5 Tips How to Buy & Pack a Capsule Wardrobe

5 Tips How to Buy & Pack a Capsule Wardrobe - Lucy Williams Global

I get asked how I pack a capsule wardrobe and you know if I get asked a question it gets turned into a blog post! So here it is how to buy & pack a capsule wardrobe!

I have written about you how to pack for cruises with a capsule wardrobe, but it all starts with how you shop. Here I am going to break down the process for you.

Shopping for clothes you either enjoy or hate! Sometimes I enjoy it, but sometimes I hate it, especially when I cannot find exactly what I am looking for.

These days you do not have to traipse around the shops, you can do it from the comfort of your own home online and shop your favourite stores like Nordstrom’s, Sak’s, Marks an Spencer’s, Next, ASOS, just name a few. Just shop from the brands that you know the sizing.

If you use the following tips when shopping, your home wardrobe will become a capsule wardrobe as you are sticking to certain colours instead of having a mismatch of colours.

This is how I shop, and my life has become a lot easier to dress daily when I am at home and when I am travelling.

(This post may contain affiliate links)

5 Tips How to Buy & Pack a Capsule Wardrobe - Lucy Williams Global

Tip 1 How to Buy & Pack a Capsule Wardrobe

The big question, how? It is very simple; first pick base colours for trousers, skirts and shorts. Pick 3 or 4 base colours.

Black, Navy, White, Beige, Brown, Blue Jeans, etc

For example, pick:

  • Black, beige and white or
  • Navy, blue jeans and brown


Tip 2 How to Buy & Pack a Capsule Wardrobe

Second pick colours for tops, blouses, vests, dresses, etc. This can be any colour of the rainbow but only pick 3 or 4 colours.

  • Navy, Blue, Red, Coral, Pink, Orange, Yellow, Green, Purple, Lilac, White, Black, Brown, etc

For example, pick:

  • Navy, coral, white and black or
  • Red, purple, black and pink


Tip 3 How to Buy & Pack a Capsule Wardrobe

Thirdly all tops and bottoms should be able to work together, for causal looks and the same for evening looks. This way lots of different outfits can be made.

Stick to block colours, not patterns. It is a lot easier to mix and match block colours than many patterns. Use accessories to change outfits up.

5 Tips How to Buy & Pack a Capsule Wardrobe - Lucy Williams Global

Tip 4 How to Buy & Pack a Capsule Wardrobe

Forth, when picking shoes and handbags again they need to match your outfits, not just one. Pick colours shoes and handbags that match your outfits.

Neutral colours like beige, black, navy, tan is good. Clothes, bags and shoes should be able to mix and match for casual looks and evening looks.


Tip 5 How to Buy & Pack a Capsule Wardrobe

Fifth, once you have your colour theme, play with your clothes and make outfits. Then you are ready to pack.

5 Tips How to Buy & Pack a Capsule Wardrobe - Lucy Williams Global

How to Pack a Capsule Wardrobe

Now you have your outfits, you will realise how little clothes you really need for a week or two away. When you pack think about what you will be doing, what the weather will be like, how many nights you need to dress up.

For example, if you are packing for a week away to warm climate (just double up for two weeks if you do not want to wash when on vacation) on average this should be sufficient, but you could even get away with less:

  • 7 casual tops
  • 2 causal bottoms
  • 5 evening tops
  • 2 evening bottoms
  • 2 casual pairs of shoes
  • 1 evening pair of shoes
  • Casual handbag
  • Evening handbag

Or

  • 5 casual tops
  • 2 causal bottoms
  • 1 casual dress
  • 3 evening tops
  • 1 evening bottoms
  • 2 evening dresses
  • 2 pairs of casual shoes
  • 1 pair of evening shoes
  • Casual handbag
  • Evening handbag

Bring underwear that goes with all your outfits and the same for accessories. All jewellery and scarves should go with most outfits to compliment and dress them up.

Add other items you may need like swimsuits, gym kits, hiking gear, warmer items of clothing if going to a cold climate, etc. When adding these items think how many bikinis you really need and will you really use your gym kit!

5 Tips How to Buy & Pack a Capsule Wardrobe - Lucy Williams Global

You may also enjoy reading:

THE ART OF PACKING FOR A CRUISE: HOW TO PACK A CAPSULE WARDROBE FOR A HOT CLIMATE

TOP 10 TIPS FOR TRAVEL BEAUTY

TOP 23 PACKING TIPS FOR A COLDER CRUISE

I hope you enjoyed reading ‘5 Tips How to Buy & Pack a Capsule Wardrobe’. Do you have any more tips? If so please share them in the comments box below.

