Build Your Travel Capsule Wardrobe Using What’s in Your Closet
Looking for a step-by-step guide to help you figure out how to actually build your own travel capsule wardrobe? Sure, there’s plenty of capsule wardrobe inspo out there for entire outfits you could simply buy. But, what if you want to learn how to curate your own suite of outfits based on your exact style preferences?
I’ve got you. As a frequent flier and travel blogger, I often say I am not a fashion blogger. Which means I’ve really had to work to teach myself how to pick the right outfits for my trips – especially since I prefer to travel carry-on only.
In this post I’m going to break down my step by step approach for building a travel capsule wardrobe using what’s already in your closet. We’ll go over a couple core frameworks (at a high level), key considerations, and my exact process.
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Frameworks for building your travel capsule wardrobe
While my own process does not rely exactly on either of these frameworks, it’s helpful to hold these loosely in the back of your mind. These capsule wardrobe methods offer a structured, helpful way to begin thinking about how to approach creating your own.
54321 method
I talk more about the 5-4-3-2-1 method in my post about curating a specific spring travel capsule wardrobe. Essentially, it’s a framework that suggests packing: 5 bottoms, 4 tops, 3 pairs of shoes, 2 dresses and 1 accessories set.
This is adaptable to your style preferences, trip type and weather at your destination. For instance, maybe you need a couple coats instead of dresses.
333 method
The 3-3-3 method encourages you to pack 3 tops, 3 bottoms and 3 pairs of shoes that can all be mixed and matched to create 27 different outfits.
The key is to choose pieces that are versatile enough to add variety while still matching up well with each other. If possible, it’s also helpful to choose pieces that can be worn several different ways.
A button-down cardigan could be worn as is, left open, tied around your shoulders or worn backwards for a pull-over look. Maybe you have a long enough skirt that could double as a dress, and so on.
Key considerations for a minimalist travel capsule wardrobe
What I really mean by ‘minimalist’ here is, streamlined. Whether you want to pack a lot of options or veer more minimalistic, carefully considering these key factors will be very helpful.
Season
Do you need spring, summer, fall or winter travel outfits? Will it be dry season or rainy season where you’re going?
It’s important to check the weather at your destination, and to go beyond simply checking the temperature. How humid or windy could it be? Factors like these could affect how the weather actually feels, and you may be in for a surprise.
I remember being shocked by how cold I, a Chicagoan, felt in San Francisco in August!
Current style
What types of clothes do you currently feel most comfortable and confident in? When it comes to packing a capsule wardrobe for travel, the goal is to stick with what’s tried and true.
If you never wear jeans or dresses because they’re simply not comfortable for you, don’t include these pieces in your capsule wardrobe despite the recommendations out there.
Similarly, stick with colors you like to wear instead of inventing a new color palette of what you think you should wear on your trip.
Shopping or shopping your closet
Do you want to do some shopping for the capsule wardrobe you’re creating, or only shop your closet?
If the former, what’s your budget? If the latter, what’s your plan for filling any gaps in your existing wardrobe – maybe borrowing from a friend or trying out a rental subscription?
Trip type
Don’t start building your travel capsule wardrobe without really thinking about what kind of travel you’re doing.
Will you be sightseeing and eating your way around a city, or participating in a lot of adventure travel activities?
Consider activity level, types of venues you’ll be at (more formal, or casual?), the surrounding environment (resort, or local city?) and any cultural or religious guidelines for how to dress respectfully when visiting any given destination.
My method for building a capsule wardrobe for travel
So, how do you actually build a travel capsule wardrobe? My own method may not come across as polished as 54321 or 333, but it works and it’s how I pack for every trip I take.
Itinerary-based inventory
The very first step I take, after factoring in the key considerations above, is to take stock of exactly what types of outfits I’ll need based on my itinerary.
You don’t need your exact itinerary finalized to be able to do this, just the highlights.
If I know I’ll be attending a show, going on a full day trip to a coffee farm, dining at an upscale restaurant, having a beach and boardwalk day, and visiting several churches that alone gives me some solid starting points.
