I always pack too fast. I can always count on getting wherever I’m going and realizing that I only packed one shirt for an entire trip. I also over pack. So for a five day trip I may have seven pairs of pants. While having an over abundance of options is nice, I’ve been learning more and more about capsule wardrobes and think the perfect time to practice a mini capsule wardrobe is while on vacation! This, however, takes a little more thought and planning than I’m used to when packing for a trip. I’ve been laying out various options for a few weeks now and I think I’ve found the sweet spot!
Important note: I was gifted a new swimsuit and the black dress you will see below (thank you Kimi + Kai Maternity!) – but I did not go out and purchase anything specifically for my trip. I shopped my closet!
The Trip
We’re planning a two part trip; we being my mom, sister, Macey, and me (31 weeks pregnant). First we will head to the Florida beaches to visit my dad’s parents. It’s likely to be in the high 70’s / low 80’s for the few days we are there. I’ll need to plan for a few beach visits, walks into town, and possibly a dinner out.
From there we will head to North Carolina to see my grandma (my mom’s mom) and a few other relatives. It will still be warm (by Seattle standards) but looks like it will be in the high 60’s there, with possible showers. I’ll need to plan for multiple trips to the nursing home, seeing family and new babies that have been born since I last visited, and power walks with my mom & her sister.
Although the trips are similar in some ways, each leg will call for a slightly different wardrobe. My plan is to cross-wear (yup, just made that up) where I can but also give myself enough options to be comfortable.
Another challenge is that I will be 31 weeks pregnant and just need to be comfortable. All these things will inform my choices.
The Packing Process
To help show you how much this vacation “capsule” wardrobe has evolved, I’ve been taking photos of the lineup (and how it’s been changing) for a few weeks now. Below is the progression. I’ve been slowly making edits and truly THINKING about what I’ll want to wear when I’m there instead of just throwing things I like in my suitcase. The more I can think about what I can pair together, the more edited this vacation-wear feels. I love having these photos because I really do believe it gives you a good sense of the progression.
Another thing to note – I do have some fun shoes coming in from Shoetopia that I plan to add to this vacation capsule if they arrive on time! I’ll be sure to share those later if they do come in on time.
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Ok, So. What’s Actually In Your Suitcase?
Below is what I’m actually packing. I’ve included shop-able links to things that are still available as well as linked similar items if an item is older or out of stock.
Tops
I settled on two basic tops, white tee and grey tank. These will be the most versatile in the weather we will be in in both locations.
- White Tee
- Grey Tank
Dresses
I’ll be packing three dresses, all perfect for warm weather but easy to layer over. My black dress is maternity and from Kimi + Kai Maternity, however I have linked a few similar styles (non-maternity) below.
- Black Tank Dress
- Orange Striped Dress
- Denim Dress
Pants / Shorts
I’ll be bringing 4 pairs of pants/shorts (not including the yoga pants I plan to wear in the airplane). My olive shorts are from Encircled but unfortunately are sold out. They’re an amazing small business – so be sure to check out some of their other amazing items! I’ll be bringing a pair of maternity jeans, maternity workout leggings, and linen pants – all super versatile.
- Olive Shorts
- Maternity Jeans
- Leggings
- Linen Striped Pants
Jackets / Cardigans
I tried to have some fun in this category because everything else I’m packing is a little more basic in color. I’ll be bringing two different kimonos (perfect for Florida), a rain jacket, and a military jacket. I will also probably bring a heavier cardigan for the airplane.
- Short Kimono
- Long Kimono
- Blush Rain Jacket
- Army Jacket
Shoes
I basically packed all my most comfortable summer shoes. My exact leopard sneakers are here, but I’ve linked a few other options.
- Black Flip Flops
- Tan Wedges
- White Snake Skin Sandals
- Leopard Sneakers
Accessories / Extras
Kimi + Kai Maternity gifted me a gorgeous swimsuit in their “Natalie” style. I cannot wait to wear it on the beach, it’s super flattering and easy to adjust in the bust area. I have a medium and feel like it fits pretty true to size. Macey will be wearing her “I got it from my mama” swimsuit (which I linked below). I also wanted to bring a baseball hat and a sweatshirt in case things get chilly.
- Swimsuit
- Chambray Baseball Cap
- Lounge Sweatshirt
- Sunglasses
Outfit Possibilities
Here are a few outfit possibilities I’m planning. It’s been fun to see how many different options are possible with the items I’m bringing!
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