Colorful, patterned travel capsule - YouLookFab Forum

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Colorful, patterned travel capsule

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Still daydreaming about summer, I’m starting to “pack” (in my head) for our next trip. As this blogger mentions, the first rule of creating capsules seems to be tossing out colors, which I love. She doesn’t mention pattern, but she doesn’t include much either. https://www.theoutfitrepeater......e-outfits/

I’ve realized recently that, as much as I love pattern, I often prefer it on my lower half, with solids closer to my face. That makes a patterned capsule much easier—I can include a couple patterned tops or toppers that mix well with patterns in the bottom pieces, but mostly just need to stay in the same palette for everything. The bottoms don’t need to work together, because I only wear 1 at a time.

For a 2-week summertime city /college campus trip, I’m thinking of
1 pair patterned jeans
2 pair patterned pants
1 patterned midi skirt
1 patterned above-the knees skirt or shorts
1 patterned dress
1 patterned shirt that goes with jeans & 1 pair of pants.
3 tank tops
2 cardis
White sandals
Brown Ecco sandals
White tennies
Workout clothes
Rain jacket

I think I need a couple more tops, maybe another topper, and a good white top.

Have you taken patterned pieces on a trip, or can you suggest good sources? The Vivienne Files are just as confusing as ever—I always feel like I’m coming in on the middle of a conversation there. She has a shit-ton of posts tagged “travel capsule” but they all start with some weird premise in the middle of the story. Somewhere there might be one that says “you x amount of A and y of B”, but she has hidden it extremely well in this haystack https://www.theviviennefiles.c.....-wardrobe/

I think I’ve landed at pretty much the same numbers as the “luxury travel and city living” on this post. https://blog.tortugabackpacks......cking_list

Dressing

19 replies

Latest reply was from Stagiaire Fash

cat2

Veteran

I pick a palette, pull everything out of my closet that might work with that palette, and assemble outfits in advance to see what works. I err on the side of taking too many shoes and too many tops, because my feet are happiest if I can switch between shoes that have different shapes, and something always happens to ruin a top. I would take summery flats instead of the sandals because you are going to be doing tons of walking across campuses.

ophelia

Veteran

I think but am not sure you mentioned your son will attend college in the US. Personally, I’d think about the states he wants to visit before deciding anything. The idea of jeans in summer here makes me feel like I might pass out. But I’ve become pretty heat intolerant; you may not have this issue.
I’ve never avoided patterned tops or bottoms for travel. I just make sure I have 2 or so matches.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Cat2, I have a feeling you haul everything out a lot! I think you’re right & I do need more tops, especially in the summer. I think I’d get tired of everything in the same palette, so I’m trying to do things like dresses that don’t go together but both work with the same cardi (assuming I will even want to wear a cardi).

Ophelia, i might be doing a mini-version of what I did before the Florida trip, when I just couldn’t picture not wearing some kind of topper. I may have forgotten what summer feels like.

Star

Veteran

I think you nailed it in your reply to Cat2 whereby you have two color palettes going on that can cross-over to avoid boredom. Example, I have a Purple/Lilac/Gray/White/Dark Denim Capsule and an Olive/Rust/Gray/Black Capsule. I can interchange quite a few of the pieces between the two capsules. I also have no problem including patterns in capsules if they have the appropriate color in them. Sometimes a patterned piece may even cross-over the two capsules.

Anonymous

I think if you stick to just pattern on the bottom, and dresses, then have tops that go with the pattern, no problem!

SarahD8

Veteran

I am with you in thinking that many travel capsule examples out there are unnecessarily plain and neutral. And agree with your instinct that it's fine to have lots of color and pattern as long as it's mostly in a consistent part of the outfit.

Here's a post I did a while back on a colorful hot weather travel capsule.
https://youlookfab.com/welookf.....el-capsule

I typically build things from the ground up: start with shoes that will keep my feet comfy for whatever activities. Then bottoms that work with the shoes. Tops -- each one should go with 2 or 3 bottoms. Toppers -- varying weights, each one should go with 2 or 3 tops.