Please share on Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest so your friends and family can read too. Sharing is caring!

Happy Travels!

Love Lucy x

P.S. Sign up to the mailing list and never miss a blog post and receive my 15 top packing tips. Click here to subscribe

(We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites at no extra cost to you).

A Packing Checklist For A Camp Backpack You Can Carry

A Packing Checklist For A Camp Backpack You Can Carry

 

It’s natural to worry about packing when you go away. After all, you’re going to rely on those bags for a week or more. There may well be shops where you’re going, but do you really want to pay a fortune for stuff you’ve already got at home? Of course not. Hence why most of us check and double check our cases with packing checklists to hand, and a fine-toothed comb. All the better for making sure we have everything we need.

Sometimes, though, what we pack is even more essential. If you’re that worried when you have access to shops, how much do you need to take for a camping trip into the wilderness? The more, the better, right? Perhaps not. Remember, you also have to carry these packs with you all day. So, how do you find the balance between taking everything you need, and saving your back pain? Read on to find out.

(This post may contain affiliate links)



Be harsh with what you take

If you’ve read Cheryl Strayed’s ‘Wild’, you’ll know that successful backpacking is about being harsh with what you take. The first-time camper Strayed packs every gadget she can get her hands on. And, guess what? She barely uses any of them. The lesson here is that you shouldn’t suffer for things you don’t need. Consider the use of everything you’re taking. Are you honestly going to need those teddies your little one insists on? Is that weighty camping guide actually going to get any use? Ask yourselves these questions more than once to make sure you aren’t taking anything unnecessary.

 

A Packing Checklist For A Camp Backpack You Can Carry

Photo Credit www.pexels.com

Find lightweight alternatives

Even once you’re sure you can’t limit your load any further, go on the lookout for lightweight alternatives to your selections. For instance, you could save yourself lugging weighty tent poles by investing in a popup option. Lessen the need for space-wasting floor pads by opting instead for an inflatable mattress like those found at Outdoor Supacentre. You might even want to consider the weight of your pack itself. After all, this also contributes to the overall load you have to wrestle with. In fact, ask yourself if there are alternatives for everything you are taking. Add these lighter options together, and you could save yourself an awful lot of weight.

 

A Packing Checklist For A Camp Backpack You Can Carry

Photo Credit www.pexels.com

Everything in order

As well as considering what you take, it’s worth thinking about how you pack it. For one, make your life easier by keeping items you’ll need during the day on your person. That way, you won’t have to empty your whole pack to reach that water bottle. Other than that, consider how you distribute the weight in your pack. For one, you want to keep heavy things up flush to the back of the bag so that you can lug the load. Then, place your lighter items on the outside. Make sure, too, to consider the balance in your pack. If one side is more cumbersome, you’ll soon run into problems.

 

If you enjoyed reading this contributed blog post, please share on Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest so your friends and family can read too. Sharing is caring!

Happy Travels

Love Lucy x

P.S. Sign up to the mailing list and never miss a blog post and receive my 15 top packing tips. Click here to subscribe

A Packing Checklist For A Camp Backpack You Can Carry

 

5 Products You Need in Your Travel First Aid Kit

 

5 Products You Need in Your Travel First Aid Kit -Lucy Williams Global

I like to travel with a first aid kit with a few products that I know work and the instructions are in English. It is a lot easier to have something on hand than having to find a pharmacy when travelling.

I am not a doctor, but I carry these products with me when travelling. Please seek medical assistance if needed and always read the packaging of any meditation before you take it.

(This post includes affiliate links for more information see my disclaimer).

First Aid Kit

You could just bring a small travel size first aid kit to cover a lot of issues and there are a lot of great kits available on Amazon, like these ones:

                                         

 

These are the 5 products I always bring with me when travelling on a cruise vacation, a land vacation or even a weekend break:

Ibuprofen

Ibuprofen is good for headaches, fever, back pain, muscle pain and other body pains, as per the packaging label.

I always have a packet of Advil in my bag for headaches.

Plasters/Band-Aids

From cutting your finger to blisters on the back of your heels, band-aids are always handy to carry around. I don’t how many times I have needed a bandaid for cut up heels from my shoes rubbing after being out on tour all day.

I like to have a selection of sizes and choice of waterproof, I like these Band-Aids as it is a selection pack.

 

Allergy Tablets

I have allergies and I always carry allergy medication in my bag. Allergies can start at any time so it is always good to have a packet handy.

These ones by Claritin melt in your mouth so you do not even need any water to swallow them.

