A city break wardrobe demands outfits that can keep up. It’s usually a shorter trip, so packing light for a city break can be confusing, especially when your plans range from sightseeing to relaxed candlelit dinners, and a few beach trips in between.

The secret to packing for a city break? A capsule wardrobe that moves effortlessly with you. Creating a small edit of clothes that’ll take you from day to night will help you avoid overstuffing your luggage with ‘just in case ’ items, leaving you with clever outfit combinations that will keep you looking stylish and feeling prepared for your getaway.

So, how do you create a capsule wardrobe for a city break? Our guide walks you through our expert tips for creating a well-rounded wardrobe that will keep you looking fabulous throughout your trip.

Choose a colour palette

Choosing a colour palette is a great way to know that all the clothes you pack will match with one another. A handy guide to creating a wearable and cohesive wardrobe is the 80:20 colour scheme.

Pack 80% of your city break wardrobe in a neutral or monochrome colour palette, and save the remaining 20% for vibrant pops of colours like green or blue, and fun patterns like animal print. This ratio keeps your collection looking balanced, while still leaving room for you to inject a bit of fun into your wardrobe.

Consider day-to-night dressing

City break luggage usually doesn’t allow for the one-off statement pieces that you might pack for a longer getaway - there’s simply not enough room! Every item of clothing has to work hard and easily be matched with other items in your collection.

A co-ord is a must-have in your capsule wardrobe, offering three or more outfit options from a single matching set. They’re usually fancy enough to dress up with a pair of heels or strappy sandals and versatile enough to dress down with a pair of trainers during the day.

A ‘throw over everything’ type jacket or tailored blazer, a floaty midi dress, and a classic sleeveless top are all fabulous essentials for your capsule wardrobe, easily transitioning from one outfit to another, no matter the occasion.

The 5-4-3-2-1 method works wonders for creating a capsule wardrobe for your city break by taking a ‘less is more’ approach to packing. Entirely adjustable, you can tailor the packing hack to the type of trip you’re taking. For example, swapping out a pair of trousers for an extra layer if you’re heading somewhere on the cooler side, or adjusting the quantity for the length of your trip. For very short weekend breaks, consider the 3-2-1 ratio: Three tops, two bottoms, and one pair of shoes that work day and night.

Your city break capsule wardrobe checklist

• Pack a mix of five tops, including a basic t-shirt for casual days out, a blouse you can dress up or down, and an occasion top for smarter evenings out.
• Take four bottoms, including a couple of pairs of comfortable trousers that can be styled with a number of tops, a skirt, and shorts (weather-dependent).
• Three pairs of shoes. We recommend a pair for walking, some that you can dress up in, and either sandals or boots, depending on the destination.
• Two dresses or jumpsuits - we tend to take one that’s more casual for daytime exploring and one that’s fancier for meals or drinks.
• One light layer that can be worn with any outfit, or a cover up that will keep you cosy on breezier days or chilly nights.