You are going on a holiday, and nothing could be more exciting than boarding an airplane and landing somewhere completely new. The only question is what to pack. Whether you want it or not, every time you pack, you create a capsule wardrobe. You can as well learn all the best tricks to packing a successful carry-on capsule wardrobe.
Your next trip will thank you.
Different styles – Different carry-on capsule wardrobes
We all have clothes we like, whether it’s a denim jacket or a cotton shirt or the preference to wear pants. The more you stay true to your style, the more likely that you will end up enjoying the clothes you pack.
Take inspiration from my examples, but make sure you ask yourself how you would like to get dressed.
A winning formula
I created all of these 5 capsule wardrobes with the help of a simple formula. Follow the same formula when you pack and I promise you a practical wearable capsule wardrobe.
- 13 items of clothes
- 4 bottoms
- 3-4 colors for the color palette
- 1-2 dresses
- 1-2 jackets
- Tops with different amounts of coverage
- Mostly casual tops, but at least one more festive top
Capsule wardrobe number 1
Visit Cairo, ride along the Nile, soak up the flavors and smells of modern-day Egypt, and yeah, don’t forget those pyramids.
Top row: Denim jacket. Blue cardigan. Printed blouse. White linen shirt.
Middle row: Sage green top. Beige shirt. White T-shirt. Beige tank top. Sage green shirt dress.
Bottom row: Beige linen pants. Sage green shirt. Striped shirt. Beige shirt.
Why this capsule wardrobe work
Here you can closely observe the different tops and the different functions they fill. You can also see how the tops match the bottoms and how the cardigan and denim jacket work together with everything else.
Since Egypt is a Muslim country, it is a good idea to bring clothes that have more coverage.
The secrets behind successful packing
I recommend putting your clothes out on your bed exactly as in the picture above, with bottoms on the bottom and the tops ranging from the warmest to the one with the least coverage.
By using this method, you get a good sense of what’s missing and about how the different pieces might work together.
Try the outfits on
The next step is to start creating outfits. Also, consider in what situations you would wear the different outfits.
Not everything has to match, but you should be able to make at least 10 different outfits that you will feel happy wearing.
Capsule wardrobe number 2
Italy is a romantic dream come true. Visit a vineyard, eat fresh pasta, and take morning dips in the Mediterranean Sea.
Top row: Navy linen blazer. Linen shirt. Striped shirt. White top.
Middle row: Black strappy top. Striped T-shirt. Knitted polo. Black T-shirt. Red dress.
Bottom row: Navy linen pants. pattern skirt. Black silk skirt. black shorts.
Why this capsule wardrobe work
This is a classic capsule wardrobe with a classic color palette. You could wear these clothes to a lot of different destinations. These clothes will also look good regardless of your age.
On top of that, there is something elegant and classic with this color palette.
Adjust your Carry-On Capsule Wardrobe to the temperatures
This is a good capsule wardrobe for visiting Sicily in the spring or fall; for summer, you would need more tank tops. But the formula stays the same, just replace the warmer clothes with tanktops in the same color.
13 pieces – 4 colors
When you choose 4 colors for 13 pieces, you can get around 3-4 pieces of clothing in the same color, as seen in the capsule wardrobe. Some of those items can also be in a print that mixes two of your chosen colors.
Here we have 4 black items, 4 navy items and 3 red items.
This approach helps you to create a cohesive travel capsule wardrobe. Picking a couple of different colors also helps you achieve interesting outfits.
Capsule wardrobe number 3
There is nothing like a vibrant city getaway.
You want to be able to pack your carry-on capsule wardrobe and just whisk away for an inspiring adventure.
Eat at up-and-coming restaurants, check out exhibitions, stroll around the city, everything while looking incredibly chic.
Top row: Camel blazer. Cashmere polo sweater. Black silk blouse. White linen shirt.
Middle row: Pink flower blouse. Black top. White t-shirt. Black lace top. Pink shirt dress.
