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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?
Macy’s Spring Plus Size Try On
Plus Size Casual Wide Leg Jeans
Plus Size Denim Try On
Plus Size Barrel Jean Roundup
Plus Size Navy Silk Skirt – Styled 2 Ways!
