The Ultimate Travel Capsule Wardrobe for New York City

I’ve historically been just an okay packer—not incredible, but not horrible. On a grading scale, like a solid B. That said, mapping out a true travel capsule wardrobe ahead of a trip has helped me over time (ahem, reaching more of that A status). Oh, and if you’re unfamiliar with a capsule wardrobe, it’s an edited assortment of versatile pieces that can be mixed and matched to create different outfits.

I recently took a quick three-day trip to New York City, and I thought about key pieces ahead of time and how I could re-wear items (not including underwear, socks, etc.) to maximize suitcase space and create easy yet chic outfits for my time in the city. I unpacked everything and organized it in the closet of my hotel room to keep everything visible. FYI, I stayed at The Luxury Collection in Midtown—very chic as you can see in the photos above.

Below you’ll find the key items I packed (showcased with various womenswear pieces and not including all of my accessories like sunglasses and a belt), along with some of the outfits I put together and where I wore them. For reference, I did bring three white tees to keep fresh during my stay. Keep scrolling for more.