Capsule wardrobe packing?

Tips from a first timer

Does the mere thought of packing for a trip, of any duration, send you into a spin? Yes, well you and me both. As the designated packer in our family, I’m a Master at compiling and rolling outfits (yes, I roll their clothes for each day), for everyone else. But when it comes to me, I freeze!

Usually at this point, I get an overwhelming urge to make some last minute ‘essential’ purchases, thinking to myself:

• ‘My wardrobe doesn’t have what I need’

• ‘I may need to dress up’ (I rarely do!) or

• ‘None of my clothes make for cohesive outfits’.

I have often bought items before a trip, packed them but left the tag on, and returned them when back as I haven’t actually needed them or indeed felt the urge for them, like I did before I travelled! A very good test of an item.

So what exactly is it that makes us feel this way? Is it the fear of forgetting something absolutely and completely ‘essential’, the fear of opening the case at the other end to find a jumble of mismatched items and no actual outfits (sounds like one of those stress nightmares!), or the fear of having to impress and be our best selves whilst away? It is just a trip - a break from the day to day, a chance to feel free of judgement from ourselves or others, and an opportunity to rest and to recharge. Can we allow ourselves that and avoid ending up a ball of stress before we even depart?

As I’m trying to ‘do better’ on all fronts relating to sustainable style, I decided, for this Easter’s mini break, I’d try packing a capsule wardrobe. I picked out items from my wardrobe which could be worn interchangeably, making it easier to create outfits whilst away and without having to be too prescriptive beforehand, which I hate.

I see this as an excellent tool to avoid making those last minute non-essential purchases before travelling and also as a way to explore what you already own. In this post, I thought I’d share what I packed, how I decided what to pack and what I wore each day.

Packing list and what I wore

My packing list: Numph sweatshirt, Raey sweatshirt, Massimo Dutti jacket (preloved, similar here), St Agni bag, Cos sling bag, Baserange dress, Topshop vest, Cos t-shirt (similar here), Ganni t-shirt (similar here), Suzie Kondi top, Missoma necklace (similar here), Zara knitted bandana (similar here), Belt (old, similar here), Agolde Riley jeans, COH cargos, Nike Daybreak trainers, Adidas Handball Spezial trainers and Flattered flats

My packing list focused on comfort primarily, practicality and warmth - it’s been so cold lately! How I decided what to pack was guided by the following tips:

• Comfortable and relevant to the trip - this time, it’s a city break in the UK with the kids, so lots of walking and an in-depth tour of the local Smiggle 😆

• Colour and style compatible - in some ways, it was an easy trip to pack for, with only casual attire required, so I focused on some green ‘island’ pieces, which could be teamed with some ‘good basics’ and excellent accessories.

• A choice of shoes - I like to build an outfit from the shoes up. I think about what’s going to work for the weather, the day’s activities and my mood. A simple change of shoe can also avoid having to pack a more dressy outfit for evening time.

Here’s what I wore each day and evening. Having packed items which were guided by these tips made getting dressed each day so effortless and made for no fuss. I’m all for no fuss!

Day and evening one:

Day and evening two:

Day three:

And the verdict is in: it was THE easiest, most stress-free and quick packing experience, like ever! Even my husband commented on it 😆 We’ve two more trips this year (very lucky), one of which will require ‘dressing for dinner’ - so can I apply my capsule wardrobe packing rules? I’ll definitely be giving it go!

Wish list pieces and inspiration

How’s your wish listing going? Got anything nice squirrelled away that you think could be a great purchase for you? It doesn’t matter what it is, where the inspiration came from or how long it sits on that wish list - it’s about the practice of slowing our purchasing decisions and focusing on what we really need/ want. Here are some inspiring outfits and items which caught my eye this week:

Zara crossover trousers

These may not look like much, but they have a great silhouette, are 100% cotton and are the perfect neutral shade for styling with so many other tones. More than a little bit obsessed with

Irene Kim (김애린)

’s outfit here:

Aeyde Sandals

Is it too early to include these?! I think we’re all dreaming of warmer days at this stage of the year - phew. I wanted to include a preloved item in this wish list feature, and this one is a worthy listing - these are by Aeyde, the same brand and similar in style to my preloved ones, featured a few weeks ago.

When the sun finally reappears, I plan to style mine with my COH cargos, as inspired by Amrita Singh’s epic outfit here:

Dragon Diffusion Santa Rosanna Bag

If you’re a regular reader, you’ll know that I’ve been pining after a woven black bag for a while. I tried offerings from Mango, Massimo Dutti and Zara but to no avail - they were either too structured, not the right shape or not of great quality. But this one from Dragon Diffusion - the royalty of woven bags - looks to be a treat! Love how Marianne of Smyth Sisters styles her slightly bigger version.

Well that’s all for this week. I really hope you’re enjoying my musings and selection of inspiration and pieces, as much as I enjoy this space for my little jottings! Have a good week and hope to see you next weekend, Jenny x