Seems I’m not alone in loving the Sudoku Packing Method as an easy option for packing for a short trip away. I had a lot of requests on IG after sharing the more autumnal transitional edit for a spring edition (plus a collective “yes” in the chat to share this via newsletter), so I hope you don’t mind the double up in capsules in your inboxes this month.
I’m always quick to remind that just because most versions of a capsule are neutral, it doesn’t mean that yours has to be. My wardrobe definitely leans more on the “safe” side (you can see most of what I have via INDYX here - what’s logged already, anyway!) and I’m not too big on prints (been there, done that and it’s just not quite “me”) so obviously there’s always going to be some limitation on the colour palettes that I share. Though… this murky green knit and these pants that just so happen to perfectly match have me excited to wear more interesting colour combos as the weather cools down.
As a little refresher, this approach takes three tops, three bottoms and three layering pieces, laid out in a 3X3 grid like a Sudoku puzzle, typically arranged something like this:
Top, bottom, layer
Bottom, layer, top
Layer, top, bottom
Add in shoes (most you should need is three) which give you variety, and accessories for styling.
If you’re a dress person, you could sub out bottoms/tops for dresses, and if you’re travelling for more than 3 days, you can add to this edit as you see fit. The cool thing is that it gives you an instant selection of 27 possible outfit combinations. Whether you wear them all is not the point. Though, if you had access to a washing machine and had a few extra tops to rotate in, there’s no reason why you couldn’t take this limited number of items on a month-long trip and almost never have to repeat an outfit. And why I like this approach so much is that it easily caters to both a long weekend away, and a week-long trip (or more). Plus I’m here for anything that simplifies the packing process - why make it harder than it needs to be.
And if you’d rather see this in video format, I walked through the entire edit on YouTube which you can watch here.
THE ITEMS
TOP OPTION 1: Bassike blue cotton/linen knit tee (old but this is V V similar)
This feels really breezy and lightweight, and love that it adds a little touch of texture too from that linen/cotton composition.
BOTTOM OPTION 1: Apiece Apart pants (extra 10% off w/ JAMIE10)
A great way to instantly bring some shape into an outfit especially when styled with something fitted on top, but equally doesn’t seem to compete (or add too much bulk) when styled with a more oversized top. I’ve called it already but these are one of my absolute favourite things in my wardrobe and I think if you’re travelling you should be packing items that genuinely make you feel excited.
LAYERING PIECE OPTION 1: Maison Essentiele cardigan (old but this is chic!)
This adds a bit of a soft and fuzzy quality, plus can be used as a styling add odd (layered over the shoulders, as an extra layering piece if needed, tied at the waist, worn back-to-front etc etc).
BOTTOM OPTION 2: VRG GRL skirt
I used the same sort of formula to the first Sudoku Packing post; 1x pants, 1x jeans and 1x skirt. The best way to get variation in your options is to pick pieces in each category that look and feel different to style. I also really love the pairing of butter yellow with blue so thought this could be a fun spring combo.
LAYERING PIECE OPTION 2: Rue Sophie trench (15% off w/ JAMIE15)
This acts as that midi/long jacket piece, which if you were to pack some sort of leather tie/rope belt, you could easily style as more of a dress if you wished. I also love the sheen of the satin - helps to make a more casual look feel slightly more dressed up.
TOP OPTION 2: LILYSILK sleeveless knit top
These sorts of sleeveless mock neck tops are such great basics as they’re typically cut close to the body, and work well as a standalone but also layered underneath cardigans (buttoned up) or shirts as well for a visually layered look.
LAYERING PIECE OPTION 3: Sezane denim jacket
To add in a bit of structure up top, I went with a denim jacket. Though rather than a traditional cropped jacket, I wanted something in between the cardigan and the longer trench. Love the workwear quality that a painter/chore jacket has (also side note, this is a really chic option if you prefer more colour!).
TOP OPTION 3: TWP s/s shirt
I’m not usually someone who wears any kind of crop top, really, but I love the balance of that shorter cut through the body, with a boyfriend style fit. Great way to balance out that push-pull in a piece! In the dark navy, this is a super simple way to add contrast into an outfit - styled with either of the lighter bottom options.
BOTTOM OPTION 3: Weekday jeans
And of course, rounding out my 9 items with a pair of jeans. Can’t go wrong with a mid or high rise jean with a straight leg silhouette (and these ones from Weekday are still the best IMO!).
THE ADD-ONS
I curated this edit with city break in mind, and I thought I’d break down why I chose these pairing pieces as it gives more context.
Thinking about my own personal styling preferences, I will always choose a more polished shoe. Anything too chunky tends to look a little “off” on me, so most of my shoes have a slimline profile. I also very rarely wear sneakers. Whether I’m travelling solo or with the kids. I’ll always opt for the shoes I feel comfortable in, and know I could walk 10K steps in a day without feeling like I need to tear them off the second I get back to my accommodation. And yes, this includes a low heel - I just love a bit of lift (and listen, I have zero time for uncomfortable shoes so you just have to take my word for it). If you’re using this as a template, feel free to swap out my “flats” for a sneaker, my low heeled pumps for a ballerina or loafer, and my heeled sandals for something that just feels like you.
I included:
Aeyde off-white pointed toe flats: being similar in tone to two of my bottoms, I get that nice continuation of the vertical through the leg!
Aeyde black pointed toe pumps: love me a sharp pointed toe shoe, and these are surprisingly comfortable. I can even run in them! The fact that they’re suede helps. Though I’d probably spring for an alt if it was raining at my location.
By Malene Birger snake heeled sandals: these are the shoes with a bit of personality but that have this uncanny ability to also function as a neutral. Again, a nice low heel - these feel the dressiest of the bunch but are easily tempered by the denim or barrel leg pants.
For my bag? I wanted to add in that sense of contrast. And listen, if you’re travelling somewhere in Europe where chances of being pickpocketed are high, don’t go for the thing that’ll make you an easy target. Choose a bag with a zipper or something you can wear crossbody and clutch close to you if needed. Bag I included is from Altica, and I have the BIG size. A nice affordable alternative to the Dragon Diffusion Tripe Jump!
I also included the following pieces to help style things up:
Arket b/w striped silk scarf (old design but this from DISSH is almost identical)
THE OUTFITS
I’ve laid this out in the same format as last time, where I use the same base (top + bottom) and alternative the layering piece and styling. This really strongly illustrates how you can make different looks or build on an outfit that is basically the same, but feels completely different.
I’m curious to know, will you be trying this for your next trip? My husband and I are off to Tasmania and May for three nights which feels like the perfect opportunity to use this approach (maybe even with 1-2 fewer items - could easily forgo 1x layering piece or 1x bottoms!).
If you made it this far, thank you so much for reading. If you enjoyed this letter (or it gave you a little kick of inspiration), consider liking, commenting, or sharing it with a friend 🫶🏼 And if you’re not already and would love to see more of The Monthly Edit in your inbox, I’d love for you to consider subscribing. Enjoy the week ahead! J x
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