The Simple Color Hack That Makes Packing Luggage A Breeze

Some travel experiences are universal. Whether you're living it up in the Bahamas or going on a spiritual journey in the foothills of Dharamshala, packing has long been a nuisance for travelers all over the world. It's always hard to know exactly what to pack and how much to carry. You may want to bring more for longer trips, but still fit everything into one carry-on so it's easy to move around. For chronic overpackers, there's one easy color hack that can help you pack exactly what you need without stuffing your suitcase.

The easiest way to remain stylish and functional on a trip is to take the concept of a capsule wardrobe and apply it to your packing. Capsule wardrobes are a modern method of selecting and curating your wardrobe and personal style. Basically, you pick a color palette that you like and that works with your skin tone, and then use that palette to guide your purchases. This creates a minimalistic wardrobe consisting of 10 to 15 pieces that can be easily mixed and matched to create functional and stylish "fits."

Many travelers have also begun applying the capsule wardrobe concept to travel packing, using the 5-4-3-2-1 method created by Geneva Vanderzeil to help them pack efficiently and save space. With this method, you'd pack only five tops, four bottoms, three pairs of shoes, two dresses or layering items, and one set of accessories for any trip. By combining the capsule wardrobe approach with the 5-4-3-2-1 packing method, you can select clothes that work well together to create different looks while keeping your travel wardrobe minimal and efficient.

When curating your travel capsule wardrobe, it's important to include clothes you'll actually wear. Don't focus solely on attractive aesthetics; take a look inside your own closet first. What do you reach for most often? Do you gravitate toward a casual jeans-and-hoodie combo? Perhaps you prefer pieces like skirts and dresses, or maybe your style leans chic, professional, and polished.

Once you've identified your preferred style, choose a color palette to match. If you're unsure how to pick one, you can use online tools like Coolors for inspiration. In a post on Reddit, some users suggested selecting a few neutral colors to form the foundation of your wardrobe, then pairing them with bolder accent shades.

The beauty of a travel capsule wardrobe is how easy it is to customize. Choose pieces that align with your itinerary and destination. For example, dressing head to toe in athletic wear in Europe can immediately mark you as an American tourist, which may make you more vulnerable to pickpockets or scammers. Instead, stick to versatile items that pass as casual wear in most places, such as jeans, t-shirts or button-downs, and boots. Add a few dressier pieces, like dresses or suits, if you plan on dining at a nice restaurant or attending an event. For beach trips, your wardrobe might include swimsuits and wrap skirts, while winter vacations may call for swapping out t-shirts for sweaters. On longer trips, consider staying at hotels with laundry services so you can wash and rewear outfits as needed.