Make your carry on a useful time capsule wardrobe for Europe

You can totally travel Europe on a budget, and packing light is the first step. Have you ever heard of a time capsule wardrobe?

A time capsule wardrobe involves picking one unified color scheme, with one or two accent colors, and theming all your clothing so you can mix and match!

The first thing I do when I plan for a long summer getaway is to check out Pinterest for their recommended outfits.

Here’s a link to my Pinterest board for items you can buy right now that match my recommendations for a breezy European holiday.

Sam and I spent 4 weeks across Europe with 1 carry on bag each.

2 convertible maxi dresses
An everyday loose, patterned tank
Your favorite pair of dark skinny jeans
A light button down solid top
1 zip up athletic jacket
1 athletic shorts
1 loosely knit sweater

Convertible maxi dresses give you two night out outfits, and if you tuck or tie their sleeves (see my video on converting a dress) then you have two bottoms.

My cotton long sleeve dress could also be hiked up and tied to be a knee length skirt for an additional two looks. Total looks: 6

An everyday loose and patterned tank helps with the sweat you work up in Rome’s sweltering summer.

There’s hot, and then there’s the hot you feel lined up in full sun with thousands of people on the concrete top waiting to enter the Collosseum.

You need two tops: a patterned one, and a solid one. One needs to cover the shoulder for the days you enter a holy place, such as the Vatican.

Depending on the summer month you go, a pair of jeans in that Italian heat is laughable. However, if you plan to travel North into the Italian Alps like we did, a pair of dark jeans elevates a casual outfit for a night out.

Jeans are good for everyday, and with a fancier shoe, they can be a dinner outfit.

Choosing your cover up to be a low profile, athletic jacket means you have a versatile piece to wear on breezy days, that also doubles as a sweat wicking piece for hiking or outdoor excursions.

By choosing athletic shorts as your type of hot weather bottom, they can be used on 100 degree days when going nowhere special, but also double as your hiking or outdoor gear for excursions that will make you sweat!

A loosely knit sweater helped me during cold nights, and also doubled as a third top when the weather permitted.

I could tie it around my waist if I needed a cover up.

Also, choose a loose knit one so it doesn’t add to much warmth.

If air can pass through the knitting, the sweater is useful for cold days and also warm ones.

Dressing for a European adventure on a budget means you have to be picky about what pieces will be most useful and versatile.

In sticking to a similar color palette and complimentary items, you will have 8 pieces in your suitcase, but 2 weeks of different combinations to cycle through!