I have been perfectly happy with 25 pieces in my wardrobe for the last six months. Most of the items I carry are of high quality and function, and they are color-matched. I love wearing each piece and want to encourage you to whittle down your wardrobe as well.
In my previous life, as a suburban mom, I had a big walk-in closet. Of course, it was chuck-full - why else would you have one? I had rows of suits accumulated during my 25-year international corporate career. Oddly, the fact that my company has been on a business casual dress code for almost ten years had not made a dent in my closet. I kept the suits, blouses, tops, scarves, dresses, just in case. I also had kept decades worth of casual wear in sizes ranging from 6 to 14. I was told most moms do, just in case.
Then, the kids and I took off and started traveling. And …. - nothing changed. At least not immediately. First, I packed a standard bulky suitcase and left most of the stuff in the walk-in closet to gather more dust. With time, we traveled on, and each time we packed up, some things in my suitcase got eliminated or upgraded. That is how my travel capsule wardrobe started emerging. Once or twice a year, we stopped by home, and each time I was able to clear out the old stuff, ready to sell or donate. The start was small, but after each period of walkabout, the feat got easier. At some point, it was about tossing armfuls of stuff into big boxes and bags. It became fun; it felt great. I felt the growing space for new possibilities, a lightness, and the magic that resides in each new beginning. That's how we acquired a taste for minimalism.
Now I travel with a backpack that is similar in size to a large school backpack. Below I show you how I use compression cubes to travel with carry-on luggage only.
Pictures: my basics, my two cubes before compression, after compression, and, finally, in my pack.
Here is my basic list:
6 pieces total of undies, bras and socks
1 sun hat
1 bikini and a matching board short
2 functional stretchy sun dresses
2 cardigans: 1 beach and 1 dressy
1 legging
1 skort, a knee-length skirt with built-in bike-shorts
1 long sleeved t-shirt
1 long sleeved fleece hoodie
2 t-shirts
1 tank top
1 Bermuda shorts
About the author:
Born and raised in Europe, Insa is a world-schooling mom of three, a polyglot nomad, and a life coach. After decades of working for global corporations, she now explores the surprising revelations of a life adrift. She blogs on Kids on Walkabout.