How to Create a Winter Travel Capsule Wardrobe

I know you’re wondering if it’s possible to pack in just a carry-on + personal bag even in winter.  I’m here to tell you that, yes, it absolutely IS possible and I’m going to show you how.  

The key to packing light is to create a travel capsule wardrobe.  That means, you’ll come up with a bunch of mix and match clothes that make it easy to create cute outfits out of a small number of clothes.  Don’t worry, I’ll walk you through it.

We all, of course, want to look good when we travel but literally no one wants to lug around a heavy suitcase. You will look great in all your photos with this winter capsule wardrobe.

All of the clothes will easily fit in a carry-on bag along with the rest of the items you’ll need to pack for your trip.  And you’ll be breezing along the airport or train station while everyone else is huffing and puffing along, miserable with their giant bags.  

Let me show you how to make travel easy…

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Why a Travel Capsule Wardrobe?

I hate lugging around a giant suitcase- especially in Europe.  Those cobblestone streets are adorable but not so great for big, heavy wheeled suitcases.  And I’m too old for a giant backpack.  I just am.  

And who wants to check a bag and then cross your fingers hoping it makes it there?  Then then you have to wait around at the baggage claim while everyone else takes all the taxis.  But OK, if you absolutely MUST check a bag, put an Airtag in it in case it gets lost.  Worth every penny.

But also, I want to spend my vacation vacationing, not trying to coordinate outfits which is why I love a travel capsule wardrobe.  I mean, lots of people are doing capsule wardrobes for everyday too- decision fatigue is real!

Clothes to Pack

You only need the following to create 16 (or more) outfits:

• 1 dress
• 5 tops
• 3 toppers
• 3 bottoms
• 2-3 shoes
• 2 bags
• Accessories 

That’s all- easy peasy!

DRESS: black floral
TOPS: black velvet + white long collar + long red T + black T + long stripe T
TOPPERS: red cardi + stripe sweater + black blazer
BOTTOMS: black velvet + dark jean + light jean
SHOES: short black boots + tall black boots + red flats (similar)
BAGS: small black + tan medium
ACCESSORIES: red hat + brown coat

How to Pick Your Clothes

Step #1- Patterns

I tend to bring fewer patterns in winter.  You’ll have a lot going on with coats, hats, scarves, and gloves.  Patterns just aren’t as necessary in winter to spice things as they are in summer.  

1 Dress
When it’s cold out, I don’t wear a ton of dresses.  But I definitely do want at least one to wear out to a nice dinner.  Or maybe afternoon tea.  Toss a sweater and/or jacket over it with your coat to top it off, and it’s nice and warm.       

You could also bring some fleece tights to stay toasty or even put a pair of leggings on and wear them with tall boots so no one can see them.  

For this winter capsule, I picked a floral pattern with a little red and green in it.  It’s in a slinky satin fabric which is comfy and so elegant in my opinion.  You can pick a solid instead of a pattern of course.  But I like a little pattern.  

I used the red in the pattern to pick the other colors to pack.  I could have also used green or even a combo of them.  But I wanted to keep it simple.   

If dresses are your thing, you can absolutely bring more than one. My favorite kind of “just in case” dress is a satiny slip dress because it takes up no room in my luggage, doesn’t wrinkle, and I can change up the look a million ways.   

1 Pattern Top
Stripes are easy so I picked this black and white one with a funnel neck to keep out the drafts.  It adds just a touch of interest with solid color bottoms.  And I like that it’s ribbed- it feels cozier to me.  

1 Pattern Topper
I chose another stripe for one of the toppers.  It’s one of those Cashsoft sweaters that are really comfy and it’s easy to layer either over a shirt or under a jacket/blazer.  Or just wear it on its own.  

Step #2- Solids

Now it’s time to throw a little color in there.  As I said, I picked red (I loooove red) but go with whatever floats your boat- green, blue, anything really.  

4 Solid Tops
Layering is key in winter so make sure your tops go under all of the toppers.  

First, I found a pretty black velvet top (with matching pants- eek!).  It’s sleeveless and great for layering.  

Then there’s the white top that goes with everything of course.  I mean, it’s white.  Knits are great because it won’t wrinkle like a cotton button-down would.  And it’s much more comfy.  

