If you’ve ever stood over an open suitcase thinking, “Why doesn’t any of this go together?”—you’re not alone. Building a minimalist travel wardrobe isn’t just about packing fewer pieces… it’s about packing smarter. And one of the smartest things you can do? Start with your travel color palette.
When your clothes match, getting dressed while traveling becomes a breeze. You save time, space, and decision fatigue. That’s where travel outfit planning really begins—choosing colors that mix and match effortlessly.
In this post, I’m walking you through my exact process to create a minimalist travel wardrobe that reflects your personal style, works with your travel destination, and lets you put together matching travel outfits you’ll actually love wearing.
Ready To Learn About Crafting A Minimalist Travel Wardrobe? Let’s Choose The Right Colors!
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Why Is It Important To Select The Right Colors?
By sticking to a cohesive color palette, you can create a minimalist travel wardrobe where you can mix and match everything effortlessly. Packing pieces that are versatile means fewer items to bring, less time spent agonizing over outfit choices, and more space in your luggage for souvenirs!
Bonus points for saving money in unnecessary baggage fees and the dreaded phrase no woman wants to say out loud:
“I have nothing to wear!”
Where To Start? 3 Questions To Ask Yourself:
1️⃣ When are you visiting? Seasons and weather are super important! Different colors absorb and reflect light differently, affecting your body temperature. Lighter colors like whites and pastels can help keep you cool in hot climates, while darker shades like navy and black can provide warmth in cooler temperatures.
By selecting colors that are in line with seasonal trends, you can stay stylish and on-trend wherever you go.
Plus, colors have a psychological impact on our mood and emotions. Seasonally appropriate colors can evoke the vibe of the time of year. Here are some ideas:
❄️ Winter: plum, navy, red, gray, metallic and fair isle.
🌸 Spring: all the pastels, watercolor prints, stripes and florals.
☀️ Summer: all the happy vibrant colors, nautical stripes, gingham and fun prints.
🍁 Fall: rust orange, mustard, beige & browns, olive green, burgundy, plaid and animal print.
*basic neutrals are for every season*
2️⃣ Where are you going? Why does it matter?
- Are you going to the jungle, beach, desert or snow-capped mountains? Choosing colors that go with the landscape can create stunning visual contrasts in your photos!
- But there’s more to think about than just aesthetics… If you’re going somewhere humid or tropical (hello, jungle or beach!), steer clear of dark colors like black and navy—mosquitoes are more attracted to them. Lighter colors like white, beige, and soft pastels are better choices and will help keep you cooler, too!
- Just like any other place, different destinations have their own fashion trends and preferences. If you’re trying to blend in with the local fashionistas, do a little research about local trends.
- Let’s be real – a lot of people love those Insta-worthy travel photos! Considering the color palette of your destination can help you plan outfits that complement the scenery and make for stunning pics!
*I’m not your girl for beautiful photoshoots at a destination. If you want to plan your outfits to match the location, the best way to find ideas is to look for Instagram hashtags. Simply search for the destination name plus the following words/phrases: photoshoot – photo spots – best photo spots – instagrammable etc. You get the point ;)
3️⃣ Additional things to consider:
- What do you already have in your closet? This is so important! Most of the time, you don’t need to shop for new things. Please look inside your closet first, then decide.
- Do you sweat a lot? Are you bothered by sweating? I’m going to be real here. I use natural deodorant so I sweat. And guess what? I know it’s natural, but I really don’t like it. And that’s why black and white are my favorite colors to travel with! (or anything that hides the sweat)
- Are you a mess when eating? Traveling with small kiddos? Practicality plays a role in color selection too. Darker colors like black or navy can hide stains and dirt better than lighter hues. Printed pieces are also great to hide stains :)
Other Travel Style Posts You Will Love:
- 15 Best Travel Essentials For Women (No BS!)
- How To Create Gorgeous Outfits With A One-Piece Bathing Suit
- The Best 5 Shoes I Traveled With For 3 Years!
How To Choose The Right Colors? Step By Step Guide:
You will start taking out some pieces out of your closet and put them on your bed or wherever you can visualize all of them together.
1️⃣ Step one – Pick 3 or 4 neutrals or base colors:
Most of your pieces will fall in this category. This is the foundation of your travel wardrobe. Here you are just going to focus on selecting 3-4 colors. So go ahead and take out tops, pants, shorts, dresses, sweaters, etc. Don’t worry about the quantities, but also don’t go crazy here because that means more work later 😂
👉🏻 Examples of neutrals are: black, white, beige, dark green, brown, navy and gray.
By building your outfits around neutral tones, you’ll create a minimalist travel wardrobe that’s versatile and can be mixed and matched with ease.
2️⃣ Step two – Pick 2 pop of colors and 2 prints:
I wouldn’t go too crazy here. Just think mostly about tops, skirts and dresses here. Keep in mind that these have to match most of the neutral colors you picked on step one.
