Capsule holiday wardrobe - an impossibility?

shopaholictiedtheknot

Calling all you lady travellers! Has anyone perfected the art of the capsule wardrobe when going abroad on holiday? I am going to Lanzarote for a week at Easter and am desperate to

a)avoid buying lots of new clothes I can't afford and
b)avoid a divorce as my hubby is SICK of paying excess baggage :rotfl:

I always end up packing everything but the kitchen sink, any suggestions as to what to take and in what quantities?

I plan to buy a few new 'essentials' from Matalan/Primark such as vest tops and flip flops to replace old and tired ones and can afford to buy a few new items to mix with existing stuff.

lynzpower

It is totally possible.

I dont have it totally down to a fine art yet ( dont take enough holidays ) but I always take

Some sort of long linen/jersey trousers usually black so they dont show the dirt LOL ( comfy on plane, useful if you get sunstroke, keeps mozzies off, good for cool evenings with nice top for a casual dinner)

Black A line skirt ( evenings, casual day time) knee length
black long skirt, again you dont get bitten, good if you need something long to wear to explore a church/mosque/ any 'important' place like embassies etc plus can be jazzed up at night

Couple of tshirrty lyrcra tops making suree Ive got one which covers shoulders for those too hot moments

Couple of vest tops again, dark colours are good, and you can jazz them up easily for evenings or wear in the daytime

A shrug/ bolero/ mini cardi type thing, again to cover arms, or enough when you dont want a jumper

Couple of dresses

Shoes, I just go for something snazzy for the evening ( small heeled sandal) and some plainish pumps.

the pumps can be worn with any of the skirts or the trousers.
so can the tops
tops go with skirts
and so on!

Take lots of nice jewlry and make sure you theme your colours. The amount of times Ive taken tops that dont go with any of the trousers/ skirts ie loads of patterns so I cart all the clothes home again - hassle!

I reckon with a bit of jewlery you can diversify this enough for a week to be honest.

ladymarmalade

I always take

a vest top/ top for every day
3 short skirts
lined trousers
knee lengh skirt
a few pretty evening tops
a dress
two boleros/shrugs
2 or 3 bikinis plus sarong
flip flop
sandles
evening shoes
pjs

plus make up,jewelry, hairdryer, hair straighteners, a beach bag,a day bag and an evening bag

i never go over 15kg

newlywed

I always try and theme by colour - it's only a week so doesn't matter if it's all similar type colours. Therefore some tops/skirts are white or black and the rest is one similar colour (usually aqua coz I like it). Then shoes/flip flops only have to be one colour, accessories, bags etc - all one colour - easy to co-ordinate and easy to mix round as stuff is worn/dirty etc.

I found this was the best way to cut my suitcase down

shopaholictiedtheknot

LondonDiva wrote: »

OP do you mind if I hijack / steal ideas from this thread?

I'm travelling around Canada for a month & can't think what to take apart from a pair of jeans for the icefields:o

Don't mind at all! will it be warm when you go? how are you travelling - car/bus/ what baggage are you taking?

lynzpower

Do they recommend jeans for the icefields?. Only when I went skiing ( Ive been a few times) they dont really recommend denim, as when it gets wet, its heavy and darn cold!!

Tell us about the temperature and lets see what we can come up with!

noonesperfect

newlywed wrote: »

I always try and theme by colour - it's only a week so doesn't matter if it's all similar type colours. Therefore some tops/skirts are white or black and the rest is one similar colour (usually aqua coz I like it). Then shoes/flip flops only have to be one colour, accessories, bags etc - all one colour - easy to co-ordinate and easy to mix round as stuff is worn/dirty etc.

I found this was the best way to cut my suitcase down

I'm with newlywed on this one. The last time we went on holiday (for a week!) For daytime I took a pair of white linen cropped trousers, two vest-tops (cerise and black). For evening I took two smarter sleeveless tops (cream and cerise) to wear with patterned skirts that were predominantly one colour or the other plus a black wrap. Two pairs of sandals, you've guessed it black and cerise!!!!

noonesperfect

noonesperfect wrote: »

I'm with newlywed on this one. The last time we went on holiday (for a week!) For daytime I took a pair of white linen cropped trousers, two vest-tops (cerise and black). For evening I took two smarter sleeveless tops (cream and cerise) to wear with patterned skirts that were predominantly one colour or the other plus a black wrap. Two pairs of sandals, you've guessed it black and cerise!!!!

The alternative is to buy reversable clothes (entirely possible believe it or not) or there is a company which specialises in lightweight holiday clothes, though as I remember are rather expensive and also clingy (as I've never been svelte I haven't bought anything from there :rolleyes: )

brightonman123

thuis applies to ANYONE-
just take 1 overnight bag, with-
toiletries
change of clothes (for inevitable flight delay)
swimsuit
passport
cash/credit card - buy what you need there!

what else do you need?!

miss_edith

I too can take a weeks worth of holiday clothes etc in one piece of hand luggage -
1 pair of knickers per day
couple of bras
1 pair socks per day
1 top per day
2 pairs of trousers or 1 trousers and 1 skirt
spare pair of trainers - always wear the biggest and heaviest to travel in
couple of jumpers or cardis depending on the destination
I use the room toiletries so never take shower gel or shampoo
And I still have loads of space left for books, gameboy etc
If I need anything more I'll wash something or buy something new out there.

sooz

so that's where I've been going wrong! :eek:

I empty wardrobe into two suitcases

Add another small suitcase containing toiletries.

Get downstairs, and remember I haven't packed any shoes, & get another suitcase out for those!