Imagine a wardrobe of freshly laundered clothes, the scent of fresh linen hanging in the air.

Now forget that entirely and let’s talk about the pile of clothes in your van:)

It’s hard to avoid clothing being squashed into the nooks and crannies, but you can create some semblance of order with a capsule wardrobe. I’ve watched with envy as YouTubers showcase an awe-inspiring range of garments, sorted by colour, season and function.

If you’re that kind of person, you need no help.

But for everyone else who just can't seem to make their wardrobe work, here are some useful tips on how to create a functional capsule wardrobe and stay looking good with less ...

Start culling your existing clothing

Before creating your capsule, it's good to prepare the ground (or wardrobe) first:

Get rid of what you don't need: Take a deep breath and be ruthless with the clothes you have. Donate or sell items that no longer fit, flatter, or align with your vanlife lifestyle. If you’re unlikely to wear them, they’re taking up prime space you could use for something you will.

List activities that need special clothes: These are things that will have to enter the capsule, regardless. However, some types of activities, like Yoga, running or climbing, will use clothing that can be versatile enough to be part of your everyday clothing collection.

Embrace quality over quantity: When you're choosing what to keep, or buy, try to make sure they're durable pieces that can withstand the rigours of vanlife. Synthetic fleece doesn't crumple and dries quickly; natural materials, like cotton or bamboo are breathable, comfortable, and often offer anti-odour properties Wool, too, is great, but, goodness, don't let it get wet in a van unless you love the smell of 'wet dog'.

Think neutral: A foundation of neutral colours (think blacks, whites, greys, and tans) creates a cohesive base for your wardrobe and lets you mix and match, layering for added warmth. Highlight your personality with pops of colour through accessories - if that’s your thing.

Once you have your wish list and have purged your cupboards of all the clothes you don't need , you can start building your very own vanlife capsule wardrobe.

Creating Your Vanlife Capsule Wardrobe

You will have your own ideas of what's needed, but the list below will give you a starting point that will cover most clothing eventualities.

Tops:


5-7 basic t-shirts in neutral colours
2-3 long-sleeve shirts (lightweight for warmth or moisture-wicking for workouts)
1-2 blouses or shirts for special occasions. Thin ones that fold away to nothing are best.
1-2 hoodies, sweatshirts or cardigans (whatever floats your boat)
1 all-weather jacket
1 rain jacket (eg., a foldable cagoule)

Bottoms:

2-3 pairs of jeans (some shorts, too for warmer days or when all of your jeans are in the wash)
2-3 pairs of or leggings (also options for hiking, yoga, or casual wear)
1 pair of dress trousers, or a skirt to match your blouse or shirt

###Footwear:

Comfortable trainers for everyday wear
Hiking boots or trail shoes (if outdoor activities are part of your lifestyle)
Sandals or clogs for warmer weather or for nipping outside
Dress shoes or boots to complete your formal outfit

Underwear:

7-10 pairs of underwear
3-5 bras (where applicable!)


Accessories:

Sunglasses
Hat (woolly or sun)
Scarves (decorative and woolly)
Jewellery (optional)

Storage Hacks for your Vanlife Wardrobe

The more organised your clothes are, the less you’ll scramble about on cold mornings, putting together a look that seems intentional. These are some hacks that I've found to be incredibly useful, and I recommend trying them all out if you don't use them already:)

Just roll with it!

After a year of trying to store my clothes flat in a cupboard the depth of a cereal box , I finally started rolling my clothes into neat little burritos. They stay put, take up less space, and won’t wrinkle. No need to look like you’ve been living down the back of a couch if you don’t have to! Smooth out each item well before you roll, then make it as tight as the material will allow. Store your t-shirts, jumpers and jeans in their own sections within the space, and place your go-to garments at the front for easy access.

Use cushions as extra storage

These are perfect for storing clothes you don’t wear often and only add to the look of your van. Remove the cushion pad and fill it with jumpers and blankets in the summer, or t-shirts and shorts if it’s winter. I find it’s best to use synthetic cushion covers that don’t pull in ambient moisture - otherwise, the clothes might get a little musty. Stick a tumble dryer sheet inside to keep the clothes smelling fresh.

Tube your undies!

I use one of those cotton carrier-bag holders for storing my undies. Sounds weird, I know, but it’s perfect for storage, and you can quickly pull out what you need for the day from the opening at the bottom. In fact, if you want to be really nerdy, fill it in units so that it dispenses a pair of pants and a pair of socks each time! This is particularly handy in the winter, saving you from rooting around for your underwear in sub-zero temperatures.

Shrink your shoe-niverse

Shoes can be a real pain in a small space, so pack only what you need! A capsule wardrobe does this for you. How? When you know exactly what you have to wear, you also know what's going on your feet!

Other than my trusty clogs by the door, all other footwear is stored well out of the way. You only need trip over once during the night to learn the benefits of a system.

Every van space is different, so whether you use shoe bags, door racks or under-bench cubbies, keep them

...I also own a pair of leather-soled moccasin slippers, which I’ll deny are mine. But they're perfect for running out of a van when a dishcloth catches fire. Apparently.

Clothing storage boxes

I take a bit of a dim view of many of the clothing boxes that are available - mostly because I'm sure I've tried most of them!

First of all, consider plastic foldable boxes: these are for storing away, naturally, but if you're using them for your clothes, at what point are you going to use them for their unique selling point of compactability? Further, they provide no protection from the elements and are heavier than those made of fabric. Speaking of ...

Fabric storage - those roughly box-shaped ones with zips - are space-saving and light, but not the most practical! Trying to get into them and find what you're looking for can become a bit of a headache, as clothes can become jumbled very quickly!

The best ones I've found yet, are those made of fabric with flip-lid storage (example, here, but please note I'm not affiliated with any brands!) That said, we all organise our things, differently, so you'll probably go through a process of trying out various solutions before you settle on one:)

Laundry Hacks for the Road

Keeping your wonderful new vanlife wardrobe in good working order, needs a little routine care. Consider some of these tips to help you manage your clothes in between big-drum laundry washes:

• Consider a portable washing machine or hand-washing device for off-grid laundry if you have the space.

• Wear quick-drying clothing items, like lycra or synthetic fleece. If your van is a well-sealed unit, the dampness from your clothes will just circulate. Drying time: forever.

• Keep a handy travel-sized laundry detergent designed for hand-washing when needed.

• Have a ‘washing day outfit’ - something you can throw on like a pair of leggings and t-shirt, so you can wash all of your main clothes at once - including what you put on that day. This gives you an extra 'day' of clean clothes.

• Use a portable washing line inside your van for smaller, quick-drying items. Alternatively, pick up a ‘peg dryer’; one of those handy hanging gizmos that fold away neatly. The pegs are attached, so there’s no need to store them separately. I have a short net curtain pole, which I fit across my skylight and hang clothes from. This means damp clothes can enjoy a draft whilst still being protected by the hood of the skylight.

I hope some of these tips are useful to you in helping to get your vanlife wardrobe licked into shape!

Happy capsuling!

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