Curate a Perfect Travel Wardrobe: 16 Looks for Busy Women
Packing for international travel can be a major burden, so can buying new clothes for a single trip.
But, with a little creativity, you can travel in style without spending a fortune.
The key to packing light is to choose a travel wardrobe that you can be mixed and matched to create multiple looks. A capsule travel wardrobe should include a mix of basics and statement pieces that can be dressed up or down.
To get started, choose a color palette that includes both neutrals and one or two accent colors. Then, select a handful of key pieces that can be mixed and matched to create a variety of looks. With a few key travel wardrobe staples, you can create endless looks.
We created an 8-pieces travel pack to help you make packing lighter, easier, and smarter. Using our packing hack, create 16 unique looks by dressing each item up and down with your basics, for active days and lively nights. The best part? We’ll take care of the dry cleaning upon your return, while you take care of assimilating back to real life.
We partnered with Armoire member, Annie Cheng of The Table Less Traveled, for style inspiration and packing tips as she gets ready for her trip to Italy. Follow along on @anniechengeats and @armoire.style Instagram stories to see Annie’s style IRL and her tour of Italy, in real time.
Here’s how to style 8 pieces, 16 ways — paired with Annie’s favorite travel wardrobe (and a few tips along the way).
Use code INTTRAVEL8 at checkout to rent 8 items, no swaps for only $149! That’s $2000 worth of clothes for the price of a pair of jeans 🙂
Armoire Piece #1: Equipment — black dress
Dress Down: With a light cardigan and walking shoes
Dress Up: With a necklace, shawl, and heels
Styling Tip: If you have the risk tolerance for loss or damage — pack things you love and will actually wear. The goal is to wear every item in your bag.
Packing Tip: If an item can’t be paired more than 2 ways — ditch it.
Armoire Piece #2: Kenzo — silk blouse
Dress Down: With jeans and sandals
Dress Up: With earrings, fun pants, and heels
Styling Tip: Bring multi-use shoes — e.g. dressy sandals for night or casual for day, casual sneakers for day or for exercise.
Packing Tip: Always pack more underwear than you think you need. It’s the smallest, lightest weight thing you pack and the thing you change the most.
Armoire Piece #3: Cooper & Ella — cami
Dress Down: With shorts, sandals, and a cardigan
Dress Up: With earrings, fun pants, and heels
Styling Tip: Pack for the weather, but prepare for anything — e.g. rain jacket, sandals, swimsuit.
Packing Tip: Always pack more underwear than you think you need. It’s the smallest, lightest weight thing you pack and the thing you change the most.
Armoire Piece #4: Scotch & Soda — soft pants
Dress Down: With sunglasses, a white t-shirt, and walking shoes
Dress Up: With a jacket, wallet turned clutch, necklace and heels
Styling Tip: Pack lots of neutral tones that can pair with multiple items, and then fun, bright pieces to sprinkle throughout.
Packing Tip: Layers, layers, layers.
Armoire Piece #5: Tart — drawstring dress
Dress Down: With sunglasses and sandals
Dress Up: With a jacket, wallet turned clutch, and heels
Styling Tip: Pack lightweight fabrics that don’t wrinkle.
Packing Tip: If you have a wallet that can act as a clutch, bring it! One less thing to pack.
Armoire Piece #6: LACAUSA — jumpsuit
Dress Down: With walking shoes
Dress Up: With a shawl, earrings, and heels
Styling Tip: Scarves are multi-use — blankets on the plane, pillow in the car.
Packing Tip: Carry at least one full outfit in your carry on if you check a bag. If your luggage gets lost, you have one clean thing.
Armoire Piece #7: PAIGE — colored jeans
Dress Down: With sunglasses, a white t-shirt, and walking shoes
Dress Up: With a jacket, wallet turned clutch, necklace and heels
Styling Tip: A white t-shirt is a must — it pairs well with everything!
Packing Tip: Use packing cubes. Life changing.
Armoire Piece #8: Theory — t-shirt dress
Dress Down: With sunglasses, tucked into shorts, and sandals
Dress Up: With heels and earrings
Styling Tip: Tuck a dress into pants or shorts and BAM you have a shirt.
Packing Tip: Organize jewelry & knick knacks by using pill containers.
Use code INTTRAVEL8 at checkout to rent 8 items, no swaps for only $149!
Final Packing List:
Rented From Armoire:
3 lightweight dresses (also worn tucked in as a shirt)
1 short sleeve shirt
1 sleeveless top
2 pairs of pants
1 jumpsuit
Annie’s Basics:
1 cardigan
1 pair of walking shoes
1 shawl
1 necklace
1 pair of heels
1 pair of dressier pants
1 pair of sandals
1 jacket
1 white t-shirt
1 clutch (also a wallet)
1 pair of of shorts
1 pair of earrings