Lynn

Veteran

I have found a structure that works really well for me in building travel wardrobes. I can't remember where I came across this so apologies for not attributing it to the creator.

The structure is 2 bottoms (pants or skirt), 1 third layer, and 3-4 tops that all work together. I usually start with a patterned item, for me a top or jacket, and build from there. But the pattern could easily be pants. So you could pick a printed pant, a neutral pant (jeans) or another printed pant, then 3 tops that work with the both the pants and then a 3rd layer that works over all the pants and tops.

I usually take 2 grouping for a longer trip which ends up being 12 pieces. I try to be sure that some if not most of the items can mix and match between the groups to give me even more versatility. I sometimes add a dress . Then I add any pieces that I might need due to weather or activity needs (fleece, raincoat, more dressy items).

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Thanks guys—you calmed me down. No need to stress about this! I may be displacing some worry over things I can’t control (like what colleges think of my son, or he of them) and getting too balled up in the idea of the perfect little travel capsule.

Sarah, that post was great. Very helpful to look back and see that yes, we did this in the before times and it was fun & easy.

ST and Star, thanks for your comments on different parts of this plan.

I’m still not sure about the temps, if I should leave out a pair of pants & add another dress. They might not do it as cold as Florida does, but I’m sure there will be AC.

Mary Beth (formerly LBD)

(website)

Veteran

Truth!: "The Vivienne Files are just as confusing as ever—I always feel like I’m coming in on the middle of a conversation there."

I do love me some VF, though. I love her color palettes and packing ideas - I just come to her site with a cup of coffee and I get comfortable, because I know I'll be there awhile.

I normally use a spreadsheet for planning a travel wardrobe. I've attached a spreadsheet from our monthlong vacation in August 2017. Sorry for the glare, I couldn't figure out how to take a screenshot of a single page in Excel, so I just used my camera.

I put everything in that spreadsheet that I want to pack**. In the very first column, I write the activities I expect to be doing, and the type of outfits I plan to wear.

I start my capsule with my very favorite, and most loved pieces. The stuff that makes me feel happy, pretty, energized. But not anything that's dry-clean only, or too delicate.

I gather everything together on the bed, and eyeball it. My rule of thumb: every top has to go with at least two bottoms - and every bottom has to go with at least two tops. Toppers have to go with at least two tops and two bottoms. I know this sounds redundant, but it helps me pack light. I try on outfits, and take selfies. And then I try those outfits out before I go on vacation. I don't want to be in the middle of my travels and realize that my wardrobe isn't working for me.

When I finally pack, I lay it all out on the bed again, and I ask myself if I can subtract anything. Is there anything that can pull double duty, that will allow me to leave something else behind? Like a cami top to sleep in a couple of nights, that I can get one final wear as a layer piece, before laundering.

If I get back from a trip, and have two tops that didn't get worn, I consider that a success. I highlight the items that didn't get worn or used, and the items that were used just once. Then I analyze: is it because I didn't need it? Was it an on-vacation purchase? Or was it a backup (I have an unworn dress that I took as a second option). I used my hairdryer once the entire trip, which means there were hairdryers in all but one place we went to. We make this same trip every few years, so next time, I would just have a wet or damp hairstyle option ready to roll.

Anyway, I hope this helps! But seriously... wear your patterned outfits out and about before y'all go travelling.

***********************

**(On subsequent trips, I started getting specific about the number of bras and knickers, socks, etc. And swimwear and sunscreen)

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Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Marybeth, that is some impressive planning! The idea of starting with an activities column is excellent. This is as organized as I’ve ever gotten about planning what to pack, for a trip that got canceled I didn’t have your strict rules about 2 tops per bottom/2 bottoms per top, but everything does have more than one partner—except the flippers, lol

MB and Sarah, your post-trip analysis for trips that are likely to be repeated is great. I should’ve thought to do that back when I was going to conferences twice a year—think I did it with toys for my kid & that was it.