Travel Sickness Tablets

If you are going on a cruise, it is good to bring some travel sickness tablets. Even if you do not get sick, if it gets rough it might hit you. I generally do not get sick, but if it has been very calm seas and then the weather changes I can feel queasy.

Dramamine can be taken for cruise, car and plane sickness.

 

Heat Cream

Deep Heat is my go-to cream for sore muscles after the gym or walking around all day. I would rather apply heat cream onto the muscles than take an Ibuprofen.

Deep Heat always hits the spot after a long day.

 

Also, entering a country with prohibited medicines has been a hot topic with the media for the last few years. You must be careful about the type of medication you travel with, this article Taking Medication Abroad in 2018 explains why it’s important.

 

These are my top five travel first aid kit products, what can you not travel without in your travel first aid kit?

If you are going on a cruise soon you may also like to read:

TOP 10 HANDY THINGS TO BRING ON A CRUISE

10 TIPS ON HOW TO PACK JUST HAND LUGGAGE FOR A CRUISE

THE ART OF PACKING FOR A CRUISE: HOW TO PACK A CAPSULE WARDROBE FOR A HOT CLIMATE

I hope you have enjoyed reading about travel first aid, please share on Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest so your friends and family can read too. Sharing is caring!

Happy Travels

Love Lucy x

P.S. Sign up to the mailing list and never miss a blog post and receive my 15 top packing tips. Click here to subscribe

5 Products You Need in Your Travel First Aid Kit - Lucy Williams Global

 

(We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites at no extra cost to you).

Top 10 Handy Things to Bring on a Cruise

Top 10 Handy Things to Bring on a Cruise

Here are my top 10 handy things to bring on a cruise that make life a little easier when on a cruise vacation.

As a cruise expert that spends months onboard a cruise ship, I have found there are some really handy little things that make life so much easy onboard if you are on a seven-day cruise to 100-day cruise.

You can buy some things onboard, but some things you can’t and I recommend you bring these ten items.

(This post may contain affiliate links)

Top 10 Handy Things to Bring on a Cruise

Mesh Laundry Bags 

Set of 6 Mesh Laundry Bags, Reusable Mesh Zippered Laundry Washing Bags Large Mesh and Fine Mesh for Machine Washing Lingerie, Tights, Socks and Underwear – If you use the washing machines onboard use these handy little mesh bags to put your delicates inside to protect them and keep them delicate! Also, no one can see anything fancy inside!

 

 

 


 

Laundry Bag

Large Laundry Bag – It is much easier to store your dirty laundry in a nice bag, then if you need to wash some laundry onboard it looks much nicer carrying this bag than a plastic bag from the souvenir shop! Also, when going home just put this bag straight in your suitcase.

 

 

 

 


Protective Covers for Valuables

 

Noaks Bags Set | 5 pieces (XS/S/M/L/XL) protective covers – These are such a handy thing to have while travelling to keep all the valuable items clean and away from water damage. Also good for keeping food in while travelling all day.

 

 

 

 

 


 

Packing Cubes

eBags Packing Cubes – 4 piece Classic Plus Set –  I cannot live without these! They make packing so much easier and create a lot more space in your luggage. Also, use them in draws or in the closet in your cabin to keep yourself organised.

 

 

 

 

 


Portable Phone Charger

Portable Power Bank External Battery Charger for iPhone, iPad, iPod, Samsung Galaxy and More – (Lightning Cable Included) – We use our phones for everything, camera, internet, games, as a phone, texting and using the millions of apps we have! The battery always runs out quicker than we expect, so these handy portable phone chargers charge your phone on the go without needing to find somewhere to plug in your charger!

 


Magnetic Hooks

Strong Powerful Heavy Duty Magnetic Hooks – The walls in your cabin are magnetic! So make use of this by bringing magnetic hooks, to hang up jewellery, your lanyard with your cabin key, hang coat hangers on, handbags, scarves, hats, etc. Also, to stick any paper to the wall. 

 

 

 

 


Beach Towel Pegs

Beach Towel Clips Large Sized Plastic Towel Pegs Quilt Clips for Sunbed –  Do you get annoyed when your towel moves or the wind keeps blowing it? Well, these beach towel clips are great for keeping your towel right where you want in on your sun lounger!

 

 

 

 


Travel Coffee Mug/Water Bottle

Insulated Stainless Steel Water Vacuum Bottle Coffee Flasks Travel Container – Keep your water cold for up to 24 hours and hot drinks, hot for 12 hours with these insulated water bottles, so handy for by pool, in the gym, on tour or at the beach. 

