What To Pack For Your Next Trip: Your Guide To Creating A Travel Capsule
You have a trip coming up, you’ve made a travel checklist, and it’s time to start packing. You’ve put it off until the last minute but it’s now or never! You check the weather and how many nights you’re staying, and begin to pull things out.
Packing is far from most people’s favorite thing. Even if you’re excited about the trip, figuring out what to wear often causes a lot of stress and ends up being a time suck that most of us don’t have extra hours in our day for.
If you’ve been staring into your closet, wondering what to pack, you’re in the right place! Forget stuffing tons of clothes into your suitcase “just in case” or bringing three options for one event. There’s a better way to pack and I’ve got you covered.
I’m sharing some MAJOR secrets in this blog post that will allow you to skip the stress and look incredible on your next trip. As a personal stylist, simplifying style is what I do!
This is your guide to creating a travel capsule wardrobe.
How To Pack Like A Minimalist
To create a travel capsule or mini mix-and-match wardrobe, you must start with a solid foundation. Use the principles from the Calvert & Co. Signature Styling System - versatile, intentional, minimal. Each piece of clothing has to deserve a spot in your suitcase. No more, “just in case” items! The old adage quality over quantity is just as relevant when packing a suitcase!
Determine how many days you’re going to need outfits for: if you need 3 days worth, not including travel clothes, then your goal is to create three outfits by mix-and-matching just a few pieces. Start pulling clothes out and laying them on the bed.
What To Pack For Your Trip: Essential Travel Packing List For Stylish Women
When choosing your clothes for the travel capsule, remember that color is SUPER important! I recommend mainly packing clothes in base colors like black, grey, white, and navy. You can add in a secondary color like olive, beige, etc. that’s easy to mix in. This will make it easy to create more outfits with less stuff. For example, if you pack two pairs of pants in base colors and three tops you’ll have 6 possible outfits.
Let’s talk shoes. They take up a lot of room in a suitcase so less really is more! Always bring at least one comfortable option and one dressy option. Depending on the time of year and type of trip you’re taking the exact styles might look different BUT here are some examples: Non-athletic sneakers + heels, running shoes + cute sandals, ankle boots + loafer, etc.
Complete Your Travel Checklist
Once you’ve created the foundation of your capsule it’s time to add in accessories. That’s right! We’re going to pre-plan accessories for each of your outfits so looking put-together is a no-brainer while on your trip. I’m a huge fan of adding stand-out accessories to outfits that bring out your personal style. It’s perfect for a travel capsule because you get the punch of an accent color and print without having to pack tons of unique clothes.
Again, keep color in mind when choosing your accessories. Are you going for gold or silver? Adding in some colorful earrings or a scarf? Stick to color combos that work well with the base colors you chose! For example, the clothes you packed are black, grey, denim, and olive - kelly green accessories might not be their best friend. Pink and purple are another story though!
Once you’ve created an outfit for each day, I suggest creating “flat lays” and taking photos of them. You’ll have them on your phone for easy access while traveling. Looking good on the road will be easier than ever!
How To Pack Your Suitcase
Image via Unsplash
Now that you know WHAT you’re going to pack, let’s get it in your suitcase like a pro. If you’re familiar with my work as a personal stylist and wardrobe consultant at Calvert & Co, then you know I love a good organization moment!
Fold your pants in half and lay flat and place them on the bottom of your suitcase (underneath the other clothes.) This will help reduce the bulk they can cause in a suitcase.
For all other items, I recommend rolling or doing an envelope fold Marie Kondo style. Place the rolled or folded clothes into the suitcase in a row on top of the pants so you can see everything you packed at one glance. I fully admit that the way I recommend folding clothes for travel is NOT the way I teach my clients to fold clothes for their drawers but this technique is best when looking into a suitcase.
If you’re bringing a sweater that is too bulky to roll, try incorporating it into your travel day outfit OR fold it like your pants and lay it on top of everything in your suitcase.
For shoes, I recommend putting them in shoe bags (or even plastic grocery bags will work) with the soles facing one another.
I Don’t Have The Right Clothes For This…
If you’re left thinking, “Wow, a travel capsule sounds great but I don’t have the right clothes for this.” It may be time to address your closet. Packing successfully is an extension of having the right clothes in your wardrobe.
If you’re tired of looking into a full closet and feeling like you have nothing to wear…
Putting on your clothes and feeling like they don’t represent you…
Leaving the stores without finding a single item of new clothing that fits…
Then it’s no wonder you struggle to pack for vacation or a business trip! I recommend redefining your style and editing your wardrobe. At Calvert & Co. we’re dedicated to finding your unique style and creating a minimal, beautiful wardrobe that helps you become the best-dressed version of YOU.
Once you have a wardrobe that’s intentional, stylish, and versatile, packing for any trip will become a breeze!
