I am sitting here writing this completely in awe that it is already September – it feels like just yesterday I was shedding the layers as spring transitioned to summer, and now it is has sped right past us into fall. Does anyone else feel like this year is just flying by?
Anyways, as you may or may not know, earlier this year my husband and I sold everything and moved across the world from Southern California to the Netherlands. I’ve learned a lot about myself and my relationship to items through that process and am now a very mindful consumer when it comes to almost everything (except food… because… food).
Today I’m going to go through the staples I travel with in the cooler months – but this is also really just the main items I own, and I will be mixing and matching through the season of fall. The things I wear to look and feel my cutest while staying warm as the season wears on toward winter.
Disclaimer: I am not a fashion expert or beauty blogger – just a girl on a mission to reduce my impact on the planet and travel more (which I think can conveniently go hand in hand).
The key to surviving cooler temperatures, in my opinion, is layers.
Layers of clothing allow you to strip down when you head to a heated coffee shop, or bundle up when the wind picks up its bone-chilling presence.
I also believe in the power of neutrals – colors like white, black, gray, beige, navy, or hunter green always pair well together. If you’re only carrying the essentials, neutral colors will make layering, mixing, and matching a bit easier (plus you can use cute accessories to bring in the color if you’d like to spice it up!).
So without further ado, let’s get into the staples I believe make up a perfect autumn travel / capsule wardrobe. If you are looking for the perfect packing list for travel in the cooler months, this list (and Pinterest cheat sheet at the bottom) are for you!
outfits
Tops
My capsule / travel wardrobe tops include:
- 2 tank tops (or 1 tank top and 1 t-shirt)
- 2 long sleeve shirts
- 2 sweaters (or 1 sweater and 1 cardigan)
- 1 waterproof layer (mine is a puffy vest)
- 1 coat
On a cool day, a tank top under a comfy sweater or cardigan may be all you need, but on a cold day, layering a tank top with a sweater and a coat will keep you comfy and stylish.
bottoms
As for bottoms, there are just a few staples you need. Bottoms are easier to wear a few times between washes in my experience. The ones I have are:
- 1 pair of blue jeans (high-waisted)
- 1 pair of black jeans
- 2 pairs of black leggings or jeggings
accessories
accessorize it!
A few good accessories are all it takes to take an outfit from practical and neutral to polished and unique. The accessories in my wardrobe are:
- 2-3 scarves (I prefer big comfy sweater-like scarves in still neutral colors, but feel free to spice up the look by adding colors here!)
- 1 belt (I have a vegan leather black belt with gold details – neutral but adds a lot to the look!)
- 1-2 beanies
- 1-2 pairs of cute earrings
- 1 watch / rings of choice
shoes
When I travel, I always bring a pair of flip flops no matter where I’m going (or what the weather is) just so I have the option to use them in the shower or slip a pair of shoes on quickly. Other than these, the shoes I use in the fall are:
- 1 pair of walking shoes (I wear my black Nikes which double as my running shoes).
- 1 pair of boots / ankle boots.
extra space? optional extras
Optional packing list items based on where you’re going and with whom:
- Exercise gear (you already have the leggings, a tank top, and running shoes, so toss in a sports bra and an outer layer if you foresee a hike in your traveling future).
- 1 hat. They’re fun, but take a lot of room in a suitcase which is why this is definitely an optional accessory.
- 1 satchel. I usually carry a backpack when I travel, but shove a small satchel at the bottom when I pack so I can make my day-to-day adventures a bit lighter by taking only the essentials.
- 1 dress & tights. I’m not always a dress person, and they’re not necessarily the most re-wearable, so I’ve included it as an optional item if you find yourself with extra space.
Leave a comment
I hope you enjoyed my autumn wardrobe travel packing list. Coming soon: A start-to-finish list of everything you should pack for autumn travel.
What are your favorite travel essentials? Is there anything you think I should include?
pin it for later!
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Howdy! I know this is kinda off topic nevertheless I’d figured I’d ask. Would you be interested in exchanging links or maybe guest writing a blog post or vice-versa? My blog goes over a lot of the same subjects as yours and I think we could greatly benefit from each other. If you might be interested feel free to send me an e-mail. I look forward to hearing from you! Great blog by the way!
Hi Vurtil!
Thank you for the inquiry and I’m glad you like my blog! Would you mind shooting me an email with some details on your blog and niche? My email is hello@delaneyjaye.com – I look forward to connecting.
Thank you!
Awesome stuff. Please keep writing more things like this. I really like the fact you went so in depth on this and really explored the topic as much as you did. I read a lot of blogs but usually, it’s pretty shallow content. Thanks for upping the game here!