A Foolproof Method to a Great Travel Capsule

Do you ever have those days when you feel like a total genius? Well, friends, today is one of those days. I have a confession: I am a chronic over-packer. I layout outfits and mix and match pieces until I’m completely satisfied with my travel wardrobe. And then, inevitably, I end up throwing in a few more of this, and a couple more of that…just in case. Then, I have to upsize my suitcase just to fit in all those little extras. Each time I do this, I arrive at my destination only wearing 1/3 of what I packed, and rarely needing a single one of those extra last-minute items. But not this time! This time I may have actually cracked the code to a great travel capsule wardrobe. If you’re interested in the method I used then buckle up, butter cup. We’re going on an adventure.

Learn from more experienced travelers

Last year, I was planning a short trip and I knew the weather was going to be both hot and sunny, and cool and breezy. I was in one of those situations where I was going to have to pack for virtually all four seasons and I was only going to be gone a total of five days.

As one does, I consulted the highest authority I could: the internet. Curiously, I came upon several amazing packing videos created by flight attendants, pilot’s wives, and professional travelers. What I learned was literally mind-blowing to me. I’m going to share a couple of common sense items I learned, and then share with you my personal travel capsule for a recent trip to Chicago. Where we all know, the weather is always predictable.

Lesson One: Pack for Specifics

This may sound like – and be – the most common sense advice for packing I’ve ever heard. Pack for specific adventures, excursions, or events you will be attending. Then, fill in the open holes with other items. Let me give you an example:

For our trip to Chicago, I knew we would be attending a couple of business dinners. Of course, they are business casual events, but the venue may require something special, such as no jeans. Prepare for that eventuality when preparing for the specific event.

Second, I knew we would be attending a Cub’s game. Not being a baseball connoisseur myself, I didn’t have anything remotely baseball-y to wear. So I improvised and then worked those specific pieces into the remainder of my weekly wardrobe.

Lesson Two: Pack for the weather and take layering pieces

The forecast for our trip consisted of two travel days and three conference days. Five days in total. The weather flying out of Nashville was 54 degrees F and rainy. The weather arriving in Chicago was 54 degrees F and rainy. The remainder of our days were in the mid 50s to mid 60s with a mixture of clouds and sun. There was a slight chance of rain every day we were there. Flying home, the forecast was supposed to be 78 degrees F and sunny. So, I would have to pack for multiple weather situations.

For me, that meant taking a black trench coat that doubles as a rain coat and a wind breaker. If you don’t have a great trench coat, let me convince you right now. They are a game changer! They are light weight but warm, and keep you dry in the event of a sudden shower. I also packed a small, lightweight travel umbrella.

But there was one additional piece I added that could keep me warm in the event of a sudden temperature drop, and still work into my weekly wardrobe if needed. Just wait for it! It’s genius and you probably already have one!

Lesson Three: Pack separates in solids, textures, and patterns

This one tip was actually such an epiphany. I’m great at packing neutrals…blacks, creams, camel. But then my outfits somehow always fall flat. Alysa Beltempo posted a recent video explaining the concept of packing for width and breadth. I’m linking it here for you. It explains how important texture and pattern are to a small travel wardrobe.

While I stuck with solids for my bottom pieces, I incorporated both pattern and texture for my top pieces and layering pieces….and WOW! What a difference it made. I went from a travel capsule wardrobe to a GREAT travel capsule wardrobe with one simple change.

Here it is: The Foolproof Method to a Great Capsule Wardrobe.

Three Bottom Pieces

You can choose skirts and slacks, jeans and shorts, slacks and jeans….whatever your particular vacation requires is what you should pack. If it’s a beach vacation, you may only need three pair of shorts, or maybe one skirt and two pair of shorts. If your vacation is to the mountains, you may need three pair of running pants, or two pair of running pants and one pair of jeans. The key point is to make these pieces as mixable and matchable as possible. I always try to incorporate one of these items in black. Why? Because I will always be the girl who spills her coffee, drips ketchup, or sits in something messy. Trust me….one of your bottom pieces should be black.

