There's an elusive version of yourself you might be familiar with: your "vacation self".
It's you, but better. It's you, carefree and unbound by time constraints and daily irritations. It's you, captured laughing candidly with windswept hair and — is that a new dress?
We often want to project the best image of ourselves when we're travelling. For many that can translate into a sudden desire for a new wardrobe.
But scrounging enough money to take an overseas holiday is no easy feat, and the added pressure of looking the part can be yet another expense.
Over the past year, I've been fortunate to undertake a lot of travel. Over four separate trips to Europe and Asia, I've packed, repacked and unpacked my clothes in many ways.
I too have been wooed by the fantasy of looking like my coolest self abroad, but what I've learnt is that the best travel clothes are sometimes the most basic.
Three things to consider when packing a capsule wardrobe
My best travel capsule wardrobe is a balance of three elements: personal style, practicality and versatility.
Outfits have the power to sway how you feel about yourself and interact with the world, so maintaining a sense of your style while travelling is important, while understanding you won't look like your full, regular self.
Practicality means many things, and can include clothes that are:
- Culturally appropriate
- Suitable for the climate, including appropriate fabrics
- Easy to clean
- Easy to pack and store
- Easy to wear
When it comes to versatility, pack pieces that work harder and smarter:
- A dress can be worn as a skirt when a top is thrown over it
- Button-up shirts can work as tops, worn open with singlets and tees, or can act as beach cover-ups
- If you're game, lean into '00s trends by layering skirts and dresses over pants for added textural detail
Throughout my travels, I've had many clothing regrets. The first is always feeling obliged to bring a slightly fancy dress. This "just in case" inclusion never sees the light of day.
Now I try to remember that if I don't wear a clothing item regularly in my normal life, I most likely won't when I'm overseas.
My accidental travel uniform
Looking through my travel photos from over the years, I realise I've created a kind of uniform for myself.
While my personal style sees me experimenting with a wide variety of clothes back home, I depend on the same rotation of T-shirts, mid-thigh shorts, button-up shirts, simple dresses and the like.
Wearing cuts I'm familiar with makes travelling easier; when exploring a foreign place, at least I know I'm in control of what I'm putting on my body.
That's not to say you can't have fun with it. Playing with a variation in colour and pattern from your wardrobe can make your everyday clothes feel more holiday ready.
And don't forget accessories. Rings, necklaces, earrings and hair clips can make your clothes feel more like an outfit — and they don't take up much valuable luggage space.
Maggie Zhou is a Naarm/Melbourne based writer who is chronically online. She co-hosts the Culture Club podcast.
