My Framework for a Summer Travel Capsule Wardrobe

Written By lili henry

Summer is my favorite time to travel and this year I am lucky to be taking this to a whole new level from Mexico to England; I am seeing it all!

I thought this would be a good time to run through my summer travel capsule wardrobe that you can use for whichever destination you are heading. Traveling is stressful but packing doesn’t have to be with a little bit of planning. 

I’ve been fortunate enough to travel often, and have mostly nailed down the science of packing. Let me share with you some guidelines I came up with to create a travel capsule wardrobe. I like to travel light and always try to have only a carry-on with me. So keep in mind this capsule wardrobe is for small luggage.

This is a framework using my style so take it and make it your own!

Make sure you pack easy-to-wash clothes. Synthetic tops are great because you can hand wash them and they will dry quickly.

  • Pick versatile clothes so you can mix and match them to create new outfits and use them in different places (aka. cities, beaches…). How do I know if any item is versatile? Try to pair it with three different items that you are taking, say a skirt, pair it with 3 different tops. It’s also wise to steer clear of extremely loud colors and patterns as those usually don’t go with everything. 

  • Find pieces that can be easily dressed up from daytime to nighttime. Try pairing outfits with heels and jewelry and see if they pass the test.

  • Pack only three pairs of shoes and yes the one you will wear on the day of your departure counts as one. A good rule of thumb is to pick a more elegant pair of shoes, walking shoes, and flat shoes. Also, your departure outfits need to be maximized. When flying, depending on the destination, I wear jeans, a cardigan, a jacket, and a scarf, and put books in my purse.  

  • I usually take a bigger purse and a small purse with me. I put that small purse inside my larger purse when traveling so I don’t need to pack them in my suitcase. You can put all your travel documents in the small purse so you don’t have to look for your passport, flight tickets, and any other important items you need to have handy.

  • Pack toiletries and makeup in travel-size containers. You can find great options at Sephora. Also, if you only need a small amount of certain products, don’t put them in a travel-size container but in a lens holder.

  • Accessories don’t take up a lot of space and can help your outfits look completely different. Consider jewelry, watches, sunglasses, silk scarves, belts, and hats. Have fun picking bolder pieces that give an interesting twist to your outfit, especially if you are packing more neutral clothes.

I hope your next packing experience is easy and stress-free! And especially that you never run out of outfits during your trip. ⁠♡⁠

Bon voyage!

Lili

lili henry
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