And here comes a pop of color with a red top.  Did I mention how much I love red?  Toss a cute scarf or hat on and you’re done.

I put in a short sleeve T in black (a neutral as far as I’m concerned).  It’s great for a warmer day.  Or if, like me, you are plagued with hot flashes.  Mine are really bad and I like to be able to take off my sweater or jacket and cool down for a few minutes if needed.  Yet another reason to layer.    

2 Solid Toppers
I brought in the red again with a cute and comfy cardigan.  It’s a thing now that you can wear a cardigan buttoned up with nothing underneath.  Or you can layer something under and leave it open.

A blazer is also a good idea.  I thought this one was cute because it’s so boxy but feel free to change it up.  

If you want to be really warm, look into one made of wool- and be sure to layer up.  If it’s super duper cold outside, you can wear a top, sweater, blazer, and coat.    

3 Bottoms
The goal here- staying warm (and looking cute!).  I didn’t put any in this winter capsule but a really warm option is corduroy.  I have a cute, stretchy pink pair that I got from Anthropologie that wear sometimes.  They’re fabulous. 

Remember that cute velvet top I picked?  There are velvet pants that MATCH.  I know, right?  But you can absolutely wear them without the matching top.  They look cute with a sweater or a top and blazer.  They’re not just for fancy places.      

 Jeans are my go-to so I picked a dark, wider leg one and a lighter, slim leg one so you can wear the same basic outfit but have it look different. 

>> Check here for more travel capsule wardrobes all year round
☀️ summer, 🍁 fall, ❄️winter, & 🌷spring

Step #3- Shoes

I like traveling when it’s cold because I can wear boots to stomp around in with big thick socks on so I never get blisters (like I sometimes do in summer when I wear sandals).  

You can get by with only two pairs of shoes.  Yes, really. 

If you’re going somewhere with snow, make sure you bring ones that are waterproof.  There are lots of waterproof options that don’t look like hiking boots or snow boots.  My favorite is a pair of Aquatalia ones I bought a million years ago.  They’re comfy, keep me dry, and are adorable.  I get compliments on them from strangers on the street.  

2-3 Shoes
I like to bring a pair of boots that look a teensy bit dressy.  For me, that means some shorter boots that I can wear with the dress for a nice dinner.  

I also bring a pair of tall boots because then my calves are warm too 🤩. But feel free to bring tennis shoes instead.  Or opt for a more casual pair of boots for daytime.  

I picked black for both of the pairs of boots but a pair of colored tennis shoes would be good too.  I just saw a pair of green ones that would go with all of this.  Or maybe some in blue.  I feel like blue goes with pretty much anything.  I’m a big believer in “go with” rather than match.  

You also have the option to bring another pair of shoes if you really really want to.  Maybe bring a pair of flats or loafers.  I found some flats in the same red as the other things in the capsule.  I was torn between them and a pair of silver loafers.  I’m still not sure I made the right decision- they’re both so cute!    

Step #4- Accessories

These are how you can easily add interest to your outfits.  

2 Bags
First, you’re going to need one for during the day while you’re out sightseeing.  It will need to hold your phone, money, lipstick, and reading glasses 👵🏻 as well as a water bottle, snack, and maybe a selfie stick or camera.  

I like to use a hobo, tote, or medium size crossbody for this.  Sometimes I even bring a little foldup bag in case I run across a great market while I’m out and about and want to pick up some stuff for a picnic or some souvenirs. 

Yes, you can bring just one bag but I like to bring two.  It’s nice at the end of a long day of sightseeing to just toss the bare minimum into a small bag and skip off to dinner unencumbered.       

And of course if you need something even bigger, you’ll have your personal item from the flight.  I always bring a backpack and it comes in useful if you want to pack up for a picnic at the park, take enough water for a long hike, or take off your jacket after it warms up during the way.  

Other Accessories
Accessories are a great way to switch things up and add a little interest to your outfits.  It can be a way to work in some colors or patterns if you’ve kept your capsule to simple solids.      

In winter, you’re definitely going to want to have a warm hat, a pair of gloves, and a snuggly scarf.  Bonus points if they all match your capsule wardrobe because that restaurant might be chilly and you’ll want to keep your scarf or hat on. I was thinking that a Burberry scarf in tan with red and black plaid would be beautiful with this capsule.   