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rachylou

Veteran

It sounds like you’ll be moving places often, since it’s a college tour...weight is probably now my number one consideration and how much schlepping of luggage I’ll do... if your patterned bottoms can be in the same colour palette, your tops can do double duty...

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Good point about the weight and shifting around. We’ll probably be in 5 or 6 places. I’ve been thinking it wouldn’t hurt to throw in an extra dress or something, but yeah, it does make sense to be careful about what I take. The other stuff adds up too: gym clothes, rain jacket, pjs/nightie, robe, socks/slippers, belt bag, sarong, cover-up...

The thing about tops doing double duty in the summer is...it’s summer. I can always wash them in the sink though.

Joy

Veteran

When I travel, all my pieces are plain. I get pattern from scarves. occasionally a top. I find I only wear two or three bottoms ( if I need a skirt).
I take 3 pairs of shoes, wearing the heaviest. I pick footwear, first for comfort Then light weight and versatile...that is, casual but dressy enough to wear to dinner or an event...all flat, non sandal., because I can no longer wear heels or sandals and. be safe. I try to take two tops for each bottom, with different degrees of warmth. I use my trench coat for a robe and leggings and a tank top are my pjs or a set of long underwear in colder seasons. Do not do “what ifs”. You can shop for that if needed. Take only what you can carry.

Joy

Veteran

When traveling for 2+8 weeks I take the same things and wash if needed in the sink. This is mostly underwear and I am used to doing undies hand washing every night.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Joy, that’s a great point about being able to buy things there if any needs arise. We will definitely do laundry once or twice while we are there. On not taking more than I can carry: when I set out to tramp around Europe the summer after college, someone gave me that advice. I loaded up two bags, went for a quarter mile walk, and figured I was good. Their total weight came to 87 lbs—as much as my grandma at the time! Fortunately, when I arrived, one of the first friends I visited was also the daughter of some of the last people I planned to see. She saw the problem immediately and took half the stuff to her parents for me. For this trip, I’ll use a different guideline, lol. 10 Kg/22 lbs is the max for carry-on luggage. That sounds like a good number to me. If I wanted to add in the extra stuff you suggest, what would you take out?

You and Cat2 both mentioned sandals as uncomfortable; I don’t understand. My Eccos are as comfortable as any other footwear I own. I’m currently shopping for another pair of sandals, and wouldn’t buy any footwear that I can’t walk a couple miles in. Maybe you’re both thinking of sandals with spiky high heels or something. The word “sandals” covers a lot of different things, now that I think about it.

The biggest “worry” for me in packing is that I’m an emotional dresser. The temptation to throw in a few extra things comes from thinking “what if I feel like wearing x?”

Jenni NZ

Veteran

FashIntern, Joy doesn’t wear sandals because of her diabetes and the foot risks. That’s one of her safety concerns that doesn’t apply to you.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Thank you, JenniNZ!

Joy, I apologize for putting you on the spot like that; I wasn’t aware of that complication.

cat2

Veteran

FI: I do use a pile on my bed and an adjacent chin-up bar where I hang the contenders into outfits as my most valuable planning too! I don’t generate outfits in my head like some report they do, but if I set everything out and start hanging it into outfits I can figure out what works. My assumption on the sandals was that anything dressy enough to go with your skirts and dresses won’t be a workhorse for walking.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Cat2, thanks for explaining—I always appreciate it when people do that! It sounds like you’re thinking of dressier dresses than I usually wear. I’scrolled back through photos on my phone to see if I can give you an idea. Some are winter & the last couple are from 3 years ago, but they pretty accurately show the kinds of casual skirts & dresses I wear. The white sandals in 13 & 19 were stolen. They were Pikolinos & I could easily wear them all day. In 3 I’m shopping for sandals last summer.

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