Pack light & look great on your next travel adventure

8 ways to choose a travel capsule wardrobe women can count on to pack well and be presentable anywhere

Don't pack too much!

It slows you down, tires you out and leaves no room to bring home purchases. What's essential: your passport or ID, money, good shoes, medications. 

What's smart: a coordinated wardrobe that looks stylish, feels comfortable and is culturally appropriate. (Clue: A long travel skirt can cover a lot of situations whether you’re traveling in your home country or abroad)

Check the weather for your destination: what's the norm and what's currently happening? Look at photos on the internet to see how the locals dress.

Choose clothing items that mix and match well. One or two colors may suffice if you add pizazz with a colorful  scarf or shawl or inexpensive (losable) jewelry. Choose colors that don't show stains easily. Wear what you already know looks good.

Our Grey Fog Tuxedo Top and Graphite Angled Long Skirt coordinate well with other pieces and can form the core of your travel capsule wardrobe.

Choose clothing that's loose enough to be comfortable in extreme heat or to layer for warmth. Airplanes and buses can be chilly. And even in a hot, humid climate, you may need long sleeves for sun or mosquito protection. 

Loose but layer-able in our Plum Swallowtail Top and Black Stovepipe Pants

Bring clothing that is hand- or machine-washable. If you're on the move, you may only have time to wash in the sink and hang dry overnight.

Choose jewelry that you can afford to lose. Take just two or three pairs of earrings plus a necklace and keep them organized in a small bag.

Hand wash our Graphite Trapeze Tunic and Black Flip Skirt and hang them to dry overnight. Humidity or a steamy bathroom will relax yesterday’s wrinkles.

Consider the cultural norms in your destination. Scarves are useful accessories that double as head and arm coverings and lend interest to an outfit.

Scarves can add warmth or sun protection and make impromptu head coverings when needed.

Comfortable shoes are essential! Choose comfort over fashion if a choice must be made. Take two (at most, three) pairs so that you have a change in case you develop blisters wearing a trusted brand. Ideally, bring shoes that have already proven their mettle over the miles but still look presentable.

Always pack a swim suit (unless maybe you're going to Antarctica)! Who wants to miss hot springs or waterfalls or waste time looking for appropriate swimwear? Again, research your destination(s). A skimpy bathing suit that’d easily pass muster in Europe may not be so well received in a society where more modest apparel is the norm.

Organize small clothing items  such as lingerie by grouping them into inside compartments. Zippered laundry bags are light and inexpensive and useful when you return home.

Download your printable PDF Packing List here!

Rose Gerstner is a clothing designer and entrepreneur who founded Sympatico as an outlet for her love and commitment to sustainable fashion. She regularly blogs about eco-friendly fashion and offers style tips for real bodies and clothing shoppers who want to minimize their footprint.