I’m thinking ahead of what to pack for our upcoming trip back to Europe and thought I’d do an overview of the thought process.
1. CONSIDER THE VACATION ITSELF
Beach? Pack a swimsuit (I only have one, but you like my sister, may want multiple suits for the days).
Skiing? Don’t forget your sweaters.
It sounds trite but consider the context of where you are vacationing and what you are planning on doing.
If you are going when they’re in the middle of their hottest summer, don’t bring wool sweaters (although I will say packing a travel scarf in cashmere is one thing I never travel without now, not even during summer, it can get very frosty on the planes and in waiting areas).
2. PACK YOUR FAVOURITE PIECES
Love love LOVE your favourite jeans? Pack ’em.
Think that your tank top with the perfect cut (not too low and not too high) is the best basic to wear with anything? Pack it.
Tried & proven outfits and feel-good pieces will make you want to reach for them and upon return back home to your closet, make you reconsider why you have so many other one-trick ponies in your wardrobe that you don’t wear quite as often.
Win-win!
My tried-and-true pieces is this tank wrap dress that is in a jersey knit that won’t wrinkle and always feels comfortable no matter how much you eat, or how you have to travel (squished into a seat)…
You definitely need to bring pieces that make you feel comfortable and confident.
My #1 Tried & True item to pack is always going to be my Cashmere Travel Wrap. It’s a blanket, jacket, poncho, and scarf all in one.
3. PACK NO MORE THAN 3 PIECES OF JEWELLERY
You don’t need a ton of jewellery but a little is always nice.
I would bring at least a watch as one, and two necklaces (earrings, bracelets, and rings can fall off and I don’t want to lose my favourites).
My two necklaces are one statement piece (will jazz up any neutral outfit) and a long one as a simple, minimalist pendant.
I also don’t bring a ton of jewellery because I don’t want to lose it!
4. PLAN ON NEVER CHECKING ANYTHING IN
I travel with only a carry-on and a purse. I refuse to bring any more than that, so if it starts to get full, I remove things until it fits.
You really don’t need as many things as you think you do.
Trust me, you know you’ve overpacked when you get back, you’ll pull out things and think: I never even wore this!
If this happens a lot, start making a note of how many outfits you have worn out of what you packed and aim to pack that amount the next time you travel.
You also don’t need more than a carry-on. I went for 2 months with a carry-on and a bag.
5. PLAN YOUR OUTFITS AHEAD OF TIME
Remember that point about your favourite pieces?
If you’re bringing jeans, make sure they feature in every outfit, and bring another bottom like a skirt or another pair of pants you can wear while they dry from being washed which can also mix & match with the jeans.
All the pieces need to be interchangeable.
2 tops x 2 bottoms = 4 outfits
That’s almost a whole week.
Add in a third top you can use to layer over other items (as it gets colder), and it turns into many more:
3 tops x 2 bottoms = 6 outfits!
So what’s my plan?
This is it
SHERRY’S MINIMALIST
TRAVEL CAPSULE WARDROBE
