Let’s face it, traveling light is something of a skill. Something you’re either good at, or you’re not. To determine where you currently stand, think back to the last time you had to pack a bag for a trip.
Did you find yourself sitting on your suitcase while trying to wrestle it shut? Or perhaps you spent ages deliberating across a spread of clothing on your bed, unsure which pieces were best to bring along.
If either of those scenarios seem familiar to you, don’t fret. We’ve cracked the code on how to make packing lightly and effectively a truly easy task. Read on, and by the next time you’re ready to jet, you’ll be more than set.
Weigh In The Weather
First things first – you want to take into account what the weather forecast is for wherever it is you’re traveling. This sounds obvious, but it helps to check the forecast predictions a couple of days in advance.
Don’t just assume! There’s always a chance that things get unexpectedly cold, wet, humid, or downright unpleasant.
So, you want to make sure that the few things you’re packing are in harmony with whatever climate your destination has. Got it? Great, now we can get to the good stuff.
Versatility Is King
The best capsule wardrobes are typically made up of fairly neutral colors, with an emphasis on textures that play well together. This way, each and every piece isn’t just versatile on its own – but they all go well together, regardless how you mix and match each item.
This doesn’t mean your travel wardrobe needs to be based solely on beige and gray tones, make no mistake!
But it does mean that if you’re aiming for maximum versatility, you want to have some sort of consistent vision that most of the items more or less adhere to.
Maybe that means a rich mix of earth tones, including deep greens, browns, tans, mustard yellows and rusty oranges.
Or it can follow a simple, nautically-inspired palette of navy blues and ecru whites.
Or if you’re a true minimalist, there’s always monochrome – meaning everything belongs to a single color family (though varying shades are allowed).
Regardless of what your vision is, you have to have one.
More Than Color
But there’s far, far more to building a coherent wardrobe, large or small, than simply thinking of outfit-building through the lens of color alone.
Don’t get the wrong idea, it’s very important to have a fundamental understanding of which colors best compliment the other, basic matching, and how to read the color temperature of a garment. But perhaps equally if not more important is understanding clothing through the lens of aesthetics.
Here’s an example.
While a pair of medium gray pants and a sage green shirt may technically match, they need to work together through an aesthetic consideration, as well.
What kind of gray pants are we dealing with? Are they cargo pants? Or perhaps more of a professional wool trouser? Pleated maybe, even.
If it’s the latter, then a sage green buttoned shirt of some kind should pair well. Even more rugged variations, such as a safari shirt with dual breast pockets.
But if it’s more of a long-sleeved, crew neck tee made from a casual jersey cotton, then perhaps it would be better suited to pair with cargo pants.
See what we mean? Color alone doesn’t always dictate whether or not something “matches.” There’s more to it – you have to understand how aesthetics differ, and which ones can be mixed effectively.
This is important to bear in mind when building a capsule wardrobe for travel. Consider the occasion: are you going to a luxury resort for a vacation? Make sure you’re ready for the pool. Will there be a fine dining hall worth dressing up for?
Or maybe it’s more of a work trip. Obviously, things need to be professional. But what if you’re looking to explore the nightlife of a new city once the corporate meetings are all said and done? Do you have the right pieces for these events?
These are all the kinds of things you need to do your best to predict before travelling. What are you doing? How do you want to present yourself?
How Much of Everything to Bring
Once you’ve got a good idea of what kind of clothing you need to pack, it’s time to figure out how many of each item is worth bringing along. After all, luggage space does have a limit, so you can’t very well toss your entire wardrobe into one suitcase.
It’s important to consider whether or not you’ll have access to a laundry machine or laundry service over the duration of your trip. If so, you can certainly make do with less things.
People have a tendency to overpack on things like socks and underwear, because at the end of the day, those are some of the worst articles of clothing to be short on. Even so, you should bring about one pair of socks and one pair of underwear for each day that you’ll be away from home. You may be tempted to pack extra, but it’s rarely worthwhile.
Whether your destination requires shorts or ski pants, it’s good to have at least three reliable, versatile bottoms for roughly a week’s worth of travel.
For two weeks, bump that up to five or six. Things like jeans aren’t intended to be washed all the time anyway, and you can easily get a ton of wear out of your favorite pair.
If the climate allows for undershirts, pack about as many as you would for socks and underwear – swapping them out roughly each day will let you pack less actual shirts, as they’re less likely to get directly soiled.
Make sure to take along some layering pieces, too. Regardless of temperature, outfits never quite feel complete when worn with just a single, primary layer. If it’s cold enough, grab some sweaters.
Cardigans are especially useful when traveling since you can more easily shed them if you get too warm, as opposed to the mild hassle of a pullover (not fun to maneuver in a cramped plane seat!).
Shoes are among the trickiest parts to get right here. They’re often the bulkiest item you need to bring along, aside from a potential coat, perhaps.
We recommend the two shoe rule.
Wear something a bit more comfortable (but still versatile!) while traveling, such as a simple pair of sneakers that go with everything.
In your luggage, you can bring one additional pair of footwear. Consider the purpose of your trip, the climate, and choose wisely. If you’re going to be at conferences, work dinners, and the like, you’ll need a professional pair of shoes.
If you’re intending to do a lot of walking, hiking, or physical activity, perhaps some sort of boots are in order.
Exceeding the two shoe rule is risky, as it can quickly take up lots of space in your bag. Try to determine what you’ll need the most, more than anything, and choose from there.
Style Without Sacrifice
It can certainly be difficult to choose what to bring along for a trip, especially if your at-home wardrobe is filled with pieces and garments you love. It’s only natural that you’d feel an inclination to present a version of yourself that you feel is true, even during travel.
But if you take the time to cultivate a collection of pieces that mesh well together, utilizing both complementary colors, patterns, and of course, aesthetics, then you’ll likely find that packing for any trip, brief or extended, can actually be pretty effortless.
When your clothing works together to convey a consistent message, theme, and of course, style, you hardly even need to think about it. Once you’re at this point, you can oftentimes just toss the clothes you love into a bag, and you’re all set.
There’s no need to sacrifice your personal style while on the road, in the air, or abroad. A capsule wardrobe can be born out of any style that is consistent and well-developed.
