How to Create a Minimalist Travel Wardrobe That Isn’t Bland

If baggage fees and heavy luggage are weighing you down, it’s time to embrace the minimalist travel wardrobe trend. Before I created my travel capsule wardrobe, packing felt stressful. It was a guessing game of what outfits to bring, and how much I could stuff into my suitcase before the zippers split open.

Flat lay of travel capsule wardrobe, including striped shoes, straw hat, and tank top.

Today, I can pack for a week in a backpack in under 10 minutes!

Before we go any further, I’d like to clear up a common misconception about minimalist travel clothes. Your vacation wardrobe does not need to be black, white, and bland.

I’ve read too many articles that push colorless clothes as the ultimate mix and match travel wardrobe. While it’s certainly easier to pair monochromatic items, it definitely takes the fun out of it. I don’t know about you, but I enjoy wearing colorful pieces when I’m on vacation!

Fortunately, you can look great and still travel ultralight if you’re strategic about what and how you pack. I’ll be sharing my super-easy rule for coordinating vacation clothes later in the post.

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Steps to Build Your Minimalist Travel Wardrobe

  1. Start with an ultralight travel packing list
  2. Choose coordinating minimalist travel clothes
    1. My travel capsule wardrobe for Europe (and beyond)
  3. Invest in travel capsule wardrobe essentials
  4. Use a carryon backpack for traveling without luggage

Start with an ultralight travel packing list

Stack of vintage suitcases.

In the world of minimalist travel, there’s only room to bring the essentials. And the best way to keep yourself from over-packing is to create an ultralight travel packing list.

Your list will be unique to you, because everyone has their own special needs. For example, I’m fine with using any provided hair products, but I have to bring my own face wash. I also have to wear supportive shoes, so I can’t just walk around in a pair of flats for a whole trip.

Here’s an example of what goes in my minimalist travel backpack for a one week trip:

  • 2 bottoms
  • 4 tops
  • 1 cardigan
  • 4 pairs of socks (two of which are re-wearable SmartWool)
  • 2 sets of pajamas
  • 7 pairs of underwear
  • 2 bras
  • Hairbrush
  • Hairties and bobby pins
  • Eye makeup (I don’t typically wear anything else)
  • Toothbrush
  • Toothpaste
  • Deodorant
  • Face cleanser
  • Moisturizer
  • Dry shampoo (Living Proof’s Perfect Hair Day is a must for my oily hair)
  • Portable battery pack (I don’t travel without my Anker PowerCore)
  • Universal travel adapter (Dandelion and BESTEK are my favorites)
  • Headphones (ditching wired headphones for Jabra bluetooth earbuds changed my life)

Choose coordinating minimalist travel clothes

The real secret to creating a minimalist travel wardrobe is learning to think outside of “outfits”.

Many people I know pack individual outfits for each day, and maybe an extra dress and a pair of heels “just in case”. But the beauty of a travel capsule wardrobe is that everything can be mixed and matched.

Instead of 7 distinct outfits, you have 7-10 pieces that all work together no matter how you pair them.

The easiest way to do this is by following the neutral rule.

With the neutral rule, you either wear all neutral on top, or all neutral on bottom. That means there’s plenty of room for color in every outfit!

Personally, I travel with black and grey jeans, and I pack brightly colored tops. But if you have a favorite floral skirt or red pants, bring along some black, white, or grey tops to match.

Woman wearing mix and match travel wardrobe of black jeans, red hat, and blue backpack.

Another option is to choose complementary colors.

These are hues that sit opposite one another on the color wheel, like blue and orange. And when you pair them together, they create outfits with impact.

You should still mix some neutrals into your minimalist travel wardrobe. But focusing on complementary colors means you can bring a pink skirt and green top without fear of clashing.

Red and white top with blue jeans make great minimalist travel clothes.

Finally, pastel hues make great minimalist travel clothes.

