Support TFG by using the links in our articles to shop. We receive a small commission (at no extra cost to you) so we can continue to create helpful free content. We earn from qualifying purchases made to the featured retailers. Thank you, we appreciate your support!
If you’re sick and tired of wearing dull all black outfits when traveling, read this. From boring to fantastic change the way you plan your travel wardrobe!
How to Wear All Black Outfits
Written by: Nina Thomas
Black is a traveler’s dream color. Not only does it hide stains well, but it can also be mixed and matched with pretty much any other color. It’s easy to find and you probably already own several black items, which could make it the more affordable option as your base. If you’re planning on enjoying some good food and wine, you may need something that is more forgiving and black is known to be slimming. As a bonus, when visiting European countries people tend to prefer classic, chic styling so all black outfits help build a stress-free travel wardrobe.
While you can choose to pack more than one base color, picking just one makes things simpler especially for those who may be having trouble deciding what to bring and what to leave home.
Capsule wardrobes are a key component for anyone who wants to pack light. Part of any capsule wardrobe is picking a base color, usually a neutral such as black, brown, tan, or navy blue. Learn more in my guide!
Black is my go-to base color because it’s safe and simple. This is my easy step-by-step process to use it as a base without wearing the same all black outfits repeatedly.
Crepe dress / Sleeveless top / Cardigan / Ankle leggings / Tights / Chelsea boots / Shoulder bag
Step 1
When you’ve picked your base color, in this case black, you will need to select specific pieces in that color that are versatile enough to create many outfits. Make sure your neutral pieces are the items you plan to wear the most. This most likely includes: a pair of pants, a skirt or dress, tights and/or leggings, shoe and/or boots, cardigan and tank top.
Use slim packing cubes to pack your capsule wardrobe and save space.
Outfit 1: Cardigan / Dress / Shoes Outfit 2: Mini dress / Leggings / Chelsea boots Outfit 3: Scarf / Top / Cropped jeans / Shoes
Step 2
With these pieces in tow, you can carefully select a few additional items that will give your all black outfits a pop of color such as a printed skirt, a fun necklace or a scarf. Even though you are wearing a lot of the same color, these accents will add an interesting touch to your look and increase your outfit options.
Even though this palette appears to have multiple colors and patterns, at the base of it all is black which really pulls all of these seemingly unmatchable items together.
Trench Coat / Sleeveless top / Ankle leggings / Tall boots / Sunglasses / Bangles / Woven tote
Step 3
Scarves and jewelry take up little room and can brighten up any monochromatic outfit. By carefully selecting base-colored items that go with everything, you can feel free to be creative in the jewelry, scarves, and outerwear categories. Don’t be afraid to bring that leopard print t-shirt or that bright-floral scarf. They will actually mix and match more than you think!
Outfit 1: Cardigan / Crepe dress / Flats Outfit 2: Button down top / Crepe dress / Chelsea boots Outfit 3: Crop shirt / Crepe dress / Flats
Step 4
Bringing the famous little black dress can prove to be a great way to create multiple outfit combinations. You don’t have to purchase a special dress that’s convertible. You just need to bring the right clothing items that make it look like it’s convertible. Wearing a shirt under the dress or over the dress adds color and enough difference that you may not even be able to tell it’s the same item. No more boring all black outfits in your travel wardrobe!
Take a look at this post for the most versatile shoes to match any outfit!
With black as your base, the possibilities truly are endless. You can create thousands of combinations, not just all black outfits. Experiment with your clothes and see what you create!
What items do you add to your favorite all black outfits? Share in the comments!
For more capsule wardrobe tips, please read:
- Pack Stylishly Light: Learn to Create a Capsule Wardrobe
- Thanksgiving Packing List: 10 Piece Capsule Wardrobe for 3-5 Day Trip
- Overpacker to Minimalist: How I Mastered the Capsule Wardrobe
- Plus Size Packing Tips for Women
Hope you liked this post on how to wear all black outfits for travel. Please share it with your friends on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest. Thanks for reading!
