Friday, December 7, 2012

one suitcase: beach vacation capsule wardrobe


Post 10/10 -
Between my job & my love of seeing new places around the world I spend a fair amount of time living out of a suitcase. From all the experience I have gained from hauling myself & my stuff all over the place I have learned just how valuable packing smart & packing light is to your sanity. And I think I have gotten pretty good at selecting just my few favorite pieces of clothing to bring and stretching their use though multiple outfits for multiple activities as I travel. So for this second installment of the one suitcase feature I'm going to try out a beach vacation capsule wardrobe.

The purpose of the "One Suitcase" feature is to try to show you how you can pare down your packing list when you travel without sacrificing the number or variety of outfits you have for the range of activities your trip may entail. I have learned through trial and error (and the pain of lugging wayyy too big a suitcase) that by packing a few favorite & versatile pieces of clothing I can mix and match the items into a surprising number of outfit options. You just have to do a little planning up front. Hopefully the posts this week will show you my method and help you find the potential of the clothes you already have in your closet!

In case you missed it:
The method:
  1. Basics - First I pick some basics pieces to lay the foundation for the trip. I try to pick my favorite go-to clothes. Clothes I know I wear over and over. The ones that go with almost everything. For me, this usually involves  laying out my favorite jeans, basic shorts and a pair of super comfy wedges.

    For the basics in this capsule wardrobe I have chosen whites & navys/blues as the base colors. I packed my favorite jeans, white & black shorts, white button down shirt, chambray button down shirt, a navy & a white cardigan and a white strapless dress.







  • Interest - Second, I add a few interesting pieces to compliment the subtle basics. I look for pops of color or fun patterns that will make the basic pieces more exciting. I try to grab items that will compliment each other or at least be somewhat in the same color scheme. For me, I'd usually go for a striped top, a dress, few colored dresses and an interesting blouse that would go with both cardigans.

    For this capsule wardrobe I chose a pink t-shirt, a striped tank, a teal tank, an ikat tank, an ikat coverup, a teal maxi dress, an ikat skirt and a green & yellow dress.

    • Accessories & Shoes - Finally, I add some accessories to complete the outfits. Jewelry, belts and scarves take up very little room and can dramatically alter how an outfit looks. Unfortunately, shoes is the area I still struggle with. I always want to bring just one more pair. But I've learned to limit myself to only either blacks or browns (depending on my clothes) and then nude/beige shoes go with everything.

    For this capsule wardrobe I chose three necklaces, one gold watch, white fedora hat, brown belt and a teal clear beach bag. 

    Proof of concept - All my clothes, jewelry & shoes fit in my one beach bag! (I'd actually use a carry-on suitcase and typically I wear my bulkiest pair of shoes & jeans on the plane so this bag would have more room - but just for show I put everything into the one bag.)




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          49 comments:

          1. Great Tips. Cannot believe you fit that all in one beach bag! I am the worst over packer so I need to take note here.
            Thanks for Sharing.

            pjmscloset.blogspot.ca

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          2. this series was great! keep up the good work.

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          3. I appreciate the work that you must have put into this fantastically detailed series.
            Travelling light is very freeing and after years of doing it, I enjoy challenging myself to carry fewer and fewer items. To be honest, it's partly for the feeling of pride when I see some poor, sweaty soul hauling her giant suitcase around...while I have everything I need casually slung over my shoulder. ;)

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          4. Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it!! :)

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          5. I love these capsules! My husband and I travel so much with our jobs, and I really haven't found something as amazing as yours. Most capsules don't actually show people wearing the items. They just simply suggest to have 5 bottoms, and 5 tops which makes 25 outfits. NOT SO! Most people know your'e just rewearing clothes. This gives us travelers hope! Thanks again for your creativity with outfits. Can't wait to try this for our Christmas/New Year trip.

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          6. Just discovered your blog and I love it.... I am really going to try to do something like this.

            also almost by accident I found this necklace right after reading this entry. So another 'similar' if you wanted it :) http://www.etsy.com/listing/116207133/turquoise-green-necklace-bubble-necklace

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          7. Glad you are enjoying it!

            Anon, I totally agree - I like the suggestions of the clothing pieces to pack but I want to see them put together to mentally understand what it will look like!

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          8. Awesome! Definitely need to try to do this! Going to panama and florida this year and travelling for the first time with an infant so not only do I have to pack for me, but I have to pack for her also. Would love to be able to fit all of her and my stuff in one suitcase!

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          9. Once again, fantastic inspiration! I'm going on my honeymoon soon and I'll definitely be using some of these outfits as a jumping off point! Thanks again!

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          10. Best packing advice I've found! Trying it this week

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          11. Esto es increíble. La vez pasada que fui de vacaciones a la playa, mi maleta era enoorme y aun así sentí que me faltó ropa, esta idea es genial! Y son sólo 16 piezas, me has ayudado muchísimo. Eres genial!

