The Travel Edit
- Adventures of an Introvert
- Nov 12, 2023
- 3 min read
As the fall season comes to a close and the holiday season swiftly approaches, travel is on most calendars whether local or not. As we mentally prepare for the busy time ahead, I wanted to share my most recent experience and success for traveling light, or lighter than usual.
This year I was lucky to join my family for a six-day trip through Massachusetts to Maine. As excited as I was to get away, I am a habitual over-packer, and flying two and from meant I needed to pack light, despite the cooler weather we were heading to. Because of this, I implemented a packing hack that will give you almost unlimited outfit options in one suitcase. Following the concept of a capsule wardrobe is a foolproof way to ensure you can dress for any occasion or weather, without stuffing most of your closet into a carryon.
A capsule wardrobe consists of a handful of pieces that all follow a similar color pallet and can be mixed and matched together in different ways. These pieces are typically more classic or staple pieces hence the name capsule wardrobe. This formula can be customized to your personal style and needs, which makes it a great concept to use while packing. Your destination and events will change the formula for your own personal capsule packing, for instance, if you’re planning on going someplace warmer, you will not need a coat, but maybe a coverup for your swimsuit or a light jacket for at night.
Here’s the formula that I used for my trip to Massachusetts at the beginning of last month, as well as a detailed description of the items I packed in each category. The formula goes as follows: 3-5 bottoms, 4-5 tops, 2-3 shoes, 1-3 dresses, and 2-3 jackets or outerwear pieces. Ideally, you want each item you pack in each category to be a little different. These items should also follow some sort of color scheme to maximize the pairing options you can make with these items. Neutrals are a foolproof option and adding a couple items of color is an effortless way to elevate your capsule packing.
The first example is packing your pants and bottoms. For my trip, I packed a pair of black trousers, light-wash straight-leg jeans, and a black midi skirt. I could have packed a patterned or colored skirt, but my color pallet was black, cream, and red to simplify my outfit options.
I also packed a long-sleeved black tee shirt and a long-sleeved white tee, a white oversized band tee, a black sweater vest with a cute cherry on it, and a large cream cable knit sweater. My two outerwear items of choice were a black leather blazer and a reversible red and white bandanna quilted jacket. Since we were doing a lot of walking, my two shoe options were my red and white Oncept sneakers and a pair of waterproof black booties. I also packed a long sweater dress for a cozy option out to dinner and the plane ride back home.
Your accessories and undergarments are essential, but these items are small and light, so this is where you should overpack to maximize differences in your pairings. I opted for a decent-sized red leather purse, a white ball cap, and lots of crew socks, and bold jewelry. Your pajamas or lounge clothes should be things you can re-wear at least twice to maximize space in your suitcase. This could be a couple of clean sweat sets. (Brownie points if these lounge clothes and pajamas can pass to wear out as well.)
Packing cubes are also a great essential to packing. They can help organize your space and give you a stricter space restriction for packing so your clothes are not being wadded up or shoved into your suitcase. They also offer a cleaner and more visually appealing way to pack and fill your suitcase. They can keep your clothes protected, and organized, and even save some extra space in your suitcase for more accessories or toiletries. The options of sizes, shapes, and colors are endless, so you are sure to find a set that fits your personal needs if this is something you feel could benefit you and your packing on your next upcoming adventure.
And just like that, packing has never been easier, especially for a habitual overpacker like myself. No more sitting on the suitcase with wadded-up clothes forcing the zipper around.
Comments