Creating a Travel Capsule

My capsule dressing advice here can be adapted to various styles. I’ve created a very neutral base palette, which will work for almost everyone’s fashion sense. Most of the items I’ve included are pieces everyone already has in their closet. This way, you won’t need to go out and buy a whole bunch of new things. There are already plenty of more subdued examples of Fall dressing online. But I wanted to create a capsule styled towards the autumnal season with many colour pops throughout. I wanted to include some more alternative items but feel free to adapt these examples to your style. If you don’t like such bright colours, you can always use a similar hue in a different tone. Hopefully, you find something that works for you!

Check the Weather Before You Leave

Before we dive into the individual wardrobe times, here are some of my favourite general tips for packing for the Fall season. While this seems obvious, many people do a quick google months before they go and don’t really delve into the details the day before. If you’re expecting a colossal rainstorm, you might want to swap out a pair of cute ankle boots with a pair of sturdy rain booties. And despite the list below of average temperatures, you never know when there’s going to be a polar vortex or hurricane, which can drastically alter the weather. Check the forecast a few days before leaving to ensure you’ve got all the right things packed away and won’t be too surprised by the daily forecast.

Average Fall Temperatures in Mediterranean Europe:

September 26°c / 20°c with Average Precipitation 14mm
October 23°c / 17°c with Average Precipitation 53mm
November 18°c / 12°c with Average Precipitation 58mm

Try NOT to Look Like a Tourist

When you’re travelling, you want to be comfortable, of course! But being comfy shouldn’t look like you just woke up and rolled out of bed. Travelling for most people is perhaps when they take the most photos. So you want to be looking your best in them! We’ve all done it, threw on a pair of leggings just to avoid the idea of getting dressed when you’re jet-lagged. But when you see those photos afterwards, you’ll be disappointed. Many Mediterranean cities in Europe have the chicest fashion sense. So it’s nice to feel like you fit in. Looking like a tourist also means you might be an easy target for pickpockets.

Things NOT to wear:

• Baseball caps (just not a European thing)
• Athletic wear
• Dirty clothes
• High heels (yes, they look cute, but they’re hard to walk in and aren’t great for any old city with cobblestones)
• A cheap windbreaker (If you’re expecting inclement weather, bring a beautiful weatherproof coat which is still fashionable. Plastic windbreakers are a dead giveaway you’re a tourist)

Don’t Dress for Summer

If you’re visiting from a colder climate, it’s easy to want to throw on your summer clothes when it’s 28 degrees in Barcelona but 8 degrees back home. While I get this inclination, it will immediately make you look like a tourist. The minute the temp starts to drop, even a little, Barcelona’s residents begin to put away their shorts and start to dress for Fall. Fall is perhaps the chicest season, and you don’t want to miss out on these stylish outfits.

Pre-Plan Your Outfit

Take pictures on your phone before you leave off your pre-planned outfits. Especially if you’re tired or jetlagged, sometimes you don’t have time to think about your ensemble. So just popping on your phone and looking at your pre-plan outfits is an easy way to get effortlessly dressed for the day. I find this trick works insanely well, and it’s become one of my favourite tricks to looking super well put together without effort.

Know Your Rough Itinerary

To plan outfits appropriately, having a rough trip itinerary is an excellent idea. While you don’t need to know hour by hour what you’re up to, it’s a good idea to see if you will be going hiking, in which case you would have to bring a pair of hiking boots. Or if you’re planning on going to a fancy dinner restaurant, you might want to ensure you have an exquisite dress packed. If you are just having home-cooked meals at the hostel, you also want to ensure you don’t overpack those dressy items that won’t get used and take up much-needed waste in your carry-on.

Lean Towards Darker Colour Scheme

Choosing dark colours over light for most items sets you up for success. Darker tones are much more versatile. An LBD can quickly be dressed up compared to a white one with cute boots and fun jewellery. Also, if you have a smaller capsule, you’ll re-wear items multiple times. Darker colours will help mask any dirt you might pick up along the way and won’t need to be laundered as much.

Choose the Right Fabrics

During the Fall, it’s essential to wear the right materials. These are fabrics which are breathable but also warm. Wool, or any wool blend, is a great choice. Wool keeps the heat in when it’s cooler out but will also remain breathable, so you’re not just sweating inside a sauna as it begins to warm up. Wrinkles are a dead giveaway that you’re living out of a suitcase. Choosing fabrics like jerseys is great to pack since they won’t wrinkle. There are also lots of companies which make wrinkle-resistant fabrics which are a great choice.

