I’m calling this my authentic summer travel capsule wardrobe because it’s actually what I packed and took on our recent road trip.
There are many times I see suggestions on what to pack. But did the person really travel and take those items and really wear them??
That’s why I’m here to prove my authentic style with this summer travel capsule wardrobe.
Quote of the day: “A mistake repeated more than once is a decision.” Paulo Coelho
While I’m not a fan of capsule wardrobes and being limited in my choices, it is what it is when traveling.
This summer travel capsule wardrobe was for a 9-day trip, 4 of those days being on the road for at least 8 hours. My husband and I took a large suitcase, so we each had half the suitcase for our clothes.
Since it was a road trip, we did put our toiletries and miscellaneous things in other bags in the car.
Insider tip: My goal when packing is NOT to make sure that I wear everything I take. I think that is an idea reiterated by many articles and I believe it is not realistic.
My thought process is to pack enough so that I am prepared.
For me, the worst thing on a trip is not to have the right gear for the weather. Sure, you can sometimes purchase new things, but if you don’t need to, that’s a bonus.
I have written other articles about how to pack and what to take on travels if you need other ideas.
How to Pack-Summer Travel Capsule Wardrobe
I believe that there should be a system for packing. It makes the exercise easier and more reproducible.
That’s one reason why I have a printed packing list that is priceless (although I need to update it to include our massage gun). Here is a copy of my packing list although yours will be different.
Usually, I start my packing with what shoes to take. But this time was different.
4 out of the 9 days would be driving in the car, so I decided to start with that.
Road Tripping Capsule Clothing
I shared these options on my IG stories as I was packing, and the thinking behind the reason for choosing a skirt.
Not just any skirt works, but this one fits the bill.
Here’s my rationale.
- BATHROOM sanitary. Especially at the gross gas stations. I don’t like the idea of pants falling to the floor, so a skirt solves all of those problems.
- Cooler for airflow.
- I can easily pull it up while in the car if I need to.
- A print is better in case of spills or stains.
- A-line or flowy is more comfortable for moving around.
- Since this skirt was for my summer travel capsule wardrobe, I chose a lightweight material.
Insider detail: This skirt used to be a dress. It was a smocked bodice with sleeves and a tiered skirt. However, the bodice did not stay up so I removed the sleeves, and made the smocked portion into the waistband. It’s also longer now which is perfect for travel.
After choosing the skirt, I found 4 tops that would work with the skirt.
Then I picked a pair of fashion sneakers and sandals (BTW, I changed which sandals I took as you’ll see in my real outfits).
The Other Clothes
After I had the road trip outfits as my foundation and knew which shoes were included, I then found my other looks.
- I included this knit dress because one day would be a half-day car ride from Challis to Boise. Same #1 reason as above for wearing a dress.
- A pair of jeans (these were a recent purchase from Old Navy) that were lightweight and wide-legged.
- A pair of shorts.
- Shirts to go with all of these and a sweatshirt.
Since we were taking Piper, I knew we would be walking her at least once a day. Thus I included:
- Leggings
- Shorts
- 2 sports bras
- 3 t-shirts
- 3 sweatshirts (one was the same as pictured in other clothes photo)
- Athletic sneakers
Insider tip: I recommend trying on the outfits you plan to wear before packing them. I know this sounds like a pain in the butt, but it’s very helpful to know how things fit together.
Accessories and Essential
Accessories are ideal because they are small enough to take many without taking up a lot of space. Some of my true essentials:
- Magnets and clear elastics.
- Scarf -Could be good for the hair or decoration.
- Massage gun. All travelers should have one for muscle pain with uncomfortable beds, plane rides, or any other kind of travel. There are mini ones available too.
- Beekeepers Immune Support. We take all of our supplements with us, but also this.
- My serums. Hair (as discussed in this article) and eyelash and eyebrow serums.
- Not pictured-Baseball hat.
You should definitely sign up for the emails below. Besides the free eBook, my email family gets personal tidbits of what’s going on in my life along with other happenings, sales, information, giveaways, extra photos, and interesting articles.
So let’s see how the summer travel capsule wardrobe looked on me.
Day 2-In Nevada where it was much cooler. I do wear a t-shirt under my handknit sweater so it doesn’t have to be washed as often.
Day 1 & 2
Both days were driving days in the car. Full driving days of over 8 hours.
Insider detail: I also keep a denim jacket in the car at all times. This was especially helpful when we had to hang out at Discount Tire for over 3 hours after our tire blowout.
I switched out my original sandals that I planned to take to this pair where the straps are changeable. Since the design is ideal for traveling, I figured I might as well take advantage of them.
My base is the cork wedge and then I have 4 different straps. I prefer the leather straps vs the patent leather.
Insider tip: Since sandal season is coming to a close for many people soon, I would think this brand would have some sales soon. If I hear about it, I’ll share it in my emails.
Day 3
In Challis, Idaho, we went to the Farmer’s market and then traveled up to the hills for a scenic drive with our friends.
For town: I put on a cute top with my jeans and sandals
Day 4
In the morning, we took the dogs on a long hike and then changed into clothes for a tour of the town.
Day 5-Drive to Boise
My dress worked wonderfully for the drive because it’s knit and very stretchy. I wore this button-up top over it (as seen worn over a different dress last year).
Notice the crew socks. This is a new trend that younger girls are wearing. I realize we may think it makes our legs look shorter or we don’t like it because we are used to no-show socks.
But remember, being open to new trends is good for our brain.
Day 7: Tour downtown Boise
Day 6 & 7
Our first full day in Boise, we visited a couple of my friend’s favorite thrift stores. I wanted to wear an outfit that was easy to try on clothes if needed.
Definitely my sandals were easy to take on and off.
Insider detail: I changed out the straps on my sandals to my blue patent pair and then my yellow patent pair. I do not recommend the blue ones because the color comes off where it rubs against the base.
This has not happened to my yellow patent pair or the leather ones.
On our second day in Boise, we drove downtown and walked around.
Day 9: Nevada and heading back to the heat
Day 8 & 9
My what-to-wear home outfit ended up being different than originally planned. Instead of wearing my burgundy hand-knit sweater, I opted for the owl print t-shirt I had worn on Day 6 under my chambray shirt.
Then I again wore the whimsical cat tie blouse for our last day of travel.
Shop the Look:
Facts: Jodie’s Touch of Style is supported by my readers. I partner with affiliate platforms where commission may be earned based on your purchases. If you decide to buy anything I’ve promoted, I appreciate you using my link. These links help bloggers like me to fund the content that we provide, plus it tells companies that blogging marketing works. Thank you for your ongoing support.
Thank You
I hope I thank you enough because your support allows me to continue this journey which I LOVE!!!
Supporting a blog can be easy and free. Just visiting my pages, clicking my links (especially for small businesses and sponsored posts), and sharing the things you like on your social media make a huge difference. Spreading the word is how I can reach more wonderful people like you!
Did you like what you just read?
Consider buying me a coffee as a thank you. The best gift you can give a content creator is the gift of sharing or supporting. You could share this article on Facebook, or Pinterest or even email it to a friend. Thank you so much for your support!!
Welcome to Jodie’s Touch of Style. I’m here to prove that it’s never too late to look great. Clothing and style are meant to showcase your inner personality. So let’s have fun and try new things.