How to Pack a Clothing Capsule for Travelling

A Clothing Capsule is a limited selection of clothing pieces that can be used interchangeably and that complement each other. It’s perfect for those interested in packing light. Many clothing capsules consist of classic pieces in neutral colours. However, your travel clothing capsule can be more varied and may be determined based on your destination. You can definitely pack bright, fun colours that complement each other, and your destination. To do so, it’s important to understand colour theory.

Why Pack a Travel Clothing Capsule?

The number one reason to create a travel capsule wardrobe is to save space in your luggage. By packing a variety of clothing items that work well together, you can create numerous looks. Packing thinner layers is more versatile than packing one bulky layer. It’s also a very sustainable way to travel.

Below is a list of combinations of 6 different pieces to create 16 outfits on a trip to Europe. You can create even more outfits by adding accessories (like bags, scarves or hats) or changing your shoes or jacket!

How to Decide on Pieces to Pack in your Travel Clothing Capsule

Luggage Space

It’s important to start with your luggage: what bag are you planning on bringing with you? A clothing capsule really helps save space in a personal item (for budget airlines) or a carry-on. If you plan on checking baggage, you can still pack a clothing capsule and bring a few more accessories, like shoes!

Another way to save space is to use compression packing cubes and travel sized toiletry containers. Wear your bulkiest items on the plane. Jeans, warm jackets and big comfy sweaters are the worst culprits for taking up luggage space.

If you’re bringing a hat, consider a travel hat clip. It clips your hat to your bag, so you don’t have to worry about stuffing a structured hat in a bag.

Time of Year

Create your clothing capsule with items that match the season your travelling in the country you’re visiting. It’s much easier to pack light in the warmer months. You can pack multiple t-shirts and shorts for warm weather compared to one or two pants/long sleeves for cold weather. Again, wear your bulkiest items on the plane.

Other items to consider include: a bathing suit for beaches/the pool, warm bulky jacket and boots for winters, hiking boots, etc.

Vacation Destination

Be mindful of the dress code in the country you plan on visiting. For example, you’ll need to pack loose fitting pants and tops for Morocco or respectable and classy outfits for Dubai or Abu Dhabi. That being said, you may also want to match the colour palette of your clothing capsule to your destination! For example, Greece has beautiful blue and white houses. Iceland is a lucious green country in the summer. Australia is a red and brown dessert. You may have a specific restaurant or backdrop in mind, such as the Muralla Roja in Spain or the pink cherry blossoms in NYC in the spring.

Material Type

When packing small, consider packing wrinkle-resistant clothing. The best materials for wrinkle-free clothing include: wool, polyester, cashmere, spandex and (usually) silk. The worst are cotton/rayon and linen. You can find travel sized steamers if you have space in your bag.

You can also consider material type for the destination. Linen is a great option for warm climates like Africa. Wear merino wool for winter destinations like Norway or Canada. Silk dresses are beautiful in destinations like Spain or the USA.

Ultimate Travel Clothing Capsule Packing List

Your essential travel wardrobe is below!

• 3 comfortable, casual tops
• 2 nice tops and 1 long-sleeved shirt (a button-down is a great option)
• 1 waterproof jacket (rain jacket) or fleece (depending on weather)
• Light jacket, such as a denim jacket or bomber jacket
• 1 dress (a little black dress is very versatile and can be worn tucked in to pants)
• 3 bottoms – jeans are bulky and leggings are the most comfortable
• Underwear, socks, bras and tights (depending on length of trip)
• One pair of waterproof shoes for walking and casual everyday use (like Vessi’s or Toms)
• One pair of “fancy” shoes (flats, booties, sandals, etc.)
• Accessories like a hat, scarf, and jewelry

Included below are sample packing lists I’ve created for past trips. My trip to Calgary and Banff was in the fall and consisted of packing bright hiking outfits to contrast with the mountains. Europe was in late November/early December and I only packed a personal item so I included mostly greys, blacks and blues with two items to bring a pop of colour. My visit to Halifax was over a long weekend and again, I only packed a carry-on item. I packed bright, summery outfits to match the location and weather in Halifax.

Colour Theory

This post sums up colour theory very well. Basically, colours can create a particular look or feel when used correctly. By choosing the right colours in your clothing capsule, you can create the look and feel you want in a photo or a video. Choosing colours that look good together will immediately elevate your online content.

By choosing a matching colour palette, you can easily mix and match pieces in your capsule. Consider the following when putting pieces together:

• Neutral colours. The easiest palette to work with is choosing neutrals like black, white, brown and grey. They are the easiest colours to match.
• Monochromatic or Analogous. Choosing pieces all within the same colour such as varying shades of blue or pink.
• Triadic. Choosing three colours on the colour wheel that are evenly spaced out. The most common are RBG (red, green, blue), the primary colours (red, yellow, blue) or secondary colours (orange, purple and green).
• Warm or Cool colours. Choosing a colour scheme based on warmth to match your destination is sure to bring some emotion into your photos or videos.

Looking for more packing inspiration?

• German Winter Packing List to Stay Warm and Toasty
• Ultimate Packing List for Fall in Banff National Park
• Iceland Winter Packing List To Stay Warm and Dry
• Complete Canadian Winter Packing List