A Capsule Wardrobe Concept for RV Travel
Okay, I confess. I'm a clothes horse when it comes to travel. My years in tourism made me that way - black-tie events, meetings, bowling competitions, nights on the town, museum browsing, and shopping made most familiarization tours an exercise in luggage management. I needed so many different types of clothing for a trip!
Fast forward to today. Retired (or at least semi-retired), traveling in an RV, choosing whatever I want to see and do on trips. But that hasn't made packing any easier! In fact, if your small RV is like mine, there is not much clothing storage.
I have a decent-sized closet, but only two little drawers and no space to put a collection of shoes. Now, I am not a fashionista nor a slave to trends, but I do love a good collection of outfits. That said, traveling in a small RV meant I had to rethink my wardrobe-ways.
These days, my packing list begins with a review of our itinerary. My itinerary helps me to identify the types of clothing I'll need - hiking, biking, kayaking or museums, shopping, and nights on the town with friends. Maybe a little of both! If I have to attend an event, like a wedding or a funeral it throws another layer of choices into the mix. Then there is always "the emergency outfit". That's the outfit I take in case I am called to do something related to business and have to look respectable. Once I know what types of clothing I'll need, then I consider the climate: warm weather, cool weather, or a mix? It complicates things when I have to go cross-country and travel through hot, cold, and everything in between. Of course in an RV, I have to consider laundry - when and where I can take care of that and how much clothing will I need to get from one laundry day to the next. And the last consideration is storage - how much is available and how I will share it with Jim.
It has taken four years, but I finally found a way to address my clothing conundrum - a capsule wardrobe concept. I am not talking about those bare-bones, 20-pieces-for-everything collections you see on Pinterest. I just don't have the discipline for that much asceticism but, I do take note from that strategy. I assemble a reasonable number of pieces that coordinate so that I can mix and match pieces to build an outfit. Adding a scarf and some jewelry will help dress up an otherwise casual outfit for dinner at a restaurant, so I take along a healthy number of both. And I like to pack several types of shoes: running shoes, two pairs of flats, sneakers, and nice walking shoes to give me more options (I add sandals for warm weather and boots for cold weather). A couple of purses (one big, one small) round out the mix.
All this sounds pretty common sense so far. The tricky part is putting all the "considerations" together:
Warm weather or cold? I just pack items that can be used in layers. A ruana can be worn over a jacket for additional warmth or a summer dress to add an elegant flair. A quilted vest can add warmth to a long-sleeved tee-shirt and jeans.
What about doing laundry?
I figure on a stop for laundry once every two weeks. So, I take along enough basic items to get me through that time. I also pack liquid detergent to wash items in the sink if needed. A couple of plastic hangars with clothespins make a convenient and easily packed drying rack. (and I try to choose fabrics that wash easily and dry quickly).
Lots of different activities?
Outdoor activities like hiking, biking, and kayaking all can use similar clothing items and can be layered with regular clothing for non-sports activities. Outfits for the museum and shopping can dress up for dinner with a pretty scarf or jewelry and a pair of nicer flats. Jeans can be worn almost anywhere with the right top and shoes.
How do I store it all in the RV?
Jim created an insert for our RV's closet. He divided the closet into a small hanging area and several deep but narrow shelves- he gets two, I get two and we split the hanging space. We each get a drawer too. Shoes are the biggest problem, so we identified a cargo compartment on the exterior for hiking boots and extra sneakers. Flip flops, sandals, and dress shoes fill up a small lower cabinet in the front of the RV. Scarves hang from a ring on the inside of the closet door as do belts. Underwear, socks, and PJs fit nicely into the drawers. A skirt, a few of my shirts, and Jim's golf shirts fit on the hanging rod while we each fill up the shelves with folded slacks, jeans, casual tops, and tee shirts. The bulkier gear like sweaters, coats, or extra tops and slacks go into storage bags that zip up. They compress into flat bundles when you push out the air and they can be stored in an outside compartment or at the bottom of the closet.
So how do I figure out which items to bring along? For most trips, I start with a few basic items in neutral colors - for me, that means black, white, and denim. Those three colors seem to coordinate with everything I own!
Slacks
Jeans
Jean Jacket and/or knit jacket
Skirts or dresses
White tunic/shirt
Denim tunic/shirt
Scarves/wraps/ruanas
Sun hat, baseball cap
Now I add in pieces that coordinate with those neutrals choosing patterns like plaids, stripes, or prints:
Shirts or tunics
Tee-shirts or tops
Jewelry is small and packs easily, so you can take a number of pieces to polish up your outfits.
Then the other stuff you need:
Underwear and socks for two weeks
Pj's and robe, slippers
Flats and sneakers
Once I have the basics, I add in pieces according to season and activities:
Sandals, flip flops, or boots
Sweater and/or hoodie
Coat, vest, sweatshirt
Bathing suit and cover-up (or silk long-johns for cold weather)
Bike shorts, Rash Gard, Wind/rain suit
Shorts or capris for warm weather (or heavy slacks for cold weather)
Gloves, wool scarves (cold weather)
Fellas, I didn't forget you! Although it seems so much easier to pack "guy" clothing. The principals are the same, just choose your basic pieces in neutrals and add your fashion flair with patterns in your shirts, socks, shorts.
Start with your neutrals:
Slacks
Jeans
Sweat pants
Jacket and/or hoodie
White shirt/Golf shirt/Henley
Tie (??)
Baseball cap, sun hat
Now add in pieces that coordinate with those neutrals. Think about plaids, stripes, or prints:
Shirts/Golf shirts/Henley
Tee-shirts or long-sleeved tees
Then the other stuff you need:
Underwear and socks for two weeks
Pj's and robe, slippers
Shoes and sneakers
Once you have the basics, add in pieces according to season and activities:
Sandals, flip flops, or boots
Sweater and/or hoodie
Coat, outdoor vest, sweatshirt
Bathing suit and shirt (or long-johns for cold weather)
Bike shorts, Rash Gard, Wind/rain suit
Shorts for warm weather (or heavy slacks for cold weather)
Gloves, wool scarves (cold weather)
The number of pieces I pack is based on the length of the trip, the variety of activities, and the weather. In the end, the defining factor is space. I can only take along what I have room for, so unless I want to store it in zip bags in an outside compartment, I stick with the basic plan.
As far as keeping clothes looking good after being tightly packed, I have used a wrinkle release spray and it works on some fabrics. But, some items just need to be ironed, so I pack one with a "vertical steam" feature. A travel steamer is a good alternative to keep clothes looking fresh.
With a little restraint, a lot of coordinating, and some creativity you'll have enough clothing to get you through any trip. See how few pieces you can live with!