Three Top Pieces

Preferably, you should pick three pieces that mix and match with each of your bottom pieces, but also incorporate a texture or a pattern of interest. What I have found indispensable knowledge is that patterns don’t show dirt, spills, or wrinkles as easily as solids. Again…. coffee spills and ketchup drips. Simply hold each top piece up to each bottom piece to be certain each combo goes together well.

Three Layering Pieces

Okay, technically, I believe you can get away with two layering pieces if they’re really good. But, for the sake of the equation, let’s stick with three. My layering pieces are always cardigan sweaters. They can be buttoned up like a pull over, worn open like a blazer, buttoned up and wrapped tennis-style around your shoulders. They are my ride or die.

Now, that doesn’t mean I don’t love a great structured blazer. However, I find that they wrinkle during travel, can be a little too heavy in some climates, and not always as versatile as a cardi can be. But that’s my opinion. If you love a great blazer, or your destination requires it, by all means go for it!

If your travel adventure allows you to pack running (yoga) pants, you may want to opt for longer cardigan options, or even oversized sweaters or sweat shirts. Just remember they should coordinate with both your bottom pieces and your top pieces.

As for color I always go for solid layering pieces. If my top pieces have pattern and or texture, then the outer layer doesn’t want to compete. I go with black, cream, and camel for cardigans. It’s just simply the method that works best for me.

Three Pairs of Shoes and a plus one

Alyssa Beltempo says if you have room in your luggage for one more thing, always go for an additional pair of shoes. I really like that philosophy, and I’ll show you how I worked that into my travel capsule wardrobe for this trip.

Keeping in mind the lesson we learned about packing for specifics, your shoes should always be included in that method. If you need a pair of dress shoes or strappy sandals for a specific event, pack them, but try to work them into the remainder of your capsule if possible. Otherwise, they may need to be your ‘extra’ pair of shoes.

When it comes to footwear, comfort is key. In younger days I said silly things like, “fashion before comfort,” but now that I’m older and understand the importance of great footwear comfort, I take it all back. …..Kind of….. I think you can always have great shoes that are fashionable and comfortable. You just have to know what works for you, and what you need for your travel destination.

I generally go with neutrals, and I really like the comfort of a ballet flat or a loafer. Ballet flats can go with skirts and dresses, and loafers are super cute with shorts, pants, and skorts.

Three Accessories

Here is where the fun comes in and where your personality can really shine. It can also be where necessity saves your hide! Accessories can be scarves, purses, sun glasses, hats, belts, or jewelry. Literally anything that brings a spark and sparkle to an outfit is what you want to consider.

But don’t go overboard. Try to keep your accessories to three or four. For our trip to Chicago I packed three belts, two sunglasses, and one clear stadium bag. Why didn’t I keep to three pieces? Because each of those items fit inside the clear stadium bag. They didn’t take up any additional space in my luggage.

Fashion Show

Finally, before you pack everything into your luggage, be sure to give yourself a little fashion show. Just because your pieces go together in theory, on the hanger, or laid out on the bed, does NOT mean they will go together well on your body!

In February, I packed a black slip skirt, silky blouse, and lace blazer for a vendor dinner. When I dressed for dinner that night, the silkiness of the slip skirt and the silkiness of the blouse did not work together. The blouse kept coming untucked, it looked frumpy, and the blazer was too long in proportion to the midi style skirt. In theory, on the hanger this outfit was a banger!!! But suddenly I was stuck in a hotel room with thirty minutes to try to come up with something appropriate to wear to dinner.

Try on your outfits. You will thank me later!

The Wardrobe Breakdown

So we have three bottoms, three tops, three layering pieces, three pairs of shoes, three belts, two pair of sunglasses, and a trench coat. Let’s see how far this can get us, shall we? Warning, be prepared for photo overload.

For my bottom pieces…

I took a pair of black ankle length slacks, a pair of cream cropped slacks, and a pair of Levis that I could leave long or cuff as capris. All three of these pieces can be easily mixed and matched with every top, and every layering piece (aka, my cardigans.) I will leave links for everything I can at the end of this article.

For my top pieces…

I took a black and white striped long sleeve t-shirt, an animal print blouse with ruffled sleeves and collar, and a blue and white striped button up from J. Crew.