👉🏻 Examples of versatile printed pieces are: any kind of striped piece, florals, fun prints, leopard prints, etc. (remember to think about the seasonal prints I mentioned above)
Style tip: when choosing printed pieces make sure they match. For example, if you have stripes and florals make sure they have at least one color in common. Here’s an easy way to visualize it ⬇️
3️⃣ Step three – Separate tops, bottoms and dresses and stack them together in piles of the same color:
At this point, you only have 3 or 4 neutral colors, 2 pops of colors and 2 prints. At least you have narrowed things down by color, but now it’s time select the actual pieces you’re bringing.
This step is crucial to realize if you’re overpacking. This is where you will notice “oh I have 3 black pants”. I know, it’s like I’m there with you right?
Your personal comfort and preferences matter too! If you feel most confident and happy in bright, bold colors, go for it! Ultimately, your travel wardrobe should reflect your individual style and make you feel comfortable and at ease wherever you go!
4️⃣ Step four – Pick your accessories:
Here’s where I like to select printed, statement or colorful pieces. My favorite accessories are:
- Headbands
- Statement Earrings OR classic dainty jewelry items
- Neck Scarves
- A crossbody bag that literally matches every outfit
Feel free to choose the ones that match your style! Necklaces, rings, bracelets, belts, etc. Whatever you like, as long as it matches your outfits and it doesn’t take a lot of space.
5️⃣ Step five – Pick your shoes:
I only travel with 3 or 4 pairs of shoes at a time (including gym shoes). These have been my go-to since September 2021:
- White Leather Sneakers
- Waterproof Birkenstocks OR Everyday Birkenstocks
- Trail Runners
- Flat Leather Sandals
Can’t state this enough, all of these pieces have to match! This is a very poor quality photo of how I make sure each piece is worth packing. In this case I’m seeing how many outfits I can create with the green floral skirt:
Left: I make sure it goes well with most of my tops, all my shoes and the jacket I’m bringing – just in case I need to layer.
Right: An example of one of the outfits :)
My Most Versatile Color Palette For A Perfect Minimalist Travel Wardrobe:
Because I travel full time, usually for 6 months periods and almost always to warm places, I don’t have the luxury to always pick the perfect color palette for each destination.
But this is more or less what has worked for me over the past 3 years:
- 3 base colors: dark green, black and white. (8 tops, 4 bottoms)
- 4 printed pieces: black and white stripes, flowers (2 tops, 1-2 bottoms) *ideally a top/bottom set*
- Other essentials: 1 chambray or linen shirt, 1 LBD or other neutral color.
- Pop of colors: headbands, statement earrings and maybe one of the tops or a dress. (it varies)
- Shoes: 4 pairs, including gym shoes.
I only pack one dress. Instead of more dresses, I now travel with a top/bottom set, like this one ⬇️
I love it because I can make it look like a dress, but I can also style both top and bottom separately in any way I want!
Styling Tips To Maximize Every Single Piece You Pack:
I basically share these tips in all of my blog posts, but they’re really that important. Thanks to these, I’ve been able to create even more outfits while traveling with a small carry-on bag!
- Wear tops and bottoms that are the same color. This way you can fake a dress, jumpsuit or romper.
- Instead of packing too many dresses, try packing sets instead. One or two will do it. One neutral and one printed.
- Don’t forget about versatile pieces. A chic pashmina that doubles up as head scarf and a beach towel. Or my favorite: a linen button down shirt that you can wear open with a tank top/t-shirt, tie around your waist, layer with a sweater and even as a beach cover up. This is one of the best pieces you can travel with!
- Try things on before you pack them! I have brought pants than don’t fit way too many times LOL – make sure everything fits!
Do you want me to pack for you? (it’s FREE)
Simply answer these 2 questions about your trip and I’ll send you a customized packing list! It’s that easy. The best part? I’ve tried and tested these packing lists 👇🏼
Final Thoughts About Creating A Minimalist Travel Wardrobe:
A minimalist travel wardrobe isn’t just about packing less—it’s about packing intentionally. When you take the time to choose the right colors, you’re not just creating matching travel outfits… you’re giving yourself the gift of ease, confidence, and more headspace to enjoy your trip.
It’s one less thing to think about when you’re living out of a suitcase, and trust me, that simplicity is everything.
Whether you’re heading to a city, beach, jungle, or all three, your travel color palette will be the secret ingredient to making the most of every single piece in your bag.
You don’t need a giant wardrobe to feel stylish. You just need the right pieces, the right colors—and a little planning.
So next time you’re standing in front of your closet with an open suitcase and a big adventure ahead… start with color.
Your outfits will thank you.
Your suitcase will thank you.
And most importantly—you’ll feel amazing.
Happy carry-on travels ✈️
XO,
Aimara
PPS: want immediate access to all my best packing resources? Get 17 packing lists + guides for $17!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Hi, my name is Aimara and I am the voice behind Ways of Style. I was born and raised in Venezuela until the age of 27 when I moved to Chicago, and 2 years later I met my best friend and husband. We now travel full time and live out of a carry-on bag, so believe me, I know a thing or two about how to maximize every single piece I own.
I love creating new looks, and looking cute while I’m traveling. And in this blog, I try to share all my looks, even if I don’t have the best photos ;) My goal is to help you maximize every piece you have in your closet and to encourage you to live with less things.
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