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!
