Traveling Light - The Art of Mixing and Matching Clothes

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Your trip is booked, you've got everything you could possibly need pack and are heading to the airport. Who cares if you have a big suitcase - you already paid to check that thing! It's smooth sailing from here right?

What happens when you land and have to pick up that huge suitcase? Maybe you're only staying in one spot so it isn't too unmanageable. Just have to get from the airport to the hotel.

What about if you plan to explore different cities? Sometime you can leave a bag in the car, but who wants to drag a big, heavy suitcase into the hotel every day? Not to mention if you're taking the train or other public transportation you'll have to rent storage every day (try finding a place that takes full size bags) and try to fit it in the spaces on the train. NOT FUN! Even a carryon can get irritating in those situations, so why exacerbate it by over packing?

Choosing outfits for a trip can be tricky and even stressful, especially if you're planning on fancy dinners and a day of mountain hiking on the same trip. This is where we come in! Through our travel experience, we've been able to pair down our packing to the point of fitting TWO people's clothing for 10 days in 1 carry-on. This is where the art of mixing and matching clothes comes in and what we will be covering in this post. Combine this with our Learning How to Pack post and you'll be set for any vacation!

Beginner Tips

  • Leave the "What-ifs" at home. Plan for your location. If you're heading to the beach, don't bring your sweaters and wool socks. The same is true if you're heading to Ireland in the winter. You won't need a swimsuit (unless you plan to hit up a spa) or shorts and sandals. This means you do have to check the weather forecast/average forecast for your destination.
  • Skip wrinkly clothes! Try to pack clothes that can either be worn well with wrinkles or pack only materials that are relatively wrinkle free.
  • Aim for the all-occasion wear or "chameleons".  Pants that can roll up into capris make a great addition for warm/cool weather. Zip-off pants are also quite popular throughout Europe (shorts & pants). A button up shirt can be worn as a jacket, under another jacket in cooler weather or with sleeves rolled up.

  • Scarves and leggings can help make you extend the temperature range of your wardrobe without adding weight or a lot of space to your suitcase.
  • Pick lightweight clothes that can be layered to vary your look and allow you to adjust for temperature.  
  • If you will be traveling more than two weeks, plan to do laundry. Make sure all of your items are washable and don't need special care.  If you are on a really tight budget or have very little packing space, you may want to sink wash in your hotel. This can be done with soap bars, shampoo, body wash, etc. For everyone else, consider sending your laundry out or recouping from a long day by relaxing at the laundromat. Many hotels offer laundry services and can take care of your dirty clothes while you're out sightseeing.
  • Adding "just one more" can result in adding a lot more and killing your bag weight and space. Only bring things you are certain you want to wear or will need.

  • Pull out items if you need to go lighter or smaller. Get rid of redundant articles. For example, don't bring a dress and skirt (you only need one). How many tops or pants do you really need? Less than you have packed!
  • Bring sports gear that can double as street clothing. This makes it easy to transition from hiking to a sit-down dinner. Many athletic shirts and pants look very trendy and can even come off as dressy with the right accessories.

Let's Get Started!

1. Brainstorming and Research

For each trip you'll need to plan ahead just a bit. Begin by asking yourself these questions:
  • Where are you going?
  • What is the weather like (hot, cold, rainy, etc.)?
  • What will you be doing?
    • Wedding, Hiking, Skiing, Beach Days, Theater Dates, etc.
  • Is there a dress code at your destination?
    • Restaurants
    • Churches requiring covered shoulders
    • Countries with dress codes

2. Picking Colors

In order to mix and match, you'll need to have a general color scheme or at least make sure everything can be worn with anything else. A good rule of thumb is to pick one or two neutral colors (black, white, beige) and pick a few accent colors that also go well together. Think jeans and a pair of khakis or black pants. Plan you're shirt/pants combos accordingly. Remember everything should match with everything. Don't bring khaki pants and a tan shirt! While this does technically match, unless you are on a safari, you shouldn't dress like you're on one. For shoes, try to keep these to a minimum as well. Guys- You can get by with one pair!! Bring a nice leather hiking shoe that can double as a dress shoe in the evening. Ladies - it will be a bit more difficult, but try to limit it to two pairs. You can pack a pair of dress shoes and a pair of walking shoes. If sandals are a must, pick a small pair that can squeeze it anywhere. Ideally your dress shoes will be comfortable enough that they can also be worn on long walking days. That means no stilettos unless you are someone who works in them everyday.