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          12. love your One Suitcase series! I'd love to see more posts like this. I travel constantly and overpack every time!

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          13. Amazing!! These outfits are adorable! What a great (and useful) post! Thanks!

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          14. You are a genius for putting together those outfits and presenting them in a way that makes sense! Every outfit is so cute and wearable. I'm actually incorporating this capsule into my everyday wardrobe. Thanks for sharing your creativity!!

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          15. Yay! I'm so happy you guys have found this interesting & useful! Will hopefully have the next installment (winter suitcase!) out in a few weeks! Excited! :)

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          16. Great tips...and nice outfits for the beach vacation!

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          17. That is AWESOME! If you want to, could you do a 7 day cruise one? I would be ever so grateful! I'm heading out on a Disney cruise the end of March that will include a formal night, semi formal night, Pirate party, and two beach days and I think I'm gonna need 10 suitcases, LOL.

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          18. Thank you so much for this! Really inspiring. Greetings from Amsterdam.

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          19. Perfect...just what I needed, packing is going to be fun I think.
            Thanks

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          20. Riiight...No socks, no panties, no bras, no hosiery, no make up, no toiletries...no emergency changes of clothes, no jacket, no umbrella, no sun screen, no towel, no book, no chargers for electronics...total fail...you know how else you can "pack for a week?" Take nothing and buy it all at your destination! HAHAHAHA!!!

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          21. I am so doing this! I'm going to Puerto Rico and St Croix at the end of April. I just spent the morning doing some online sale shopping at Old Navy. Island packing is so difficult since I find I end up changing several times a day. I'm exchanging light scarves for the necklaces because I don't ever wear necklaces. Besides the multi-colored items, I'm sticking with a neutral and green color scheme (with some hints of pink). Of course I also need to add a couple swim suits and a fancy dress to wear to my sister's wedding, but the rest of the plan has a good start. Thanks.

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          22. Any chance you'll do a one suitcase trip to Europe? I'd love to see that one.

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          23. I seriously think this post has changed my life. I haven't bought clothes for myself in ages, so my summer wardrobe is somewhat lacking. Since reading and absorbing this post yesterday morning, I have been "shopping" to 4 different websites and have bought every item on this list except for jeans and black shorts (which I might already own) and flats (which I'll shop for in person later this week).

            I've even contemplated the "trip to Europe" question of the last poster. Black or gray pants instead of the skirt or one of the dresses, another t-shirt instead of one of the tank tops, close-toed shoes instead of the sandals; layering is still your friend.

            I may actually blog about this after all my purchases arrive in the mail.

            Thank you!!!

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          24. AD - that's so awesome that the post has been so helpful! Definitely ping me if you blog about your purchases!!

            A Teacher's Quest - A Europe suitcase is next on my list. It'll probably be a few months before I can find the time to put one together but it's definitely on my list!

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          25. Found your blog thru Pinterest and love your One-Suitcase ideas! I ditto the request to Europe, as I go every year for 5 weeks with varying climates (as cool as Ireland and as warm as Italy within the 5 week time frame). Although I have managed to pack both myself and my daughter in one BIG suitcase, I would like to pack lighter and need some inspiration. I look forward to your next One-Suitcase to Europe post. In the meantime, I will be using your idea to pack for my next cruise in two weeks. Wish me luck!

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          27. Cool...except some of the photos have items that are not listed. Like the blue dress with reddish stripes and one of the multicolored tops. Has no one else noticed this?!

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          28. Lillian, I don't have exact pictures of my clothes so I used close approximations.

            The blue dress with reddish stripes that I'm wearing is listed as the "Ikat Strapless Coverup"

            And the Multicolored top is listed as "Ikat Print Tank"

            Hope this helps!

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          29. Lillian, I don't have exact pictures of my clothes so I used close approximations.

            The blue dress with reddish stripes that I'm wearing is listed as the "Ikat Strapless Coverup"

            And the Multicolored top is listed as "Ikat Print Tank"

            Hope this helps!

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          30. Lillian,
            I don't have exact pictures of my clothes so I used close approximations.

            The blue dress with reddish stripes that I'm wearing is listed as the "Ikat Strapless Coverup"

            And the Multicolored top is listed as "Ikat Print Tank"

            Hope this helps!

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          31. This whole capsule idea is exactly what I need. I don't even care that it is not my style, I'm using it anyway!

            Ugh, I need more of a 10 week European summer vacay. But with bar/club/nightlife stuff as well. LBDs, etc.

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          32. ^^ I'll be in Paris, Rome, Florence, and London- don't even know how to dress..
            (hopefully other countries too!)

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          34. http://diasbelcavello.blogspot.com/2013/03/one-suitcase-march-25-2013.html

            I copied you, and here's the outcome. Shopping was fun, and now I have some colorful summer outfits, and some basic essential pieces for any time of year.

