The Ultimate Cruise Capsule Wardrobe | 2 Capsules, 181 Outfits
A trip of a lifetime shouldn’t come with weeks of packing anxiety.
If you try to pack for every activity on your itinerary and every possible change in weather, you’ll feel like you’re packing for five vacations at once. Then, that pile of clothes you bought specifically for vacation ends up stuffed into packing cubes of regret.
Stop overpacking. You don’t need to pack an outfit for everything on your itinerary. You need a capsule wardrobe with more outfits you are excited to wear, than you have plans for.
I built two small capsule wardrobes to solve that problem: one casual and one dressy. My dressy capsule makes 35. My casual capsule makes 77 outfits. Then the real Sudoku on Steroids™ starts. Combine the two and they create 69 more outfits, for 181 outfits before shoe and accessory shifts.
The best part? Nothing in these capsules looks like “travel clothes.” Now you can refuse to pack boring too, with closet essentials you’ll actually keep wearing long after you get home.
Pack Light. Dress Like You Packed Your Whole Closet.
My Cruise Capsule Wardrobe Formula
Most capsule wardrobes give you one of two things: a boring formula where every outfit starts to look the same, or a very expensive shopping list.
When I’m building a capsule wardrobe, I start with inspiration. Then I narrow it down to a short checklist of pieces that work together no matter what. I add Outfit Multipliers as the finishing touch to make even more outfits without adding more clothes.
This leaves you plenty of room to make it your own and customize it for your body type, budget and personal style.
DRESSY CAPSULE
☐ Blazer
☐ Button-up (classic or sheer)
☐ Cardigan
☐ Camisole top
☐ Drawstring pants
☐ Black lace skirt
☐ Jeans
☐ Black dress
CASUAL CAPSULE
☐ Black long sleeve
☐ Black cropped tank
☐ White short sleeve
☐ Black leggings
☐ Wide leg sweatpants
☐ Track pants
☐ Track jacket
☐ Windbreaker
☐ Half zip
☐ Jumpsuit
The Casual Cruise Capsule | 10 Pieces → 77 Outfits
This is the capsule collection for travel days, walking around port, sightseeing, coffee, casual excursions, etc. Comfortable clothes that don’t scream comfortable clothes.
The 10-Piece Casual Checklist
START WITH A TOP
Black long sleeve
Black cropped tank
White short sleeve
This black long sleeve with thumb holes is so chic. It’s sleek enough to layer without looking like activewear. Think of this short-sleeve AirEssentials top as a T-shirt on steroids. It has just enough design detail to keep it from feeling like a boring basic. Use promo code JENNIFERSPANX to save on your first order.
PICK A BOTTOM
Black leggings
Wide leg sweatpants
Track pants
Mine and Oprah’s all-time favorite non-sloppy sweatpants come in petite, regular and tall lengths. These new pintuck track pants also come in petite, regular, and tall. I’ve tried every black legging, and these are my favorite. They’re comfortable enough for casual days but can do double duty with dressy shoes for happy hour.
ADD A LAYER
Track jacket
Windbreaker
Half zip
This track jacket is sold separately from the pintuck track pants, but it’s made in the exact same colors and fabric so you can wear them as a set. I won’t admit how many of these half zips I own. They’re the best lightweight layers. Unzip one to reveal what’s underneath, or zip it up and roll the neck over when you need extra warmth. They’re soft and stretchy enough to tie around your waist too.
Windbreakers and track jackets are still having a moment and make great travel essentials. This sheer style is lots of fun. I sized up for an oversized, more fashionable fit, but you can also choose a practical style that’s actually a windbreaker or a fun designer-inspired find from Amazon.
OUTFIT MULTIPLIER
Jumpsuit
This jumpsuit comes in three colors and is sure to sell out quickly. It’s so flattering on and has an easy-access back, so you can go to the bathroom on the go without unzipping the entire thing. Wear it partially unzipped to show off your jewelry, a cute bralette or sports bra underneath. It’s also smooth enough through the middle to tie a sweatshirt or cardigan around your waist.
It comes in regular, petite and tall lengths. I’m 5’4″ and wear an XS regular.
