I was someone who didn't care about my appearance and just wore whatever I could. It definitely has some advantages but there’s also disadvantages that come with it. My fashion style has always been a minimalist one with darker colors becoming the dominant palette. I also like dressing more masculine than feminine because it is more practical when on the street. As I age, I enjoy dressing up and looking neat especially when sometimes I wander around co-working places unlike in the past where I was fully on the street without giving zero fucks.

My last trip to Bali has also taught me a thing or two about dressing well. Not only does it look nice, I look more presentable and confident during networking events. The challenge that comes with having no fixed place and constantly on the move is making sure that the clothes we wear can be mixed and matched with other outfits. And my last trip has also taught me that I apparently brought a bit of excessive clothing.

Now, I am setting up a challenge to myself to create my ultimate capsule wardrobe for a month long trip and possibly months. Here’s one thing I notice, I personally tend to fill up space when I know my bag is bigger. That is why, this time, I got a smaller bag that would fit just everything I need. The catch? I definitely have to say goodbye to my all favorite hoodies.

How I build my capsule fashion to travel in an unexpected period time

• Know My Destination
  I can be destination agnostic sometimes but this time, I decided to know where I’ll be going so I don’t have any fashion malfunctions. Not to mention, it’s nice to be prepared, isn’t it?

• Prioritizing lighter fabric over thick clothing
  Most of my clothing is often thick and more suitable to wear during rainy days than summer. But since moving back and forth to Bali and the east, I bought lighter clothing and dresses.

• Choosing neutral palette for specific items
  The only neutral color palette I have is my trousers as for the rest, I like mine to have some ethic touch to it. But again, capsule fashion compromises only a few items. So, I am making more compromises on my pants than my top. I still have a colorful top but going neutral on my trousers.

• Choosing smaller bags
  My option was to go with a full backpack or with a small hand bag. I opt for a backpack + small duffel bag. I ditch my foldable duffle bag because I know I was still over-packing. As I said, we tend to overpack when we know there is more room.

• I said goodbye to my signature fashion
  You know, at some point people will identify us based on our clothes and fashion style. As for me, it was my hoodie and people know me as “ The girl in the hoodie” because that was something I always wear. But in this capsule wardrobe, I can only fit in one hoodie. So, I have to say goodbye to my hoodie fren and be happy with one and a jacket.

• Fitting a going out bag + shoes
  I picked multifunctional shoes that can be shoes but also look like sandals. The same way with a bag. I have a handbag that can be transformed with straps. Multifunctionality is definitely a key when building a capsule wardrobe for traveling.

As someone who never cares about having more than 1 pair of shoes, it was much easier. But since I want to be more civilized and refined, I had to do it. Thankfully, I got a small Starbucks bag that could fit my sandals and shoes at the same time. As for the bag, in total now I am carrying three bags around. One duffel bag, a multifunctional handbag and backpack. I was thinking of getting a bigger bag but for now, I am comfortable like that. I tested carrying it around and all that gym workout seemed to be paying off. I also don’t like someone who is going too far away. I usually don’t rely on checked- in baggage but these days, I just want to travel slower because in the past, I always did everything too fast and it can be exhausting. I always feel uneasy making people wait but there are times when people make me wait and I hate it. So, why not just take time, enjoy everything despite often a stressful airport scene.