Since last we talked, I got one step closer to crossing off a major personal goal of mine—traveling to Japan and South Korea. That’s right, I will be heading very west to get to the Far East this fall. As in, a little more than eight months from now. Yet the headline says I’m planning a travel capsule wardrobe. Stick with me.
I would not normally start making my packing list for a trip that is so far out. I don’t even plan my outfits for the next day. But this time is different because some of the things I want to take with me don’t even exist yet. And it’s up to me to fix that, apparently.
Two and a half weeks of travel
This is my first very extended (longer than a week) vacation to someplace outside of the U.S. and that’s part of what’s spurring this sense of planning. I want to pack as light as possible as I’m planning on staying in five different cities, with trains and planes in between, so having the least amount of luggage I can (at least until I’m ready to head home and have to have a reckoning about souvenir shopping) is ideal.
As of this moment, I have landed on a 4-4-4 travel capsule wardrobe—four tops, four bottoms, and four layering pieces, intended for temperatures in the mid-60s to mid-70s during the day. Please note: my general color scheme is in the top right of the images, but the images online are not always the images of what is in my brain, so use your imagination. I included colors of yarn/fabric when available.
For the tops, I only have one of these pieces at the moment, the blue Universal Standard Linen button down (it’s no longer available on the Universal Standard site or I would link it). I have the pattern and fabric to make the Friday Pattern Company’s Saguaro Set. I am debating getting a merino base layer tee—I want something in a natural fiber for breathability but I know the evenings can get into the 40s so having that warmth would be helpful too. I run a bit warm so I don’t know if merino will be too warm (especially if worn with the layering pieces). Finally I want a caramel-ish colored long sleeve top that I could not find anywhere when I was searching so I am figuring I will make it myself. Probably using 5 Out of 4’s Easy Tee pattern.
For the bottoms, I will have the other half of the Saguaro Set, and I already own the Perfect Plane Pants from Popflex (I got influenced and I don’t care, these pants are amazing). I’ve been eyeing the Hanbok Wrap Skirt from Sewing Therapy for a while and this seems like a very fitting excuse to make it. And finally, I’m also debating a pair of merino leggings—mostly to wear under the skirt but they could work as pants with the linen button down, as it’s on the longer side.
Finally, the layers component. I am both the most ahead in this category and also, it’s knitting, so the furthest behind. I have the pattern for the Honeycomb Vest (Ravelry link) by Sedna Yang and I know I have yarn in my stash that would work wonderfully. I am about to start the colorwork yoke of the Camellia Garden (Ravelry) sweater, also by Sedna Yang. And then I remembered I had the Blooming Jeogori (Ravelry) pattern, again by Sedna, so… I ordered yarn. BUT! I already finished my Edward Vest by Okmin Park this past summer.
I did not plan for this to be a little Sedna Yang showcase but I’m not mad about it.
Travel capsule wardrobe to-do list
So let’s review. Between now and October 1, I need to
finish knitting my Camellia Garden
start knitting my Honeycomb Vest
sew the Saguaro Set
buy the pattern and sew the Hanbok Wrap Skirt
knit the Blooming Jeogori
This all feels very doable. And with the knitting projects, I do have a tiny, insignificant, not worth mentioning number of already finished sweaters and cardigans and vests that I could fall back on.
I know I’m not the first, nor likely to be the last, person who has decided they needed to make a good portion of a travel capsule wardrobe. Please feel free to share any experiences you have with making a capsule wardrobe for travel!
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