Travel Outfits Essentials: A Capsule Wardrobe for Every Trip

Putting together travel outfits can sometimes be headache-inducing. You want to look stylish and put together and comfy, whilst also being mindful of space and luggage weight. Obviously you’ll be dressing for a specific climate (wherever your destination is), however there are some travel outfit essentials I pack for nearly every trip. The goal? Create a capsule wardrobe for every trip- so that you never run out of anything to wear, and also to avoid overpacking. Read along for my travel outfits essentials that you can use for your next trip!

Tops

With a capsule wardrobe in mind, basics are going to be your best friend. I recommend packing a few basic tops (typically in neutral colors like black, white, tan, or navy). You want to look for shirts that you can wear with just about everything, and with a classic, timeless look to them (so that you’ll never look out of style when looking back!). Here’s some of my go-tos:

Black/white t-shirt (I recommend 1 of each!)
Long-sleeve shirt or bodysuit (1 neutral, 1 color to mix it up!)
A sweater (a striped one is always a classic option!)

A striped sweater is one of my favorite versatile travel outfit pieces!

Pants/bottoms

For a capsule wardrobe, pants/bottoms are super simple. Here are my favorite versatile pieces:

Straight jeans (I prefer light wash)
Tailored pants (The Abercrombie Sloane tailored pants are my favorite!)
A skirt (Any mini or midi will work!)
Tights (these will elevate any look- and fleece-lined ones will keep you warm and stylish).

Skirts are a great option for creating a capsule wardrobe- I love this one because it comes in a matching set!

Outerwear

If there’s one thing I get excited about, it’s jackets and coats. I’m a cold weather girl anyways, but the right outerwear piece can really elevate any outfit. Here are my essentials:

A trench coat (this is my #1 must-have for looking put-together while I’m traveling)
A cardigan
A rain jacket (just in case!)
A blazer

A good trench coat will always make you look chic- even if you’re not in Paris!

Shoes

Shoes can make or break your entire trip- so make sure you pack comfortable shoes. That being said, you can still look chic. Here are my favorite shoes when traveling:

Chelsea boots (Mine are from Steve Madden and have a slight heel- cute and cozy but still stylish.)
Converse (literally my most favorite shoe ever-they go with everything)
A neutral sandal (I love my Birkenstocks for travel- they are the comfiest and go with everything)

Comfy walking shoes are always a must- I love a nice pair of white or cream-colored sneakers!

Statement Pieces

Capsule wardrobes are great- but not everything has to be neutral or a basic. I encourage you to add certain ‘statement’ pieces, or unique, colorful items that you really love to your travel wardrobe. After all, that’s what makes fashion fun! Here are some of my favorite types of statement pieces:

Pops of color
Dresses
Accessories
Unique shoes

I love bringing statement pieces on my travels to capture the essence of my destination- this red dress was perfect for wine-tasting in Italy.

Your travel capsule wardrobe

Creating a travel capsule wardrobe is the best way to ensure you’ll have everything you need to look put together anywhere you go. Hopefully you can use some of my travel outfits essentials (above) to create some looks for your next trip! Let me know in the comments below some of your travel outfit must-haves.

Looking for some more style inspiration? Check out this post!