The best-dressed travelers are rarely the ones with the most luggage. They are the ones who packed fewer things that all work together. A capsule wardrobe, ten pieces chosen around one color story, will carry you through a week in Paris, Florence or London in autumn, from museum mornings to long dinners, without a checked bag.

Start With a Palette

Choose two neutrals and one accent. Navy and camel with cream; charcoal and black with burgundy; olive and brown with ivory. Every piece in the case should work with at least three others, and the palette is what makes that possible. Prints are fine, but limit yourself to one, and make sure it contains your neutrals.

The Ten Pieces

• A tailored coat in wool or a wool blend, long enough to cover a jacket. It is the piece people see most, so it should be the best thing you own.
• A trench or packable rain layer for October in northern Europe, where a dry week is never guaranteed.
• A fine-gauge knit in merino or cashmere, which layers under the coat and works on its own at dinner.
• A second, heavier sweater for cold mornings and countryside days.
• Two shirts or blouses: one crisp white, one in your accent color or a quiet print.
• Straight or wide-leg trousers in a dark neutral that can be dressed up.
• Dark denim in a clean, unfaded wash, the only jeans you need.
• A dress or a tailored jacket, depending on how you like to dress for evening.
• Two pairs of shoes: a broken-in walking shoe or loafer, and an ankle boot with a low, stable heel.

That is ten items before accessories and underthings. Wear the bulkiest pieces, the coat, the heavier knit and the boots, on the plane.

Let Accessories Do the Work

A capsule stays interesting through what surrounds it. A large scarf in wool or cashmere doubles as a wrap on a cold flight. A leather belt changes the shape of a sweater. One pair of statement earrings turns a knit and trousers into a dinner outfit. Bring a slim crossbody bag for the day and a small clutch that folds flat for evening.

Fabrics That Travel

Merino wool resists odor and wrinkles and can be worn several times between washes. Wool crepe and heavier jerseys hang out overnight. Silk packs small. The fabrics to leave at home are linen, which creases in minutes, and anything that needs ironing to look right.

How to Pack It

Roll knits and jersey; fold shirts and trousers along their seams, layered with tissue if they crease easily. Packing cubes keep the case in order as you move between hotels. Shoes go in bags at the bottom, near the wheels, with socks inside them.

The Test

Before you zip the case, build seven outfits from what is in it, one for each day. If a piece appears in fewer than three, take it out. The space you save is the space for whatever you find while you are there.