I truly believe packing light is the key to successful travelling. It creates much less stress and more organization, allowing me to enjoy more of what I’m there to do – relax, sight-see, and overall just be on vacation! So, let’s chat about how I successfully packed 1 week of outfits in a carry-on luggage.
My one week trip to Europe in October was extremely short since it consisted of two and a half travel days. So the last thing I wanted to do was waste time waiting for a checked-in luggage to arrive at each baggage claim. Or worse, potentially have the airline lose it (which seemed to be a common occurrence around that time). As someone who tends to be an over-packer, I’m proof that with some planning and overall intention, packing light really is doable, friends!
My recent reel produced quite a few questions, so I’m dedicating this post to wardrobe items I packed into my carry-on luggage on this recent trip, the outfits I was able to put together, and travel go-to’s that helped make my overall trip so much easier.
Read on if any of this interests you!
Some links used in this post are affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you decide to make a purchase through them, at no extra cost to you. My intention will always be to inspire you to get creative with what you already have and to help you create an intentional wardrobe with quality pieces you’ll love for years to come. Thank you for supporting Her Simple Sole blog!
The Process in Selecting My Wardrobe Pieces
Starting from top left to right:
cotton cardigan | cashmere sweater (linked to different colour) | cotton/wool sweater (linked to different colour)
white t-shirt | merino wool crewneck sweater (linked similar) | white tank top (linked similar)
blue straight leg jeans (older style, linked similar) | white straight leg jeans | black wide leg trousers
black cropped undershirt | white linen shirt (linked similar) | almond cropped undershirt
My approach to deciding which wardrobe pieces to pack was quite simple:
- I considered what I had planned each day of my trip and which wardrobe items I’d be open to wearing during these planned events.
You know what they say, “by failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail”. As with so many things in life, planning is absolutely key to success. And that goes for packing light, too!
Day 1 of my trip after the day I landed was dedicated to a wedding. Night 2 was dedicated to an electronic dance show (with a white outfit theme), and a couple other occasions were dedicated to lunch/dinner reservations at Michelin Star restaurants. So, I packed specific pieces for these occasions, then worked my way around them.
- I checked the weather of each of my destinations more than once, closer to my travel date.
I made a stop in Sintra and Lisbon Portugal, both of which had temperatures in the high 20°C throughout the day. So I knew I could get away with a few easy-to-pack dresses.
Paris, France was a whole other story. The forecast said rain and clouds, while being upwards of 19-20°C. While I didn’t expect it to be so humid (my poor hair!), I knew I had to pack breathable fabrics that I could tolerate wearing in 20 degree weather, while providing coverage if I were to get rained on.
Wardrobe Packing List
With all this in mind, I decided to pack:
- 3 sweaters – 1 cotton/wool blend, 1 cashmere, 1 merino wool (all warm yet breathable fabrics)
- 1 white t-shirt – because, well, it’s the most versatile piece ever
- 2 pairs of jeans – 1 blue, 1 white (for white theme party)
- 1 pair of wide leg trousers – one of my favourite pairs right now and easily styles with everything
- 1 linen shirt – lightweight and versatile enough to wear with dresses/jeans
- 2 undershirts – to wear underneath my sweaters to wick away moisture and keep my sweaters in tip top shape
- 2 dresses – 1 cotton, 1 satin that I packed at the very last minute
- 1 jumpsuit – for the wedding and potentially for a Michelin Star restaurant dinner
- 2 pairs of comfortable heels – I opted for a pair of kitten heels for the wedding to save space in my luggage, and another pair of 2 inch heels that could have been omitted. They were packed with the intention of being worn during a day in Paris, but I loved the comfort of my sneakers too much to switch them out.
My airport outfit to and from Europe consisted of 1 trench coat, 1 cardigan, 1 white tank top, 1 pair of comfy wide leg pants, and a pair of sneakers. Overall, I had enough pieces to create several outfits and felt comfortable in everything I wore. Other than the second pair of heels, no regrets with any of this planning!
1 Week of Outfits
Now let’s get to the fun part – the 1 week of outfits I was able to put together! Jewelry worn with most outfits below are – Hannah Necklace – Ana Luisa (gifted) | Sofia Bracelet – Jenny Bird (gifted)
Day 1 – Airport Outfit (same as Day 7)
Check out this reel to see this outfit live in action!
cardigan (gifted; use code hersimplesole15 for 15% off your first order)
tank top (sold out from Frank and Oak, linked similar)
wide leg pants
sneakers
bag (gifted)
Note: sneakers shown here are my Nike Air Force 1’s instead of what I actually wore – my New Balance 327’s
Night 1 – Dinner Outfit
cardigan (gifted; use code hersimplesole15 for 15% off your first order)
slip dress (very old from Zara, linked similar)
sneakers
wallet bag
Day 2 – Wedding Outfit
jumpsuit | belt | heels | wallet bag
Note: photos above were taken the second time I wore this outfit, after my trip to Europe. Instead of the heels pictured, I wore kitten heels (linked under Night 6) in order to reduce the amount of space it would take up in my luggage. Belt was purchased at Sézane in Paris.
