I just finished packing for a summer of travel with my two sons (ages 7 and 2) and am delighted that we are doing capsule wardrobes again this year. All three of our clothing for the entire summer fit into one standard-sized checked bag. Here’s a run-down of what I packed because there was no sparing essentials, but we manage to keep it simple when we travel.
Scaling Down Luggage
When I moved to Ireland from the States, I adapted to the smaller luggage allotments for flights because it was a fun challenge. I finally got the hang of it fully in 2010 when I flew to meet my dad in Valencia, Spain for a week with just a big shoulder bag filled with the basics. I flew Ryan Air and it was my personal item allotment. Did I mention I once moved a dining table to California in checked luggage with no additional fees? Yes, I’m really good at making the most of space, volume, and weight.
Valencia was easy though because it was just me, the real test was Madrid in 2015 with my husband and my then-four-year-old son LB. That trip, we went with just a carry-on item each. That trusty shoulder bag I used for Valencia was my best friend by then. The bag, as it happens is the exact measurements RyanAir allows. I went through stores measuring until I found the right bag.
But that was then, now I have two kids in-tow when I travel and to go away for an entire summer can be daunting. But this is how I did it, plus I keep telling myself there are stores in the States that sell things I’ve overlooked or lost en route.
How To Define Limits
To determine what to bring, I followed these rules:
- Each item needs to go with four other items.
- Each item needs to be machine washable (we are staying with family, an item could get lumped into a load and it needs to be able to handle it).
- Each item needs to feature one of my chosen colors: Navy, Pink/Red, Cream/White. Two wildcard items are permitted to be ANY color (I chose a green sundress and a mustard top).
- Each item is worn multiple times to test out.
- Each item needs to be cotton or linen. Two wildcard items are permitted to be synthetic fibre (I chose a green sundress and a navy checked sundress).
If an item didn’t meet ever single one of those rules, it didn’t make it into the final round for consideration. I am still keeping those clothes, they’ll get worn when I’m back from my trip, but they just aren’t right for this trip. I keep my clothes for a LONG time and take very good care of them, so they’ll all get plenty of wears, even if they’re not in my suitcase this summer.
I stuck with almost all solids for the bottom and prints for the tops. Navy, white, and pink are my main colors with a splash of green and yellow too. The red is pretending to be pink because it’s in gingham with white. We’ll let it slide.
I knew I could do the capsule wardrobe as a concept because I used a summer capsule wardrobe for traveling before and wrote about it here. But, as I just went over, I followed more defined ‘rules’ this time. Like before, I got ideas from Pinterest and stylists I adore. My favorite stylists to follow on Instagram are (the first three are Irish in Ireland):
@NatashaCrowley (she’s in THIS post & THIS post)
My Capsule Wardrobe – Summer 2019
The photo above is of the final items for consideration, many didn’t make the suitcase. If something isn’t 100% comfortable and workable, it can’t come. I’m chasing two kids this summer, I don’t have time for shorts that bunch or skirts that squish. I’m very conscious that I wanted my clothes and the clothes for both my sons to fit in ONE checked suitcase, so space was important. I tried to put some of this in a Pinterest board too.
The final and mostly complete Summer 2019 Capsule Wardrobe is in the photo below (some substitutes were made for similar items, like the skirt, swimsuit coverups, and starry blouse):
Tops – 13
- Elbow Sleeves – JCrew gingham smocked 2018
- Long/Elbow Sleeves – Stars with ruffles, thrifted
- Long/Elbow Sleeves – White eyelet, thrifted
- Elbow Sleeves – Zara mustard linen faux wrap, thrifted
- Long/Elbow Sleeves – Gap ruffled white with navy embroidery 2017
- Long Sleeves – Jcrew popover (spare outfit in the carry-on bag)
- Short Sleeves – JCrew sweater black 2017 (spare outfit in the carry-on bag)
- Short Sleeves – JCrew sweater cobalt 2017
- Short Sleeves – Gap sweater grey this season
- Sleeveless – Toile linen/cotton blend top from TKMaxx
- Sleeveless – Striped apron top from Gap this season
- Sleeveless – White eyelet Primark top I cut up and reinvented (shown below)
- Sleeveless – Red gingham Gap top from 1991 or so
- Sleeveless – H&M ruffled blue and gold drawstring waist top 2018
Top Layers – 2
- Sweater jacket from JCrew 2007 in red with ruffles
- Gap denim jacket from 2000 (airplane outfit)
- JCrew navy Teddy pullover with embroidered stars (ordered and meeting me there)
Bottoms – 6
- pale pink Gap Girlfriend Chino trousers from 2018
- dark denim Gap culotte jeans from this season
- multicoloured print skirt I adapted from a thrifted Oasis dress. (shown below)
- navy Gap Bermuda shorts from 2018 or 2017
- pink Gap Bermuda shorts from this season
- Laura Ashley toile white/blue jeans (ordered and meeting me there) – found this via Teggy French!
- black leggings (spare outfit in the carry-on bag)
Dresses – 3
- White/blue toile from Oasis this season
- Green and pink floral from Next last year (airplane outfit)
- Navy/white buffalo check with ruffled from Primark this season (shown below)
Other
- 2 swimsuits (JCrew 2018 and Dunnes 2017)
- 2 swimsuit coverups (they double as loungewear in the garden)
- 1 eyelet white bodysuit from H&M (this season)
- 3 white/cream/pale pink tank tops (Vila and Gap)
- 3 belts – pink, navy w flamingos, navy/green stripe
- PJs
- My trusty Sloggers sunhat
- Sunglasses
I made or heavily altered a few things in my capsule this summer, which I’ll share in posts on Thursdays. Since all my photos are of clothes folded on my bed, here are few things I’m bringing that I’m wearing in photos.
