My 12 item capsule wardrobe for Corfu and Saranda 

I packed a tiny travel capsule wardrobe for our trip to Corfu and Saranda, Albania. Although the trip was longer, I packed just enough for four days, meaning I had time to wash everything out between wears. This tiny wardrobe had options for sightseeing, days at the beach, travelling and dining out.

What I packed

1. Marks & Spencer cotton broderie anglaise wrap dress

2. Jigsaw maxi dress 

3. Figleaves bathing costume 

4. H&M sunhat 

5. H&M sunglasses 

6. George linen culottes 

7. GAP white t-shirt 

8. Terranova sleeveless button down 

9. Flat sandals (unbranded)

10. GAP silk scarf 

11. Pure Collection cashmere cardigan 

12. Bagetti backpack 

Hand luggage only

And… that’s it. As since people have started travelling in large numbers again luggage seems to be going astray and ending up in the wrong country / in giant piles beside the carousels / anywhere but where it’s supposed to be, I decided we would travel hand luggage only. I managed to pack a capsule wardrobe for both myself and my seven-year-old daughter in a single small carry-on. 

I’ve definitely got a lot better at packing since I was younger — and packing for two in a carry-on, not to mention no longer having large amounts of disposable cash — has forced me to improve even more recently. 

This capsule wardrobe has four days of outfits assuming you wear each of the dresses and tops once before washing them, so I had plenty of time to wash and dry all the clothes between wears. 

How did I do with my capsule wardrobe? 

In general I was pretty satisfied with my tiny capsule wardrobe. 

There were just two issues: 

First, if I could have packed a 13th item it would have been a super light cotton dress I bought in Athens one summer about 10 years ago. I could have worn that out but also around the hotel room or apartment. The dresses I bought with me were perfect for going out or to the beach but not for lounging at home. 

Second, I’d assumed there would be a washing machine and iron at the apartment in Saranda but there wasn’t. That meant the linen trousers were permanently crumpled and — although I managed to wash my clothes out in the handbasin and hang them outside — the white t-shirt in particular looked a bit grimy by the end of the trip. 

So, how do you think I did? Has anyone packed an even tinier capsule wardrobe for a beach holiday? 

More posts about style, beauty and travel packing

How to guides: 

How I went from terrible packer to travel capsule wardrobe expert 

I cut my closet in half after an international move: here’s how I did it 

How I rescued my boring travel capsule wardrobe for Tirana

Some examples of tiny travel capsule wardrobes: 

My 14-item travel capsule wardrobe for Slovenia 

Spring travel capsule for 10 days on the Adriatic riviera  

Shopping: 

My massive Bucharest thrift haul

Hanging out at the malls in Astana 

Beauty tips: 

4 painful and humiliating things that happened to me in Central Asian beauty salons  

Personal grooming in Central Asia (if it’s hairy, wax it)