The Resort Capsule: Seven Pieces, Two Weeks, One Carry-On

Two weeks, one carry-on, and a swim-to-dinner transition every single day. Resort packing is the hardest packing problem there is, because the wardrobe has to work in heat, in water, in restaurants and on a plane home.

Seven pieces will do it, provided every piece has at least two jobs.

The rules that make seven work

• One colour story. Pick two neutrals and one accent, and buy nothing outside it. This is what lets every piece combine with every other piece.
• Everything packs small. Light synthetics and satins compress and shed creases. Linen is beautiful and takes up twice the space.
• Nothing needs ironing. There will be no iron, or there will be one you cannot be bothered to find.
• Two jobs minimum. If a piece only does one thing, it is not earning its place in the bag.

The seven

1. The kaftan

Beach cover-up by day, dinner dress by night with sandals and jewellery. A printed kaftan is the hardest-working piece in the bag and the one to buy first.

2. The swimsuit that leaves the beach

A one-piece in a strong print works as a bodysuit under a skirt or trousers. Two jobs, no extra weight. Our swim is printed with that in mind.

3. The tiered maxi skirt

Dressy without being formal, packs to nothing, and covers you for sites and restaurants with a dress code. A tiered maxi over a swimsuit is a complete outfit in two pieces.

4. A plain tank in a neutral

The quiet piece that makes the loud ones work twice. Tucked into the skirt, layered under the kaftan, worn alone with shorts. Buy it in cream or black and nothing else.

5. One printed dress

The evening you do not want to think about. Fluid fabric, no structure, packs flat. See our beach wedding guide for the fabric logic, which applies to any hot-weather evening.

6. Shorts or a short skirt

Daytime, walking, markets, travel. A printed short in your accent colour keeps the palette tight.

7. A light layer

A robe, wrap or oversized shirt for the plane, air conditioning and the temperature drop after sunset. This is the piece people leave out and regret.

What to leave at home

• A second pair of heels. One pair of dressy flats or a low wedge covers every evening.
• Anything white you love. Sunscreen, olive oil, red wine.
• Jeans. Heavy, hot, slow to dry.
• Outfits for a version of the trip you are not taking. Pack for what you will actually do.

Order in time

Everything is printed after you order, so a resort capsule is not a week-before purchase. Production runs two to seven business days and standard US delivery is ten to twenty days on top. For a trip, order six to eight weeks ahead or pay for the faster shipping tier. Full detail in what made to order means for your delivery date.

Questions we get

Seven pieces for two weeks — really?

Yes, with laundry. Light synthetics wash in a sink and dry overnight, which is the part that makes a small capsule survive a long trip.

How do I stop it feeling repetitive?

Accessories and hair. The outfits repeat; the photographs do not have to. Two pairs of earrings do more than two extra dresses.

What if the trip has one formal night?

That is what the printed dress is for. Pick it to clear the dress code and wear it once without guilt.