One Stop Shopping
The 8-Piece Dressy Checklist | 8 Pieces → 35 Outfits
Happy hour called. You don’t need another suitcase. “Dressy” doesn’t mean packing an entirely separate wardrobe for every dinner.
START WITH A TOP
Button-up
Camisole top
I found the most beautiful washable silk button-up in soft ivory, and it’s under $100. I’m also having lots of fun with this sheer oversized option that can even be styled as a bolero.
PICK A BOTTOM
Drawstring pants
Black lace skirt
Jeans
In my opinion, there are only two drawstring pants worth considering: this viral wrinkle-free pair, or a washable silk style in a nice neutral or fun fashion color.
A pencil skirt will look best with all the tops in this capsule. Choose lace or sequins for interesting texture that also travels well. This sequin pencil skirt comes in 11 colors, under $50, and is fabulous.
ADD A LAYER
Cardigan
Blazer
I narrowed the blazers for this capsule down to my top two.
My all-time favorite is the Veronica Beard Miller blazer. She can be styled single or double-breasted, and the functional sleeve buttons let you roll or convert the sleeves to show off your jewelry. Invisible interior zippers let you add a hoodie and instantly dress her down, so she works with pieces from the casual capsule too.
My other pick is this oversized European linen blazer. It’s been a favorite of mine all summer because it’s lightweight and looks effortless.
My Quince cashmere cardigan styled like a top and my favorite European linen blazer.
Convertible blazer = Better cost per wear
ADD A DRESS
If your little black dress isn’t reversible by design, look for a classic slip dress or strapless style that’s easy to layer under, layer over, or belt to completely change the look.
This dress transforms itself every night. Bored of your little black dress by night 2? Not this one. It’s like traveling with your own glam squad, minus the extra suitcase. Zero dress déjà vu. This wrinkle-free little black slip dress has been in my closet and on my new wardrobe checklist for years.
Combine the Two Capsules → 69 More Outfits
This is where Sudoku on Steroids™ gets interesting.
I didn’t build a casual capsule and a dressy capsule that live in separate corners of your suitcase. I built them knowing they could borrow from each other. Make 23 new outfits just by swapping jeans for any of the bottoms in the Casual Capsule.
Outfit Multipliers | This Is Where It Gets Fun
The 181 outfits you can make, with just the capsules above, are just the beginning.
That number doesn’t include styling shifts, shoes, accessories or all the ways my Outfit Multipliers can change jobs.
Accessories From the Samples
Outfit Multipliers are how I get even more outfits without adding any extra pieces to the capsule. A cardigan becomes an accessory. A button-up becomes a bolero. Pieces you were already packing suddenly have more than one personality. This is why my capsule wardrobes don’t look like capsule wardrobes.
The Outfit Multipliers in This Capsule
The Veronica Beard Blazer
Wear it single or double-breasted. Roll or convert the sleeves. Add a hoodie using the interior zippers and she can jump right into the Casual Capsule.
The Slip or Reversible Dress
Reverse, layer something underneath, layer something over it, or add a belt. A dress doesn’t have to stay a dress.
The Jumpsuit
Wear it alone, unzip it to reveal what’s underneath, add a blazer or cardigan, or tie a layer around your waist.
The Classic Cardigan
Wear it as a layer, a top, backwards as a pullover, around your shoulders, or tied at your waist.
The Sheer Button-Up
Button it, leave it open, layer it or style it as a bolero.
The Black Long Sleeve With Thumb Holes
Wear it alone or use it as a sleek base layer under pieces from either capsule. Add shoulder pads and change silhouette entirely.
The Black Leggings
Casual enough for travel days. Add the right shoes and layers and they can sneak into cocktails or happy hour.
The Prada Crossbody Bag
The one-size-fits-all shoulder bag with a detachable Crossbody strap. This is where accessories start multiplying outfits, too.
181 Different Outfits
How I Get More Without Packing More
these are styling shifts, not additional outfits. That actually reinforces how conservative the 181 number is.
Customize the Formula for Your Body, Budget + Personal Style. samples
Refuse to Pack Boring
The best part? Nothing in these capsules looks like “travel clothes.” Now you can refuse to pack boring too, with closet essentials you’ll actually keep wearing long after you get home.
Pack Light. Dress Like You Packed Your Whole Closet.