Minimalist Travel Wardrobe: How To Choose The Right Colors!

Are you ready to rock that minimalist travel wardrobe like a boss? Picture this: exploring the world with nothing but the essentials by your side. And you know how it starts? With choosing the right colors! Yep, it’s not only about the pieces you bring, but about the colors you choose.

So, we’re diving straight into the fun part – selecting the perfect color palette for any trip. So, get ready and let’s chat about how to make your travel wardrobe pop with just the right hues!

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!”

Minimalist Travel Wardrobe: How To Choose The Right Colors! — *we don’t say that around here ok!*

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!

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 is one of my favorite colors to travel with!

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 :)

How To Do It? 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.

Step one – Pick 3 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 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.

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 ⬇️

Step three – Separate tops, bottoms and dresses and stack them together in piles of the same color:

At this point, you only have 3 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?

Here are the actual quantities you need:

Tops: 11 total (includes sweaters too!)

Bottoms: 6 (includes pants, shorts, skirts)
Dresses: 1

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!

Step four – Pick your accessories:

Here’s where I like to select printed, statement or colorful pieces. My favorite accessories are:

Headba nds
Statement Earrin gs

Neck Sca rves

Feel free to choose the ones that match your style! Necklaces, rings, bracelets, belts. Whatever you like, as long as it matches your outfits and it doesn’t take a lot of space.

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 Snea kers
Waterproof Birkensto cks OR Everyday Birkenstocks
Trail Runner s

Flat Leather Sandal s

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 a few of my tops, all my shoes and jacket in case I need to layer.

Right: An example of one of the outfits :)

🎯 Want a customized packing list? Answer these 2 questions about your trip and I’ll send it your way!

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 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, 2 bottoms)
Other essentials: 1 chambray or linen shirt, 1 LBD or other neutral color.

Pop of colors: headbands, statement earrings and maybe one top or 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! (I’ll share that on a separate blog post soon)

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 from 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 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!

Are You Wondering How We Can Afford To Travel The World Full Time?

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Final Thoughts About Creating A Minimalist Travel Wardrobe:

Hope you enjoyed this post! If you have any questions, I am always happy to help :)

Next time you’re packing your bags, don’t forget to give some thought to your color palette. It makes all the difference!

Happy carry-on travels ✈️

XO,

Aimara

PS: remember I can help you pack light! Just answer these 2 questions about your trip and I’ll send you a customized packing list!

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.