Getting your wardrobe together
- epiphany-or
- Sep 15, 2016
- 3 min read
I’ve packed and unpacked several times and hands down, the best decision I ever made was making my list fit into just one piece of carry-on luggage. I know what you’re thinking…but yes you can definitely get away with just a carry-on, no matter how long your trip may last. How? By creating your own travel “capsule” wardrobe…basically a compact wardrobe made up of staple pieces in coordinating colors – usually in the realm of 12 items or fewer. All the tops should go with all the bottoms so mixing and matching is super easy and the number of outfits is exponential.
This system is a lifesaver when it comes to packing for a trip. Of course, this can work no matter where you’re going – Europe, South America, or a road trip across a couple of states. Just adapt these tips to fit your journey, lifestyle, weather and you will seriously never look back.
PACKING RULES:
1. Do not pack anything you don’t absolutely love. You simply won’t wear it. Instead, you’ll re-wear the things you do love, and will have wasted space for nothing.
2. Pick a color scheme, and stick to it. Every single item you pack must also match every other item you pack. This results in dozens of outfit combinations and virtually zero effort required to get dressed every day. Sticking to classic basics also ensures you won’t look back at photos and think, “GOD what was I wearing!?” Remember, there is nothing chicer than all-black. I usually black, white and stripes. I bring only basics that I feel great in and the result meant getting up and out the door to explore in less than 10 minutes.
3. Limit yourself to three pairs of shoes. In spring/summer, sandals and sneakers and for fall/winter, a pair of boots (ankle or higher depending on the weather) and sneakers....That’s it - a third pair is optional. But remember that even at night, you’ll likely do a fair amount of walking, so keep this in mind. I usually bring a ballet flat or skimmer. If you do decide to bring heels, choose a pair of wedges that fit within your color scheme. Why wedges? Many European cities have cobblestone streets, making them deadly for thin heels and stilettos. You don’t want to end up in the hospital in a foreign country with a twisted ankle, so go with wedges. Also, if that wasn’t enough of a reason, know that your heels will get stuck in the cobblestone and become ruined in less than 5 seconds.
4. Limit your handbags. I promise–you don’t need more than one purse, I’ve actually never carried a purse, per se, but I’ve always used a cross over bag or a backpack. I'm usually the one that carries the guidebooks and notes. I've been told not to keep your passport with you in your bag/purse and on our last trip we tried the “hidden pocket infinity scarf” and its honestly about the best thing invented. I stuffed my phone, cash/cc and passport inside and never had to carry anything at all.
5. Decide which method of packing works best for you - I've tried rolling (but there are still creases in things), space saver bags (tons of wrinkles) and I like using packing cubes the best (We picked these up at Ikea for cheap!!!).
6. Don’t wait until the last minute: Plan ahead carefully – last minute scrambling always results in stuffing extra items in at the last minute that you don’t need! Don’t add in last-minute extras. If you need something, you can always buy it there, and then you’ll have a great souvenir!
There are tons of ideas on Pinterest and several sites dedicated the simplicity of a capsule wardrobe...but here are some that I really liked...
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