Capsule Wardrobe – Spring Study Abroad
Capsule wardrobes are perfect for studying abroad.
Here is how to create your capsule wardrobe for studying abroad this spring in Europe.
Packing your suitcase to go study abroad, is probably the most stressful part of the entire process.
You may be thinking how am I supposed to fit 3 months worth of clothes in this little suitcase?
Especially if you are someone like me who has a ton of clothes, but always feel like you have nothing to wear.
A capsule wardrobe will be life changing for you.
A capsule wardrobe is a small collection of staple items. They are the foundation of your whole wardrobe. These items are usually neutral in color.
Having a capsule wardrobe will make it a lot easier for you to get dressed because everything will go with everything.
” Minimalism is not a lack of something. It’s the perfect amount of something. ”
Nicholas Burroughs
Down below are a collection of items that you should definitely add to your study abroad capsule wardrobe.
I studied abroad in Italy during the spring semester last year.
I underestimated how cold it will be during the first month and a half.
Spring semesters usually start in January or February.
The average temperature in Italy during January and February is 30 – 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
I would make sure you look up the average temperatures in the town that you are staying in. The temperatures might vary depending if you are studying in northern, central or southern Italy.
I would be sure to pack clothing pieces that can be layered, so you can stay warm during the cold months.
I added links to the products, simply just click the “HERE” button under each image.
I made it easy for you all to purchase these essential items to pack in your suitcase!
Pants
You are going to want to pack a mix of different types of pants.
I wouldn’t pack more than two pairs of blue jeans because you can wear them multiple times before washing.
Italians dress nice all the time. You may be used to wearing sweatpants to your college lectures now, but I would start getting used to dressing a little more presentable for your classes abroad.
I personally do not get ready for classes, I throw on a big sweatshirt and sweatpants almost every day.
However, when I studied abroad I tried by best to throw on a cute outfit before going to my classes.
Now I’m not saying you should leave your sweatpants at home. You are still going to want to pack at least three pairs of sweatpants. And, yes, you should still pack at least 2 pairs of your Lulu leggings.
Here are some of my favorite types of pants, that you will 100% get a lot of use out of :
Basic Jeans
These high wasted straight legged jeans from Abercrombie are perfect.
Italians dress very conservative, so I would be sure to bring jeans that have little to no holes in them.
Black Leather Pants
You can’t go wrong with a nice pair of black leather pants. These ones from Abercrombie are my absolute favorite.
Brown Leather Pants
Instead of black leather pants, brown is a great alternative. These pants can also be worn with any colored top.
Tan Trouser Pants
A nice pair of trouser pants look very elegant and can also be worn with any type of shirt.
Jackets
Before I went abroad I did not think I needed pack so many different coats.
But I’m so glad I did because a coat can make or break an outfit.
Obviously you will want to bring some sweatshirts but make sure you save room for heavier coats.
Speaking of sweatshirts, I would only pack plain sweatshirts, with not a lot of writing or weird photos on them.
Spring in Italy can be very cold, like I mentioned before, temperatures can be cold as 30 degrees Fahrenheit.
You’re going to be walking everywhere, and you’re going to want to be able to put a jacket on that won’t ruin your entire outfit.
Especially when you’re traveling to different places during the weekend, you’ll be wearing your coat 90% of the time.
If you don’t have a cute coat on, you’re not going to get cute Instagram pictures. So, coats are a very important staple to your capsule wardrobe.
Leather Jacket
We all already know leather jackets are back and here to stay.
Of course you should pack yours, and if you don’t already have one you’re missing out.
Tan Coat
Yes, you will look like every other girl studying abroad with this one on.
But don’t under estimate the classic trench coat. Not only are they a fashion statement, but they keep you very warm.
Down Coat
This down coat is perfect for travel because it folds up into a tiny bag.
Like I said earlier, it can be very chilly during Italian springs. You will be walking almost everywhere. You don’t want to be miserable and cold.
So, I highly recommend bringing a winter coat.
This one from Amazon comes with the bag too. So it won’t take up much space in your suitcase.
Shirts
If you’re anything like me, you probably have a million different shirts that you never wear.
Before I go out during the weekends at school, I make a hurricane in my room going through every shirt I’ve bought in the last four years.
But this is where our capsule wardrobe will come in handy.
Yes, you may feel like packing all of your shirts. But, you really need to think realistically about what you are going to be able to wear more than once.
