Suitcase full of clothes but nothing to wear. This used to be a common conundrum for me as a teen travelling to Australia during school holidays to visit my dad. I hadn’t mastered the art of packing, or mapping out any kind of capsule wardrobe. So I’d pick items without any thought, figuring something was bound to work.
It was when I discovered the capsule wardrobe method that I started to think more strategically about packing. Priding myself on being able to limit my travel wardrobe (and beauty necessities) to a carry-on only. An enduring trait I’ve tried to keep up, and am really putting to the test for an upcoming trip to Wellington with the two kids. Safe to say my ability to refine is being pushed to the limit as I have less than half a carry-on to stash what I plan to wear.
This trip is special for a few reasons, but mostly, because my grandparents will be getting to spend some precious time with their great-grandchildren. A blessing given it’s been so long since we’ve been able to freely travel.
So, I wanted to share a little insight into what I packed, and why. Just note, this does also include my airport outfit!
The suitcase that I’m using for this trip is this classic case from July.
WHAT I’M PACKING
2 chunky knits | The forecast for our entire stay is rain, so the first thing I grabbed were a couple of sweaters which were easily interchangeable. Something snuggly and cosy, that would keep me warm. I landed on my Sibem sweater from The Row (though a Uniqlo mens cashmere would also suffice), and this cashmere/cotton knit from Jenni Kayne (15% off with JamieLee15).
5 layering tops | It’s going to be reasonably cold, so I wanted tops I could layer underneath my knitwear. Because I have a four-month-old who spits up regularly, I’ve opted for five tops but could easily make do with less if I was travelling solo. I packed two turtleneck tops (this tissue weight one from Everlane and this merino one from Arket – COS does the same style). These are super thin and will act as a second skin. I also packed this long sleeved knit top from Sezane which I love for the texture. A basic tee of course made the cut and I went with a favourite from Ceres Life, which has a nice stepped hem. Finally I included this striped l/s top from Uniqlo which I recently added to my closet. It’s a longer length so works well with leggings.
1 pair of leggings | Gone are the days when I would travel in jeans. Comfort is king. Taking the best leggings ever – these ones from Commando. Word of warning, they do tend to pick up lint so I recommend getting the scuba version if you’ve been eying these up.
1 pair of trousers | I’ve been a little obsessed with my Valentina crop trousers from House of Dagmar, and I thought they’d be perfect for the trip. They go with everything and add a serious dose of textures.
1 pair of boots | Thinking practically here, and I’m only going to be able to take one pair of shoes. Naturally, opted for a comfortable low heeled boot that would go with everything. The ones I’ll be wearing are the Radford style from Jane Debster. Absolutely love these!
2 bags | Then for a little bit of “extra” storage (for teddies, toys and books), I’ll be taking two handbags. One I’ll be utilising more as a crossbody purse; my Celine trio. This is great as it’s a flat bag so easily will tuck into the side of the main bag I’ll be taking; the Louis Vuitton neverfull. I settled on my neverfull as it’s canvas, so robust and will hold up well even after being stashed under the plane seat in front of me.
WHAT I CHOSE TO LEAVE BEHIND
Two items I omitted due to space constraints? A beanie and a scarf. If I wasn’t baby wearing, and planned to travel out and about, I’d find the room for sure. But after mulling it over realised these were likely to be surplus to requirement; at least for this trip. I’d also originally planned on taking a pair of jeans from Witchery, but realised they didn’t feel quite right, nor did they actually fit in my suitcase!
TIPS FOR PACKING LIGHT
Map out a colour palette | This allows you to maximise versatility as everything should go together (colour-wise). For me this is key as it gives you options in case plans change, or decide you want to wear a slightly different combination.
Ensure you have texture | Keep your travel capsule feeling interesting by incorporating different textures. In the same way that outfits can feel flat when they’re all one texture at home, that feeling can be compounded when you’re travelling.
Think about utility | Don’t pack multiples of the same silhouette. Opt for different styles to give you more options. Otherwise you’ll find yourself in the same uniform for every day of your trip.
Take photos of outfit options | During the packing phase, spend a good 15 minutes trying it all on and taking snaps of the outfits you like. This means you can spend more time exploring/relaxing during your trip, and less time thinking about what to wear.
