Spring feels like it’s just around the corner as I’m writing this. We had a huge snow and ice storm this year, and I’m more ready than ever for warmer weather. Are you traveling this spring? It’s a popular time of the year to hit refresh and take a vacation. Or, maybe you’re traveling for work. I always had conferences in the spring! Packing for a trip can be exciting and overwhelming at the same time. But, putting together a capsule wardrobe for your travel can help streamline your packing. It’s nice to feel confident that you’ll be able to wear what you packed in a couple of ways or even multiple outfits. So, today I’m sharing a guide on how to build a travel capsule wardrobe for spring.
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What Is A Spring Travel Capsule Wardrobe
One of the best things about a capsule wardrobe is you can have a capsule wardrobe for anything you do – maybe you have one for work and maybe you have one for events. There are many reasons to have a capsule wardrobe within your larger wardrobe. Travel is one of them, whether you have a travel capsule wardrobe for family travel, work travel, or travel with friends.
The capsule wardrobe for today’s post is all about spring travel, which can feel a little tricky because of fickle spring weather. But, if you pack the right base outfits and outerwear, you’ll have plenty of outfit options and be ready for the weather.
How To Create a Capsule Wardrobe For Travel In Spring
Step 1: Know The Weather, Major Events On Your Schedule, And Any Dress Codes
I know this seems obvious, but it’s so important to know the weather and any dress codes before you start outfit planning. How can you know what to pack if you don’t know the temperatures and what types of clothes will be appropriate! For me, it’s the difference in packing just long sleeved tops or a mixture of long sleeve and short sleeve tops. It can also be the difference in packing cotton sweaters versus warmer wool sweaters. Plus, you’ll need to know whether you can wear jeans or if you need to bring nicer options.
If you’re traveling for work, it’s especially important to be aware of any major events or dress codes so you aren’t caught without the right outfit. You might need to make room in your suitcase for a nice dress and an extra pair of shoes, for example! I love when you can wear your work dress all the way through a work day and dinner, though, so I included an option for that scenario as well.
Step 2: Pick Two Or Three Base Outfits
Let’s start with base pieces. Base outfits are essential to a capsule wardrobe because they make up, well, the base of your outfits. These are the pieces you really need to like because you’re going to wear them more than once. And, you need to be able to rely on them. I typically pack two pairs of jeans along with a skirt as the bottoms for my base outfits for trips where my outfits have a casual feel. For tops, I pack button ups, sleeveless sweaters, or t-shirts that I can easily layer with, and mix and match. It’s important to have a long sleeved option since you never know what the weather might do in spring!
Color palettes are definitely something to consider to make sure most everything works together, but you don’t have to be perfect with it. The key is being able to mix and match most, if not all of these pieces. That’s one reason I love to rely on neutral colors. You could pack this grey blazer to wear over your base outfits like I am above. Plus, wear the blazer over your sweater if it’s too cold for a t-shirt base! I would also wear the sweater I packed over a dress, and use the blazer as a coat! This blazer buttons nicely too, so it can definitely be used as a coat. If you aren’t into grey, my blazer also comes in camel and black.
If you’re going on a work trip, you probably want to pack two pairs of work pants for your base outfit. I would choose a neutral color because you can easily wear them multiple times without anyone knowing. These two outfits are examples of how you can pack for a work trip. My beige pants are still in stock, and they come in tons of colors, including black.
My trousers are crepe, which is a material that works well with spring weather. You won’t be too hot in them if you encounter a randomly hot spring day. But, you won’t be cold in them either. They’re versatile in that they look good with mesh ballet flats or flats with sock tights for a cold day spring look. I love the navy sweater I linked because it’s 100 percent cotton and under $100. Plus, it’s perfect to wear with jeans on a casual work day or the weekend.
Step 3: Pick Your Outerwear
Your outerwear needs obviously depend on your destination. For spring, a trench coat, blazer, leather jacket, or denim jacket are all sensible options!
I especially love blazers this time of the year because you can layer a sweater, a button up, a blouse, or a t-shirt under them. And, you can also use them as outerwear on more mild days. So, you basically get something you can wear everywhere and with everything. Trench coats are another outerwear option that you’ll never regret packing!
