Yesterday we packed six garments, for a short week or long weekend, and for uncertain weather.
Today, I’m assuming that we know our trip is going to be longer – up to two weeks or more, and that we know that most of our weather exposure is going to be colder. So in addition to the original six garments we packed, I’m adding six more carefully chosen items, and a few accessories. The clothing items are chosen in pairs – sort of like adding outfits, but with an eye to being sure that we can use each item in a variety of ways.
- Another pair of pants is very important in cool weather, so black jeans are my first addition. With the black cardigan, it’s a long line of black that can have anything (or nothing) under the cardigan. With the blue cardigan and all of the other tops, you have a more casual black trouser alternative.
- Now we need a top: warm, works well with out color scheme, and can be layered under either cardigan if the weather is truly nippy. I choose a black and white striped turtleneck, but if you’re turtleneck-averse, you could always choose a long-sleeved flannel shirt or tee shirt, along with a scarf.
- My packing always tries to strike a balance between pants and skirts, so we’re due for a skirt, and for cold weather, tweed seems a great choice! Tweed packs really well (it can’t show wrinkles much at all), and it blends effortlessly with the colors you’ve chosen.
- Add a sweater that looks great with your skirt, and you have an easy, warm, but dressy outfit. The sweater should be equally at home over both pair of your pants.
- I feel like a dress, two pair of pants and a skirt is a comfortable number of “bottoms”, so I would choose to include a simple white shirt at this time. It can be worn under the cardigans, over the tee shirts, or on it’s own. If you don’t usually wear white shirts, don’t eliminate this idea without at least considering the possibility of a button-front white tee shirt/jacket. They’re becoming easier to find (L.L.Bean) and will serve much the same role in your capsule wardrobe.
- And finally, a simple v-neck sweater in a flat knit, a medium weight, and either in your accent color or your neutral. This sweater in black would be just as useful, and when worn on it’s own with black pants and some jewelry, can be quite dressy if the need arises.
striped turtleneck – Hallhuber, black bootcut jeans – Dorothy Perkins, opaque tights – Dorothy Perkins, blue turtleneck – Avant Toi, tweed skirt – Jigsaw, zigzag scarf – Missoni, checked socks – Bernhard Willhelm, ankle boots – Munro, white shirt – Jil Sander, v-neck sweater-Puro Cashmere
Scarf – Lieke Van Opstal, chalcedony bracelet – Neeru Goel, chalcedony necklace – Neeru Goel, zigzag scarf – Missoni,cardigan – Uniqlo, floral tee – Alice and Olivia, white tee –Uniqlo, blue turtleneck – Avant Toi, white shirt – Jil Sander, dress- L.K.Bennett, sleeveless top – Twelve-T, flats – Cobb Hill, capris- Mint Velvet, opaque tights – Dorothy Perkins, striped turtleneck – Hallhuber, ankle boots – Munro, tweed skirt – Jigsaw, checked socks – Bernhard Willhelm, black bootcut jeans – Dorothy Perkins, v-neck sweater-Puro Cashmere, sandals –Munro
Cardigan- Uniqlo, tee shirt- Emmanuel Ungaro, earrings – Caine, black crepe pants – Damsel in a Dress, scarf- Pyaar, trench coat – ADD, loafers – Munro, bag – Tumi
I realize that I STILL haven’t shown any ways to wear the blue sleeveless top… Think of the additional options that you have with that in your suitcase too!
love,
Janice
another successful "travel" … waiting for the next to come!!
(can it be warmer climate??
Hello, I'm from Brazil and could you do the same for warmer climate???? Here is so hot. Thanks, I love your blog.
Thank you so much for these posts! Love these colour combinations, and your two week capsule is very helpful in planning for Christmas holidays. I'll swap out the skirt and dress for another pair of pants and jeans to better suit our time. I can't believe I'm actually excited to start packing!!
These tutorials are so smart! I'm anxiously awaiting the "mostly warmer" set so I can start planning my own holiday packing strategy, which is going to take me from cold and rainy to sunny and frozen to hot and humid and back. I will also be packing Emergen-C, to try to ward off the inevitable cold all this climate change and air travel is sure to invite.
I have given up on white shirts: too constricting, too high maintenance. Why not do a post on white shirts for white shirt-phobes. Do you mean a knit white button down???
I love white shirts, but I don't take them on my month-long trips to Europe each year. Too many tempting sauces that land on the shelf that the girls make. I pack with less than is indicated above for those trips, carry on only, and can't afford to lose any garment to a stain. And don't tell me I could get a replacement as a nice souvenir. It's hard enough to find 2X tops here or online, much less Europe. I'd love to see the post you request, too.
Hooray for all the warm/hot weather requestors! I have been tuning in to this blog for a couple of years now and there is rarely anything for anyone who lives in or travels to a warm/hot climate. Let's be specific. How about for living or traveling in locations that are typically above 85 degrees? Bouncing around 95 to 105 would be even better.
Thank you Janice for another gorgeous travel wardrobe! Leaving this week for 2 1/2 weeks in Europe so this post was perfectly timed – happy to see that my "wardrobe" for the trip was pretty close to the one you posted – no dress/skirt (I'm a pants person) and no short sleeved top (too cold where I'm going) but the structure is the same. I purchased 3 long sleeved Heat tech tee's from Uniqlo to wear as a top or as as a base layer. When I get back will report on how this strategy works!
You are amazing! Hot or cold, my colors or not, I learn so much from you and appreciate every post. Thank you so much for all the time and effort you put into this wonderful blog.
Wonderful suggestions
Maybe when you have time you might 'do' three weeks
some summer relaxed holiday – not beach -just sightseeing, meals out [taverna and bistro style] visits to relatives and friends and generally hanging out but some temperatures hot AND some big city – sightseeing, galleries, museums and casual meals temperatures uncertain may vary a lot[London Paris German and Scandinavian cities]
Basic colours grey and navy accents winter tones
We will travel for three months but I find a small bag that allows for laundry days works well Its just that I have difficulty getting the city casual mix right either I am too formally clad or the opposite Help much appreciated Smiles from NZ Liz
Agreeing wholeheartedly with Anonymous! Thank you, Janice!
Janice, just have to add my thanks. You are my guru! Getting lots of ideas for next year when I'll travelling to Italy, Norway and the Arctic, so these posts are perfect for me. I only ever pack a carry-on so I will need to be careful with the clothes as the warm beanie, gloves and thermals will be the first items in the bag. Carolbee.
Hi Janice, This is another very helpful post, thank you!
I've learnt so much from your posts about creating capsules for travelling light but with plenty of choice. I went from Tasmanian spring to European autumn in September for two and a half weeks with carry-on luggage – 7kg in the little suitcase and 3 kg in the tote. It was wonderful. I hopped on and off trains and buses, carried the bags across cobblestones, and trundled in airports without once straining my back.
PS I love white shirts too – so easy to dress up or down, so crisp and clean looking (somehow even if not ironed). For Italian bistros with rich tomato sauces I just wear a dark top or tie the table napkin round my neck and hang how it looks. The white shirt is an absolute wardrobe staple.
I live in a very mixed climate that goes from warm to cold and back again, often within a day. I don't expect precise seasonal examples here, I can substitute weight in my imagination; it's the principles you illustrate that are so useful.
Still hoping for a holiday events / parties capsule that yields outfits for luncheons, evening parties and drop ins….any chance of that ?
If this were my entire wardrobe, I'd be happy. Actually, I am happy! Thanks to you, I have a pared-down, any- event wardrobe for my present life. You are a gift–Happy Holidays to you!