I’m back from a very quick trip to Pattaya, Thailand!
For this trip, I wanted to keep my wardrobe really condensed and build everything around pieces that could mix and match easily. I used Indyx to plan out my looks ahead of time, which helped me edit the capsule down quite a bit before I packed.
Building the Capsule
The starting point was a group of four pieces I made from the same stormy blue-gray rayon jersey:
- Style Arc Blanche Dress
- Style Arc Blanche Tee
- matching midi skirt
- self-drafted tank top
Using the same fabric for all four pieces gave me a really easy base to work from. I added black pieces from my wardrobe, a lighter aqua knit layer, and a couple of scarves for a little more interest.
This ended up being one of the most neutral travel capsules I’ve ever packed — mostly blue-gray and black with small touches of cream, green and aqua.
Dressing for the Flight
My main priority for the travel days was comfort. I wore the Blanche dress with sneakers and a printed scarf, plus my black Hard Rock hoodie for the colder parts of the flight. Once I settled in for the long-haul portion, I changed into compression socks and flats.
Between Florida, Chicago, Tokyo and Bangkok, I was traveling for close to a full day, so having layers and comfortable shoes made a huge difference.
The Blanche dress worked exactly the way I hoped it would as a travel piece: comfortable enough for a long flight but still polished enough that I didn’t feel like I was wearing pajamas through the airport.
What I Actually Wore in Pattaya
Once I arrived, my wardrobe became even simpler than I had planned.
Style me on Indyx! Click the link below to see my closet:
https://opencloset.myindyx.com/user/sewpomona
For our work days, I mainly wore my Blanche tees with black pants and sneakers. The project itself was fairly straightforward, and with such a short stay I really didn’t need many outfit changes.
I had planned to wear the matching skirt and tank combination as well, but between work, jet lag and the weather, I ended up needing far fewer clothes than I packed.
That was probably my biggest takeaway from this trip: for a very short work trip, I can pack even less than I think I need.
Rainy Season in Pattaya
The other major factor was the weather. It rained. A lot! I knew I was traveling during the rainy season, so I had packed a lightweight North Face rain jacket specifically for this trip and my upcoming Malaysia trip. That ended up being one of the most useful things I brought. Our last night in Pattaya we went out for dinner and walked around afterward — and came back completely soaked. So while the swimsuit never made it out of my suitcase, the raincoat definitely earned its place.
A Little Taste of Thailand
Even though this was primarily a work trip, we still managed to enjoy some wonderful food.
One of my favorite meals was a family-style Thai lunch at the hotel with dishes including Som Tum Moo Yang, Pad Thai, Tom Yum Kung, Phad Ka Prao Wagyu Beef and Phad Ka Prao Crispy Pork, along with Thai iced tea and mango sticky rice.
We also went to a fantastic Chinese restaurant for dinner on our final night before heading out for a rainy walk through Pattaya.
What I’d Change Next Time
The capsule itself worked really well. What I would change is simply the quantity. I could easily have packed fewer pieces. The matching knit separates were especially useful because everything coordinated without much thought, and the scarves and accessories gave me enough variation without adding bulk. That’s something I want to continue experimenting with as I build more of a dedicated handmade travel wardrobe. And I’ll get the chance very soon.
My next trip is a much longer stay in Penang, Malaysia, so I’m planning to use this Pattaya capsule as the foundation and expand it with a few more colors and pieces. I’ll be sharing that process next. You can also watch the full Pattaya travel capsule video on YouTube to see the outfits, packing process and a little footage from the trip.
Where are you traveling next? And if you sew your own clothes, do you create a capsule wardrobe before you travel?
Happy Sewing!
I like the color and pattern on the elephant pants. And the scarf idea works great with your pieces.
I love this whole concept! Starting with four pieces from the same fabrics very much reminds me of the 4×4 capsule from the Vivienne Files. Love that you included pictures from each look. You always give me more ideas than I can possibly accomplish! Thanks for the inspiration and visuals.