For layering pieces…

I took three cardigans: one camel, one black, and one cream. The camel one has patterned buttons and puff sleeves. The black one has black buttons and is light weight, and the cream one has patterned buttons, is cable knit, and slightly heavier in weight. This combo adds a little extra texture, some subtle pattern in the buttons, and a variety of weights for varying weather circumstances.

For footwear…

I took three pairs of flats. I opted for camel colored loafers, red square toed ballet flats, and black quilted and patent leather ballet flats. As my extra pair, I always add my running shoes. They’re great in a pinch if I need to pair them with jeans, but I actually wear them for daily workouts. Because I knew I needed something red for the baseball game, working the red shoes into the equation for daily wear was an absolute must.

For accessories…

I packed belts that coordinated with my footwear. This establishes a color story in an outfit and always makes you look put together. I also packed two pair of sunglasses: One square framed tortoise shell pair, and one darker tortoise shell pair that double as reading glasses (in a pinch.)

For the necessary outerwear or specific accessories…

I knew for this trip I would need my trench coat, a clear stadium bag, and potentially something additional to keep me warm. It is Chicago, the Windy City, and we had an outdoor evening event at Wrigley Field.

For this, I packed the puffer vest, an umbrella, the clear stadium bag with red strap, and my trench coat.

Bottoms, and Tops, and Cardigans, Oh My!

Here are a few of the outfit options I had while on our trip. Yes, it was only a five day trip in total, with two days allotted for travel. But, look at all you could do with outfits, simply by following the method above.

Dressing for the specifics

Remember I said I didn’t have anything baseball-y to wear? Well, you’re going to love what I put together to wear to the Cubs game, all from the capsule pieces. I didn’t have to pack anything extra or Cubs specific!

Because Chicago Cubs colors are blue, white and red, and because it’s baseball, I went with the Levi’s jeans in an ankle length wide cuff, the blue striped J Crew shirt under the white puffy vest with the red shoes and the red belt. I added a red woven web strap to the stadium bag, and threw on the black trench in case of cooler weather.

By opting to bring the white puffy vest, I was able to add one important layer of warmth, if necessary. These puffy vests can be worn under a trench coat without adding bulk, and the most important part, they can be folded up and placed into a quart sized zip top bag. Simply place the folded vest inside and zip the top almost closed. Then roll the bag from the bottom to squeeze out all the air, and seal. It’s like a space bag for your travel days. My vest flattened out into a tiny square that didn’t take up any additional space in my luggage. Upon arrival, I simply unzipped it and hung it up. It regained its loft overnight.

In the unlikely event of a fashion emergency

I want to say that because this was a business trip, there was the slight potential I may need to have something a little more polished to wear to a vendor dinner or evening event. Instead of packing a dress, and dress shoes, and all the accouterment that inevitably follows, I simply chose to add in two additional pieces: One long sleeved white dress blouse, and one very sparkly mock turtle neck sleeveless sweater. You probably saw them worked into some of the photos above.

I can easily layer these two items and by wearing the sleeveless sweater as a vest, and popping the white color preppy style. This goes beautifully with black slacks, but can also go with jeans if you wanted to be a little sassy. Maybe you’re going to a Jazz club or something.

Depending on the event, I could even swap the dress blouse with the striped T-shirt. Pair these with the red shoes and belt, or the black shoes and belt and we’ve got a really fun outfit or two in the event of a fashion emergency.

Full packing disclosure

Because I want to be completely transparent with you, there were a few other items I added to my suitcase as I prepared for this trip. My luggage also included all personal hygiene items, all hair care items, my laptop, an iPad, and chargers. In addition, there were my under garments (which we will not be sharing with the internet), my nightgown, robe, sleep mask, and slippers, my running pants and sports bra top and my running shoes.

All of these items fit into my carry on sized suitcase, and my carryon laptop bag.

A Foolproof Method to a Great Travel Capsule

If you have scheduled travel days in your future and are beginning the packing process, I highly encourage you to try this method. Three bottoms, three tops, three layers, three shoes, a couple accessories. Give it a try and let me know what you think. I believe this will be a total game changer for you!

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