Don’t Bring your Most Expensive Jewellery

Wearing expensive clothing or jewellery anywhere in the world can make you a target for pickpockets. This is a sign to them that you might have money to steal so I always find that travelling isn’t a time to bring those expensive pieces. Plus, when you’re jetlagged, you also don’t have the same kind of wits about you. I’ve lost a few pairs of earrings just with all the hustle and bustle of travelling, and thankfully they were all super cheap!

Try to Keep your Hair Simple

If you can get away without bringing a hair straightener or blow dryer, you’ll save a ton of space in your luggage. For someone people, this might mean keeping their hair up while travelling for ease, so I would make this a fun dressing exercise instead of a downer. I have fallen in love with these simple headbands for the Fall, which can really dress up any outfit. Velvet scrunchies or ribbons will also make a simple up-do a little fancier, and these take up almost no room in your suitcase.

Jackets

The coat you choose to bring might be one of your most important decisions. I have three options for you here, but you can pick out just two depending on the weather.

Faux Leather Moto Jacket: A sleek, faux leather black jacket is one of the most elegant items for your wardrobe. They look dressy paired with dark jeans or a dress but can look super street style when added to a more casual outfit.

Jean Jacket: A jean jacket is my ultimate travel must-have. They are so comfortable and yet also are such workhorses for any weather. They are adaptable and look as casual as they do chic.

Packable Puffer Jacket: This coat is SUPER lightweight and was honestly one of the best purchases I’ve ever made. It comes in various colours and can be compressed into a tiny ball. It’s the BEST for putting on in the morning and then stashing away in your bag when it warms up. I cannot express how lightweight it feels, but how much warmth it manages to keep in! SCIENCE! If you’re expecting torrential rain, this might not be the best, but an umbrella should be suitable for most rainy days as it’s rain-resistant (not proof).

Dresses

Long-Sleeve Dress: This yellow lace dress is a statement piece. Colourful dresses are great to bring since they are perfect for those more upscale evenings. This looser-fit style is comfy enough to wear all day without feeling constricted. Since it’s still all one colour, it can easily be dressed up or down and pair well with many items in the capsule.

Jersey Dress: Jersey dresses, especially those with pockets, are the perfect travel item. Light, wrinkle-free and easily layerable. I picked one with long sleeves for the Fall since it means you can wear it out on slightly less chilly days without a coat.

Long Sleeve Shirts

Cashmere Sweater: A cashmere sweater is one of those investment pieces which is ideal for travelling. It’s lightweight and breathable. And while it looks super lux, it feels so cozy and comfortable. The best of both worlds.

Deep V-Neck: A lightweight, deep v-neck is a simple but stylish look to throw on in the morning. There is just something about a v-neck which makes your entire outfit look smart. Pair that with a thin gold pendant, and you’re ready to hear out the door. This one is made from jersey, which is super easy for travelling as it doesn’t take up much room but is still full sleeves and won’t wrinkle.

Striped Shirt: A striped top feels like the perfect piece for your travel wardrobe no matter what the season but in Fall, I think it just pops! I love this one from ModCloth with a tiny fox in the top right which adds just a bit of fun to the simple, striped shirt!

Cardigan: Cardigans are great to pack with you since they can easily be layered on top of a shirt or dress and removed if it gets too hot. Or if it’s extra cold, you can always add a jacket on top. This luxurious wool cardigan in a bright burgundy is an excellent addition to the fall hues in the mix.

Short Sleeve Shirts

Camisole: A simple camisole is great for layering. This one has a bit of lace added, making it spiffy! It just looks a bit more thought out than a plain version. These come in all different colours so you can choose the best one for your wardrobe.

Typographic Tee: I adore a typographic shirt for travelling. When the words on the shirt seem to embody something about your travels, it just feels like the perfect thing to wear for killer photos. These little things can make a big difference in how you feel about your travel wardrobe. Don’t wake up and feel like you don’t like anything you brought. Wake up and be excited to wear what you did bring!

Blouse: This mustard-coloured blouse takes up practically no room in your suitcases. I love how bright it is; definitely a statement piece for photos! The little touch of a half-turtle neck and flared cap sleeves is one of those details that makes a big difference.

Bottoms

High-Waisted Skinny Jeans: Dark wash jeans in a skinny, high-waisted style are another great piece, as they seem to go with everything. Jeans are one of those items which can withstand weeks without washing and still maintain that fresh look! This is why all the bottoms I picked are made of denim.

Denim Skirt: A denim skirt is just one item I feel belongs to Autumn like nothing else. I picked light-wash denim for this item to provide a spectrum of tones for the bottoms.

