Capsule wardrobe for a month’s trip?

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We’re incredibly lucky to be planning to go to Italy for a MONTH. Very exciting. It will be in October so warm, sometimes very hot, but cooler in the evenings and not absolutely roasting.

Id like to buy a backpack suitable as a carryon and just take that. I hate hauling large amounts of luggage about. Unfortunately I also hate wheeled suitcases.

Has anyone else done this? I’m trying to work out what the absolute minimum wardrobe I can take is. We’ll be doing a lot of museums and churches - plus I’m 57! - so I want to look respectable.

-Has anyone bought a carryon backpack that they love?

• any experience of how much is too much or too little for clothing?

— something like pair trainers pair walking sandals swimming costume camping towel 1 x long light waterproof trousers 1 x very light tech long sleeved top 1 x very light rainproof jacket 2 x knee length light travel dresses 1 x pair linen cropped trousers 4 x tshirts 5 pairs pants 5 pairs socks 2 bras.

Or am I living in a dream world??

so much for careful formatting!

I’m in lanzarote at the moment.

i don’t know what the temperatures are like in Italy at the moment but it’s generally a good idea to have some layers especially if you feel the cold.

i’ve washed a lot of my stuff at a local launderette but honestly some days I’ve been glad of my thermal top and have had leggings and trousers on.

Where exactly are you going in Italy that it will be “very hot” in October? Based on my experience it will be warm during the day but not hot.

Also, if you are doing city sightseeing I think you will want to look just a bit more stylish? I am all for light packing, but I think there is a limit…

Take a look at https://herpackinglist.com The woman who wrote it did three weeks travelling with a 12 litre handbag. She has some really good suggestions for lightweight clothes and other items.

Depends where in Italy. You’ll probably find the temperature is inconvenient in terms of warm in the day and possibly freezing at night, especially if you’re in the north or anywhere mountainous. We go every year and even in the summer I’ve needed a warmer outfit at some point.

I wouldn’t take sandals, you will find they’re a waste of space as it’s not warm enough. Take more layers and don’t stick to “very light”. Linen also might be a bit too high summer by then also. The locals will all be in puffer jackets!

Aside from underwear id take something like 1 pair trainers (wear them), pair thin flipflops for the hotel (i hate bare feet!) 1 pair jeans 1 pair joggers type/leggings, long sleeve cotton t shirt, 2 other long sleeve (1 light 1 thicker) a scarf, 3 short sleeve, a mid weight rain jacket (not padded).

no I wouldn’t really - I can’t travel light I’d take my entire wardrobe for a month! also the fewer clothes you have the more laundry you have to be prepared to do while you are away (I am not prepared to wash clothes other than underwear).

on bags - I have a great one but it is merch from work so I can’t link it. But what I love is that it’s max cabin size and opens up like a suitcase, but has a gazillion other pockets including a two separate pockets for tech etc at the back. So at no point do I ever have to risk unpacking my pants in the airport trying to find my passport! I’d highly recommend using packing cubes too, I have some that have a second zip that squishes the packed bag to make the contents smaller. Space saver.

Check out the heronebag subreddit because there will be a lot of people who have shared what they are packing for autumn Mediterranean trips and bag suggestion that they use. I think it will be doable - you’ll have to wash clothes anyway so that actually reduces what you need to take. I did two weeks in Norway with just a backpack and the biggest mindset change is you have to completely abandon the ‘just in case’ mindset set. Everything you pack needs to have a clear use to justify its space and you know you’re going to a place with ships so if you do find you need a just in case item, most likely you can buy it there.

We’re moving around - train to Milan, then Lake Garda, Venice, Bologna, Ravenna, then Florence, Lucca, Ostia Antica, Rome. Various other stops in between but that’s the outline.

Im sure I am thinking much too hot yes. I am not good at hot weather so tend to underestimate how cool it is in European winters. I have form for having to rush out and buy warm trousers. I don’t mind a few launderette trips or buying additional stuff as we go, but am just not a typical Italian size in any clothing so have found that difficult before.

None of the places on your list will be “very hot” in October. Some of them may even be cold. Forget the sandals. Take some shoes if you plan on visiting anywhere where trainers won’t be considered suitable footwear. Suggest you take a light sweater or cardigan in addition to the rain jacket. Layers are ideal.