 

 

 

 


Wrinkle Release Spray

Travel Wrinkle Remover – The last thing you want to do on vacation is ironing! As soon as you unpack hang up your clothes and spray wrinkle remover on them and the wrinkles should fall out.

 

 

 

 

 


Stain Spot Remover Pen

Tide To Go Instant Stain Remover Pen – These are a lifesaver when you spill red wine, coffee, tomato sauce, chocolate ice-cream down your top! Get the stain out before it becomes permanent!

 

 

 

 

 


Make sure you pack these handy items for your next cruise. Do you have a handy item you always bring on a cruise? If so, please share and comment below, I would love to hear your tips!

You may also enjoy reading:

WHAT TO DO ON THE DAYS AT SEA ON A CRUISE SHIP

10 TIPS ON HOW TO PACK JUST HAND LUGGAGE FOR A CRUISE

TOP 5 TIPS HOW TO USE YOUR iPhone ON A CRUISE SHIP 

I hope you enjoyed reading the Top 10 Handy Things to Bring on a Cruise. Please share on Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest so your friends and family can read too. Sharing is caring!

Happy Cruising!

Love Lucy x

P.S. Sign up to the mailing list and never miss a blog post and receive my 15 top packing tips. Click here to subscribe

(We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites at no extra cost to you).

The Essential Cruise Formal Night Guide

The Essential Cruise Formal Night Guide

I get asked a lot how to pack and what to bring for a formal night on a cruise. Being an officer wife, I go to a lot more formal nights than the average person, usually two days a week for 3/4 months!

This is your essential cruise formal night guide for the newbies and regular cruisers that still need help!

If you have never been on a cruise before, this is a daunting experience, especially for women. As they are worried if they are going to be overdressed or underdressed.

It is a lot easier for men as a suit or tuxedo is the dress code. Formal attire for women is another can of worms!

The Essential Cruise Formal Night Guide

What the Cruise Lines Say

Formal attire on most cruise line websites says:

Women – Evening gown, cocktail dress or elegant pantsuit.

Men – Tuxedo, dark suit or dinner jacket and slacks.

Very easy for men! Most women will be thinking which option is best?

I would say it depends on the time of year as well, if it is the holidays, you might like to go all out and go for the long evening gown if you have space in your luggage!

The best option is a cocktail dress as they are easy to find and easier to pack! No one wears a pantsuit. If a dress is not your thing though, you can get away with smart pants and a smart top.

Keep it simple! Simple flatters every age and size. Navy is less harsh on the skin than black. Also one block colour is better on most body shapes.

On a seven-day cruise there are usually two formal nights. So either bring two dresses or one and change the accessories.

IMG_4332

What do I wear

I stick to cocktail dresses or a lightweight long dress. I have jewellery to match my dresses and I keep it simple with diamonds or pearls.

I only bring nude high heel shoes and a matching clutch as that colour goes with everything. So even if it is not a formal night I can wear them with smart black pants and a smart top.

I always paint my nails as that finishes off an outfit. Either come onboard with your nails done, have them done onboard or do what I do and do it yourself!

I love Sally Hanson Gel Nail Polish. It is quick to do and you do not need a UV light to dry, just natural or artificial light. I use either Red Eye or Redgy and the top coat. I find it does not for chip 4 – 5 days and you can take it off with regular nail polish remover.

I wear my favourite evening perfume Chanel Chance and I wear my hair either pinned up or lose.

If I wear it lose, I straighten it, I could not live without my GHD’s, best invention! Also, you have the option to have your hair done professionally onboard in the salon.

I wear slightly more makeup on a formal night to feel more glam. Then you are camera ready if you would like to have a professional photograph taken by one of the photographers onboard with one of the many background choices.

Formal Attire Suggestions

Here are some great cocktail dress ideas for all ages:

 

 

Shoe Ideas:

 

 

Evening Bag Ideas:

 

You may enjoy reading The Game-Changing Travel Beauty Guide and download your free Travel Beauty Checklist for your next cruise vacation.

Travel Beauty Checklist

I hope you found the Essential Cruise Formal Night Guide helpful. If you have any questions or have a great formal night tip, please comment below.

Also, if you enjoyed reading please share on your Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest so your friends and family can enjoy reading too, sharing is caring!

Happy Travels

Love Lucy x

Love reading the blog? Subscribe to the weekly newsletter to never miss a new blog post and get behind the scenes info never on the blog! All delivered to your inbox. Just leave your name and email by clicking here.

The Essential Cruise Formal Night Guide

(L. Williams is a participant in the Amazon EU Associates Programme, an affiliate advertising programme designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.co.uk, at no extra cost, to you).