Tired of carrying the kitchen sink away with you?
Are you the type of person that packs all of your favourite items to later discover that, even though you had to sit on your suitcase to shut it close, you still have nothing to wear? Or, are you just clueless every time you have to travel wondering what to pack?
Traveling light does not mean recycling one outfit from day to night. Regardless if you are traveling for business or for a holiday destination, no one wants to be burdened with lugging too much luggage around writes Susana Sarmiento, NZ’s N#1 Self-Image & Style Expert from La’Qua Image.
Happy packing!
Are you the type of person that packs all of your favourite items to later discover that, even though you had to sit on your suitcase to shut it close, you still have nothing to wear? Or, are you just clueless every time you have to travel wondering what to pack?
Traveling light does not mean recycling one outfit from day to night. Regardless if you are traveling for business or for a holiday destination, no one wants to be burdened with lugging too much luggage around writes Susana Sarmiento, NZ’s N#1 Self-Image & Style Expert from La’Qua Image.
Happy packing!
How to ‘Travel in Style’ without excess baggage:
Fabulous article to cut & store it in your suitcase. Click here for your download version.
Plan
Count the days you will be spending away from home and the different types of clothing you will require; i.e. suits for meetings, leisure wear, activities/sporting (i.e. skiing or swimwear), eveningwear (tux or glam dress).
Build A Capsule Wardrobe
Now that you know the number of days you will be away and the different types of clothing you will require, you can then build a ‘Capsule Wardrobe’ that can take you from day-to-night, from casual to dressy.
Believe it or not but if you pack 12 pieces that mix and match, you can create over 40 different outfits. The type of trip you are taking will have an impact on whether you pack corporate, casual, or seasonal clothing.
What to pack
In order for this ‘Capsule Wardrobe’ to work, refrain from packing the different colours of clothing to match a rainbow. Everything you pack must be restricted to four to five of your complimentary* colours that go well together.
The secret here is harmony; i.e. black, taupe, red, white, and light blue; against more difficult combinations such as black, turquoise, orange, brown, and lemon green.
Packing Checklist
Accessories
Choose accessories that can carry from day to evening also. Did you know that 30% of your wardrobe budget should be invested in accessories? And ladies, accessories are not all shoes! However, anything that is not your originally garment i.e cammies, cardigans, things you can layer, costume jewellery etc.
You can revive any outfit into a work of art.
For the ladies, you could use a clutch purse as your travel wallet and turn it into an evening clutch purse. Scarves, belts and jewellery that match all of your outfits. That is, choose either gold or silver to make it simple.
And for the men, choose ties and, if needed, cuff links that blend will the colours you have chosen.
We recommend our clients to pack more accessories than clothes and you will have more fun with your travel wardrobe!
Shoes
This is the most difficult task for me. Try to keep the shoes to a maximum of three pairs no matter how long your trip. And that is two pairs in your luggage and one on your feet. Even though this rule is brutal, it does force you to plan your outfits well and carefully edit your choices of clothes. Keep to the same principles; try not to add any new colours.
Layer it up
You can create even more combinations by layering your garments; i.e. wearing two tops together, a shirt or blouse over a singlet or t-shirt and a different jacket.
Now, believe it or not, you can use this same principle to build any seasonal ‘Capsule Wardrobe’ a trip to sunny Fiji or a skiing in Switzerland and avoid those expensive purchasing mistakes that do not compliment your current wardrobe needs.
Try it out on your wardrobe and put together a ‘Capsule Winter Wardrobe’. If you find that you cannot put together these 12 pieces of items, then you have a wise shopping decision to make the next time you hit the stores against those costly impulses.
Looking and feeling great in your skin isn’t about the price tag of your clothing or how many hang in your wardrobe. In the contrary, style is about learning how to enhance your best features and learning how to creating endless & fun combinations with your wardrobe.
NEED HELP? To many clothes and not enough to wear? Assistance to make sense to your style and wardrobe? Why tolerate this insanity any longer. Take your next powerful step
Fabulous article to cut & store it in your suitcase. Click here for your download version.
Plan
Count the days you will be spending away from home and the different types of clothing you will require; i.e. suits for meetings, leisure wear, activities/sporting (i.e. skiing or swimwear), eveningwear (tux or glam dress).
Build A Capsule Wardrobe
Now that you know the number of days you will be away and the different types of clothing you will require, you can then build a ‘Capsule Wardrobe’ that can take you from day-to-night, from casual to dressy.
Believe it or not but if you pack 12 pieces that mix and match, you can create over 40 different outfits. The type of trip you are taking will have an impact on whether you pack corporate, casual, or seasonal clothing.
What to pack
In order for this ‘Capsule Wardrobe’ to work, refrain from packing the different colours of clothing to match a rainbow. Everything you pack must be restricted to four to five of your complimentary* colours that go well together.
The secret here is harmony; i.e. black, taupe, red, white, and light blue; against more difficult combinations such as black, turquoise, orange, brown, and lemon green.
Packing Checklist
- 2 x Suits/Outfits that match (preferably in your complimentary neutral colours)
- A suit can be a jacket, vest, or cardigan sweater that matches the skirt and/or pants. They can be of the same fabric or fabrics in the same colour.
- 4 x Blouses, shirts, or tops that coordinate with both suits/outfits. They can be two in neutral or basic colours and two patterned that blend well with the suits.
- 1 x Dress or Waistcoat (for women), V-neck knit (for men) in a solid colour for versatility, so it can be dressed up or down. It can be worn with a casual jacket or dressed up with a scarf.
- 1 x Jersey in a neutral or basic colour in the preferred style and to suit your body proportions.
Accessories
Choose accessories that can carry from day to evening also. Did you know that 30% of your wardrobe budget should be invested in accessories? And ladies, accessories are not all shoes! However, anything that is not your originally garment i.e cammies, cardigans, things you can layer, costume jewellery etc.
You can revive any outfit into a work of art.
For the ladies, you could use a clutch purse as your travel wallet and turn it into an evening clutch purse. Scarves, belts and jewellery that match all of your outfits. That is, choose either gold or silver to make it simple.
And for the men, choose ties and, if needed, cuff links that blend will the colours you have chosen.
We recommend our clients to pack more accessories than clothes and you will have more fun with your travel wardrobe!
Shoes
This is the most difficult task for me. Try to keep the shoes to a maximum of three pairs no matter how long your trip. And that is two pairs in your luggage and one on your feet. Even though this rule is brutal, it does force you to plan your outfits well and carefully edit your choices of clothes. Keep to the same principles; try not to add any new colours.
Layer it up
You can create even more combinations by layering your garments; i.e. wearing two tops together, a shirt or blouse over a singlet or t-shirt and a different jacket.
Now, believe it or not, you can use this same principle to build any seasonal ‘Capsule Wardrobe’ a trip to sunny Fiji or a skiing in Switzerland and avoid those expensive purchasing mistakes that do not compliment your current wardrobe needs.
Try it out on your wardrobe and put together a ‘Capsule Winter Wardrobe’. If you find that you cannot put together these 12 pieces of items, then you have a wise shopping decision to make the next time you hit the stores against those costly impulses.
Looking and feeling great in your skin isn’t about the price tag of your clothing or how many hang in your wardrobe. In the contrary, style is about learning how to enhance your best features and learning how to creating endless & fun combinations with your wardrobe.
NEED HELP? To many clothes and not enough to wear? Assistance to make sense to your style and wardrobe? Why tolerate this insanity any longer. Take your next powerful step
RSS Feed