Step 4: Decide On Shoes
Shoes always end up taking up way more space in my suitcase than I plan for! I try to have one pair of shoes I know I can wear with every outfit and then another pair of shoes as an option should I have space for them. Be sure to pack shoes that work with your dressier outfit if you have an event you’re going to. I love shoe bags to keep them safe during travel!
If you don’t need another pair of shoes for an event, there’s nothing wrong with packing just one pair of shoes when you’re packing a spring travel capsule wardrobe, especially for work trips.
Step 5: Event Outfit: If You Need A Dress Or Nice Pants
This dress works for a lot of different occasions, including a spring vacation or work events. It’s kind of the perfect spring dress because it has long sleeves that you can roll up if you want to. And, the fabric is a super lightweight and soft cotton. You can dress it up with boots, pumps, or wear it more casually with loafers or sneakers. If you’re dressing for a cold day, this dress would look so cute with a sleeveless sweater under it for an added layer of warmth. I own and love this one.
If you’re packing for a work trip, I like this dress as an option if you need an outfit after meetings that still feels work appropriate. Basically, it’s not a gala dress. But, it’s a nice option for a conference dinner or just getting dinner out after your work day is over!
This dress is just versatile, which makes it perfect to pack for work or for fun travel because you can wear it with just about any type of shoe. I recently wore it to an event at a store and dinner with a friend.
If you prefer to pack another pair of pants instead of a dress, check out this dressy pants outfit that I love for special occasions. It’s perfect for any time you want to get dressed up, so you can pack it for a fun trip or a work trip. The pants have the benefit of being easy to pack because of their flowy material, and they’re very breathable for spring. You can add warmth by wearing a sweater or a blazer. They come in several different colors. I love the navy and the black for work though.
Step 6: Don’t Forget Travel Outfits
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve carefully planned and packed an outfit for each activity in a trip and totally forgotten to pack something for my trip home. It’s the worst!
I wore this button up below on a flight home after wearing it on my trip. Use a steamer or iron to make a shirt you already wore feel clean. I prefer a new outfit for a long flight or a long drive. But this is one trick to help if you don’t have access to laundry or room in your suitcase!
I typically use this travel outfit to get a pair of shoes and my outerwear home. I think my shoes typically match what I’m wearing. But honestly, no one is going to notice what shoes you’re wearing on a plane!
Spring Travel Outfits
Button Up With Jeans and Trench Coat
A button up, nice pair of jeans, and a trench coat will never fail you. It’s one of the best base outfits! It’s perfect for vacation, but it’s also a good option for work. You can make this outfit business casual by adding work pants or a skirt. I love how it easily pairs with loafers and ballet flats too.
Cashmere Sleeveless Sweater You’ll Rewear Constantly
My cashmere sleeveless sweater is the definition of a closet hero, and it’s under $60. It also comes in other colors in case grey doesn’t work for your wardrobe. Whatever color you choose, you will wear this sweater with everything! Classic pieces like this should work across your wardrobe needs. It’s perfect for a work trip or a personal trip, which is why I love it. You can style it under a blazer, button up, sweater, jacket, or even the dress I shared above. I also like to wear it over this silk blouse.
The sweater is warm, but it isn’t super heavy so it won’t make you sweat. It matches brown, black, or gray shoes and accessories.
Here are a few other ways I’ve styled it since purchasing it.
A Few Tips On How To Layer Clothes For Travel
Wear Your Coat on The Plane
Outerwear can be easier to travel with than you think. I always wear my coat or one of my coats on the plane – even if it doesn’t make sense for the weather at home. You can easily store the coat above you, under the seat, or even in your seat. If you pack multiple coats for your trip, wear your heaviest coat on the plane so you don’t have to fit it in your suitcase.
Don’t Pack Shoes Just For Travel Days
Likewise, I always wear a pair of loafers, ballet flats, or my suede sneakers on the plane so I don’t take up space in my suitcase with them. Unless you’re going to be in heels your entire trip, there’s no reason to bring a pair of shoes that you only plan to wear on travel days!
Okay, that’s all from me today! I hope you found a few helpful ideas or tips on how to put together a spring travel capsule wardrobe. If you’re looking for tips on a business casual capsule wardrobe, check out my blog post.
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