easier. Plus, it frees up enough space in your luggage to do some shopping at your destination!

Once you know your destination and have an idea of the activities you will be doing, you can begin building your wardrobe…

Establish Your Foundation: Neutrals and basics. Why? Because these are the easiest to pair together and to dress up or down. You can most definitely have an entire wardrobe comprised of all neutrals and basics.

Add variety: Use a color palette. Be thoughtful in the way you put your outfits together. Make sure the colors and patterns of your pieces work well with each other. For starters, you can pick 1-2 colors + neutrals to work with.
Repurposing - depending on your activities you may need super-casual AND dressier attire. Bonus points for those who bring items you can wear for both occasions.

Layering: Yes you can use this technique to create even more outfits while still keeping your wardrobe practical for the weather and your activities.

Mix, match, & stack: What I usually do is make sure each item can be worn with a minimum of 2-3 other items in my wardrobe. For example, can this top match 3 bottoms I am bringing? Can this cardigan be worn over 3 outfits? This tests the flexibility and helps you maximize the use of each item.

These are the things I keep in mind. Even though a capsule wardrobe has less number of items, it should still speak to your personality and style. So I usually start by pulling specific pieces I have in mind for this trip. Maybe it was a garment I specifically bought for this trip OR it could be something I am just dying to wear. It doesn’t necessarily need to be a neutral or basic. From there, you will have an understanding of what you are building around and what garments to pull to make everything work together.

HANDY TIPS:

-          Utilize large scarves. These versatile pieces can take you from the plane to the beach to shopping to dinner and is appropriate for any season, weather, and destination

-          Nude & Black Undies. If you can only travel with 2 bras, I would suggest going with a nude and a black because it will go well under any outfit. Same goes for underwear. I would go with nude and black in color and anything seamless. These are the most versatile undergarments.

-          Bring shoes that will take your from breakfast to dinner. You want something comfortable that you can wear in your casual sightseeing clothes as well as your fancier dinner attire.

For a girl who likes having options, this was a real challenge for me. I had to be creative in the way I put items together. One bag travel has definitely upped my style game by allowing me to stretch the versatility of every piece! It has taken me a couple trips to hone my capsule wardrobe system. When it comes to travelling it’s all about your functionality and what is the most convenient for YOU!

Happy packing & adventurous travels!