Seven-year-old’s Capsule Wardrobe
Tops – 12
- Long Sleeves – Pink/white gingham buttondown
- Long Sleeves – Red/Cream tee from Boots
- Long Sleeves – Dinosaur button-down from H&M
- Short Sleeves – Tropical print from H&M
- Short Sleeves – Sea creature-themed tee from Boots
- Short Sleeves – Sea creature striped tee from Boots
- Short Sleeves – Red striped tee from Boots
- Short Sleeves – Sushi playing soccer tee from Primark
- Short Sleeves – Basic navy polo, hand-me-down
- Short Sleeves – Chilly Willy tee
- Short Sleeves –Seahawks tee
- Short Sleeves – Jurassic World tee (airplane outfit)
Top Layers – 2
- Striped lightweight pullover from H&M this season
- Boots denim jacket (airplane outfit)
Bottoms – 6
- Boots octopus sweatpants (airplane outfit)
- Teal twill trousers from H&M
- Navy shorts
- Madras shorts from 2016
- Grey print shorts from 2016
- Tan shorts
Other
- 2 swimsuits
- PJs (spare outfit in the carry-on bag)
Two-year-old’s Capsule Wardobe
Tops – 12
- Long Sleeves – Pink/white gingham buttondown
- Long Sleeves – Green/navy dinosaur tee
- Long Sleeves – Dinosaur button-down from H&M
- Short Sleeves – Tropical print from H&M
- Short Sleeves – Sesame Street tee
- Short Sleeves – Beatles tee from H&M 2012
- Short Sleeves – Red striped tee from Petit Bateau 2014
- Short Sleeves – Navy polo
- Short Sleeves – Teal polo
- Short Sleeves – Pink polo
- Short Sleeves –Seahawks jersey
- Short Sleeves – Beastie Boys tee (airplane outfit)
Top Layers – 2
- Striped lightweight pullover from H&M this season
- Boots denim jacket (airplane outfit)
Bottoms – 7
- Boots octopus sweatpants (airplane outfit)
- Teal twill trousers from H&M
- Navy shorts
- Penguin blue striped shorts, thrifted
- Madras shorts from 2016
- Grey print shorts from 2016
- Tan shorts
Other
- 2 swimsuits
- PJs (spare outfit in the carry-on bag)
Also Packed in My Luggage
Toiletries.
Sun hats
Socks & underwear
I use a poster tube to transport digestive biscuits so they don’t get crushed.
I also bring Mint Crisp, Golden Crisp, and Barry’s Tea.
Our Travel Outfits
Each boy is wearing octopus print navy sweatpants and a denim jacket (both from Boots) with a white tee of their choosing. I am wearing my denim jacket with a maxi dress. I chose this dress because it is comfortable for sitting for long periods, but also has slits in the side for easy walking in airports.
The length disguises my circulation socks too, but I don’t really care if someone notices them I just don’t want them to be the focus of my outfit. I highly recommend wearing these socks to prevent DVT when traveling. I started when I was pregnant in 2011 and have worn them for almost every flight since. Long bus trips or car trips too. They really help foot fatigue I’ve found.
My Carry-on
I’m ready for a nap after all that detail, what about you? But here’s a bit about my carry-on bag first. I use my personal item for things I have an immediate need for. Like if the turbulence sign is on for two hours, I can manage happily with those items. Then my carryon bag itself is treated like a pantry with spares of things I’ll need to replenish at some point, like when I transfer planes and have the luxury of space in an airport.
My Personal Item
- Things to keep close, like wallet, ID, etc…
- Current knitting project with yarn to last for a couple hours, if not the entire flight because how much knitting can I actually get done on a plane with two kids?!
- Snacks
- Gadgets
- Power banks and cords
- Ear buds
- A paperback book or magazine
- Meds in case of headache, pain, nausea, allergic reaction
- Pampering kit with hand cream, eye mask, ear plugs,…
- Hand wipes
My Carry-on Bag (The Pantry)
- All medicines for the trip
- One change of clothes for each person traveling with me, including me. Two to be on the safe side.
- More yarn and knitting projects.
- Any hand knits I’m traveling with.
- More snacks to replenish the supply in my personal item.
- Spare ear buds
- Power cords for airports and destination
- Spare eye mask in case the first ends up on the floor of an airport somehow (it has happened)
- More handwipes
- Anything expensive or irreplaceable, like jewellery or Ming vases
- My aircast boot (my physio said wearing it in the airport will just wear out my back and slow me down)
That covers the basics. I just did a post on how I keep two kids happy on a 22-hour long-haul trip. You may like reading that too if you find traveling with kids under eight years old daunting. I’m an expat, I do it all the time. I think our seven-year-old has been to about 12 countries by now. The toddler is way behind with just five.
Comment with questions, I’ll do my best to answer them. Come back to EvinOK.com tomorrow to find out how I pack my knitting, specifically what’s in my travel knit kit and how I fly with knitting needles and scissors.