If you’re planning a weekend getaway or a week-long trip and want to fit everything into a standard carry-on or suitcase, we have good news for you – it’s possible, just travel in style! With some advance planning of your capsule wardrobe, you can take significantly less luggage, save valuable time searching for outfit combinations, and even leave some space for a precious find during your journey.
Travelling in style: The 5-4-3-2-1 Rule
Let’s familiarise ourselves with the 5-4-3-2-1 rule. It’s a simple and effective formula to help you pack just the right amount of clothing for your trip. Combining and matching clothes to create endless stylish outfits is the key. The numbers represent the quantities of different clothing categories you should include in your suitcase to have everything you need.
Here’s how the formula looks:5 tops (t-shirts, shirts, blouses, dresses), 4 bottoms (skirts, pants), 3 pairs of shoes, 2 bags, 1 hat, 1 watch, and 1 pair of sunglasses.
Remember that your suitcase content depends on where you’re going, the season, and your personal style. So, feel free to mix it up and add your own flair! Nevertheless, having such a rough guideline serves as a stable foundation, and the filters you use to select the necessary fabrics, styles, and sizes can be adjusted according to your preferences.
Before applying the 5-4-3-2-1 formula to your suitcase, choosing a colour palette is essential. It’s easiest to stick to three neutral colours white, blue, and grey, and add two bolder or more balanced pastel shades.
Next, categorise your wardrobe into tops, bottoms, shoes, bags, and accessories. Always aim to choose a few versatile clothing items. For example, a shirt can be worn with long pants for cooler evenings, rolled-up sleeves, and shorts for a casual afternoon coffee. The same shirt can also be combined with a skirt or even worn as a beach cover-up. Similar examples can be found with reversible jackets or dresses – with one dress, you can feel comfortable during a city walk or elegant dinner. Just pair it with suitable shoes and accessories according to the occasion.
Let’s go through the 5-4-3-2-1 scheme from top to bottom:
5 – Select a few casual T-SHIRTS or BLOUSES, two clean-cut tops, and one with delicate pattern like stripes. You can diversify by choosing different sleeve lengths for cooler evenings or various cuts – fitted or loose – for different styles. Take at least one lightweight dress that doesn’t wrinkle easily and can be part of both daytime and evening outfits. You can wear it alone, with a T-shirt, a blouse, or a scarf, suitable for warmer and cooler weather.
Don’t forget to pack something for those cooler evenings! Unless you’re travelling to an extremely hot destination, leaving room for at least one denim jacket or long-sleeved cotton blouse is advisable. If you’re flying, outerwear is a must! But if you’re headed to a hot destination, you can swap the jacket for a scarf that’ll keep you chic and comfy.
4 – According to the formula you need 4 bottom pieces.
Cotton or linen pants are great for summer travel, and long pants are essential.
Don’t forget a couple of shorts in black or denim – they’re super versatile and go great with your swimsuit for those beach days!
Lastly, bring at least one skirt, long or short, but always in neutral tones, which you can wear for a stroll along the coast, a morning shopping trip, or a visit to a museum in the city centre.
3 – The perfect number of SHOES for a minimalist wardrobe with diverse outfit possibilities is three. Regardless of whether you’re travelling for a weekend or a week, the comfort of having different shoes for various parts of the day is well-established. Flip-flops for the beach and lounging, comfortable sneakers for travelling and walking, and a pair of sandals, ballerina flats, or low-heeled shoes for more elegant occasions and combine them according to the circumstances with a dress, long pants, shorts, or a skirt.
2 – One small to medium CROSSBODY BAG for essentials like a wallet, mobile phone, and tissues, and one wicker bag for shopping or a trip to the beach are entirely sufficient.
SWIMSUITS
Here is an example where you can bend the rules.
If your destination involves sun and water, you can take 2 or 3 sets. Choose tops and bottoms that can be mixed and matched and take at least one one-piece swimsuit that you can also incorporate into your daily outfits.
ACCESSORIES
A pair of sunglasses, a hat, a belt, or a statement piece of jewellery will complete every combination you create according to your travel needs and the wise selection of clothes that blend effortlessly.
Now, all that’s left is to pack everything you’ve chosen, and you can use special organisers or follow the rolling method to avoid the need for ironing.
Travelling in style doesn’t have to be complicated or require a large suitcase. With careful planning, a versatile capsule wardrobe, and a keen eye for stylish combinations, you can explore the world with minimal baggage and maximum style. Happy and stylish travels!
