Hey there, fellow wanderers! It’s me Gingi, and guess what? I’m about to embark on a thrilling adventure with my family and pets – full-time RV living and a multi-month cross country roadtrip to Florida! As I prepare to hit the open road for close to a year, I’ve decided to dive headfirst into the world of minimalism and create a capsule wardrobe that fits seamlessly into my soon-to-be mobile lifestyle.
Now, if you’re wondering what a capsule wardrobe is, let me break it down for you. It’s essentially a curated collection of versatile, timeless clothing items that can be mixed and matched to create a variety of outfits. The goal is to simplify your wardrobe, making it easier to manage and freeing up space for the more important things in life—like enjoying the breathtaking views from your RV window!
So, why am I taking on this challenge? Well, let me share my story with you.
My husband has been active duty in the military for over 10 years now (in fact, I made this blog while I was pregnant with my oldest, and Jonathan was in boot camp!) and over the years we have come to the conclusion that: 1) The military lifestyle isn’t for our family. Deployments, extended separations, forced vaccinations, and the way the world is moving politically have just ruled out this lifestyle for us. And 2) We spend so much time traveling and visiting our happy place – Disney World! – that living on the east coast (which we haven’t yet explored), and being located in the hub of cruise ships and world destinations like Disney World, would be ideal for our family in our own adventures AND will be a good idea for my wedding photography focused on adventurous and destination weddings.
So the time has come to either stay in the military for another 4+ years OR take the risk and jump into our DREAM lifestyle… so we are taking the leap to live out our dreams and manifest the life we want! Plus, living on the road for an extended time has always been a dream of mine. The freedom of the open highway, the thrill of discovering new places, and the simplicity of a life untethered – it all sounds too good to pass up.
But, as I started planning this adventure (back to the point of this post, haha!), I quickly realized that my wardrobe was anything but travel-friendly. The excess of clothes, shoes, and accessories just wouldn’t cut it in the limited space of an RV. Plus… fashion is an area I have ALWAYS struggled.
Cue the capsule wardrobe – my solution to decluttering my life and streamlining my style. I want to focus on the experiences and memories I’ll be making on the road, not the endless choices in my closet. So, with hope in my heart and a touch of trepidation, I’m embracing the concept of less is more.
If you are in ANY kind of similar situation needing to drastically streamline your closet, gere are a few steps to help you kickstart your own RV-friendly capsule wardrobe:
- Assess Your Lifestyle: Consider the activities you’ll be doing on the road and the climates you’ll encounter. This will help you determine the types of clothing you need.
- Choose a Color Scheme: Opt for a neutral color palette that complements your style. This will make mixing and matching a breeze, ensuring that every piece works seamlessly together.
- Focus on Versatility: Select clothing items that can be dressed up or down, allowing you to adapt to various occasions without overpacking.
- Quality Over Quantity: Invest in high-quality, durable pieces that can withstand the wear and tear of travel. This ensures that your wardrobe lasts the journey, and you won’t find yourself constantly replacing items.
- Think Layering: Layering is your best friend when you’re dealing with changing climates. Pack a few versatile layers that can be added or removed as needed.
- Maximize Storage: Utilize every inch of your RV’s storage space efficiently. Consider collapsible organizers, vacuum-sealed bags, and under-bed storage solutions to keep your wardrobe compact and accessible.
I found the website Classy Yet Trendy to be EXTREMELY helpful in making these changes. I invested in her PDF Documents and kickstarted my wardrobe with the 2024 Winter collection of 20 clothing items that offer 100 outfits. I also fleshed the collection out with a few of my favorite items (cardigans, shoes and sweaters) and then used the app Acloset to put together additional outfits. All together I have somewhere over 150 winter and spring outfits in just 25-30 clothing pieces! Once we hit summer I can store my clothing in a tote and swap out for more pieces using the Summer 2024 capsule wardrobe guide on Classy Yet Trendy… or make my own!
As I embark on this capsule wardrobe journey, I’m excited about the freedom it brings and the simplicity it promises. I’ll be documenting my experiences and outfit creations along the way, so be sure to join me on this adventure by following my journey on the road. Let’s embrace the beauty of minimalism and make memories that last a lifetime!
Until next time, happy trails and happy wardrobe simplifying! 🚐✨