The softness of the colors makes them easy to mix and match. When choosing pieces, stick to faded greens, pinks, blues, and yellows. Some people think pastels are only for spring, but who could say no to a powder blue sweater in winter?

Close-up of pastel colored sweaters on white hangars.

My travel capsule wardrobe for Europe (and beyond)

Colorful travel capsule wardrobe Europe hanging on clothesline.

If you follow me on Instagram, you know I mostly travel around Europe. I also carry a camera bag and tripod, and tend to clock over 20,000 steps every day. As you might imagine, I don’t fill my bag with dresses and heels!

Comfort is #1 for me, but I don’t want to stick out in a city of well-dressed people. Thus, my travel capsule wardrobe for Europe balances comfort and style.

Here’s what I pack for a trip to Europe (and pretty much everywhere):

2 Pairs of Jeans

Instead of traditional blue, I opt for pairs of black or grey skinny jeans. They go with any top and can be dressed up or down.

If you’re more into relaxed fit, these Levi’s are super comfortable and look cute with a tucked-in or cropped top.

Casual Dress

If the weather is right, I like to bring a fun yet casual dress. Having a dress on hand also means I won’t feel out of place if we decide to have a nice dinner.

Black Cardigan

When exploring Europe’s beautiful cathedrals and scenic overlooks, a cardigan is a must. Sometimes I’ll tie it around my waist on the plane to save space in my bag.

Black & White Striped Long Sleeve Shirt

This neutral staple is in heavy rotation for my everyday and travel wardrobes. I like the long sleeve option, because you can wear it all day without getting too hot or cold.

3 Colorful Tops

I follow the “neutral rule” for bottoms, so I brighten my outfits with vibrant tops. I tend to wear 3/4 length sleeves, or pair a short/sleeveless top with my black cardigan.

Ballet Flats

I wear tennis shoes on the plane and for most of my trips. But I always keep a pair of nude ballet flats in my backpack for nicer occasions.

Save me for later!

Invest in travel capsule wardrobe essentials

Flat lay of jeans, sweater, shoes, purse, and accessories.

If you’ve embraced the minimalist lifestyle, you know the value of investing in versatile, quality items. Having things like wrinkle free travel clothes or convertible dresses are key to packing light.

I always shop my closet before adding any new purchases. But if you don’t already own the right pieces, here are some travel capsule wardrobe essentials to buy:

  • Three-in-one jacket: Look for one that’s weather-proof and hooded so you can skip the umbrella.
  • Comfortable & neutral shoes: Choose a pair that work with pants and skirts/dresses, like classic white Adidas.
  • Wrinkle-resistant fabrics: Materials like wool, polyester, and knits naturally repel wrinkles, so no wasting precious vacation time ironing!

Use a carry on backpack for traveling without luggage

Black carry on backpack with items for traveling without luggage.

The best thing about having a minimalist travel wardrobe is that it can easily fit into a carry on. I can pack for a week in a backpack, which is far more comfortable to carry around than a roller bag.

I’ve written an entire post on my favorite minimalist travel backpacks, along with dozens of tips for traveling without luggage.

My Tortuga Setout is spacious, comfortable, and opens like a suitcase. It was an investment, but it’s built to last and makes traveling with only a backpack a real joy.

Check out my review of the Tortuga Setout vs. Osprey Farpoint for more details.

I hope I’ve convinced you that creating a minimalist travel wardrobe is easy! Say goodbye to heavy suitcases and monochrone outfits, and hello to traveling light and colorfully.

17 thoughts on “How to Create a Minimalist Travel Wardrobe That Isn’t Bland”

  1. I am preparing to take an 8 month contract at a resort in Alaska. I will part of the administrative team which requires a business casual wardrobe. I will be living on the property in a small studio and will not have much room for storage. Any suggestions that you may be able to offer, or guidance points to look for as I prepare to embark on this incredible journey.

    Reply
    • What an amazing opportunity, Betty! Under-bed storage boxes are great for small spaces. If you have a closet or a narrow space, you could add a tension rod (like the ones for shower curtains) to create additional hanging space.

