Found a way to safely travel during a pandemic? Yes! If you’re heading out into the world again, however, planning the trip is only the beginning. Since it’s been a tough few months, one way to really get excited about your upcoming trip is to buy some new threads for traveling.
What is a capsule wardrobe?
If you’ve not seen the trend of the capsule wardrobe on YouTube, Pinterest, or Instagram, we’ve got you covered. Capsule wardrobes have been all the rage for several years. The term was coined in the 1970s, but picked up steam especially via social media outlets over the last five years. As shoppers and fashion outlets have moved more toward minimalism and intentional buying, a capsule wardrobe is essential for any proper fashionista. For those dedicated to a capsule wardrobe, the idea is to buy a limited number of high quality pieces that won’t wear out easily and won’t go out of style.
The best part is that a capsule wardrobe is even better for traveling. In fact, a travel capsule wardrobe might be the ideal solution for limited packing. If you’re going on several trips, people in different cities won’t notice that you’re repeating an outfit, right? And if you’re the utmost of devoted travelers, a capsule wardrobe solely dedicated to trips is a great gift to give yourself.
So what goes into a proper capsule wardrobe? Obviously you’ll want basic pieces that cover any occasion you might face while traveling, including flights and days where you lounge around. Buying pieces that are solid colors, with a few fun patterns mixed in help items in a capsule wardrobe go the distance. About 12 well-intentioned items can make an incredibly versatile capsule wardrobe.
Pants
An ideal capsule wardrobe only needs one or two pairs of pants. While leggings are great for running through security gates, joggers get the job done even better. They’re soft, durable, and have elastic in all of the right places. And because they have stayed on trend for so long, you’ll be sure to look great sauntering through the airport in your favorite pair. Add in a favorite pair of jeans and the pants in your capsule wardrobe are covered!
Skirts & dresses
A flirty skirt or two can help to vary up any capsule wardrobe. One of my favorites is a black & white one that I bought at H&M – in Paris. You can also skip packing bulky dress pants if you’ve got a basic dress that you can make fancy, possibly with a cardigan or light blazer, or dress down with a t-shirt over or under it.
Tops
Depending on where you usually go, tops may make up the majority of your capsule wardrobe. Basic camisoles come highly recommended, especially in black or white. A button up, which can be used to dress up a cute skirt or even a dress, is essential too. The most important part of a travel capsule wardrobe, though? The t-shirts. This is where you can really express yourself within a capsule wardrobe. Pick one, two, or even three t-shirts that really let your personality shine, and if you take them different places, they’ll get a different audience every time.
Loungewear
Often forgotten in a capsule wardrobe is clothes for basic relaxation. Especially traveling nowadays, beautiful clothes to veg out in are essential. Sure, no one new will see you in your hotel, but don’t you want to relax in a different place while looking and feeling great? Then you’ve got to invest in some loungewear for your travel capsule wardrobe. Don’t forget something to sleep in!
Need more help planning a travel capsule? Then check out a couple of popular videos about travelers and their capsules here and here. Happy shopping and safe travels!