Bottom row: Jeans. Taupe skirt. Pink flower skirt. Ivory shorts.
Why this capsule wardrobe work
London is a combination of smart and casual, perfect for a blazer, a shirtdress and your favorite jeans. This carry-on capsule wardrobe is minimalistic but still fun.
Balancing basic clothes with interesting clothes
When you pack a capsule wardrobe, you don’t want to end up with a bunch of boring clothes. Therefore make sure you have between 2 – 4 items that are a bit more fun and interesting.
Don’t forget to pack a bit of excitement
Consider how the two flower pieces take this wardrobe and make it more special. The top with the lace achieves the same effect.
For a cohesive capsule wardrobe, you need basic items, as shown in this example. But always pack something special and extraordinary, it’s a fun holiday you are going on.
Capsule wardrobe number 4
Japan is a true dream destination. Japanese culture is unusual and inspiring. With this carry-on capsule wardrobe, I wanted to celebrate the destination while keeping things practical at the same time.
Top row: Tweed jacket. Ivory denim jacket. Grey cardigan. Pink college sweater.
Middle row: Ivory silk top. Grey top. Ivory polo top. Ivory party top. Grey dress.
Bottom row: Grey jeans. Dotted skirt. Grey skirt. Pink shorts.
Why this capsule wardrobe work
In this carry-on capsule wardrobe, different materials and textures bring interest to a mostly neutral wardrobe. When you pick two main colors and work with them, you get a practical travel wardrobe. Remember that the exact shade of the colors doesn’t have to match.
Pick a successful color palette
A really good capsule wardrobe often starts with the color palette. Grey and ivory look good together and it looks even better with a few splashes of pink and a dash of red.
Make sure that the colors you choose complement each other.
Accessories
To bring these capsule wardrobes to life, I used around 3 pairs of shoes and 2 bags and a couple of jewelry. This is a good benchmark for when you are packing.
A two-week trip
If you are going on a two-week trip, read my article 2-week travel capsule wardrobe – 12 pieces.
Capsule wardrobe number 5
A trip to Vietnam calls for some warm weather packing. I couldn’t help myself from having a bit of fun by allowing yellow to be part of this capsule wardrobe.
It is easier to be successful with your packing by sticking to mainly neutral colors, but when you become a master at creating capsule wardrobes, you can take the same principles and use colors. Let in the sunlight.
Top row: Blouse with embroidery. Yellow dress. Yellow dress with cutouts. Ivory dress.
Middle row: Ivory halter-top. White T-shirt. White short top. Pink tank top. White blouse.
Bottom row: Ivory pants. Yellow printed sarong. Yellow printed shorts. Pink shorts.
Why this capsule wardrobe work
A tropical destination demands clothes suitable for the heat. At the same time, many hotels and shopping malls might have strong air conditioning, so you definitely need a good balance.
A capsule wardrobe can be colorful
The trick is to pack enough neutral clothes to help ground your colorful clothes. It also helps to choose a pattern with white as the background color when your main neutral color is white.
Choose two colors you like and give it a try.
Pack for your destination
Do some research about the temperatures and the activities you will be doing. Adjust your packing accordingly.
If you want to see more capsule wardrobes for different destinations, make sure you check out my other articles Summer travel capsule wardrobe and Learn how to create a minimalist travel capsule wardrobe.
A Final note on creating a Carry-On Capsule Wardrobe
By following these “rules,” you will be able to pack successfully for your next trip.
When you are back home, evaluate which clothes you ended up using the most. Also, take a look at the clothes you didn’t wear as much. What could you have made different?
Was it something you wished you had packed?
Make some notes and rest assured that your next carry-on capsule wardrobe will be even more successful.
Moa Ailert is the founder and editor-in-chief of Her Brilliant Friend.
She has a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and plenty of insight into human psychology from traveling and living in different places around the world.
Moa is currently based in Portugal where she has a guesthouse; Villa dos Irmaos.
She has various websites, among others Ericeira Insider, but Her brilliant friend is her true passion project.
