Travel and fashion, two of my favourite things.

The last few vacations I have taken, my luggage has been out of control. I have taken the biggest suitcase that I had, and stuffed it to the brim. It had to have weighed at least 40kg. Travelling like that is stressful. Trying to shove everything back into the suitcase, making sure not to leave everything behind. Absolutely not my ideal way of moving around. So this trip, I have tried to do almost the opposite. I have decided to streamline for this trip, and only take the things I really need.

I am writing this while I am on vacation, and I can provide some real time insights into how I have used my capsule wardrobe and whether this was the way to go.

my luggage

suitcase

Delsey Freestyle Carry On – 55cm

This piece is quite stylish, but I’m not totally sold on this one. There are some positives to this bag, it’s very pretty, it rolls really nicely and the locking mechanism works great, it’s a good, carryon size. But the handle is janky and super annoying. I was running down the street in Vancouver, only to have the handle constantly unlock and shift up and down. I had another incident where I was trying to take a photo while on an escalator, again, the handle slipped down, and I missed the photo out of fear the suitcase would topple down, collecting those beneath like bowling pins.

packing cubes

amazon compression packing cubes – 4 pack

Instead of throwing my clothes into a suitcase like an animal, I have been experimenting with packing cubes. The last few work trips I have forgone the suitcase and just taken a backpack. And thanks to these packing cubes, I have been able to navigate through the airport in record time. It has been great to keep everything organised and has made packing and repacking a lot quicker. WOULD recommend.

backpack

Oroton Dylan Backpack – large

I have been on the hunt for a good leather backpack for years. Similar to the Delsey suitcase, the Oroton Dylan backpack is very stylish, but probably not suitable for intense travel. The opening to the bag isn’t very wide, making pulling liquids and electronics hard to do quickly, the straps have no padding, and there is very little in the way of internal pockets. In hindsight, I would go with a more robust backpack with more internal organisation.

my clothes

tops

I wanted to keep the top situation pretty simple. Neutrals and easy to wear (and clean) fabrics. So far, I’m pretty happy with my selection. There isn’t anything I would add.

bottoms

Similar to the tops, I’ve kept the bottoms pretty easy. Two pairs of shorts, two pairs of trousers that can be dressed up or down, a pair of jeans and leggings. The only change I would make is to select pants with easy to wash/dry fabrics. The leggings are super easy to wash each night, but everything else is a little harder.

dresses

Dresses are another versatile item, they can be a whole outfit in themselves. Like everything else, they can be dressed up and down for every occasion. They are also comfortable and easy to pack. These selections are colourful and light and flowy. Perfect for vacation.

shoes

Shoes are the item that I struggle to pare down, but I think I’ve made the perfect selection. I chose neutral leather tones in a flat and heeled version, which can dress an outfit up or down. And then there is the controversial addition, the New Balance 574s. While New Balance has made a bit of a resurgence of late, I still wasn’t convinced that New Balance were cool enough. But let me tell you, they are comfortable, somewhat stylish, and probably the unsung hero of this whole packing expedition.

outerwear

I decided to only go with two sweaters, made of quality fabrics, because I would be spending my time in multiple climates. The cardigan is perfect for those cooler mornings and plane trips. And you can never go wrong with a trench.

accessories

Accessories for a trip tend to take a backseat and only the most practical and favourite made the cut. Every one of these pieces has been well loved and worn in the past, and has proven to be well used on this trip, as well.

do i recommend paring down?

Taking only what you need has made things very easy. It really simplifies the process of getting ready each day, so you can concentrate on exploring and adventuring. Taking this size of luggage has also made moving through the airport a lot quicker. So yes, I do recommend paring down your packing, but make sure you take only thing that you love.

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