Capsule Wardrobe for US Holiday?

[AmericanAdventurer]

Hi all!

I’m going on a road trip along the US coast in May, and I have a baggage limit of 27kg. I get really stressed about packing and what to wear, so I wanted to try to put together and plan a capsule wardrobe well in advance, so I can start to buy the pieces I need.

I’m so bad at shopping and outfit planning, but I’ve had a really crap time of it lately and would just like to feel like I look good on this trip. Trip includes Vegas (so need some nice outfits) and theme parks in California (so need comfy outfits).

For reference, I love the long sleeved dresses everyone seemed to wear last summer but I’m conscious they might be a bit warm and repetitive on holiday. I have short legs and wide shoulders. Mid 20s.

The only bit of my idea I’ve already sorted is shoes (because I already own them) namely

• flip flops
• “Nice” trainers
• Gym trainers (for hiking)
• Nude sandals
• Brown Wedges
• Nice nude strappy heels

But as I say, I’m shocking with clothes. So, if anyone has any ideas or inspiration for the rest of my shopping list, please, please inspire me! I’d be eternally grateful.

I know you want clothes, but do you need both
Brown Wedges

• Nice nude strappy heels

Some mid length, wide leg trousers in a light (but not creasing!) fabric would be good. Can dress up for dinner with heels and a nicer top or wear casual with trainers. Should keep you nice and cool!

I got a couple of pairs before doing a trip around Morocco and wore them constantly. Mine were from Monki but lots of places do them.

That’s a few shoes! I usually pick - ones for waking, something smartish, something very comfy. For clothes I’d look at the camping stores for layers of light, crease free and quick drying pieces. You can always but out these if needs be!

I always thrown in a comfy plain black cotton dress that can look smart if I match with nice shoes.

Americans don’t dress up for anything.

Three pairs of shoes max - sandals, trainers and dressier. Your clothes may be repetitive but only to you. Vegas will be hot, LA nice and mild, San Francisco like here. Everywhere is casual other than evening in Vegas (depending on what you are doing).

Oh! Well I’m very short, so I wanted more than one pair of heels and I thought that the wedges were pretty casual and I could dress them down...
I know Americans don’t tend to dress up too much but I like to dress for dinner and I rarely get a chance to wear nice clothes so I do want to have some nice outfits. Also, Vegas. Need to be dressed suitably!
Will definitely get some trousers- they sound like they’d be good for the plane too. But I’m so short I’d worry about the length, probably need to factor in time to get them altered! 🙄

I always get 3/4 length ones anyway!

Don’t take 2 pairs of heels. Americans are very casual.

What’s the temperature going to be like?

The advantage of America is you don’t need to dress for dinner. We don’t go back to the hotel to change so eat where we end up. Shorts and a T-shirt are fine or cropped linen trousers and loose cool top. You’ll probably walk much further than normal so avoid heels and stick to trainers.

If you burn definitely long sleeves and legs and a hat/cap and decent sunnies.

Have a look on Pinterest for capsule wardrobe ideas. Pick two neutral colours say black and tan and pack trousers, skirt, shorts in these colours then add a plain dress and a couple of cardigans and more tops and accessories to mix and match. I'm 5' 1" and find ankle grazers are ok.

Couple of midi length dresses that you can wear with trainers or with your wedges for dinner.

Couple of pairs of jean or chino shorts and a couple of silky type or print shirts that can still be fairly smart

Crop length trouser or jeans

4/5 tops/ t shirts

Cardigan/sweater x 2 fine knit

Light/rain jacket

Swimsuit, bikini and rash vest / cover up if needed

How long are you going for? I've done a three week road trip with just hand luggage but I know that the thought of that freaks some people out!

I'd take the following:

1 x midi skirt and/or 1 midi dress to wear in the evenings in Vegas
2/3 knee length cotton dresses
2 x shorts
1 x bikini
3/4 x cotton t-shirts
2 silk(y) vest tops/t-shirts
1/2 x cotton cardigan (air con!)
1 x flip flops
1 x sparkly sandals or wedges
1 x rugged sandals

Travel in joggers/harem trousers, t=shirt and a hoody/cardigan, sandals or trainers.

I can't emphasize enough how casual it is there! I wore a stripey wrap dress in the evenings in San Fran but everyone else was in shorts or jeans.

Sorrel - forgot about air con in the casinos - freezing!

Yank here. You've gotten some good suggestions. Things are more casual here but there are nicer restaurants where you'll feel very under dressed in shorts and a T shirt.

Vegas = t-shirts, shorts and flipflops, even for dinner!

You are massively overthinking this, btw. I live in the US, & have done several trips like the one you describe. You need 3 or 4 pairs of shorts/capris in non-crease fabric. 3 or 4 tops/t-shirts. Maybe a sweater (depends if you're heading up a mountain or will be on the coast in the evening). If you really desperately want to dress up for an evening, then a lightwieght non-crease dress (eg jersey wrap dress) with sandals. Shoes - you could just wear gym shoes and flip flops. Take one pair of sandals if you really want.

If you're travelling, no-one will know if you wear the same thing every day. If you're likely to wash things half way through, you only need 4 (max) of anything.

If you really want to feel dressed up, take a wrap/shawl/jewelry that will make shorts & t-shirt a bit dressier.

Try focusing on the fun things to do & see rather than what you look like as a way to avoid anxiety over this.

27kg is loads. My case weighed 16kg when we went to Orlando for 11 nights, and I was being pretty generous with my packing.

You really don't need that many pairs of shoes. Do you really need two pairs of trainers as well? People won't be looking at your feet. Americans dress very casually.

This has all be so helpful!
I’m sure I am overthinking, I’m a bit anxious about it all already!
Just so unbelievably bad at styling myself...!
Thank you all for your help. I will take your tips about the casual-ness on board. I just think I struggle to master the “effortlessly cool and casual” look, so the idea of dressing up a little for dinner was actually quite comforting to me!

I’m with Sorrel. Also as another PP posted a sweater or shawl for evenings. The California desert gets chilly! Otherwise keep it casual.

I wouldn’t think about styling yourself - you’re on holiday.

I am taking hand luggage only for a month. You really don't need to lug all that luggage around, it's too much hassle.

Really, don’t bother with heels don’t bother with dressing. Vegas is shit

Agree with skipping the heels. Just bring one decent pair of flats and some trainers.

For me bright white sneaks to wear with dresses and hiking shoes are definitely two separate and necessary pairs In fact I could manage with just those! But never just one pair of trainers!