Grey or Black Jeans: Dark wash denim or black jeans look super chic, and almost everyone already has one pair in their closet. If you have a pair that is dark enough, they can sometimes even look like blank slacks without the need for ironing.

Shoes

Flats: Pack yourself a pair of sophisticated flats. Easy to pack, lightweight and super cute. Leopard adds interest and texture to your shoes, making them look a bit more upscale. I went for a pair with the tiniest hint of a heel, so they remain extremely comfortable, but they also provide that elegant look you want if you’re wearing them out to a fancy dinner.

Ankle Boots: These are the most versatile shoes for Fall. They can look so sophisticated when paired with a dress, but they are super casual with bootcut jeans. Stick to ones with no big heel and the right insole for the most comfort when walking all day. 

The Modern Sneaker: Sneakers are often thought of as leisurewear wear, but there are so many styles available that look extremely dapper these days. Stick to low-profile sneakers; they look more dressy and less casual. They can be worn with skirts and dresses easily. Choose a sneaker in one or two colours. For me, I want to find something bright and colourful. But I also love these simple white kids as they go with EVERYTHING, and (when they’re clean) they look so modern.

Accessories

Infinity Scarf: An infinity scarf is essential for Fall and winter in Europe. You can wrap these around your neck and sometimes around your arms if caught in the rain, or the temperatures drop suddenly. It’s almost like a mini blanket!

Wool Hat: Even in the Fall, the sun is still out, and these wool hats are almost all you need to wear to suddenly turn an outfit from ordinary to super-stylish! Anyone who thinks they don’t look good in hats needs to try this one out because I truly feel like it suits everyone!

The Modern Backpack: Backpacks get a bad reputation for making you look like a tourist. But over the past year, I’ve seen more and more people wearing backpacks are high fashion. Chanel, Gucci and Dior have all come out with their own line of backpacks since people have finally realized they are so comfortable and easy to use but can also look amazingly chic! This piece from Modcloth is perfect for travelling since it’s extra secure. It has two belt loops to open and close it and also has some additional inside zippers to put your extra secure items. I think people go a little overboard regarding security, and most of those theft-proof bags are super ugly. This one works great and is just fiddly enough to keep out thieves but also be usable.

Sunglasses: There is still plenty of sun, and sunglasses are a fun accessory to bring that really brings out your personality. Choose whichever one is your favourite from your closet!

An umbrella (optional): Bring it along if you can see a ton of rain in the forecast and you have a sturdy yet compact one at home. If the forecast is pretty sketchy, I will leave this out. You can always buy one on the street; plenty of street vendors sell them during the storms. Or just jump into a department store where you can generally find them for sale pretty cheap.

PJs

One of the hottest trends this year is fashionable sleepwear which can be transitioned into daywear. One of the most popular companies doing this is Sleeper, which creates aw-worthy nightdresses and pyjamas that look like high-fashion womenswear. Having an outfit like this means you don’t need to pack pyjamas since you can wear just what you went to bed for dinner the next night. While Sleeper might be a bit lux for some people Target and even Zara, have also begun to come out with similar styles of night-into-day sleepwear. But the Atlanta Sleeper dress with the long sleeves is PERFECT for fall dressing.

Additional Packing Items:

• 2 bras
• one pair of underwear per day
• one pair of socks per day
• one pair of tights (great to layer if it’s extra chilly)
• Toiletry Bag
• External battery charger
• camera
• notebook and pen (I always keep travel notes, great way to reflect on your day)
• a book to read
• additional electorincs (kobo or other edreader, chargers etc.)

Example Outfits:

Below of some outfit ideas, I put together so you can get a taste of just how many looks you can put together from such a small capsule!

To download the checklist of all the items described in this post, click here!

Let me know what you’re favourite travel item for Fall is and how you style your wardrobe when travelling throughout the seasons!

Happy Travels Adventurers

The post The Ultimate Carry On Packing Guide to Europe in the Fall: What you NEED and What to SKIP first appeared on The Creative Adventurer.

The divisions originated from the Chinese calendar, which in itself has 24 major categories, starting in Springs in early February. But in Japan, these 24 groups split once more into five-day divisions which, unlike the Chinese calendar, match up more locally with the climate in Japan. These sections were written in 1685 by the astronomer, Shibukawa Shunkai, who presents a poetic journey through life in Japan through their seasons.

If you’re planning a trip to Japan, this micro-season calendar is an excellent way to determine when you might want to visit to discover these incredible, natural wonders to explore for yourself.