I aim to get as clear a sense as possible at this stage of what types of outfits / clothes will be important to bring along, and begin a high level packing list.
This is also a great time to capture key items that I may not wear as frequently on my trip but that are necessary to bring along such as hiking boots, water shoes, swimsuit, etc.
Closet dump
After putting in some initial thought, it’s time for a closet dump. I clear a space on my rug or bed and start pulling out every piece of clothing I’m remotely considering bringing along.
Sort everything in piles – tops, bottoms, dresses, outerwear, etc.
Mix and match
I tend to be more visual, but even if you’re not this is a visual process. So, it’s helpful to have everything laid out in front of you. From there, the next step is to go through everything you’ve dumped out to begin mixing and matching.
This is where you really start building your travel capsule wardrobe!
Start with your favorite pieces and check to see which individual items can be mixed and matched with at least 2-3 other pieces. You’ll start to see that some pieces are standalone and don’t really go well with others – put these back in your closet.
You might also be surprised to see new ways of putting pieces together that you hadn’t tried before.
Write down the outfit ideas you come up with that seem viable: dark jeans, pink blouse, black cardigan, flats; black dress, white cropped button-down, sandals, etc.
As you do this, keep your itinerary in mind. It’s helpful to consider how many different situations an outfit can be worn in as well.
Fashion test drive
Next, it’s time for some trial and error. Your outfit ideas may sound great on paper, and as you view your pieces strewn about. But the true test is how they look and feel on you.
Try on all of the outfits you’ve written down. You don’t need to try all your accessories on, but do try on the shoes you’ve considered for each outfit.
Stand in front of a full-length mirror – do you like the outfit? Is it comfortable? Do you feel confident, or self conscious? Are you sure you’ll wear this out and about, or are you trying to talk yourself into it?
Write down any outfits that are a for-sure win. For the others, consider what needs to change. If you’re open to shopping, would buying a new piece or replacing a current item do the trick? Make notes that you can reference later to help you do so.
Making cuts
We tend to overestimate how many outfits we’ll need on vacation. When you’re planning a streamlined wardrobe, making cuts is a key step. My advice? Bring less than you think you need.
Chances are, even when you do this you’re likely to end up with some pieces or outfits that don’t get worn much if at all. So, cut and then cut again.
This way, you’ll end up bringing your absolute favorite pieces and outfits you’re likely to wear again and again regardless of how much you pack.
Plus, you’ll maintain space in your luggage to bring home souvenirs if you choose to do so. I used to pack my suitcase to the brim. Nowadays, even though it feels weird on my way to start a trip, I like to keep space in my luggage.
I know I’ll be bringing some goodies back and I appreciate the decreased stress levels around being able to fit things in on the way home.
As you finalize your travel capsule wardrobe, this is also a good time to add in some accessories. You’ll have an exact sense of what colors and styles you’re bringing along, so picking out accessories that complement these outfits should be a breeze.
Plus, they don’t take up much space so adding these in is a low-stakes way to add even more dimensionality to your streamlined wardrobe.
Final recommendations
I hope my potentially rough yet real approach to creating a travel capsule wardrobe helps you as you pack for your upcoming trips.
Once you arrive at your destination I strongly recommend hanging up all your clothes so they’re visible. This way, you’re more likely to ensure all your carefully selected outfits get some wear time.
Be sure to also notice what you don’t end up wearing that you thought you would. Take note of why you didn’t wear it, and make a plan to either replace or simply eliminate those pieces or outfits on your next trip.
After your trip, make a lit of which outfit combinations you wore and enjoyed the most. Over time, you’ll be able to pack your travel outfits even faster with these insights.
You may even end up with a bit of a travel uniform with your go-to pieces for certain seasons, destinations and types of trips in place.
If you end up shopping for pieces to add to your wardrobe, you’ll also have greater awareness around what styles and colors you enjoy most. Begin to invest in quality pieces when you shop with this knowledge of what you already love and wear frequently.
