On my recent trip to Vancouver, I was tasked to complete a travel capsule wardrobe challenge: 9 articles of clothing for the 9 days of my trip. This travel capsule wardrobe challenge was difficult for me. Find out why, which pieces of clothing I chose, and what my outfits looked like! Also, huge shoutout to Irene for bearing with me for a week and taking most of these pictures.
The Good
First thing to note about the travel capsule wardrobe is that it made packing very light. All I had to do was pack 9 articles of clothing (along with shoes, pjs, undergarments, accessories, and toiletries). I would definitely recommend it for trips where you can only bring a carry-on. A travel capsule wardrobe also decreases the time it takes to decide an outfit!
The Bad
Personally, I think a capsule wardrobe is easier done on a day to day basis in your hometown as opposed to a foreign destination. As someone who finds it difficult to trust the weatherman, it was hard to choose my clothing based solely on the predicted weather conditions.
My 9 Items
Mixing and matching is key to the travel capsule wardrobe and thankfully my basic wardrobe was very accommodating. As you can see, there isn’t a lot of colour.
From left to right, my travel time capsule consisted of:
1. Black dress
2. Pink tank top
3. White blouse
4. Peppered black skort (skirt + shorts)
5. Black jeans
6. Blue jeans
7. Cream cardigan
8. Jean jacket
9. Leather jacket
My Outfits
The Ugly
The worst thing about this challenge was probably documenting it and “posing” for all these photos. Other than that minor inconvenience, another issue was the fact that Vancouver’s weather was a lot warmer than expected. I survived, barely. If I could go back in time, I’d probably swap out the leather jacket for a long sleeve.
Another reason why Janice and the travel capsule wardrobe aren’t a good fit is because I love to eat but I suck at it. Unfortunately, my food loves falling on my clothes and the fact that we had ice cream/shaved ice every other day was extremely dangerous. If you’re like me, make sure you have some back up clothes or an accessible laundry machine in case you drop a turnip cake on yourself at dimsum.
Your Turn?
Since trying the travel capsule wardrobe challenge, it has inspired me to try to de-clutter my wardrobe and think strategically before I purchase new items. While a capsule wardrobe isn’t for everyone, I would definitely recommend you try it for a week or on your next trip. Be sure to tell us about your experience and keep an eye out for Kitty’s upcoming travel capsule wardrobe (in Taiwan!).
–
Stone & Fern is a travel and lifestyle blog started by friends who have a passion for exploring cities, capturing moments, and trying new food.