Sunny Vacation Capsule Wardrobes for Women Over 40
Your vacation shouldn’t start with a swimsuit crisis.
You know exactly what it feels like to pull out your summer clothes in the middle of winter and wonder what on earth you’re going to wear. Suddenly you’re shopping for swimsuits, shorts, sleeveless tops, and trying to figure out what the heck “resort casual” means anyway.
Ironically, packing for somewhere that requires less clothing can be one of the hardest trips to pack for, especially after 40. Whether you’re headed to Hawaii, Mexico, a cruise, or a casual family getaway somewhere sunny, you want to look and feel like you’re on vacation.
Stop packing like you’re moving there! I’ve done the shopping, styling, and outfit planning for four kinds of sunny vacations, with capsule wardrobes that take you from plane to pool and everywhere in between. These are clothes you’ll want to wear on vacation and keep wearing long after you’re home.
Four Capsule Wardrobes for Four Kinds of Sunny Vacations
The European Summer Carry-On Capsule
This is the capsule wardrobe I packed for two weeks in Italy during a summer heat wave. 11 pieces. 184 outfit possibilities. No packing cubes. No wrinkles. No boring outfits.
Shop this sample and get the complete checklist here.
The Casual Family Getaway Capsule
Family vacations call for a different kind of wardrobe. Workout clothes we’re calling loungewear because let’s face it, we’re not working out on this trip. At least I’m not. Swimsuits, even if you never get in the water, and outfits comfortable enough for doing absolutely nothing but cute enough for shopping, coffee runs, and dinner alfresco. The only thing that should clash on a family vacation is everyone’s opinion about where to eat.
The Ultimate Cruise Capsule
Stop overpacking. If you 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. All those clothes you bought specifically for vacation end up stuffed into packing cubes of regret.
My Ultimate Cruise Capsule combines casual and dressy pieces to create 181 possible outfits, before styling shifts, accessories, and Outfit Multipliers. Best of all, nothing looks like “travel clothes.”
Resort Casual Capsule Wardrobe
What the heck does “resort casual” mean anyway? This capsule is my answer. Swimsuits that double as bodysuits, a white dress that goes beyond the beach, and pieces that take you from plane to pool. Pack light, look like you packed your whole closet.
I originally created this Pack for Paradise collection in 2023, and the checklist still works! Here’s the list.
- ☐ Palazzo pants
- ☐ Swimsuit / bodysuit
- ☐ Cropped cardigan
- ☐ White dress
- ☐ Woven bag
- ☐ Convertible top
- ☐ Jeans
- ☐ Shorts set
- ☐ White ribbed tank top
The Sunny Destination Packing List You’ll Actually Wear
Ironically, packing for somewhere that requires less clothing can be one of the hardest trips to pack for, especially after 40. Especially when you, your shorts, swimsuits, and sleeveless tops haven’t seen the light of day in months.
1. From Plane to Pool | Luxe Loungewear
I wear SPANX in public. And I’m not talking about my underwear.
Their AirEssentials fabric feels like pajamas but never looks sloppy. These are the only sweatpants I’ll be seen wearing in public. SPANX is the only loungewear brand on the casual side of my Ultimate Cruise Capsule Wardrobe checklist.
My new favorite is the one-piece jumpsuit. Getting dressed doesn’t get any easier than this! It’s officially become my favorite travel outfit, comes in long-sleeve, short-sleeve, and sleeveless styles, and is available in petite, regular, and tall.
If it’s loungewear and it’s not SPANX, then you know it must be good! During this week’s Coffee in My Closet LIVE, I shared a terry cloth set mixed with a solid-color short-sleeve set. The separates look just as cute with slides on vacation as they do with UGGs at home.
Use promo code JENNIFERXSPANX to save on your first order.
2. Swimsuits, Even If You Never Get in the Water
A swimsuit doesn’t have to get wet to earn its place in your suitcase. I love a solid-color one-piece that doubles as a bodysuit with jeans, palazzo pants, or a skirt.
A great cover-up is the key. I took this button-up dress to Paris during shoulder season and wore it with boots in the city and over my swimsuit at the beach. This lace skirt went with me to a work conference, but it makes bougie bathing suit cover-up.
Burberry does a bang-up job with beach accessories, including cover-ups, hats, sandals, shorts, and sundresses that can make even a basic black swimsuit look fabulous.
3. The Best Jeans for Travel
These are the jeans that survived two weeks in Italy and the best jeans for travel. They’re made with PAIGE’s signature Transcend fabric, a perfect combination of denim, spandex, rayon, and polyester that helps them retain their shape and move with your body without stretching out.
I love a light wash for sunny destinations or dark denim for dressier outfits. This dark denim crop is great because it shows off your sandals and comes in three lengths, so you can find your ideal cropped ankle length.
Stop spending $250 on sweatpant jeans.
Spanx now has pull-on denim pants with real pockets. No zipper or button digging into your waist. There’s even a seam across the back that gives your booty a little lift.
Choose the long wide-leg style or the cropped version with a matching half-zip you can wear instead of a jean jacket with the other pieces you’ve packed.
4. Jewelry With Personality, Not a Jewelry Organizer
Don’t stop accessorizing just because you’re on vacation! Jewelry with personality makes even the simplest outfit look like you. I especially love convertible pieces that give you several different looks without packing an entire jewelry organizer.
I wore my Sequin zodiac pendant all through Italy this summer. It converts from a short necklace to a long pendant and looks fabulous layered. My little fishy necklace gets compliments everywhere and adjusts from a choker to any length with a simple drawstring. Both are made in New York!
I wear something mixed metallic every day, and it’s especially useful when traveling. Look for jewelry, sandals, or even a hat that combines gold and silver so you can mix your accessories without thinking twice.
5. Pop It Like It’s Hot
Let’s face it. I’ll take any excuse not to do my hair on vacation! A baseball hat is my favorite way to add a pop of color, whether I’m wearing neutrals or a playful print.
My favorite trick is to repeat the color somewhere else in my outfit. Match your baseball hat to your sneakers, sandals, cardigan, sweatshirt, or beach tote.
I love a classic Yankees or Dodgers baseball hat. Ralph Lauren is especially good if you’re looking for something more classic with a nice range of colors. Bougier designer versions from Burberry, Isabel Marant, and Anine Bing can make a Target tank top and Old Navy flip-flops look like a million bucks.
Watch Me
It’s finally sweater weather here, and I’m in a sundress talking swimsuits!
I have a confession. I might enjoy packing for a trip almost as much as taking the trip itself. Every Thanksgiving, my family heads to sunny Palm Springs, so this week’s Coffee in My Closet was all about escaping somewhere warm this winter.
We talked swimsuits you might never get wet, cozy loungewear, mixed-metallic sandals, convertible jewelry, jeans that feel like sweatpants, and a few fabulous Burberry sale finds.
I’ve gathered the highlights, shopping links, and promo codes so you can shop the session without sitting through the whole episode.
