I travelled during June to August to the following countries: Spain, Italy, France & Switzerland. From this experience I thought it useful to do a few blog posts on how to pack a versatile capsule holiday wardrobe for long term travelling. I visited a variety of smaller and larger cities, small seaside towns, beaches, campsites, hostels, air bnbs and hotels so I needed to pack quite a selection of clothes to meet this diverse criteria. Of course the main aim is to carry a small yet versatile collection so that you have as many outfit choices as possible. Especially when (like me) you are carrying all of your luggage on your back you want to make sure you really maximise the potential and only take items you will actually wear.

Keeping it Basic :

Keeping your capsule wardrobe to block colours is a great way to make your capsule holiday wardrobe super versatile. My capsule wardrobe consisted mostly of a monochrome palette with some plain blue and pink separates for a pop of colour when needed. I would recommend having monochrome as a base and picking your 2 favourite colours to wear as your pop colours (they don’t have to be bright, whatever you are comfortable in).

Items : 

Okay colour palette sorted but what items to actually pack?! In each blog post I will break down a couple of different item categories along with my specific recommendations. In June – August it is very hot so one must pack accordingly. Also worth noting that generally compared to London I found the destinations I visited much more of a casual vibe.

Like any of the items that you see?

Click on the images to be taken to the brands website. Any tips please do not hesitate to comment x

Part 1 :

Jackets : 

• I did not find that I needed any extra layers at this time of year. I recommend to take one denim jacket (fits perfectly with the casual vibe) just in case but I actually only used that when at the airport in London. Mine is a vintage Levi’s denim jacket passed down from my Dad but these are pretty easy to pick up at vintage stores too or of course you can buy a new one from Levi’s.

Tops :

The great thing about summer packing is that generally the clothes that you need don’t take up much space. I’m all for having lots of choice so tops are probably where I took the most selection. Also, whilst travelling you may not always have access to a washing machine so taking a few extra tops gives you a longer time frame to get away with not doing a clothes wash. I would recommend the following :

• Basic strappy tops (one black, one white)
• Variety of tops and t-shirts in plain black and white. Make sure to pack at least 10 various different styles; racer back, loose sleeveless with deep sleeves to show a flash of your swimwear, fitted, v-neck, round neck, halter neck etc. The more variety of different styles the better! It might seem excessive but trust me you will be pleased you brought a selection. The looser styles will be great for going to the beach and general sightseeing in the daytime.
• A sheer cotton white t-shirt is also a must as it is a great way to show a hint of your flashy bikini underneath or a pop of colour with a brightly coloured bra for a casual look with a twist. I love French brands such as The Kooples for simple items like this as they often have extra details such as a zip which adds a little something extra to a casual look
• Cotton tops with more fitted and lower cut necklines instantly make you feel more dressed up for the evening without looking too flashy in the more casual places.
• Camisoles – those who know me know that I have a real thing for silk camis and wearing pjs as outerwear. As they generally are more luxurious fabrics such as silk I found these were perfect to pair with cotton skirts or shorts for a smart casual look in the evenings.
• All these items are super small and lightweight to pack and so taking a selection doesn’t take up much space.

For basic everyday styles try :

Zara – H+M

For well cut T-shirts with extra detailing as only the French do try :

The Kooples – Sandro – Maje – See By Chloé

Camisole styles to try :

Agent Provocateur – Cami NYC

Stay tuned for Part 2 …

N.B. Any specific clothes I have mentioned are items I have collected over many years so although I have provided links to the company websites many of the specific items are no longer sold however there should be alternative options to choose from. Any tips needed on where to buy particular items please do not hesitate to ask.