            Thanks again for this inspiration.

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          35. do you wear underwear & bras? shampoo, face wash, tooth brush/paste, etc? where is it? People say buy it when you get there! I don't have that kind of $. Flight is expensive enough. Anyone can pack a suitcase.

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          36. Thank you MK. I found your blog while looking for a "How to" sort of on creating a ton of outfits with some basics and a few fun pieces. Your simple explanation and style were just what I wanted. I loved it so much, I recreated it, bought it and posted it to polyvore :) That's the first time I've really felt confident clothes shopping.
            http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/collection?id=2437678

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          37. Where is the dress from outfits 5, 18, 35, 36? (Not challenging you, just feel like I'm missing something?
            Where do you pack undergarments, swimsuits, toiletries? Or do you check that bag due to restrictions?
            This is great for wardrobe-building, not just packing.

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          38. Hi Kelly,
            I answered this above when Lillian asked it -
            "I don't have exact pictures of my clothes so I used close approximations.

            The blue dress with reddish stripes that I'm wearing is listed as the "Ikat Strapless Coverup"

            And the Multicolored top is listed as "Ikat Print Tank"

            Hope this helps! "

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          39. Hi FrenchKissnLife,
            For me the most difficult part of packing for a trip is trying pare down to a limited set of clothing pieces to maximize the number of outfits that I can create. The easier part of the packing process is adding the necessary undergarments, tech accessories and toiletries once I've decided on clothing. So for me the focus of the one suitcase posts have been around harder concept of the clothes.

            But all I would do to complete this packing - is put the items in a real carry-on suitcase & to top it off with a small packing cube with undergarments and my small makeup bag. And then my liquids & tech items go in my purse for easy access in airport security.

            I hope this helps!

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          40. While I love Love LOVE this concept, I thought I'd share some problems I'm running into.
            1. I'm going to St Croix for my sister's wedding, so an additional dress is already a necessity for that.
            2. For Christmas, my sister bought me a dress and a shrug to bring on this beach vacation. I didn't remember it until my bag was already packed. She'll be hurt if I don't bring it, and it doesn't really go with anything else I'm packing, so this will add an additional two items to my suitcase.
            3. I'm confident one of my cousins will arrange a late night room party, and I won't want to be wearing a dress or the shorts I wore all day. I know I will hate myself if I don't have a pair of comfy yoga pants to wear in the hotel room at night.
            4. Oh, and don't forget a swimsuit or two.

            I'm just glad that summer clothing takes up much less room than winter clothing.

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          41. Rose,
            Your polyvore set is SO COOL! Love it!

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          42. Hi AD,
            The One Suitcase posts are really just to help figure out ways to mix & match the items in the suitcase. It's not intended to be a comprehensive packing list. (There are tons of those available on other sites.) Glad you figured out what you needed to pack! :)

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          43. Love this! Going to a family reunion in July and this will come in very handy. My only question is on the toiletries (hair products/flat iron, etc) and pj's etc. - where do you put all those items?

            Now to figure out how to keep the shoes down to a minimum!

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          44. Great post! I'd love to know what kind of bag you use for toiletries, undergarments, book, hat (what's a good packable sun hat?), swimsuits...

            Thanks!

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          45. Tami, Anon,
            Here's a post that has a little more about what I pack: http://outfitposts.blogspot.com/2012/08/outfit-posts-reader-request-how-to.html

            If these clothes were in a regular carry-on - there'd be plenty of room for the other non-clothing items.

            I'd recommend google to find a comprehensive packing list. These posts aren't intended to be a complete list of stuff to bring - just to help see various options in the clothes you pack.

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          46. Hi! Thanks for a great post using clothing that we might actually own and feel comfortable wearing. We're leaving for vacation in a few days. This really helped me think about what I could pack from what I already have in my closet. Even though I don't have exactly the same pieces, I was able to substitute the same styles (I.e. a red t-shirt for the pink one). There are now a few items on my wish list as well! I also appreciate the suggestions for packing toiletries. Heather

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          47. I LOVE this entire suitcase series. As someone who is not good at all with putting cute outfits together this has helped me make the most of my closet. I have used this summer suitcase to add new items to my closet. Thank you! I can't wait to see what you have in store for fall!

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          48. I used this post series for a cruise we took in December and now I'm using it again for a trip to California next week. Just wanted to say again how helpful it is! I'm obviously bringing a couple other things like workout clothes and I'm more of a skirt person than a dress person, but HELLO, so easy to make those substitutions and additions based on what you did here. And since I'm travelling alone, I have TONS of extra space in my carry-on even after adding undergarments, PJs, toiletries, etc. Just wanted to thank you again!

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          49. Yay! So happy to hear it's useful!!

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