Mexico City Travel Capsule Details
I took a 5 day trip to Mexico City. Of course, I packed everything using my carry-on capsule packing process. Since this trip was just under a week, I fit everything I needed in my 40 liter backpack.
Weather: Temperature ranges from the 40’s to upper 70’s
Travel Activities: Nice dinners in the evening, museum visits, food and artisan market shopping, evening mezcal cocktail lounging, walks through the Condesa and Roma neighborhoods, urban hike through Chapultepec Park.
My travel capsule consisted of 11 items of clothing and 2 pairs of shoes and accessories (all details listed below). I also brought my large Lululemon tote bag as my personal item to hold my camera gear, books and miscellaneous items.
Overall, I had everything I needed for the variable changes in temperature and felt that everything I packed was appropriate for my travel activities and for the vibe of the city. The travel capsule I packed gave me lots of options from casual to dressy to dressy/casual.
You can’t get any more neutral than all black. I styled this with a colorful patterned scarf and neutral boots to soften the look.
Use this travel capsule as the basis for helping you pack and plan for your trip to Mexico City or any other destination with transitional spring-like weather.
Outfit Details
As I mentioned in the last blog post Pinterest informed the style of my travel capsule. I relied on my leather jacket to dress up my outfits for nice meals and evening activities. My more casual jean jacket was perfect for daytime sightseeing and activities. I could have done without a jacket during the day at some points but I’m always a little chilly so it was nice to have.
Layers were key for my Mexico City outfits. With chilly mornings and evenings I would throw on a scarf over my jean jacket which was layered over a neutral patterned blouse. A vintage turquoise bracelet and hot pink leather earrings complete the look.
Need More Help Packing a Carry-On?
If you need more help packing your carry-on luggage, get my Spring Carry-on Capsule Guide. It will help you take the panic out of packing for your next trip.
I break down the packing process into 3 phases to get you packed and prepared without overwhelm or the need to procrasta-pack(leaving packing until the last minute)!
No more worries that you’ve packed the wrong things or don’t feel confident with what’s in your suitcase (hint-that’s one of the reasons WHY you overpack).
No stressing about lost luggage or struggling with being bogged down with too much stuff.
Travel like a seasoned pro in a carry-on!
Travel Capsule Items for 5 Days in Mexico City
2 Outerwear (jean jacket, leather jacket)
1 Sweater
4 Tops
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2 blouses
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1 Button Down
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1 Tee shirt
3 Bottoms
1 Dress
1 pair comfortable walking shoes
1 pair booties
1 large scarf
2 small neck scarves
Necklace / Earrings / Bracelet (go for a pop of color if you are feeling bold)
1 belt
1 tote
1 crossbody bag
1 Rain jacket (during rainy season May – November)
Style Notes:
Add a Pop of Color
The base color palette for this travel capsule is very simple: blacks, grays, and blue in the form of a jean jacket and denim shirt. To make neutrals stand out as a deliberate choice I like to add pops of color with accessories like earrings, necklaces and scarves.
In this capsule, I styled a small scarves as neckerchiefs to give a pop of color to neutral sweaters, tee shirts and blouses. In addition to the neckerchiefs I also packed a larger scarf with a print (shown above). Scarves add color and interest to your outfits without taking up a lot of room in your suitcase. This helps draw attention toward your face as well and add a bit of interest to photos. Brightly colored earrings that complemented or accented my outfits completed my color story.
Double Denim, I approve
I’ve long been a fan of doubling down on denim, maybe it’s my Texas roots coming through! The key to pulling it off is having a bit of contrast between the shades of denim. In this capsule, my denim shirt is significantly lighter than my denim jacket. This makes it a more of an intentional textural neutral on neutral look.
Pack Versatile Items
Never pack one-use only clothing items. This is why I tend to stay away from dresses, it’s not always easy to mix and match them. However, I found one I liked and it went with both jacket and shoe options. Because of this I could have worn it 4 different ways. If you are a dress person, choose a versatile one that will work well with your all your footwear and outerwear.
Use this capsule plan for Spring travel
Even though this a packing diary of what I took to Mexico this can serve as the starting point or inspiration for your next travel capsule. There’s a good mix of casual and dressy items in this capsule that can apply to many other travel destinations.
Draped Biker Jacket – my version is from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale – Trouve Draped Jacket
Jean Jacket – my version is from Loft
Black Pullover Sweater – my cashmere version is from a consignment store (I love shopping for designer clothing at consignment and thrift stores) Vince Brand
Printed Top – a lightweight printed blouse adds a little interest to neutral bottoms.
Graphic Tee-If you are so inclined a graphic tee can be a fun addition to your travel capsule. My Fort Worth (gotta represent my hometown) graphic tee is from a local company, Morgan Mercantile. I like this vintagey Ramones tee too.
Midi Dress – the one I wore is linked above. This style is popular right now and most retailers have a version of them.
Chambray Shirt – I love a chambray shirt, I packed a slightly thick version with a slightly western vibe.
Detailed Blouse – I packed a solid top blouse with eyelet details to add texture to my outfits.
Black Wide Leg Pants – these pants from Athleta are super light weight and versatile.
Gray Jeans – a nice alternative to blue jeans.
Black jeans– can withstand just about any travel mishap and look dressed up.
Fashion Sneakers– I’ve worn these before-they are neutral and go with everything. The texture on them makes them interesting.
Waterproof Booties– These are comfortable, waterproof and stylish.
If you haven’t already, check out my previous post with more travel capsule and Mexico City details.
For a step-by-step guide for preparing for your next trip check out my Carry-On Capsule Spring Guide!
