The Vacation Capsule Edit (#020)
For effortless holiday dressing
Imagine this; you’re about to head on a holiday to somewhere tropical and warm, but it’s a carry-on situation only. Everything needs to fit into a small suitcase, but you want options. That was what set the scene for this month’s capsule, with a focus on minimal but chic, elevated essentials (with a splash of colour, of course!).
Thinking about tropical climates, I put a focus on light, breezy pieces, in long languid silhouettes, with a mix of more casual-leaning, and more formal-leaning items. Basically, I wanted to build a capsule that would allow you to dial up the intensity of the formality level with ease, so you could get ready in a pinch for a day exploring or a meal at a nice restaurant.
That said, if you don’t have a holiday on the cards any time soon (I may have missed the boat on this one), then you can check out my recent summer edit here, or my last winter edit here.
This vacation edit includes the following 10 items:
5x tops (with a mix of necklines and sleeve lengths)
3x bottoms (a pair of shorts, a skirt, and a trouser)
1x dress
1x shoes (a sandal which pulls more dressy)
No unusual styling flourishes this month, as I think when we’re on vacation we’re focusing more on dressing with ease which generally involves just wearing the clothes. But you’ll find over 20 outfit options - more than enough variety and choice for a week or so away. In addition to the above clothing items, I did also include a swimsuit (this one here). If you opt for a one-piece then you can always wear it like a bodysuit for even more options.
When I’m travelling anywhere, one of the things I’m keeping in mind is the vibe of the location I’m visiting. I want to dress like myself, but with that holiday twist in mind. For example, if I was travelling somewhere where the locals dress vibrantly, I’d try to reflect that in some way, whether it’s through accessories or jewellery. Or in this case for a more relaxed setting, thinking about how I can inject that sense of chill through fabrication and silhouette.
In addition to a focus on the ten items I featured (+ alternatives) and the 20+ looks, you’ll find a short video showing you all the outfits in motion.
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the ten items
#1 | The top with a point of difference: Think something that you wouldn’t ordinarily wear everyday. Maybe it has an interesting silhouette, a vibrant print or it’s a bold colour, or perhaps it has some intricate detailing. I recommend an easy to care for fabrication in case you need to do a little wash in the sink to freshen things up. Pictured: Lee Mathews
Alternatives: VRG Grl | Matteau | Damson Madder
#2 | The basic top with a twist: Holiday dressing doesn’t need to be boring. An elevated wardrobe staple will shine here. Something you enjoy wearing as part of your everyday (because we want to wear clothing we love when we’re away, too!). Pictured: Deiji Studios
Alternatives: DISSH | Faithfull the Brand | Baserange
#3 | A short-sleeved top: This could be fitted or loose. Opaque, or somewhat sheer. Adorned with ruffles and lace, or plain. I think here it can be nice to bring in a different texture to add visual interest. Pictured: Bassike
Alternatives: DISSH | Alix of Bohemia | AGOLDE
#4 | A breezy long sleeve: An oversized shirt is a no brainer here, but don’t let my personal top pick colour your choice. It could be a peasant style top with lace inlay, or a relaxed cotton boatneck. Pictured: Quince
Alternatives: Glassons | Matin Studio | Atmos&Here
#5 | A fancy top: Something you can rely on for that fancy dinner, or when you just feel in the mood to dress up a little. Pictured: REBE
Alternatives: Faithfull the Label | Rohe
#6 | The dress that feels fun and flirty: Mini, midi or maxi, length doesn’t matter. You want something that makes you feel confident, and if it has layering potential, even better. Pictured: Bondi Born
Alternatives: Posse | Aje | DISSH
#7 | A comfortable pair of shorts: Crisp, structured fabrics will immediately register as more formal, so if you want something that feels easy and chill, go with a more fluid fabrication with a bit of drape. Pictured: Assembly Label
Alternatives: The Frankie Shop | Country Road | UNIQLO
#8 | The chic skirt: Just like with the dress, I don’t think the length matters too much here, but I will point out that it can change the formality level of the piece. Longer silhouettes do have a tendency to feel more dressed up by their very nature. Pictured: Sofie D’Hoore
Alternatives: ONTE | Cotton On | Posse
#9 | A breezy pair of pants: Like “apartment pants”, these are your “vacation pants”. For a tropical holiday you’re probably going to want to eschew the fitted pants in favour of something that is cut loose from the body, ideally in a natural fibre. Pictured: Deiji Studios
Alternatives: Tibi | Damson Madder | Ulla Johnson
#10 | A dressy pair of sandals: Shoes tend to take up valuable luggage space, so I capped it at just one pair for this capsule, because you could always wear another style on the plane. A minimal, clean pair or something that can read dressy in the right context will give you the biggest bang for your buck in terms of versatility. Pictured: A.Emery
Alternatives: Tibi | Schutz | TOVE
the outfits
You can see these looks in motion, above!
