It has been a while since I thought about a capsule wardrobe. In recent years, I have not found the concept attractive or useful; having an arbitrary limit on my “creative tools” (aka my clothes) seems rather pointless when the goal is to have fun and give full rein to my creative expression. That being said, when I was preparing for our family’s summer vacation this year, and preparing the clothes I was going to bring, it struck me that I was engaging in a bit of capsuling. Or, in other words, making a list.

But “capsule” does sound fancier, doesn’t it?

What is interesting is that, for the first time, I actually do have a legitimate vacation “capsule” — that is, a bunch of clothes that I keep specifically for our annual vacation to the lake (or similar activities, I suppose, though we don’t tend to be a very outdoorsy family). I have them packed away from the rest of my closet, and pull them out as the need arises. For the trip this year, I merely supplemented with a few new pieces — some from my current wardrobe, some bought specifically to add to the capsule.

Let’s talk specifics.

My sartorial goals for this type of vacation are, well, actually nil. I want to be comfortable, and I want to wear clothes that aren’t too fussy or expensive to replace if damaged. Let’s pause here to appreciate that this is a huge departure for me; I used to see vacations as a great opportunity to dress up, and let’s face it — I dress up to go to the grocery store. But since our vacationing has changed (we are less likely to travel to an urban centre, and more likely to be somewhere in the middle of nowhere), this is what progress looks like. Pants are long, loose and elastic-waisted (or leggings, for hiking). Shirts are cotton or linen; ditto dresses, which are also loose and flowy. Everything can be tossed in the washing machine, and I’m not going to lose sleep over it if I get some sunscreen onto anything. Basically, my vacation capsule is “coastal grandmother” minus the coastal part and the chic.

I did add a pair of shorts to the capsule this year, but mostly because I spotted a cute madras pair at the thrifts and couldn’t resist the colours. It was not an especially useful addition, I have to admit.

Here’s the list of what I packed for one week (we’ll get to some outfits in a moment):

• 1 windbreaker (wish I had also packed a warm hoodie as it was chillier than expected for a couple of days)
• 2 pairs of pants
• 1 pair of shorts
• 1 pair of leggings
• 2 dresses
• 2 shirts/tunics (doubling as cover-ups)
• 2 tank tops
• various swimsuits
• 2 pairs of sandals
• 1 pair of sneakers

On any given day, I had a couple of changes of clothes (we were in and out of the lake, and had some other outdoors activities mixed in) but pretty much everything was mix-and-match, and got re-worn at least once. I am never going to be the backpacking type, but I feel like I’ve managed to become far less “high maintenance” than I used to be — at least as far as my vacation wardrobe is concerned.

And now, for some outfits:

Very much mix-and-match practicality here — I probably could have done a few more combinations using these same pieces.

The shorts turned out to have been a good addition to the capsule — they’re very short which initially seemed liked a drawback (I prefer longer shorts) until I realized that they’re perfect for wading in lakes when I don’t want to get fully wet.

I didn’t take any outfit photos during the trip — can you believe it?? — until the very last day when I remembered:

I wore this dress two or three times, in fact — it’s easy to pack, easy to throw on, soft and stretchy, and perfect for when I feel the need for some colour without being the least bit fussy.

Occasionally I miss our “fancier” vacations (and the opportunity to dress up for them) but I have to say that, as sartorially boring as this trip was, I really enjoyed the slower pace and the beautiful scenery. Here’s one more photo of the view from our (very rustic!) motel balcony where I spent many hours soaking up the scenery and reading (4 books!):

And a few random photos to make up for the lack of fashion content on the trip:

Details: Everlane top (thrifted), Max& Co skirt (thrifted), Liz Claiborne bag (Poshmark), Old Navy shoes (Poshmark)

Thoughts: I was surprised by how much I loved this spur-of-the-moment-brainstormed colour combo. I’ve made a note to try this top with other cool colours. And yes, that is the (oversized) tote bag that matches my rainbow dress. After a year of searching, I finally snagged it on Poshmark. Patience wins the day again!

Details: Jessica jumpsuit (thrifted), Uniqlo top (thrifted), Capelli bag (Poshmark)

Thoughts: Vintage pinafore jumpsuits aren’t that common, or at least I had never seen one before so I was immediately intrigued by this one. The best part? It fits my long torso. The next best part? The pattern is a great match with this straw bag, which might just be my ultimate summer accessory.

