I’m a huge believer in traveling with only a carry-on – I rarely take a checked bag anywhere! I love being able to walk right off the plane and not having to wait at baggage claim. Not to mention, carry-on packing greatly reduces your risk of losing a bag! After my suitcase got lost for the first several days of my honeymoon, I’ve done my best to always pack in a carry-on.
Today, I’m sharing my approach to carry-on packing. It’s very possible to pack for a week (or more) in only a carry-on, especially if you take a few minutes to plan! To help illustrate my tips and tricks, I’m going to share a packing list and 12 example outfits I can make from the items on my list!
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Carry-On Packing List – 12 Items
White Tee | Black Nursing Tank | Olive Tank (similar)
Utility Jacket | White Plaid Shirt | Black Crossover Sweatshirt
Black Skort (similar) | Jeans | Leggings (similar)
Flats (similar, similar) | Sneakers (similar) | Sandals
Choosing Your Items
- Pick a color palette and stick with it. For this trip, you can see that I chose items that were black, white, and olive green. Sticking with a cohesive color palette helps ensure that everything matches. You can certainly choose some items with patterns, but I find that packing mostly solid colors is more versatile!
- Everything should match with everything. I treat my packing list like a miniature capsule wardrobe. Ideally, every item in my bag should match with everything else. This will really help you expand your outfit options! I never pack in terms of “outfits”, because you can end up having a shirt that only goes with one pair of bottoms!
- Use the “Rule of 3s”. For this travel capsule wardrobe, I picked 3 each of tops, layers, bottoms, and shoes. You can add to your outfit options by picking items that vary across some spectrum – in terms of dressiness, warmth, etc. For example, you may want a pair of casual shoes (sneakers), a pair of dressier shoes (flats), and a pair somewhere in the middle (sandals).
- Choose “multipurpose” items. I love a good, versatile piece of clothing! Try to choose items that can work in a variety of ways. For example, the plaid button-down can be work alone as a blouse, layered over a t-shirt, or tied around my waist. My saltwater sandals (which I love!) are comfortable and made to wear in the water, which means I can wear them to a beach or walk a few miles sightseeing in them.
Packing Considerations
- Consider your “dress code”. For this trip, I knew I wouldn’t need to dress up for anything. I packed a couple things that could be dressier (flats, plaid shirt, skort) in case we go out to dinner and I want to wear something nicer. If you want to elevate your travel wardrobe, consider swapping out the skort for a pretty midi skirt and a few of the tops for blouses.
- Consider the weather. I usually check the typical weather once my trip is booked, and again once I’m close to the trip and can get a more definite picture. (I start thinking about packing far in advance – it’s a fun way for me to look forward to a trip!). This helps me narrow down my items. For instance, a good rain jacket and waterproof booties are a must for wetter climates, and breezy dresses are great for hot weather.
- Consider your personal style. Personally, I don’t think traveling is a great time to try new clothing or a new style. All the items on my list are things I’ve had for several months (or years!). I know I like them and I tend to wear them often. This makes sure I won’t accidentally be limiting what I can wear. There’s nothing worse than realizing you hate one of the shirts you packed, or that you can’t walk more than a few feet in a pair of new shoes!
Outfit Ideas
These are just a few outfits that you could make with the items from the travel capsule wardrobe! You can see that each shirt can be worn with each layer and each pair of bottoms. Thinking in terms of mixing and matching instead of in terms of outfits really helps make your travel wardrobe more versatile! I would use this number of items for a trip up to a week long. For longer trips (or for more variety), I might add a dress and another shirt.
I’ll actually be using this packing list for an upcoming trip! I have a few outfits in mind for different occasions. I’d wear #1 or #2 on plane rides, #4 is great for active days, #5 and #10 work well for sightseeing, and #7 would be perfect for going out to dinner!
Other Carry-On Packing Tips
- Keep liquids to a minimum. I always pack powder versions of things like foundation and dry shampoo. If you aren’t checking a bag, be sure to limit your liquids to one quart-sized bag.
- Use packing cubes. I like these AmazonBasics ones. (I have the small, the medium, and the slim sizes. The smalls are my favorite size!) I use packing cubes always for every trip.
- Think low-maintenance. I pack only a small makeup bag, choose simple outfits, and keep my hair tools to a minimum. Feel more put-together by choosing one “high-maintenance” item in each category. For example, you could pack a favorite lip color (makeup), a pair of heels (clothing), and a pretty beaded clip (hair).
- Keep your hands free. Don’t use a duffel bag or a weekender if you’re packing in a carry-on, because you’ll regret having to lug it through the airport! I use a spinner suitcase and either a backpack or bag with a “trolley sleeve” (to slide over my suitcase handle).
- Wear your bulkier items. Remember that you don’t have to pack what you wear on the plane! I always wear a bulkier pair of shoes and a sweatshirt or jacket on the plane.
- Roll, roll, roll. Rolling your clothes helps them fit in the packing cubes better. In addition, I find that it helps to prevent wrinkles!
- Don’t overstuff your bag. I have one of those suitcases that is the exact maximum size that most airlines allow – but that means that if I overpack, it will be too big. (Fun fact: this is how my bag got lost during my honeymoon. I overpacked, it got gate-checked, and the airline somehow sent it to Phoenix instead of St. Maarten.) Now, I carry on a smaller 19″ spinner bag (like this one), since I know it will always fit.
Next time you’re traveling, I encourage you to try packing in only a carry-on! It’s very freeing, and has quickly become my favorite way to travel.
See more travel posts here. See more style posts here.
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