How To Pack Stylishly For 7 Days in a Carry-On

2017 is shaping up to be a year of travel for me. Although I really didn’t plan for it to be, it’s March and I’ve already visited London, Paris, Washington DC, Los Angeles, Palm Springs, Kansas City, and Dallas this year. Not to mention the 5 trips planned for the next few months.

Needless to say? It was time to get my packing skills refined to an artform. I’ll never forget driving to the Palm Springs airport with Kristen and Luvvie while they gently mocked me for my large piece of luggage crammed to the max for, ahem, a 4-day trip. (What can I say? This is how my brain works while packing. Maybe yours does too?)

However, I spent quite some time devoted to capsule wardrobes. How could there be such a discrepancy between my day-to-day and my packing practices? I decided I would challenge myself to pack in one carry-on for my recent 7-day trip to London and Paris, and you guys, it was so great. I don’t think I’ll ever check a bag again.

Here’s the thing about packing for London and Paris in the early Spring. You’re essentially going to be outside with a coat on the entire time. So I focused less on my under layers, and more on my outerwear and accessories. This really made packing so much easier. Also, I had access to laundry mid-week, which made it easier to cut down on my tees, pajamas, panties, etc.

First things first. My carry-on itself. I use the Bigger Carry-On by Away Travel. Oh my goodness, I can’t say enough about this suitcase. It has a hard case, a charging port for my devices, looks so stylish, and most importantly fits SO MUCH stuff in it. For real, you guys. Take a look.

This particular size fits all the sizers of major US airlines – I had no problem fitting it in the overhead bins of Delta, Virgin Airlines, and Air France during my trip. However, if you travel budget airlines in other countries or smaller jets, this particular size will probably not work, and you should consider the regular carry-on size from Away. I very rarely fly in those situations, so the bigger size works for me.

As for my packing breakdown, here you go.

Trench Coat – I bought this trench coat from APC a few years back and it’s served me so well. Stylish and functional, it makes any look pulled together in an instant.

Puffer Coat – The trench coat just couldn’t hack it during the cooler mornings and evenings, so a heavier coat was a must. I wore this on the plane, so it was not packed in my carry-on.

Scarves – In my opinion, the most important items during the trip. I brought three with me – red wool,  lightweight multicolor, and a black and white option. (My black and white scarf is by Ace & Jig, but no longer available.) Always had a scarf on during the trip.

Striped Sweater – This was the heaviest of my sweaters, and I wore it on the plane because it’s super cozy.

Pink Cotton Sweater – Comfortable layering piece.

Grey Sweater – Another lightweight one so I wouldn’t get overheated during the day.

Black Turtleneck – Love a simple black turtleneck because you can layer it or dress it up on its own.

Striped Turtleneck – I didn’t end up wearing this on the trip.

Black Silk Top – A versatile option for an evening out.

Navy Striped Top – Can’t have too many stripes, right?

Chambray Tunic – Chambray goes with everything.

Black Jeans – Citizens of Humanity is my go-to brand for jeans. Both pairs I brought are the Agnes mid-rise style. Absolutely love the way these fit.

Faded Denim Jeans – See above.

Cotton Twill Joggers – Super comfortable for the long plane trip.

White Tees – Obvious.

Pajamas – I prefer to sleep in lightweight tanks and pants.

Undergarments – Black bras and thongs and low-rise bikinis – I only brought 4 or 5 because I had access to laundry mid-trip.

Socks – Obvious.

Black Booties – Okay, these particular boots were fabulous on the trip. Very stylish and so comfortable. Didn’t get one blister and walked for miles every day.

Black Oxfords – (Might be sold out in the black.) I brought these Oxfords with me, but only wore them once. I probably could have left them at home and only worn the booties and sneakers.

White Sneakers – Loving the white sneaker trend, and I wore these a lot during the trip on the travel days.

Belts

Silk Bandana – I brought a little silk neckerchief, but didn’t end up wearing it.

Toiletries – I pack all my toiletries in this pouch. I’ve had it for years.

Flat Iron – I can use a flat iron to curl and straighten my hair, so it eradicates the need to bring both a flat iron and a curling iron.

Makeup – My favorite makeup bag is the smaller one of this duo.

Small Crossbody Bag – On travel days, I carry this larger bag as my airplane tote, but don’t use it during my stay. I prefer to carry a smaller crossbody during my trip, so I pack one in my carry-on.

There you have it! As always, feel free to leave any questions/comments. Bon voyage!

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