5 Things Friday - Nailing Your Carry- On Capsule Wardrobe
Does the thought of "hand luggage only" make you sweat? Panic not, I now consider myself a packing pro, as proven on my recent trip to Lisbon.
It wasn’t long ago that “hand luggage only” sent me into a panic if my husband suggested it for a holiday. In the past, I’ve been guilty of some serious over-packing, and caused a considerable amount of stress as I try to explain why I need so many pairs of shoes, handbag options, and let’s not mention the toiletries! However, having had two Euro city breaks recently, and fine-tuning my packing skills over the last year, I now consider myself a bit of an expert at ‘packing light’. Don’t get me wrong, given a 22kg allowance, I’ll fill my suitcase with all the summer dresses, but it has been a bit of an epiphany that having a packing strategy makes things a lot less stressful before, during and after the holiday! There is nothing worse than looking at that crumpled pile of unworn clothes that needs sorting and ironing when you’ve got the post-holiday blues, and when I’m on holiday I don’t want to think too hard about my outfits.
My recent 4-day trip to Lisbon was a mix of work and pleasure. I needed to pack some items for a shoot for an upcoming collaboration and all my requirements for four days and three nights of holiday fun. Did I get it all into my cabin bag? You bet I did, and I had room for some holiday souvenirs too. Plus, when I got home on Sunday night, it was all unpacked and in the washing machine within twenty minutes. No holiday blues here, just time to relax and reminisce on a lovely trip to one of my favourite cities. For my top tips for stress-free cabin-luggage-only holidays, what I took and my capsule packing essentials list, read on!
Before You Start Packing:
1. Check your itinerary and plan your outfits accordingly
My Itinery
Day 1 - Morning Travelling/Afternoon working/ Early Evening drinks and dinner.
Day 2 - Morning Sightseeing/Afternoon Sunbathing/Evening meal out
Day 3 Day Sightseeing/Evening Concert
Day 4 Travel Home
Preparation is key for anything to run smoothly, particularly, I’ve discovered, holiday itineraries. My husband likes to run with the ‘lets go with the flow’ attitude, while I’ll be making lists of places to visit, where to eat, transport options and generallly making sure we make the most of our trip. The same goes with my packing. I’ll already have in my mind where we’ll be going and what I’ll want to wear accordingly. When you have a plan you’ll know that a day walking is going to need comfortable footwear, a day by the beach, you’ll need swimwear and a big night out, you’ll want to get glammed up! I always check the weather apps too (although they are never to be 100% trusted) and I always include a layer for cooler weather. I start by looking at my outfit options on my bed, or hanging rail, and plan my looks according to my itinerary. My Lisbon itinerary included a day’s filming, two days sightseeing with lots of walking, a few evening meals out and an evening music concert.
2. Choose a Colour Palette.
If you struggle with building outfits or being restrained when it comes to packing light, a good place to start is with a colour palette. By narrowing down your outfit choices to three colours, you’ll be giving yourself a good foundation and streamlining contenders for a spot in your suitcase. I went with a neutral palette and, for some extra interest, a pop of red. It’s very much how I usually dress, and I feel I’m keeping true to my style. Holidays can feel like an excuse to stray from your usual sartorial choices with prints and colours, but unless you want a suitcase of clothes you won’t wear at home, I would keep true to your usual style.
If you want more tips and advice for stress-free holiday packing, please consider becoming a paid subscriber. You’ll also have access to the paid subscriber post with my Lisbon itinerary coming this weekend. Plus, if you love holidays, then you will want to check out all my recent paid holiday posts and reviews!