I agree you are overestimating the chance of good weather. I was in Sorrento at the end of September and whilst it was hot in the sunshine at times, it was freezing in the evenings, and dull and windy. I was glad of my jeans, trainers and puffa. Definitely pack for autumn, and relish wearing a tshirt when the sun comes out. You can pack proper clothes in a 10kg carryon, as long as you’re prepared to do some laundry.

That sounds amazing!

I reckon you will need more clothes than you think to navigate all the various weather of that itinerary. The beginning of the month will be warmer than the end, it will be more like UK weather by the time you come home and even when it’s warm it will cool right down when the sun starts going down. I’d put together 4 or 5 repeatable outfits made up of layers you can put over or under things and put on/off through the day, but basically think about what you’d wear in October in the South of the UK. Raincoat and an umbrella a must if you’re heading to the lakes.

all the items of clothing I’m thinking of are thin layers from the likes of Uniqlo - they pack small but I can for instance put a long sleeve top over or under a long dress, or wear the long sleeve with jeans, the dress with just a thin jacket, the dress on its own if it’s boiling hot etc.

I would also pick things that wash easily and dry quickly. Worth watching a couple of YouTube videos about washing clothes on the go, and get some laundry detergent sheets and a travel washing line. I never travel without mine now, so handy.

Planning ahead is your friend here. I’m off to Athens in April, will be similar temperatures so this is the approach I’ll be taking.

for a backpack (and I’d definitely take a backpack over a wheely case for your itinerary) this is the sort of thing I mean (check the dimensions tho) https://uk.wardow.com/products/eastpak-transit-r-pack-backpack-ek0a5bhi0081?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=brand&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22834223996&gbraid=0AAAAADRdgj99enSVI3YKnfEcmnQ2QcWJj&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI8ra20_SmkgMVJ49QBh3lbDo1EAQYASABEgJbUPD_BwE

It will be the start of the Autumn/Winter clothes season - so I wouldn’t be packing cropped linen trousers. What would you wear for a month in Mayfair or Chelsea? Not camping gear, surely?

To echo other posts, we've been in those places in October and 'up north' in Milan it cools off much quicker than in Rome. Wouldn't bother with sandals, decent clean trainers will be fine and will pass muster in most places unless you are doing fine dining or going to the opera.

Linen trousers will look like a dish rag by the time you've packed and unpacked them so many times, and cropped will be very out of season in October. Maybe some jersey wide leg trousers would travel better. As someone said, the locals will be in their leather jackets or puffas and jeans.

You will need a light jumper and/or pashmina for the evenings and occasional cool rainy days. Even in Rome by the end of October it gets quite cool of an evening. If you can take a brolly, we've had some torrential downpours in Rome and Naples in October.

Sounds like a great trip - have a lovely time.

https://taylorswiftstyle.substack.com/p/my-four-week-european-capsule-wardrobe

I was just reading this yesterday - might be worth a look!

Whilst minimal luggage may sound attractive remember that means constant laundry. I can’t help on luggage but I had enough for 7 days (7 pairs of knickers less of other things) for a long motorcycle trip and did get a bit fed up trying to get things dry in hotel rooms. Also the last time I toured Italy in October I got very wet multiple times, definitely take an umbrella and a proper waterproof windproof jacket plus a fleece

Uniqlo is your friend here - packaway puffer jacket and merino cardigans/jumper x 2. Merino is a great fabric for travel, looks smart, doesn't retain smells, doesn't crease easily, good in a range of temperatures.

Definitely not just a dream world! :)

I do 3-4 week trips with a just a backpack, especially when you're moving around quite a bit it's much easier. I would recommend this one -
Vacuum cabin bag - the padded straps are also comfortable for days when you're walking around a lot.
That said, just because its a compression backpack and can fit more, don't forget about the weight! Like other's said, extra shoes can be a burden and October in Italy won't be sandal season so I would suggest skipping those.
I stick to basics that can layer so you can mix and match and not feel like you're wearing the same outfit everyday! And definitely a waterproof/ wind breaker - it can get quite windy as well in Italy in October. Happy travelling!