Seaside Style: How To Build A Beach Holiday Capsule Wardrobe

You’ve booked your tickets, planned your itinerary and counted the days until your highly anticipated – and well-deserved – summer holiday trip. Now all that’s left is for you to pack. Deciding what to wear can be stressful at the best of times, but add to that airline luggage restrictions and excessive bag check fees, and your relaxing holiday plans may lose part of their charm. 

Luckily, just like for any season, taking a minimalist approach to your vacation style is the smartest way to go, and that’s where a holiday capsule wardrobe comes in handy. Whether you’re packing for a short weekend getaway or a longer international sojourn (lucky you!), a carry-on can actually carry it all, saving you money, space and airport hassle – not to mention precious holiday time deciding what to wear every morning. Here’s what to do.

 

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Pick A Colour Palette

The first rule of thumb for any smart capsule wardrobe is sticking to a cohesive colour scheme, and a beach vacation wardrobe is no exception. Whether you’re an all-neutral minimalist or have a weakness for bright colours and bold patterns, it’s a good idea to select three to four neutrals that can easily tie it all together. Depending on the ‘base’ hues you choose (for summer, white, navy, cream and khaki usually work best), you can add pops of colour that will blend well with your neutrals.

Know What You’re Packing For

Now, you’ll need two guide rails: occasion and weather. First, consider your holiday itinerary. Are you planning on lounging by the pool the entire week, or will you be strolling around the city? If you’ll be out and about sightseeing, you’ll need breathable fabrics and comfy shoes; if you’re going surfing, pack an extra swimsuit that provides more protection; if a fancy restaurant is on the agenda, throw in a pair of more formal sandals. 

Knowing what you’ll be doing each day will help you determine what you’ll really need and pack accordingly, instead of adding unnecessary items ‘just in case’. Also, it never hurts to check the weather prior to your trip to see if you’ll need to pack a raincoat or thicker layers. And remember: even if you’re heading somewhere hot, it may be a good idea to pack (or wear) a light cardigan to help you withstand the AC on the plane or the car, or for breezy al fresco nights.

Create A Visual Formula

Once you’ve picked your final pieces – taking into consideration your base colours, activities and the weather – it’s time to see how everything matches up. Depending on your itinerary, plan an outfit for each day using those same pieces to see if they really work together. A basic top with a nice skirt for a night out, that same top with a pair of shorts for a day at the beach, the shorts with a dressier blouse to visit cultural sites, etc. 

In a 10-piece capsule wardrobe, each piece should work with four different outfits, and offer a good sunrise-to-sunset transition: an oversized shirt could work as a beach cover-up, a light layer for a stroll in the city, or a wrap dress for a night on the town. So, if you really think about it, a smart selection of 10 pieces could give you over 20 different outfit combinations – that’s practically an entire summer wardrobe right there!

 

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10-Piece Holiday Capsule Checklist

Day-To-Night Dress – Ideally, you’ll only bring one dress on your trip, so you’ll need to make sure it works for multiple scenarios. Linen is ideal as it is light and fast-drying, perfect for the beach or a waterpark, but it also looks classy and put-together for evening plans. You can take a linen dress from poolside casual to night-out fancy by swapping your beach sandals for some low-heeled strappy ones and accessorising accordingly.

Swimwear – The centrepiece of any beach holiday wardrobe is obviously swimwear, whether it’s a one-piece, a bikini or both. If your one-piece doubles as a chic bodysuit or a tank top, even better. Pick one with a flattering neckline and back, in an easy-to-combine colour like white, black or blush, so you can wear it as a dressy top paired with a skirt or trousers for a night out. If you prefer a bikini instead, you can also wear it as a micro top with an open white shirt over it and a pair of denim shorts (for the day) or tailored shorts (for the evening).

Classic T-Shirts – If there’s a piece of clothing that can be dressed up or down and tie all the other pieces together, it has to be a t-shirt. Pick one in solid white or cream as your go-to. Select another one to provide extra colour, but avoid big, exotic prints and opt for classic stripes instead, whether it’s a neutral white-and-navy pattern or something bolder like a pink and red combo. You can wear them with shorts at the pool and with linen trousers or a skirt for a more formal outing.

Button-Down Shirt – A year-round staple, but especially essential during a beach vacation, a button-down shirt can be used as a cover-up over your swimsuit, layered over a tank top for a casual day of sightseeing, or tucked into a skirt for an easy-breezy night outfit.

Linen Trousers – If you’re packing light for the beach, avoid jeans and thicker fabrics for your bottoms and, instead, pick linen trousers. They look great worn with a bikini top and flat sandals during the day, or with a shirt and heels once the sun disappears. Pick a lighter colour for extra versatility.

 

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Shorts – Whether denim or tailored, a pair of shorts can work well in multiple beach destination scenarios. If your plans are more casual and relaxed, a pair of denim shorts can be worn as a cover-up when you go for a quick bite during the day, or paired with a button-down shirt for a more put-together look. If your trip involves looking dressier, a pair of tailored shorts with a striped t-shirt will elevate any day-to-night outfit.

Skirt – A mini or midi skirt will help you elevate your look and still stay light. Switch out a t-shirt and flat sandals for a shirt (or your swimsuit doubling up as a bodysuit) and espadrilles, and you’ve got yourself a two-in-one chic outfit that’ll work for any holiday plan, by the beach or at the bar.

Sandals – When it comes to footwear, you’ll want to include two pairs: some comfy flat sandals to wear everywhere from the pool to the city, visiting touristic sites or relaxing at the spa, and a pair of heeled sandals or espadrilles, perfect for evenings when you want to look more dressed up. Ideally, they’ll both match every piece, so pick neutral colours.

Finally, you’ll need some accessories. From bags to sunglasses, hats and jewellery, the right accessories can take any outfit from day to night and adapt to any occasion. And, as with clothing, the more versatile the better – for example, slim gold jewellery is always appropriate any time of the day and will create less bulkiness in your luggage. However, if you’ve got some extra space, this can be an opportunity to include some accent colours, as they won’t overburden your more neutral outfits but will still provide trendier pops of colour ideal for summer.