A NYC Personal Stylist’s Take on Creating a Travel Capsule Wardrobe
Your problem with packing isn’t that you are a “bad packer”.
The problem is you don’t have a plan and you’re not packing methodically.
Unlock the Magic of a Capsule Wardrobe for Your Travels
Imagine breezing through TSA PreCheck knowing your luggage has the perfect mix of comfortable, chic, and destination-appropriate outfits. My approach to a travel capsule wardrobe means no more last-minute outfit dilemmas or suitcase chaos.
I'm Nicole Russo, lead personal stylist and CEO of Let's Get You. We build wardrobes that change your life.
And I'm here to share my secrets on how to craft a travel capsule wardrobe that's as fun and versatile as your adventures - without panic-induced overpacking!
Picture starting your day feeling cute and ready to explore, instead of scrambling to decide what to wear.
Simplifying Your Packing Has Purpose. Here's Why:
Knowing everything works well together makes packing a quick pre-flight chore, rather than a messy activity that creates overthinking and overpacking.
With a pre-selection of essentials that coordinate, look stylish, and feel good, you pack confidently because you know you have everything you need.
Building Blocks of Your Travel Capsule Wardrobe
Let's break down the wardrobe essentials into three easy categories:
Go-To Basics and Closet Favorites: Your best-fitting jeans, comfy tees, and that perfect lightweight jacket you wear everywhere.
Statement Pieces: Stylish items that allow self-expression or are needed for events or local customs (like a cocktail dress, sportcoat, or shawl).
Practical Gear: Any important functional clothing needed for activities (like bathing suits or hiking boots).
Two Important Factors to Consider in Your Capsule Wardrobe Categories
What is the destination's climate?
What is your itinerary?
The weather will determine the types of clothing you may need in Category 1 (shorts vs long pants or a combination) and your activities will determine Categories 2 and C3 (like religious sites or a wedding).
Here's Why Doing This Matters to Have an Easier Time While Traveling
Without planning, you're more likely to forget an important item of clothing or pack more than needed during your journey. This leaves you scrambling to fill the hole or having too many items to choose from - wasting time and energy when you should be eating gelato and people-watching.
Quality in Every Piece Matters
Invest in quality pieces that feel amazing and look great wherever you go. Natural fabrics keep you cool in the heat and cozy when it's chilly, ensuring you feel fabulous on the move.
Playing with Colors or Prints
If boredom is a concern, I encourage people to use any color palette they want, as long as all the colors are complementary and can make many outfits.
While neutrals are an obvious capsule wardrobe foundation, I encourage splashing in some color, either in a solid or prints.
For Example
These butter yellow shoes pair as beautifully with baby blue as with taupe, white or denim.
Mix and match complementary shades to create a wardrobe that's as vibrant as your enthusiasm about an empty lounge.
Still, everything should have a complementary color palette to make enough combinations to get you through your entire trip (remember: it's ok if you repeat a few outfits).
Must-Haves for Your travel Capsule Wardrobe
I suggest packing these versatile essentials:
Sneakers That Look Like New: Any new-looking fashion sneaker that is clean and scuff-free makes any casual look more polished. Avoid your well-worn styles!
Jackets That Layer: Layer up with chic jackets that add as much warmth as aesthetic to any ensemble.
Accessories That Make Sense: Keep it simple but functional, like a hat for sun protection or a bag that fits stuff.
Flats That Make The Look: An easy-to-walk-around flat that adds luxe to a look, like a ballet flat, loafer, or leather sandal.
An extra word on accessories
I'm not a huge fan of accessories during vacation. They get lost easily, take up too much brain space when plotting out my packing, and use too much real estate in my luggage.
If I'm bringing anything extra, it'll be a bag that transitions a daytime look into the evening, more stylish hats for sun protection, and a few go-to earrings
Important Tips for Your Travel Capsule Wardrobe
I want to emphasize the importance of planning.
By curating outfits that make you feel fabulous, you'll have more time to savor your travel experiences, more room in your suitcase for special finds, and more energy to take it all in.
Don't just throw some favorite basics and a few fun accessories into a bag and assume it'll work out. Here's a better way to pack:
Bring all the outfits and items together to see them as one group before you start packing.
Seeing everything together allows for significantly more creativity and you can see whether an item you want to bring can be worn multiple ways.
Only bring things you know you will love to wear.
Travel is not the time to try out a new style or get creative. If you don't thrive in uncertainty, breaking into a new pair of shoes or stepping outside your style comfort zone is too risky on vacation.
My Top Picks from the Best Wardrobe Brands
You should shop your closet first before jumping into buying something new. But, if you're committed to a reboot, I like timeless pieces from brands like Vince, Theory, and Everlane—perfect for creating a wardrobe that's both classic and contemporary.
This way, if you shop, you'll get as much wear of the items at home as you will during PTO!
Other capsule wardrobe-building brand favorites:
Reformation [Women Only]
Cuyana [Women Only]
St. Agni [Women Only]
Below are some of my stylist finds for both men and women:
Create Your Dream Travel Capsule Wardrobe in Under an Hour
Whether you're jet-setting for a weekend or a month, a virtual Rapid Refresh with me can help you get packed and have all your outfits planned in under an hour. Book a session and you'll embark on your next adventure without the stress of what to wear!
