Capsule wardrobes are all the rage — eight pieces of clothing promising thirty-two outfits. (Don’t ask me to check the math.) I considered it, but here’s the truth: I’m a dress-wearer. Dresses are what make me feel like *me*.
Usually, I pack a few neutral dresses — easy to wash, easy to re-wear, forgettable in the best way. I can rotate four and feel content. The dress I travel in is always reserved for travel days. (Don’t ask why. It just is.)
But this time, there was one dress calling me: a long red maxi sundress. The impractical one. The one that even needs its own bra. The one that hogs suitcase space. The one I knew I might only wear once. But I pictured myself drifting through Old Town — dramatic red next to the blue sea and ruins, feeling beautiful and new — too perfect to leave behind.
Should I? Could I?
I did. And it was FABULOUS. I felt FABULOUS. Strangers smiled, a waiter paused, even the air seemed to shift. The dress wasn’t just clothing — it was an entrance.
If you’ve ever seen High School Musical 2, you might remember Sharpay belting out her anthem:
“I want fabulous, that is my simple request…
All things fabulous, bigger and better and best…”
That was me. That was this moment. Fabulous.
Why the Red Dress Matters
Different things pull us into solo travel.
✅ Maybe you’re tired of your usual travel partner.
✅ Maybe you don’t have one anymore.
✅ Maybe life has shifted, and you’re learning how to live — and thrive — on your own terms.
Wherever you are, you deserve to feel that same fabulousness.
At home, that red dress made me feel beautiful. But in Bulgaria, when I slipped it on, I didn’t just feel beautiful — I felt vivid, stunning, alive. Walking through Old Nessebar, the stone walls glowed golden, and for once I matched the landscape — bold, radiant, unforgettable.
For the first time in a long time, I embraced this truth: This is who I am. This is why I’m here. This is how I belong.
Pack Your Own “Red Dress”
So, if you feel pulled to pack that one impractical thing — the sequined top, the long skirt, the bright dress that takes up too much space — do it. Roll it up, tuck it in, and plan on wearing it.
If your soul is calling, answer it.
