Assembling your perfect on-the-go wardrobe is an important part of your RV journey
Most likely, storage space will be far less than your home closet, and you’ll have to pare down to the essentials if you want to make the transition to full-time RV living.
Believe it or not, shaving down your wardrobe from a full closet to just a few pieces doesn’t have to compromise your comfort or style. True, you’ll have to learn to live with less – but isn’t that the beauty of the nomad’s quest?
Here’s some of our best advice for clearing out the clothing clutter and creating an amazing wardrobe that’s functional and fun without sacrificing style.
Consider your needs
There are a few things to think about when deciding what to keep with you while you travel. First of all, how do you plan to care for your clothes, and how frequently will you be able to do laundry? Will you need to rely on a laundromat? Will you be staying in places with hookups so you can use your onboard washer and dryer?
What kinds of activities will you need to be outfitted for? Will you spend your days sight-seeing and sipping tea by the fire in cozy jeans, or do you plan to explore the wilderness in muddy boots and hiking gear?
All of these decisions will factor into your choice of wardrobe staples.
Accept yourself
Generally speaking, life on the road is perfect for a simple, clean wardrobe. Loungewear around the campground is more than acceptable, and chances are you won’t need anything super trendy. Still, transitioning to a small wardrobe often makes people feel self-conscious.
Try to remember that since you will be on the go, you won’t encounter the same people day after day like you would back home. You might feel a little awkward wearing countless outfit repeats, but no one else is going to know that you’re wearing the same outfit twice in one week.
Accept yourself and let go of the need to be on trend. Instead, create a wardrobe of a few key pieces that go together well and meet your everyday needs.
Downsizing your closet
Sometimes, the biggest challenge to create your perfect full-time RV wardrobe is deciding what to keep and what to discard. If you’ve got overflowing dresser drawers and a packed closet, the thought of choosing just a few items can be daunting.
If you have some time to prepare for your new life before you set out, start tracking what you wear most and set those pieces aside in your closet. From those items, choose only your favorites to take with you.
It goes without saying that you’ll need loungewear, outdoor gear, and warm layers. You should also consider keeping one or two “dressy” outfits on hand. Even if you’re planning to spend the majority of your time in the great outdoors, you never know when you might need to put on something a little nicer for a special occasion.
Your shoes are important
One area we don’t recommend skimping on is your shoes. You might be tempted to keep only one or two pairs, especially since shoes can be bulky and take up a lot of space.
Think twice before you toss your shoe collection. A walking tour of a new city can quickly turn sour if you’re hobbling around in uncomfortable shoes. Excitement turns to frustration as your blistering feet shout louder and louder, drowning out the voice of adventure as you explore. And hiking? Well, you can forget about it if you’re not planning to bring adequate footwear.
Take care of your feet, and they’ll take care of you – carrying you to new museums and monuments, or summiting peaks and descending green valley trails.
Always think in terms of versatility
In the end, the most important factor in choosing your ideal RV wardrobe is versatility. Before you give a piece of clothing a coveted space in your closet, ask yourself these questions:
- Do I love it enough to wear it often?
- Is it comfortable?
- Is it easy to launder?
- Is it suitable for the weather?
If you can answer yes to all of the above, then it’s probably a keeper. If not, save it for your return or donate it for another person’s use.
Your RV wardrobe lets you travel in comfort and style
For many of us, the transition from our everyday life to all-out wanderlust brings out the simpler side of living. There is no place more affected by this change than our wardrobes. Make sure you know what you need out of your clothing, accept yourself, downsize to what you truly need, and make every piece versatile.
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