Details: Denim & Supply top (thrifted), Elevenses vest (thrifted), Babaton skirt (thrifted).

Thoughts: Using a vest as a “3rd piece” is my favourite summer styling trick. It makes outfits look more “polished” while still making appropriate concessions to the weather. Plus, it’s an opportunity to inject some pattern mixing. This burgundy-based scheme (with the subtle floral in the background) is quite eye-pleasing.

Details: Valentino scarf, as top (thrifted), Urban Outfitters pants (thrifted)

Thoughts: I learned how to tie a scarf as a top from one of my favourite IG accounts (Sabra of MyStyleIsMyBrand), and it’s quite a nice trick for hot summer days. I wore this while working from home because I’m mostly a calculated risk taker, but you could also easily hedge your bets by wearing a light topper. In my case, I managed my risks (ahem) by actually wearing a strapless bra underneath — it happens to be the same shade of blue as the scarf.

Details: thrifted & upcycled jacket, Wilfred dress (thrifted)

Thoughts: I am lucky to count Josh, the talented maker behind Prairie Trail Goods, among my “real life” friends now (we have known each other online for a few years) for any number of reasons, not least of which (a) we both love thrifting, and (b) she can make an amazing, one-of-a-kind jacket out of thrifted textiles like this one. Which I am not lucky enough to own. The sleeves were pillow shams in a former life, can you believe it? Not only is this jacket beautiful — and my new favourite thing to wear — but it’s so easy to wear: light and airy, and super versatile.

Details: Tabi vest (thrifted), H&M pants (thrifted), Isabel Marant belt (thrifted), Everlane shoes (thrifted), Dooney bag (Poshmark)

Thoughts: I hate golf with a passion, but I couldn’t resist this vintage Tabi golf-themed vest; it’s so cute! I didn’t want to go full-on pastiche with my outfit, so I paired it with pieces I felt were more modern, like the paperbag waist pants, and a little edgier, like the studded belt. Although the outfit is a little more beige than I usually go for, I felt great it in. Very jaunty, in fact!

Details: Vince top (thrifted), Shoshanna dress (thrifted), Adriano Goldschmied jeans (thrifted), Cotton Ginny belt (thrifted), Barbara Barbieri shoes (thrifted), Dooney bad (Poshmark)

Thoughts: On my quest to find a long, floaty duster like the one from that old Ralph Lauren collection I posted a while ago, I picked up this dress as an experimental “maybe”. It’s polyester, not silk, and because it’s lined, a bit heavier (less floaty) than ideal, but it does have a coat-like vibe when worn unbuttoned. Perhaps not an unqualified success, but … a success nonetheless?

I am continuing to make my way through the stash of vintage fashion magazines that I scored a while ago, and finding so much relevant style inspo. And what I mean by that is inspiration that is very much relevant to current fashion in general, as well as the 90s revival currently happening. Prior to this, my idea of (late) 80s and (early) 90s fashion was easily summed up in one word: “dated”. It’s probably because I didn’t experience it firsthand (I was a kid/tween/teenager and didn’t really get interested in fashion until after 1995) but had the impression that it was all hideous shoulder pads and garish colours. And, while there is *some* of that (especially in Cosmo which tends to be more high street than high fashion), I’ve been so surprised to see outfits and pieces that I would unhesitatingly wear today — would LOVE to wear today.

Case in point (all photos from Harper’s Bazaar):

That last photos is the most “80s” of the bunch, but the pattern is so fabulous that I would be tempted to overlook those power shoulders anyway. I think what has surprised me the most is the styling; I have seen stunning accessories along the way, of the kind that really appeals to me – big, bold, architectural. It has inspired me to look anew towards vintage jewelry.

Another thing that I have noticed with interest are the prices of the clothes. By and large, they are very much in line with current day prices (both at the expensive end of the scale, and the inexpensive end). For example, the Comme des Garcons ensemble in the second photo from the top cost $300-$600 a piece. What is interesting is that the cost of most other consumer goods back then were much lower than current prices. I’ve found numerous references in the same magazines to salaries, and it’s clear that $30K was considered a good salary (for a woman, at least) back then. By the same logic, clothing should cost way more now than it does … and yet it doesn’t. And that has been the starkest example of the influence of fast fashion (and its downward pressure on clothing costs) that I’ve come across yet. Food for thought.

I am about to get into the Vogue stash next (which I had been saving for last) so stay tuned for the next instalment.