Day 3 – Walk-Around-Town Outfit
Rib knit dress (sold out from Kotn, linked similar)
linen shirt (gifted; sold out from Frank and Oak, linked similar)
sneakers
bag (gifted)
Night 3 – Night Out Outfit
linen shirt (gifted; sold out from Frank and Oak, linked similar)
tank top (gifted; sold out from Frank and Oak, linked similar)
sneakers
wallet bag
Day 4 – Eiffel Tower Outfit
merino wool crewneck sweater (linked similar)
blue straight leg jeans (older style, linked similar)
sneakers
bag (gifted)
Day 5 – Lourve/Lunch/Walk-Around-Town Outfit (tolerated the rain!)
cotton/wool sweater (sold out, linked to different colour)
black wide leg trousers
sneakers
bag (gifted)
Day 6 – Shopping/Walk-Around-Town Outfit
cashmere sweater (linked to different colour)
blue straight leg jeans (older style, linked similar)
trench coat (sold out from Everlane, linked similar)
sneakers
bag (gifted)
Night 6 – Dinner Outfit
cashmere sweater (linked to different colour)
black wide leg trousers
belt
kitten heels (use code sharon15 for 15% off)
wallet bag
Other Travel Go-To’s
Pictured: Monos Hybrid Carry-On (use code hersimplesole5 for 5% off your order)
Carry-On Luggage
Monos was kind enough to gift me their Hybrid Carry-on (dimensions are 22″ x 14″ x 9″) which I selected out of all their products. If you don’t already know, Monos is a Canadian brand that uses thoughtfully considered materials and quality craftmanship. Rather than going with the Pro version (dimensions are 23″ x 15″ x 9.5″) as many would likely choose, I went with the smaller version to ensure I wouldn’t go over any airline size restrictions. It really does feel unbreakable, and glides so seamlessly. This is in the shade Champagne.
Compression Packing Cubes
These are such great travel pieces! I’m sure you’ve all seen and used regular packing cubes, which already help so much with organizing clothes within your luggage. I used one to store my undershirts, underwear, bras/bralettes, and socks. Better yet are ones that compress, allowing air to escape so that you’re saving even more space. This is the set I purchased. I was able to pack all my clothes into two of these, tucked away onto one side of my luggage.
Easy-To-Bring Cleaning Products and Vitamins
Stored away into a reusable bag included some practical items to help clean and rejuvenate myself while travelling, including:
- Shoe wipes – so convenient and actually cleans really well
- Laundry detergent strips – smaller and lighter than traditional laundry detergents
- Recovery pills (I like to call these “hangover pills”) – powered by plants and contains antioxidants + vitamins
- Enhanced immune support – extra vitamin C in case I catch something during my travels
Another item I find to be very travel friendly are shampoo and conditioner bars. That way, you don’t have to incorporate liquid shampoo or conditioner in your carry-on liquid restriction. The ones I had (and I say had because I ended up leaving them at our Airbnb in Sintra – I was slightly heartbroken!) from Duckish and lather + wash pretty well.
A Practical Personal Bag
It was my first time using the Wavia Bag from Oleada (gifted) and I was so thrilled with its functionality. It’s a beautiful multi-functional bag, as it can be worn as a backpack or crossbody, and fits a 13″ laptop. I was able to store my iPad and carry-on liquids into this with ease, along with all my handheld necessities. It even has a sleeve at the back to slip through your luggage handle. That’s what really sold me – versatility at its finest! See it live in action in this reel created prior to my trip.
Anti-Theft Waist Bag
Although not the most aesthetic, I found this waist bag (linked to similar) to be so practical for travel. I stored all my most important items in here – passport, ID, and credit cards. This one in particular has no bulk and sits close to the body. I can even wear it underneath my pants without discomfort – an added bonus to ensure none of these items get lost. I used this during my 3-week trip around Europe several years ago with ease, and it really came in handy during this trip as well.
There you have it! Successful carry-on outfit ideas and packing tips from a relatively unseasoned light traveler who loves to travel. Let me know if you implement these carry-on tips on your next vacation and how it went. I’d love to hear your thoughts!
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