European Summer Travel Capsule Wardrobe
When traveling with a budget airline its important to climb aboard with a light load. This will avoid checked bags or outrageous baggage fees that you don’t want to be surprised with. Before moving to Europe where the closets are small and being forced to adopt packing light I was a mess of an overpacker. I was, literally, the girl who packed everything but the kitchen sink. Only need 7 outfits? I’ll pack 35 just in case.
To make my life less stressful I decided back in January of this year to tackle the capsule wardrobe lifestyle mixed with a little Marie Kondo method (her folding technique is pretty brilliant). I know I still have more work to do before I can feel comfortable with 30 clothing pieces in my everyday life but applying this method to packing for a trip was easy work.
Here’s some sound advice; first you consider your area and the weather, create a color board, and start shopping your closet for classic pieces. Keep reading for more tips to total packing happiness (because we all need more room for souvenirs).
Create a Color Board
When traveling I always look at the location, considering the main colors of where I am staying. With my Malta trip it was an Island full of natural cream stone and varying colors of blue with the ocean so I gravitated towards that color palette when packing. I also made sure to look up the upcoming weather during my trip closer to travel time. March in Malta is warm but the moment the sun goes down it means you’ll need a light jacket too. I ended up incorporating an olive green military jacket in a light fabric. Turned out to be easy to carry and perfect for walking all day because it didn’t make me sweat. Last, Do a little research on what the locals dress like, the more you blend in the safer you will be here in Europe.
Now that you have your base colors, consider the textures you’ll pack. For example, if I was to travel to Malta during a colder month I would pack a fisherman cream sweater, where in the summer I would look for linen clothing pieces for its breathability. My top three colors on this color board are Navy (or varying shades of blue), white/cream, and black so I wanted to add in textures like leather, natural fibers like straw, and gold tone jewelry accessories that can go from day to night.
The Lineup
Now that you have your color palette you can shop your closet. Remember to think classic and basic; pack items in solid colors, classic stripes, and neutral flower prints. Add in your pop of color with the swimsuit or a fun scarf. Don't forget jewelry, remember understated durning the day and balanced at night with one statement earring or necklace but never both. Fun fact, every piece in this image is able to be packed in one carry on rolling suitcase. That means no wasting time checking bags, waiting at baggage claim to pick up, or lost luggage.
Green Military Jacket | Basic Tee | Linen Button Up | Stripe Button Up
Embroidered Tee | Jeans | Paper Bag Shorts | Hat
Dinner Dress | Day Dress | Bikini (similar) | White Sneakers
Black Sandals | Canvas Wedges | Scarf | Travel Backpack | Watch
Capsule Style Inspo.
I started y’all off by Mixing + Matching whats already below to create 8 Day Time Looks, 2 Evening Looks, and 4 Swimming Outfits. However, with this line up the possibilities are endless.
Here’s an idea for a bottom that isn’t a second pair of shorts; add in a navy blue pencil skirt; paired with white sneakers and a tee for an instant daytime look or wedges and a white button up for a dinner date.