What to Pick:
  • Two Neutral Colors (One light and one dark works well)
  • Accent colors
  • Shoes - 1 Dress shoe, 1 Comfort/Walking Shoe.
  • Jewelry - pick one color so it matches everything (i.e. gold or silver)
  • If you have space, add in extra color or accessories.

3. Create a Basic Wardrobe and Arrange Outfits

Double check that all your shirts can be paired with any bottoms or skirts. Add in anything you find necessary for the outfit, such as dress shoes or a scarf. Try to keep your add-ons to a minimum and pick shoes that can be used more than once. A basic wardrobe will include:
  • Tops (3-5): Pick materials that are lightweight, don't wrinkle, and don't show sweat. Athletic apparel work great and typically doesn't absorb smell as quickly as other articles. While cotton may be cooler, it doesn't wear as well over time. Bonus points for items that can layer together, but undershirts don't count here.
  • Bottoms (2): Pick one dressy and one casual. Zip-off khakis can double here if you get a nice pair, but you'll still want two pairs for laundry days or in case you get stuck in the rain.
  • Jacket/Sweater: Bring one jacket that fits the weather. A lightweight shirt works on beach vacations and a heavier jacket works better in cooler weather. Wear this during your travel to save packing space. If you bring a rain coat, carry this with you to also save space. Plus this will make sure you don't pack too heavy of a coat and sweater.
  • Socks/Undergarments: Use your judgement for how many to bring along, but remember you can do laundry on longer trips.

4. Add In Extras (Accessories/Outfit Extenders and Extra Items - Dresses/shoes)

If you have plenty of space, feel free to add in a couple extras like what we've listed below. Don't get carried away and overload your suitcase though. Extras should be limited to one or two.
  • A dress (not dresses unless you plan to wear a dress everyday, then you can bring more, but substitute out shirts accordingly).
  • Shirts
  • Shoes
  • Necklaces
  • Leggings (only if they can be worn with your selected tops)
  • Messenger Bag - for couples, bring a bag that neither of you will feel uncomfortable carrying
Bag we use!

5. Review and Refuse -Throw Out Unnecessary Items

If you can't think of when you'll use an item, throw it out. Make sure all your clothes are comfortable and you will like re-wearing throughout your trip. A few questions to ask yourself before finalizing your suitcase are:
  • When will I be dressing up? What will I wear?
  • For specific activities, what will I wear? (i.e. hiking, theater night, etc.)
  • What will I wear on the plane?
  • What will I wear if it is really hot or really cold?

6. Relax and enjoy your trip!

Once you are home, review your trip and see what went well and what didn't work so hot for your wardrobe. This will help you pack for your next trip. Over time packing will become easier and easier.

Examples:

Germany - 16 Day Trip
  • Weather: Cool and very hot (45-90+)
  • Activities: Lots of Hiking, Sightseeing, Wine Festival, No Super Fancy Dining
  • 1 - 26" Suitcase
Men's Packing
Women's Packing


For more women's outfit ideas visit:
How to Plan a Travel Capsule Wardrobe for Vacation
How to Plan a Mix and Match Travel Capsule
Packing Lists: 8 Tips to Pack 20 Outfits in One Carry-on
25 Ways to Mix and Match Outfits Using Just 8 Travel Essentials

For more men's outfit ideas visit:
Power Of The Interchangeable Wardrobe
How to Pack for Two Weeks in a Carry-On: Guys Edition
Mens Mix Match Fashion Ideas

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