style notes
Wrapping things up with notes on styling and also how I tend to approach vacation dressing in general. There’s one particular trip I took which I always think back on; six weeks in Europe at 21, with a suitcase full of the most “basic” basics in an attempt to focus on mixing and matching. But ultimately I spent much of the trip like I hadn’t thought at all about packing for myself.
I like to ask myself questions like…
How will I reasonably style this on vacation? Must not be fussy!
Will I feel comfortable wearing this all day while doing XYZ?
Do I look like myself?
Is it easy to launder in a pinch (if need be)?
Where am I wearing this? Is my fantasy self in the room packing with me?
Have I added in an element of texture?
Will my accessories work interchangeably with all items I’ve selected?
Have I exhausted all the different types of shapes I have available to me?
Is it weather appropriate? (always recommend checking the forecast one final time the night before leaving!)
Where accessories are concerned, it’s that balance of where form meets function. I want it to be a favourite; something I’m happy to reach for on repeat in a limited setting. Texture plays a role here as that’ll be something that adds in that visual interest, otherwise I like to put an emphasis on shape.
For the bag, I opted for this Dragon Diffusion tote. I like this style in particular as it fits over the shoulder so doesn’t feel too fussy. The woven leather feels as suited to a beach setting as a day of exploring the city (even if a towel wouldn’t have a chance of fitting inside - over the shoulders that goes!). If you’re after a more affordable take, plenty of sellers on Etsy offering bags which are strikingly similar.
A hat is a must for any hot weather trip, and I tend to choose practicality here over all else. A fabric hat which easy folds down into my bag. While you could choose a fun slogan cap, these floppier styles do offer a bit more coverage. Mine is from Alpha60 but I also have a Nonna hat from Marle which is equally good.
Sunglasses are angular, a way to counterbalance the softer silhouettes I opted to include. This brings in that sense of friction to the outfit, albeit in a subtle way. Tortoise shell print feels quite soft too, matching the colour palette I selected.
Here’s a better look at the sandals I included. A rare find that actually has a footbed that accommodates my very wide feet. Minimal dainty straps, but a wide sole which adds some weight to the outfit.
A space-saving way to update your outfit when travelling is with accessories (and beauty!). I thought I’d share some of my personal favourites that will absolutely be making it into my suitcase when we finally book in that Bali or Fiji trip… I think it helps to pick a metal - gold or silver - to match the vibe of your capsule. I went with silver as this feels in harmony with the pale blue and navy tones. Silver hoops with a pearl drop from Mejuri feel elegant and refined. I adore this shell pendant necklace from Pamela Card (10PCJAMIELEE for 10% off); it says resort but in the most subtle kind of way. I’ve been wearing this red beaded Marianne bracelet for the past month of so as a nod to summer; nice to bring in something that feels like it’s part of your everyday stack. Pearls, because, they feel obvious. But this pearl bracelet is actually a necklace from Linjer that I’ve wrapped around my wrist a few times for a layered look - love that this offers a two-in-one (discount with MADEMOISELLEJAIME). And finally, the lips. Something statement, because why not. MERIT’s Signature Lip is almost exclusively the only lip product I use (especially now that I’ve completely removed lip balms from my routine). This is the shade Cabo. The perfect red.
And that’s it! A chic but minimal 10 item capsule for the vacation I’m currently dreaming about (and that you might be going on).
Very helpful, thanks Jamie
Love this post, so helpful thank you!