Although I travel with a carry on bag, I find myself overpacking for every trip. Choosing right clothes and wearing every piece of it is an elusive goal. This time I used this idea - take 15 main items in 5 categories ( 5+4+3+2+1). Mine were:
5 tops - black silk top from Joe Fresh, patterned silk All Saints , white linen top from Everlane, BR blue linen jersey tank, striped t-shirt from H&M.

4 bottoms - I had 3: white linen Oska, green linen Zara, cream linen mix BR
3 dresses - black linen, brown linen from Muji, white linen coverup from Massimo Dutti
2 long sleeve tops - silk cotton black striped Massimo Dutti sweater and white linen long sleeve top from Muji.

I added extra sweater - a light weight cashmere in lilac from 360 cashmere.

1 tank cotton BR
Total - 15. I did not have a color scheme. I think that as long as I have white as a backbone, some black, I can add a few random colors and it works.

I also had 2 small capsules - swim and lounge wear. In the first one I had 2 swimsuits, a linen scarf, extra coverup and a hat. In the second - shorts and 1 camisole.

I had access to a washing machine.

I traveled in my trusty COS woven black joggers, a white long sleeved Uniqlo t-shirt and a black Uniqlo vest. I took a light weight cream puffer as well. Our connection on the way back was in Copenhagen and layover was 12 hours, we had to walk to a hotel. I expected it to be cold there and also needed it as an additional layer in Toronto. I brought my thin wool Marimekko scarf and a small silk one.

Shoes - I traveled in knitted Mary Janes, had a comfortable pair of Columbia sandals plus Havaianas. All are black.

Well, the weather was tricky. Cooler in the mornings (20-22C) and evenings. I wore long sleeved tops and sweaters, even Uniqlo t-shirt which I usually wear only on flights. Middays were hot, we were spending most of them on a beach. I enjoyed wearing dresses as they were easy to layer and looked nice with scarves. Out of 5 short sleeve tops I wore 2 - a striped t-shirt as a lounge wear (it was too cold to wear a camisole) and a black silk top. I did not wear a tank top. So, out of 15 items I ended up not wearing 4. Not a great result but it’s OK.

Heroes of the travel wardrobe - linen dresses, wished I packed more. And Bao Bao bags. I wore a crossbody to carry my wallet and my travel docs while on the road and a few times in Crete. I used a Bao Bao tote almost daily. It was so useful - not too big but sufficient to carry a wallet, phone, extra scarf and fabric bags, whatever I needed that day. This bag is so easy to pack and it works well with my color palette.

Pleasant surprise - Havaianas worked well! I even wore them on some walks around the town. I was so impressed, I ordered a white pair for .the next summer.

Lessons - I have to pay attention to layering. It is hard to predict what kind of weather might it be and I need to look what else I can use. Maybe a crew neck cardigan would work well. Also, I need to think about my other dresses that I potentially can bring and layer if needed.

The big mirror in our place was in a room too dark for photos. And I don’t like posing on the streets. So, please excuse my photos, few of them and not great in showing an outfit. I added a few of the items from the travel capsule. And a couple of fun ones. #15 - the water is that clear. #16 is how I felt in Crete

I will write a post about some fashion observations later, this one is a novella already.