Jewelry isn’t quite as important in winter but you might want to have something like a pair of chunky earrings that show even when you have your hat on and scarf wrapped around your neck.

Something you might not think about in winter is bringing a pair of sunglasses– they’re not just for summer. It gets sunny in winter and they’re also great at adding interest to your photos. 

The Basics
The bulkiest thing you’ll need to bring in winter is a warm coat.  It takes up tons of room but the good news is that you’re not packing that big behemoth- you’re using it for a blanket on the plane.  Why are planes so cold anyway?

This sherpa coat is perfect because it’s casual enough for every day and nice enough to wear out to a nice dinner.  And it’s fuzzy!  

I picked that pretty brown color to add some interest to an all-black outfit and it also matches all the colors.  And it will make you look like a bear 🐻

I bring 5 pairs of undies and 5 warm socks (Smartwool or Darn Tough are the best) and wash them every few days.  Usually I can get by with 3 bras.  

A pair of silky pajamas are always in my suitcase because they smush down to nothing and dry in no time if you need to wash them.  And they feel great layered under a sweater- just sayin’.  

Capsule Outfits

But how do you put it all together?  Creating outfits should be pretty easy since it all matches.  This is, of course, the whole purpose of a travel capsule wardrobe.  Your vacay should be easy, not stressful!  

The following are just some of the options.  I’m sure you can come up with even more.  

DRESS: black floral
TOPS: black velvet + white long collar + long red T + black T + long stripe T
TOPPERS: red cardi + stripe sweater + black blazer
BOTTOMS: black velvet + dark jean + light jean
SHOES: short black boots + tall black boots + red flats (similar)
BAGS: small black + tan medium
ACCESSORIES: red hat + brown coat

>> Happy packing!!! <<

Longer Trips

Do not, I repeat, no NOT bring more clothes.  Seriously, do you really want to haul around a million pounds of clothes on your trip?  Wouldn’t you rather, I dunno, RELAX on your vacation?  Me too!  That’s why there is such thing as laundry.  

And if you’re in Europe, there are laundry places everywhere.  You drop your clothes off, go sightsee, and come back to pick them up clean, folded, and packaged to take home. A luxury I definitely don’t have at home. 

I bring a laundry bag to separate my dirty stuff and also my shoes in my suitcase and it’s helpful to haul stuff back and forth to the laundromat if I need to.  

Alternatively, you could rent an apartment with a washing machine for a night or two as you travel around.  The only caveat is to make sure you’ll be there long enough for your stuff to hang dry because dryers aren’t a thing in the rest of the world like they are in the US. 

And as for underwear and socks, I take mine in the shower with me every few days and wash them while I’m in there. Soap, rinse, wring dry, hang.  Super easy.  I have mesh undies that dry in hours and all my socks are wicking which means they dry usually overnight.

Sixteen outfits will get you through at least couple weeks before you need to do any laundry at all.  I usually wear each top or dress twice before I feel like it’s really gross.  Jeans I can wear pretty much indefinitely.  

Shorter Trips

If you’re traveling for a shorter number of days, just take some of it out until you have the number of outfits you need.  It will all still match.  Or bring it all and put on a fresh outfit for dinner every night.  Whatever.  Do your thing.

Questions about Travel Capsule Wardrobes

Do I need to buy all new clothes?
Absolutely not!  I don’t.  This example is just for inspiration and to help make it easier for you to plan.  You can absolutely ransack your closet and find most of what you need.  But I won’t lie- I do use packing as an excuse to buy a little something new.  I won’t judge if you do too.   

What do I wear on the plane?
You should wear your largest, heaviest shoes and your coat on the plane to save room in your luggage.  You can also stuff your gloves and hat into the pockets and wrap the scarf around your neck.  If you want to wear leggings on the plane that’s fine because they take up basically zero space in my luggage, dry in no time, and weigh close to nothing.  You can also wear them underneath your dress and pants to stay toasty warm once you get there.  I didn’t put them on the packing list because they’re not something you’ll wear as part of an outfit (they scream tourist- don’t do it).