      Reply
    • You could also use the shower organizers to hang from under the mattress to put shoes in also. Would have to cut it some to fit under mattress and hang over / under the mattress but it works.

      Reply
    • Thanks Kaitlyn! Sadly this is a stock flat lay, so I don’t know where to buy those cute shoes. I believe they’re brown leather Oxfords, so maybe you’ll find some in a shop near you!

      Reply
  2. Finally a minimalist packing list that is minimalist. Just last year I went to southern Africa for 3 months and took nothing more. I’m not a kid either – 69 and it is still highly doable.

    Reply
  3. Thank you, Chelsea! Every overseas trip has taught me to pack lighter and lighter. What I love about your suggestions for the wardrobe is bringing in color. I do not like the minimalists lists that use only drab colors. I am in my 70s now and with pain issues I can no longer do the backpacking but I did invest in a very lightweight roller suitcase (carry-on size) that I use for even my 3-month Europe trips. The other item is a small daypack that works as my personal item for flights and contains purse items and essentials for the plane so that I don’t have to get into my suitcase on the plane.

    Reply
  4. Hi, Chelsea

    Personally, I never pack pajamas for trips that are 7 days or less, even for my 12-day trips to Europe and Japan.. I mostly packed no-wrinkle T’s with shorts that could be used for sleep as well as regular outfits.. This was specially helpful when we flew low cost flights to Europe with only 10kg of total carry-on allowance..

    Reply
  5. Thanks for the useful list. Just finished a multi-week French adventure and packed with this list! Did laundry once, and my bag is currently full of funk but that would have been easily correctable if I’d stayed longer and needed to do more laundry.
    I bought a corkscrew/bottle opener tool for about 3 euros at a grocery store when I first arrived. The little foil cutter knife worked for sausages too, so that plus a spoon was all I needed for all kinds of picnics. Therefore I’d add a grapefruit spoon (serrated, for scooping melon or whatever else you like), and a corkscrew as an optional item if checking the bag and inclined to use one. Travel-sized Febreze was a huge help too, and my cute scarf was ideal for dressing up the basics.

    Reply
  6. I would add a silk scarf. My husband has gifted me a few and I always take one. If it’s cold, it warms my neck. If it’s 94 in Rome (last month), it can be dipped in the fountains and draped on my neck. If I want to dress up my outfit, it works. If my neck is chafing against my purse strap, it provides a buffer. If I want to portage a snack, it can be the wrapper. If you have an accident, (ahem, of many types in my family), it can help wipe/clean/bandage.

    Reply
    • What a fantastic idea! I always considered silk scarfs a frivolous accessory (unless I’m going to Paris!). Thank you for the tip!

      Reply
  7. I wish I could be that carefree. I am going to Scotland in September and the weather can change in an instant. I am going to pack some summer clothes and some fall clothes. Rain coat, rain boots, silk as well as a warm scarf. I tend to get a soar throat easily. Also PJs, T-shirts, a couple sweaters, underwear, socks, walking shoes, slacks, leggings and lots of Anti-acids for my poor wee tummy and Tylenol for my arthritis. To me that is packing light! He! He!

    Reply
    • I think when you go to a climate like that, you do have to pack for two seasons! Everything you mentioned can cross over a bit or can be used several ways. Scarves are always my favorite thing for warmth or cute accessory instead of jewelry (and I’m a jewelry lover!). Suggestion: I like to lay everything out on the guest bed for several days. See what’s really needed. It’s also a great way to see what color theme you might have going and pick scarves accordingly! By laying things out you can see what mixes and matches, too, and gives more outfits if needed! I’ve been to Ireland and England many times but would love to try Scotland! Have an amazing time!

      Reply
    • Europe has the best antacids called Reni! Beats Tums any day.
      I stock up on them when I’m in Ireland. I know they have them in U.K. too.

      Reply

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