Think you can’t fit two weeks worth of outfits in a carry-on? Think again. By creating a capsule wardrobe of only 20 pieces, you can look fashionable every single day, and you won’t have to lug multiple suitcases through the airport and at your destination.
Packing a capsule wardrobe for a fourteen day vacation really isn’t as hard as you may think. You already mix and match different pieces together every day, so for this trip, all you will have to do is make sure that each piece is versatile and appropriate for the activities in which you will be participating.
The Must-Haves
With any wardrobe, stick to colors and patterns that can be easily mixed and matched. If you aren’t sure how to come up with a color palette, here are some tried and true favorites that you can use as a guide during your packing:
- Classy & Classic:
White, beige, navy, burgundy, olive - Vivid Violets:
Cream, lilac, plum, black - Beachy Keen:
Beige, peach, charcoal, turquoise - Preppy Pastels:
Blush, heather gray, pale yellow, navy - Sweet Sunset:
White, salmon, mango, rust, indigo
20 Essentials to Pack:
- 1 Crop Top
- 1 Button-Down Shirt
- 1 Sleeveless Blouse
- 1 T-shirt
- 1 Tank
- 1 Pair of Shorts
- 1 Pair of Jeans
- 1 Pair of Palazzo or Harem Pants
- 1 Maxi Skirt
- 1 Sundress
- 1 Cocktail Dress
- 1 Bathing Suit
- 1 Pair of Wedges
- 1 Pair of Flat Sandals
- 1 Pair of Tennis Shoes
- 1 Bag/Purse
- 1 Statement Necklace
- 1 Hat
- 1 Pair of Earrings
- 1 Scarf
The Fun Part
Now that you’ve gathered all of the basics (plus maybe one or two more items if there’s room in your suitcase), you can start outfit planning! Think about what kind of activities you will be participating in each day before deciding on outfits. Will you be lazing on the beach or going skydiving? You will need a different ensemble for each of these activities. Here are some casual outfit ideas that you can use each day, semi-formal outfits for nights out, and cute cover-ups for the beach or pool. You can use these combinations as inspiration for your own creations, or, to make it easier on yourself, you can follow these outfit guidelines. Ensure that the bag or purse you carry can match with both casual and semi-formal outfits so you don’t have to worry about switching your daily necessities between two different bags.
- Day 1:
Crop top, maxi skirt, wedges, hat, earrings - Day 2:
T-shirt, jeans, tennis shoes, scarf - Day 3:
Tank, palazzo/harem pants, sandals, statement necklace - Day 4:
Button-down shirt, shorts, wedges, earrings - Day 5:
Sleeveless blouse, jeans, sandals, hat. - Day 6:
Sundress, button-down shirt, wedges, statement necklace - Day 7:
T-shirt, palazzo/harem pants, sandals, hat - Day 8:
Crop top, shorts, wedges, earrings - Day 9:
Tank, jeans, wedges, hat - Day 10:
Sleeveless blouse, shorts, sandals, statement necklace - Day 11:
Button-down shirt, palazzo/harem pants, sandals, scarf - Day 12:
Sundress, sandals, hat, earrings - Day 13:
Tank, maxi skirt, sandals, scarf - Day 14:
Button-down shirt, jeans, tennis shoes, earrings
Semi-formal Outfit Options:
- Option 1:
Cocktail dress, wedges, earrings - Option 2:
Cocktail dress, button-down shirt, sandals, statement necklace - Option 3:
Sleeveless blouse, maxi skirt, wedges, earrings
Cover-up Options:
- Option 1:
Bathing suit, palazzo/harem pants, sandals, crop top, hat - Option 2:
Bathing suit, sundress, sandals - Option 3:
Bathing suit, button-down shirt, shorts, sandals - Option 4:
Bathing suit, tank, maxi skirt, sandals, hat