Table Of Contents

1. 立春 Risshun (Beginning of spring)
2. 雨水 Usui (Rainwater)
3. 啓蟄 Keichitsu (Insects awaken)
4. 春分 Shunbun (Spring equinox)
5. 清明 Seimei (Pure and clear)
6. 穀雨 Kokuu (Grain rains)
7. 立夏 Rikka (Beginning of summer)
8. 小満 Shōman (Lesser ripening)
9. 芒種 Bōshu (Grain beards and seeds)
10. 夏至 Geshi (Summer solstice)
11. 小暑 Shōsho (Lesser heat)
12. 大暑 Taisho (Greater heat)
13. 立秋 Risshū (Beginning of autumn)
14. 処暑 Shosho (Manageable heat)
15. 白露 Hakuro (White dew)
16. 秋分 Shūbun (Autumn equinox)
17. 寒露 Kanro (Cold dew)
18. 霜降 Sōkō (Frost falls)
19. 立冬 Rittō (Beginning of winter)
20. 小雪 Shōsetsu (Lesser snow)
21. 大雪 Taisetsu (Greater snow)
22. 冬至 Tōji (Winter solstice)
23. 小寒 Shōkan (Lesser cold)
24. 大寒 Daikan (Greater cold)
    • Happy Travels, Adventurers

立春 Risshun (Beginning of spring)

February 4–8東風解凍
Harukaze kōri o toku East wind melts the ice

February 9–13黄鶯睍睆
Kōō kenkan su Bush warblers start singing in the mountains

February 14–18魚上氷
Uo kōri o izuru Fish emerge from the ice

雨水 Usui (Rainwater)

February 19–23土脉潤起
Tsuchi no shō uruoi okoru Rain moistens the soil

February 24–28霞始靆
Kasumi hajimete tanabiku Mist starts to linger

March 1–5草木萌動
Sōmoku mebae izuru Grass sprouts, trees bud

啓蟄 Keichitsu (Insects awaken)

March 6–10蟄虫啓戸
Sugomori mushito o hiraku Hibernating insects surface

March 11–15桃始笑
Momo hajimete saku First peach blossoms

March 16–20菜虫化蝶
Namushi chō to naru Caterpillars become butterflies

春分 Shunbun (Spring equinox)

March 21–25雀始巣
Suzume hajimete sukū Sparrows start to nest

March 26–30櫻始開
Sakura hajimete saku First cherry blossoms

March 31–April 4雷乃発声
Kaminari sunawachi koe o hassu Distant thunder

清明 Seimei (Pure and clear)

April 5–9玄鳥至
Tsubame kitaru Swallows return

April 10–14鴻雁北
Kōgan kaeru Wild Geese fly north

April 15–19虹始見
Niji hajimete arawaru First rainbows

穀雨 Kokuu (Grain rains)

April 20–24葭始生
Ashi hajimete shōzu First reeds sprout

April 25–29霜止出苗
Shimo yamite nae izuru Last frost, rice seedlings grow

April 30–May 4牡丹華
Botan hana saku Peonies bloom

立夏 Rikka (Beginning of summer)

May 5–9蛙始鳴
Kawazu hajimete naku Frogs start singing

May 10–14蚯蚓出
Mimizu izuru Worms surface

May 15–20竹笋生
Takenoko shōzu Bamboo shoots sprout

小満 Shōman (Lesser ripening)

May 21–25蚕起食桑
Kaiko okite kuwa o hamu Silkworms start feasting on mulberry leaves

May 26–30紅花栄
Benibana sakau Safflowers bloom

May 31–June 5麦秋至
Mugi no toki itaru Wheat ripens and is harvested

芒種 Bōshu (Grain beards and seeds)

June 6–10蟷螂生
Kamakiri shōzu Praying mantises hatch

June 11–15腐草為螢
Kusaretaru kusa hotaru to naru Rotten grass becomes fireflies

June 16–20梅子黄
Ume no mi kibamu Plums turn yellow

夏至 Geshi (Summer solstice)

June 21–26乃東枯
Natsukarekusa karuru Self-heal withers

June 27–July 1菖蒲華
Ayame hana saku Irises bloom

July 2–6半夏生
Hange shōzu Crow-dipper sprouts

小暑 Shōsho (Lesser heat)

July 7–11温風至
Atsukaze itaru Warm winds blow

July 12–16蓮始開
Hasu hajimete hiraku First lotus blossoms

July 17–22鷹乃学習
Taka sunawachi waza o narau Hawks learn to fly

大暑 Taisho (Greater heat)

