Travel Capsule Wardrobe

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This 14 piece Travel Capsule Wardrobe a complete packing list. Mix and match the clothing to create over 25 different outfits. Plus, you can easily fit all of these pieces of clothing and pairs of shoes in a carry on suitcase, and still have room for pajamas, a jacket, and other essentials.

I wanted to create a travel capsule wardrobe that is classically stylish, affordable and assembled out of items of clothing you probably have in your closet already. I am not a fashion blogger, but I am a master packer. I took only a carry on a 101-day journey around the world.

The Travel Capsule Wardrobe:

My travel capsule wardrobe is about packing less and not buying more. It’s about balancing practicality with being fashionable. It’s about investing in items that will stand the test of time, hold up against the wear and tear of travel, and outlast momentary trends. I shopped from my own closet to create this packing list, but I have linked to the same or similar items. I picked brands that I stand by. For example, my Madewell boots have stood up to impromptu hikes in Finland and days of walking 10 miles in Paris.

1. J.Crew Drapey Tie-Neck Top 2. Madewell Button-Front Skinny Jeans 3. J.Crew Button-Up Shirt in Better Silk 4. J.Crew Long-Sleeve Everyday Cashmere Fitted V-Neck Sweater 5. Ruched Body-Con Tank Dress 6. J.Crew Cotton Caryn Cardigan 7. J.Crew Dover Blazer 8. J.Crew Slim Stretch Perfect Shirt 9. Wide-Leg Jumpsuit 10. Live In High-Waist Leggings 11. V-Neck Camisole 12. Slim Straight Trousers 13. Madewell Vintage Striped Tee 14. Madewell Whisper Cotton V-Neck Tank Shoes: Birdies Starling Flat, Madewell Regan Boot, Adidas Gazelle Sneaker

The goal was to create something that will fit into your life and make traveling easier. The clothing and shoes included in my travel capsule wardrobe fit into a small carry on with a rain jacket, a bathing suit, 3 pairs of pajamas, along with two weeks of bras, underwear, and socks. There is even a little space left!

I really wanted to wear all the outfits. Anything looks good when you put it into a tidy collage. I wanted to show you that these outfits are wearable. Plus little nuances like how you tuck or tie a shirt, or layer items don’t translate into a collage.

The total weight of the packed suitcase is 24.2 pounds. You can lighten that load by wearing one of the outfits, or by wearing the sweater, the bulkiest item in the list. I figured you would wear the sneakers on your fight; that is the only item that I didn’t put in the suitcase. I didn’t even touch the personal item, use that to bring a purse, laptop, makeup, and other necessary items. That’s my strategy.

I wanted to create outfits that reused each item 2-3 times without seeming too repetitive. In total, I created 30 outfits (you can see them all in the video). Use these ideas to take outfits from day to night, or to dress for a two-week trip. A few of the outfit changeups might seem a little too similar, but I wanted to give you options.

I assembled this packing list with Fall in mind, but you could easily add in some floral prints for Spring. For Summer, swap out the sweater for a dress, swap a pair of pants for a pair of shorts, and swap some of the long sleeve shirts for tanks or tees. Replace the booties for sandals.

The trick to making this travel capsule wardrobe work is to pack a mix of white and black basics with some more colorful pieces. When packing, colorful items can be any color. Keep the white and black items neutral that way you can mix and match just like I did. Happy packing!

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Photos by Ashlee O’Neil