Author Bio: A travel lover and freelance writer from the United States Midwest. Traveling mostly as a couple with her husband, she is constantly looking for a beautiful view and a good adventure. Some of her travel highlights include horseback riding in the Ecuadorian Andes, hiking on top of Mount Etna in Sicily, and sheep-gazing in the Cotswolds. Her favorite travel tips are “do as the locals do” and purchase packing cubes. For more practical travel tips and ideas from a Central Ohio Girl, check out her website:travelingwithnina.com or follow her on Twitter.
I will be traveling to Germany, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Iceland and Canada Feb-Mar 2023. Planning on packing black base ski coat, ski pants (not for skiing, but for the elements), insulated leggings, tall snow boots, hiking boots, sweaters, scarfs (functional & sylish), hat, light weight all weather jacket. Is there anything else I should pack, clothes wise? Just assuming that it will be cold, snowy, icy, and wet so didn’t think any other shoes would be needed. I hope I’m not going to look silly walking around in snow clothes????
Hi Cheryl, to get the best destination specific advice, I would highly recommended that you join our TFG facebook group and post your question there: https://www.facebook.com/groups/travelfashiongirls/
And we have more tips for packing for that time of year here: https://www.travelfashiongirl.com/europe-in-winter/
Hope this helps. Have the most amazing time!
Great tips. I agree with Barbara the older generation takes up the majority of people travelling. Especially in Australia. We go away every six weeks on mini breaks of three to five night away and I pack a dress, pants and a skirt as my starting point. Packing tips would be great. Unfortunately I am too mature to wear any of the clothes suggested except the first pair of pants. Being older I prefer more stylish traditional types of clothing and would love to see some choices. Keep up the great work!
How about ideas for seniors? I’m not taking mini skirts/dresses, stilettos or lots of tank tops for 3 weeks in Australia in January. Since baby boomers are the ones doing lots of travel, packing ideas would help. Especially in carry-on only luggage.
Hi Barbara, we do have a selection of age-specific articles you might like: https://www.travelfashiongirl.com/over-40-fashion/
Because every woman has unique needs and style preferences, it’s up to the individual reader to apply the principles we share and adapt them to her needs.
The product images shown in the blog are simply to provide you with an understanding of general principles you can use, then because every woman has unique needs and style preferences, it is then up to the reader to apply the principles we share and adapt them to suit her own individual needs.
Here is a helpful guide that explains more about how to use our guides: https://www.travelfashiongirl.com/how-to-use-the-travel-fashion-girl-packing-lists-and-guides/ Hope this helps. Have an incredible trip! ?
Any suggestions for clothes for Amsterdam for a few days then cruise the Rhine for 7 days. Touring Germany after that in October. 2 men and 2 women…..mid 40’s
thank you!!!!
Thank you for sharing your step-by-step process for building a travel fashion capsule. It helped to see it broken down like that.
However, I did find the caption “Sick And Tired of Wearing Dull All Black Outfits when Traveling? Read This” a bit misleading since I was expecting an article that wasn’t about black. I now understand that the article is about jazzing up a black-based capsule with pops of colour and pattern.
I have lots of black items in my closet and black is my basic go-to colour in day to day life. For our trip to France last year, black was my base colour. But my dilemma is that I *cannot* wear black when it’s hot out; I get waaay too hot if I wear black or dark colours on a hot sunny day. I was wearing a short-sleeved purple linen shirt with beige linen pants when we went to the antique market at L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue and I got seriously overheated. Fortunately, I was able to find a loose-fitting white linen shirt at the market. I changed into it in a little curtained-off area behind the vendor’s tent and felt instantly cooler.
We’re going to Maui for 2 weeks in October and I’ve already started planning what to pack. I’ve put together two different capsules – one with grey/beige as the base colours and the other with purple/blue as the base colours. I’m having a difficult time deciding – the grey/beige capsule seems more sensible but the purple one is more fun. Purple can be a neutral, right??? I mean, it is Hawaii. 🙂
Hi Amie! Have you seen one of my more recent posts about Grey Being the New Black 😉 https://travelfashiongirl.com/grey-clothing/
Also, you might find this post for Hawaii helpful https://travelfashiongirl.com/what-to-pack-for-hawaii-packing-list-for-vacation/ as well as this one on some cute and fashionable linen clothing options: https://travelfashiongirl.com/linen-clothing/
As for your two capsule colors? I think this sounds more fun: grey/purple or beige/blue (or vice versa!)
What do you think?