July 23–28桐始結花
Kiri hajimete hana o musubu Paulownia trees produce seeds

July 29–August 2土潤溽暑
Tsuchi uruōte mushi atsushi Earth is damp, air is humid

August 3–7大雨時行
Taiu tokidoki furu Great rains sometimes fall

立秋 Risshū (Beginning of autumn)

August 8–12涼風至
Suzukaze itaru Cool winds blow

August 13–17寒蝉鳴
Higurashi naku Evening cicadas sing

August 18–22蒙霧升降
Fukaki kiri matō Thick fog descends

処暑 Shosho (Manageable heat)

August 23–27綿柎開
Wata no hana shibe hiraku Cotton flowers bloom

August 28–September 1天地始粛
Tenchi hajimete samushi Heat starts to die down

September 2–7禾乃登
Kokumono sunawachi minoru Rice ripens

白露 Hakuro (White dew)

September 8–12草露白
Kusa no tsuyu shiroshi Dew glistens white on grass

September 13–17鶺鴒鳴
Sekirei naku Wagtails sing

September 18–22玄鳥去
Tsubame saru Swallows leave

秋分 Shūbun (Autumn equinox)

September 23–27雷乃収声
Kaminari sunawachi koe o osamu Thunder ceases

September 28–October 2蟄虫坏戸
Mushi kakurete to o fusagu Insects hole up underground

October 3–7水始涸
Mizu hajimete karuru Farmers drain fields

寒露 Kanro (Cold dew)

October 8–12鴻雁来
Kōgan kitaru Wild geese return

October 13–17菊花開
Kiku no hana hiraku Chrysanthemums bloom

October 18–22蟋蟀在戸
Kirigirisu to ni ari Crickets chirp around the door

霜降 Sōkō (Frost falls)

October 23–27霜始降
Shimo hajimete furu First frost

October 28–November 1霎時施
Kosame tokidoki furu Light rains sometimes fall

November 2–6楓蔦黄
Momiji tsuta kibamu Maple leaves and ivy turn yellow

立冬 Rittō (Beginning of winter)

November 7–11山茶始開
Tsubaki hajimete hiraku Camellias bloom

November 12–16地始凍
Chi hajimete kōru Land starts to freeze

November 17–21金盞香
Kinsenka saku Daffodils bloom

小雪 Shōsetsu (Lesser snow)

November 22–26虹蔵不見
Niji kakurete Meizu Rainbows hide

November 27–December 1朔風払葉
Kitakaze konoha o harau North wind blows the leaves from the trees

December 2–6橘始黄
Tachibana hajimete kibamuTachibana Citrus tree leaves start to turn yellow

大雪 Taisetsu (Greater snow)

December 7–11閉塞成冬
Sora samuku fuyu to naru Cold sets in, winter begins

December 12–16熊蟄穴
Kuma ana ni komoru Bears start hibernating in their dens

December 17–21鱖魚群
Sake no uo muragaru Salmons gather and swim upstream

冬至 Tōji (Winter solstice)

December 22–26乃東生
Natsukarekusa shōzu Self-heal sprouts

December 27–31麋角解
Sawashika no tsuno otsuru Deer shed antlers

January 1–4雪下出麦
Yuki watarite mugi nobiru Wheat sprouts under snow

小寒 Shōkan (Lesser cold)

January 5–9芹乃栄
Seri sunawachi sakau Parsley flourishes

January 10–14水泉動
Shimizu atataka o fukumu Springs thaw

January 15–19雉始雊
Kiji hajimete naku Pheasants start to call

大寒 Daikan (Greater cold)

January 20–24款冬華
Fuki no hana saku Butterburs bud

January 25–29水沢腹堅
Kiwamizu kōri tsumeru Ice thickens on streams

At Iruma river, Kawagoe, Saitama. 3 handheld RAWs (+-2EV)

January 30–February 3鶏始乳
Niwatori hajimete toya ni tsuku Hens start laying eggs

Japan’s 72 microseasons offer a unique and fascinating aspect of the country’s culture and climate. From the cherry blossoms of spring to the fiery foliage of autumn, each season brings its own beauty and charm. Understanding the microseasons allows for a deeper appreciation of Japan’s natural beauty and a more fulfilling travel experience. Whether you’re planning a trip or simply seeking to deepen your understanding of Japan, learning about the country’s microseasons is a must. So next time you plan your trip to Japan, try to be aware of the microseasons, and enjoy the different facets of Japanese culture and nature.

Happy Travels, Adventurers

The post A Complete Guide to the Beauty and Diversity of Japan’s Amazing 72 Microseasons first appeared on The Creative Adventurer.