Making a capsule wardrobe for your next vacation will allow you to reduce your packing list to a carry-on backpack, saving you time and money. But first, let’s go further into this topic. The capsule wardrobe is a concept used in the 1940s to describe a limited selection of items meant to be worn together in color and line harmony.
Susie Faux, a wardrobe consultant and author invented the capsule wardrobe concept in the 1970s in response to her discontent with a shortage of well-made clothes. The expression “capsule wardrobe” was coined by Faux. In her book Wardrobe: Develop Your Style & Confidence, she clarified the foundations of the idea, “The basic idea is simple: by building a capsule wardrobe, you will buy fewer clothes of a higher quality that you will wear more often.”
A decade later, designer Donna Karan launched the first capsule collection, “Seven Easy Pieces,” which popularized the concept. Karan’s collection was inspired by the notion that a woman could achieve anything with the correct essentials. So this collection began with models wearing only black bodysuits and tights; they continued to dress and make ensembles out of the remaining components, which included a versatile skirt, a pair of loose pants, a fitted jacket, a cashmere sweater, and a white shirt.
Karan has provided several explanations, including a white shirt, a little black dress, an evening gown, and a black leather jacket. An oversized scarf is also essential, mainly because it can be worn in various ways, such as a wrap skirt or a shawl. The idea, which remains valid today, is that a woman does not require fashion to be more complicated than her life. She can go everywhere with the seven pieces that are perfect for her.
Capsule wardrobes are huge right now and for a good purpose. What started as a specialist habit has risen to prominence alongside Marie Kondo’s decluttering book and a broader minimalist style. This recovery is owing to the rising public interest in decreasing the environmental effect of the fashion industry, as well as increased demand for companies with sustainable and responsible manufacturing methods. So, here are some essential tips on how to pack your travel capsule wardrobe.
Pick the Proper Bag
A capsule wardrobe is useless unless it is packed in the appropriate bag. Choose a carry-on-sized travel backpack, such as the Cotopaxi Allpa 35L Travel Pack from Amazon or the Tropicfeel Shell Backpack from Tropicfeel.com. These backpacks are large enough to hold a week’s worth of clothing, making them perfect for traveling with a capsule wardrobe.
So if you are looking for tips to pack lighter, capsule wardrobes will fit in your carry-on and help us figure out what to wear while traveling much more effortlessly.
Pack Just for a Week
One of the essential aspects of capsule backpacking is packing light. That implies you require enough for a week. Overpacking goes beyond that. Many vacationers carry too many clothes to feel safe, regretting it later and wishing they had brought half as much. Don’t make the same error of transporting weeks’ worth of clothing. If you’re going to be gone for more than a week, it’s far easier to do laundry than to carry all that stuff.
Research About the Weather
Learn more about the weather and temperature of your destination throughout your trip. Even while visiting the same country, the climate might vary greatly depending on geography. What you pack for a trip to the beach or the mountains depends on the season you plan to visit your destination. The wardrobe you need for a summer trip is entirely different than what is required for the winter season. Consider using World Weather Online or a local tourist website that provides climatic information by location and month.
A Color Palette Simplicity
Maintain a matching and ideally neutral color scheme in your capsule wardrobe, so you don’t have to choose clothes to wear together. A simpler color scheme centers on blacks, grays, blues, greens, whites, or creams. Bright colors and wild patterns should be for accent items only.
Select Timeless Shapes
Remember that a successful capsule wardrobe comprises a limited number of long-lasting, classic pieces. So avoid worrying about the newest trends by opting for timeless styles that make you feel relaxed and confident.
Consider Layers that Aren’t Too Thick or Heavy
If you intend to bring only one heavy layer, put that thought out of your mind. Try to find a few breathable, lightweight layers. Merino wool is a must-have travel fabric. It is available in various thicknesses and can be found in anything from base layers to coats. They are more suited to capsule packing since they are more adaptable, take up much less space, and are simpler to pack. For example, staying dry is the golden rule of winter hiking, while the key to layering in warm weather is the freedom to put on and remove layers easily.
Invest in Good Quality Pieces
As you’d be wearing the pieces multiple times, you must focus on choosing good-quality pieces durable enough for such usage. Look for well-made items that you can count on for many future trips. Avoid fast fashion, which won’t hold up in a capsule wardrobe. Here are a few well-known brands of travel clothing to check out:
- Athleta
- Anatomie
- Betabrand
- Columbia Sportswear
- L.L. Bean
- Patagonia
- Uniqulo
Choose the Right Fabrics
Opt for naturally wrinkle-free clothing to avoid breaking out the iron in every place you stay. Also, avoid 100% cotton, which is quick to smell and slow to dry. Instead, aim for clothes that are easy to maintain. Vacation is too short to waste on trips to the dry cleaner.
A Travel Capsule Wardrobe is the Best Idea
Picking pieces that serve several purposes and are timeless is the key to a successful capsule wardrobe. In the long term, you’ll spend less time and energy on things like apparel shopping, packing, and cleaning. One of the best things about a travel capsule wardrobe is how much easier it is to pack since you don’t have to think about what to wear. Instead, you can return to what’s important: having a good time on your trip.