See how our family of three (dad, mum, and a 4-year-old son) mixed and matched a few pieces to create 10 minimalist winter outfits.
With another winter trip coming up, I thought it’d be fun to share our outfit coordination plan. Winter travel is exciting, but packing all the heavy layers can be a hassle.
To keep things simple, we’re going with versatile pieces that mix and match easily. Take a look at our full winter trip capsule wardrobe that keeps our family of three warm, coordinated, and ready to explore.
How packing light made our winter trip easier
Winter travel with a little one can feel stressful, but packing light helps a lot. When it comes to clothing, here’s why a simple, minimalist approach makes the most sense for our family:
- Less luggage to carry
Fewer clothes mean lighter suitcases, making it easier to navigate airports, trains, or buses, especially with a toddler in tow. - Simpler outfit coordination
With versatile, mix-and-match pieces, we can create multiple outfits without overthinking or overpacking. - Saves time getting ready
No digging through piles of clothes! Getting everyone dressed becomes quick and stress-free. - Reduces decision fatigue
Fewer options mean fewer choices each day, so we can focus on enjoying the trip instead of what to wear.
A minimalist, coordinated winter capsule wardrobe for the whole family
A simple packing rule I follow for every trip: first, it must be comfortable; second, versatile enough to mix and match, ideally in neutral colours.
Our dressing style is simple and uncomplicated. We like natural-looking outfits, so the idea of a capsule wardrobe works perfectly for us, especially in winter when bulky layers can make packing and coordinating outfits more challenging.
Read also: How to store winter clothing and other seasonal items when you have limited spaces
Winter capsule pieces for each family member
Here’s what we pack for our winter trip:
For dad:
- 1 coat
- 2 outerwear
- 5 tops
- 3 bottoms (1 jeans, 1 trousers, 1 joggers)
For mum:
- 1 coat
- 1 outerwear
- 1 overall dress
- 5 tops
- 3 bottoms (1 skirt, 1 jeans, 1 trousers)
- 1 pair of tights
For son (4 years old):
- 1 coat
- 2 outerwear (1 jacket, 1 vest)
- 5 tops
- 3 bottoms
In addition, for each person we also bring:
- 3 thermal sets (top and bottom)
- 4 pairs of socks
- 2 pairs of shoes (1 sneakers, 1 boots)
- 2 pairs of gloves
- 1 beanie
- 1 scarf
- 5 pairs of underwear
- 2 sets of pyjamas
The list includes clothing that we wear or carry by hand to the airport, including shoes and coats, so not everything is packed in our luggage.
Colour coordination tips
Choosing neutral colors or a simple color palette is the easiest way to make all the pieces work together.
That said, I still try to create some variety so our outfits don’t look too repetitive. This can be done by planning the base colors in advance, so every outfit combination feels coordinated.
For example, on this winter trip, we’ll be wearing black, white, olive, and beige, and mixing these colours in different ways. This way, on day 1, day 2, day 3, and so on, we can wear different combinations instead of wearing just all-black or all-beige every day, if that makes sense.
10 mix-and-match family winter outfit ideas
With those few pieces, we can easily create coordinated looks for the whole family! Check out our 10 family matching winter outfit ideas:
Look 1: Black and white
My husband is wearing all black because of his coat, while my son and I have white accents on our coats. Underneath, we all wear black, so the family still looks coordinated.
Look 2: Grey and black
We all wear grey tops, which makes coordinating very easy. The layers are simple and everyone looks matched without effort.
Look 3: Black and beige
This combination creates a classic look. I am wearing a beige overall dress that adds a feminine touch.
Look 4: Beige with black and white stripe
My husband wears simple beige and black, while my son and I wear stripey pieces. The consistent color palette keeps us looking coordinated.
Look 5: Beige and olive
I like this look best because the layers add interesting texture for the whole family. My husband wears a plaid top while my son and I wear stripes, but the colours tie everything together.
Look 6: Olive, stripe, and denim
My son does not have denim pieces, but he wears the same stripe pattern as me and olive pants that match our colours. This makes the family look coordinated.
Look 7: Olive, grey, and denim
This look is similar to the previous one but without stripes. It is casual and gives a fun day-out vibe.
Look 8: Beige and black with different textures
This time everyone wears different textures. I turn my overall dress into a skirt for a versatile look.
Look 9: Olive, beige, and black
The black on me and my husband is subtle, like on my tights and his shirt underneath. It still makes the family look coordinated.
Look 10: Beige and black white stripe
The colour palette keeps us looking matched even though my husband does not wear stripes. We all coordinate nicely because of the shared colours.
Coordinated outfits = effortless, picture-perfect memories
At the end of the day, we want our trip to be smooth, memorable, and full of photos we’ll love looking back on, where everyone looks their best. A capsule wardrobe with neutral or matching tones makes it easy to coordinate outfits for the whole family, so even candid shots look put together with minimal effort.