Here are some key staple shirts that won’t stay in your closet the entire three months:
Turtle Necks
You can never go wrong with basic turtle necks.
Make sure to get neural colors like the ones featured above.
You can easily spice up this outfit by pairing it with chunky jewelry.
White Button Down
Yes, the basic white button down is for sure coming abroad with you.
I recommended getting a longer sized one. With this you will have so many different ways to wear it.
Either with your leather pants or jeans.
Or you can even wear it over a skirt with tights and high booties.
Long Sweater
This sweater is ideal for two reasons.
First, because it is on the thinner side, which makes it easier to pack.
Second, like I said before longer shirts can be worn multiple different ways. (Either as shirt or dress).
Dressier Items
One thing to know is that Italian’s rarely wear shorts, even on the hottest days of summer.
Italians will judge you if you wear short skirts or shorts.
I remember I was going on a hike in Italy, so I obviously wore my favorite workout set.
When I was walking through the town everyone was staring at me like I had three heads. A friend I met who was from Italy, told me that I had a sign on my back that said “I’m an American.”
So moral of the story, you do not need to pack a lot of shorts.
I would also be careful where your wearing your mini-skirts to.
There are actually a lot of dress code rules in Italy, so try not to wear anything super short because you may not be allowed in museums and churches.
Black Dress
A long black dress is the perfect thing to throw on when you don’t feel like styling an outfit.
This black dress can be worn for so many occasions and can be styled in many different ways.
Long White Dress
This sweater dress can be worn throughout the entire spring season.
You could wear this dress to any occasion. You can also re-style this dress by throwing a sweater over it.
Long Skirt
You will be so glad you packed a long black skirt.
Like I said earlier, you may not get away with wearing short skirts everywhere, due to dress-codes.
This skirt can be worn with so many different tops during both the warm and colder months of spring.
Shoes
When studying abroad you will be walking way more than you’ve ever have.
Make sure to pack comfortable walking shoes.
It is also important to remember that Europe’s cobblestone streets are not fun to walk around in heels.
So, I would just keep your heels at home.
Black Boots
These black boots are super cute and very comfortable to walk in.
These specific ones are from Target, but you can find them online at almost every shoe store.
Veja Sneakers
You will need a pair of comfortable sneakers to walk around in for hours.
Now when I say comfy, I don’t mean your Nike sneakers that you wear to the gym.
You still want to look fashionable so I recommend the Veja Campo Leather Sneakers.
Slippers
You are going to want to pack a pair of slippers to wear around your apartment.
For some reason buildings in Italy get dusty very quickly.
I’m not kidding when I say you will be sweeping your floors everyday.
You’ll feel so comfortable walking around in your slippers, and your socks won’t get super dirty.
Loafers
Loafers are actually in style again, and they fit the European vibes.
They will make your outfits look classier.
Not to mention these loafers are very comfortable.
Accessories
Since a wardrobe capsule consists of very basic and neutral pieces, accessories are truly the cherry on the top.
These accessories can be worn with any of the outfit staples listed above.
Check out my recent blog post on amazon essentials, to find a travel jewelry box so you can avoid tangled messes.
Necklaces
” Your never fully dressed without jewelry ”
A chunky gold necklace will always make an outfit stand out.
If gold isn’t your style you can always get a silver one instead.
Earrings
This set of gold earrings will be essential to all of your outfits.
Again, if you’re not a gold girly this pack on Amazon comes in silver too.
Stockings
I would purchase a pack of stockings like these ones from Amazon because stockings are known to rip very easily.
Also I would be sure to purchase a sheer black pair, so you can still see a little skin through them.
Sunglasses
After a long night of drinking wine, a pair of sunglasses will be your best friend.
These sunglasses from Amazon are great quality, and they also look very European.
Trust me when I say having a capsule wardrobe will make your life a million times less stressful.
All of these items are perfect for those who are studying abroad during the spring semester.
Since you will be there for both the colder end months of winter, and the beginning warmer months of spring, you can adjust these outfits to the weather.
An important thing to remember is that you do not want to over-pack.
You are going to want to buy clothes there, and fit souvenirs in your luggage on your way back home.
There were may items that I wish I did not bring because I only wore them once or twice, and they took up a lot of space in my suitcase.
Just remember to keep it simple and think realistically about what you will actually get the most use out of.
Check out my recent Amazon Travel Essential blog to get all your travel necessities!
