Paris Capsule: Lessons Learned
Having just returned from Paris, I can unequivocally say that my travel capsule was a
success, not only from a style perspective but even more so in functionality—where my
choices significantly paid off. What I learned from my own wardrobe is that I’m really
drawn to prints; have too many and it reduces the functionality of your closet.
By strictly using my capsule rule of everything must go with 3 other items in your closet,
I discovered that a good alternative to prints is to find solids with cutouts, texturing, or
pleats, which make a solid just as interesting as a print but much more functional.
A new strategy I used, when it came to shoes, was to take an extra pair of shoes to
change into while out during the day, ensuring any one pair wasn’t doing all the work. I
packed a white Adidas sneaker off Amazon, Prada thong sandal from Nordstrom, and
the incredibly comfortable wedge espadrille from Charleston Shoe Company, all worked
great for the 5-7 miles a day I was walking.
In the end, by relying on my two-color rule, I knew I had all the pieces I needed and
could easily change up my outfits if there was a weather or activity change. All my
accessories matched any combination of outfits. My clothes were wrinkle-free and,
given I was in Europe, I didn’t pack any shorts to avoid looking touristy.
Tammy’s Truism: When packing for an extended trip, I use a spreadsheet of my outfits so that when I arrive at my destination, I don’t have to figure out what I’m going to wear and instead can focus on the experience. Below is my outfit spreadsheet.
