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Summer is finally here in Chicago, and for many of us, that means a summer vacation is in the works! I’ve partnered with Avenue to show you how to create an 8-piece Capsule Wardrobe that you can mix and match during your travels, whether it’s a weekend getaway or a week-long extravaganza!
*This post contains affiliate links and is sponsored by Avenue. All opinions are my own.
**All photos in this series are credited to Joy Leigh Sowell Photography
I don’t know about you, but I’ve literally been reduced to tears by packing for vacations before. Choosing between which outfits and shoes to pack feels like choosing a favorite child to bring or leave behind. I always end up over-packing and spend my time away digging through my completely unorganized suitcase to look for something to wear. Well, that stops NOW. The answer? A plus size capsule wardrobe that can fit in one (ONE) carryon suitcase!
The Challenge: Fit 7 Summer Travel Outfits in 1 Carryon Suitcase
The Trip: A Long Holiday Weekend in the South with Family
The Breakdown: 3 Tops + 2 Bottoms + 1 Dress + 2 Pairs of Shoes
A capsule wardrobe is a streamlined selection of items that can be mixed and matched to create a number of different looks. If you search for the term, you’ll find a lot of information and ideas – mostly geared toward straight-sizes and involving a lot of white, gray and beige basics. Well, I’m not a gray t-shirt kind of gal; I need some color and prints in my life, and I knew Avenue would be the perfect place to start for assembling my plus size capsule wardrobe for a long holiday weekend!
When picking out my capsule wardrobe pieces, I looked for pieces that could easily be mixed and matched to create more than one outfit on a trip. Also – shoes take up the most room in a suitcase, so I limited myself to one walking pair and one pair of comfortable sandals that could be dressed up as needed. I settled on these 8 pieces from Avenue:
And now….DRUMROLL PLEASE. Here are 7 outfits that I created from these 8 pieces. That’s a full week’s worth of outfits in one small suitcase!
Outfit 1: Layering Piece + Tank Top + Jeans + Flats
This outfit was perfect for my travel day! These jeans had a great stretch, so they didn’t feel confining on the plane. I also like to have a layering piece in case it gets chilly on the plane or in the airport, and this mesh dot kimono was both cute and comfortable! Since I was going to do a lot of walking, I opted for these espadrilles.
Outfit 2: Colorful Top + Swing Skirt + Sandals
I was thrilled when I found this adorable pleated-sleeve top in this gorgeous red color. This top is super versatile and adds a needed pop of color to a mostly-black capsule wardrobe. I tucked it into this easy swing skirt and could have added a belt for some extra flair! Both pairs of shoes would work with this outfit – depending on what is on your travel agenda.
Outfit 3: Lightweight Summer Dress + Flats
It’s a good idea to include a dress in your travel capsule wardrobe in case you want something easy to throw on or dress up for a night out. This Sketch Floral Shirt Dress is such a fun print and I love the color! The pin tucks at the bodice and the collar are great preppy details.
Outfit 4: Colorful Top + Jeans + Sandals
The same red top that was dressy when paired with a swing skirt can be dressed down when paired with jeans. I just tied a little knot at the front to spice up the hemline. What a simple remix for this top!
Outfit 5: Layering Piece + Tank Top + Swing Skirt + Sandals
This is the second appearance of the mesh dot kimono layering piece, and I could have styled it in a number of different ways! Here, I decided to wear it over the tank top and tuck it into the skirt for a different silhouette. I could have left the tails out – or tied it around my waist for a particularly hot day.
Outfit 6: Lightweight Summer Dress + Swing Skirt + Sandals
This was one of my favorite remixes of this capsule wardrobe! I chose a dress that had a hemline that was not longer than the skirt. That way, I could throw the skirt on and the dress would be transformed into a top! I actually like this styling better than the dress on its own! Cute, right?!
Outfit 7: Tank Top + Jeans + Flats + Layering Piece
And another travel day calls for another casual, versatile outfit. It was blazing hot that day, so I wore the tank top by itself and wrapped the Dot Mesh Kimono around my waist. This tank top is actually REVERSIBLE! The neckline is rounded on one side and v-neck on the other. For an alternate look, I could have worn the red top with the kimono over it.
What do you think? Which outfit remix is your favorite?
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