A travel capsule is the capsule method applied to a suitcase, and it is where the arithmetic is most obvious: four tops and three bottoms in one palette give twelve outfits and fit a carry-on.
One palette, no exceptions
Travel is where a stray colour costs you most, because the piece it does not match is 3,000 miles away.
Wear the bulk, pack the rest
Boots and the heaviest jacket go on your body for the journey. That alone is often the difference between hand luggage and a checked bag.
Merino is worth the money here
It resists odour well enough to wear several days between washes, which is what actually reduces what you carry.
A 12-piece carry-on capsule
A 12-piece carry-on capsule
- 4 tops in one palette
- 2 pairs of trousers
- 1 pair of shorts or a skirt if the climate suits
- 1 dress or smart shirt for evenings
- 1 layer
- 1 packable waterproof
- 1 pair of walking shoes, worn on the plane
- 1 pair of lighter shoes