How to Pack Everything in a Carry-On Bag
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To be honest, I canāt believe Iām even writing about how to pack everything you need in a carry-on.
Because never in a million years did I think I could do thisā¦
As a fashion blogger it is even harder to do this, as most trips are used to shoot a ton of content.
BUT I will say it kind of gave me a Marie Kondo type of feeling in the sense that I wasnāt weighed down with tons of clothes or overwhelmed with what to wear, because I planned for everything ā with a little wiggle room of course š LESS SPARKS JOY, Iām telling ya!
In February we went to Mexico City with some friends ā yes, Iāve been trying to write this post since I got back (2 months ago!). Honestly, I was in awe of myself/kind of in shock that I actually did it. (Not to toot my own horn LOL) We were traveling stand by, so it was in our best interest to only use a carry-on, but in reality, we were only gone for 3ish days so we didnāt need too much. I only used a small suitcase and my backpack and I SURVIVED. Not just that, but I thrived. Too often, I had half a suitcase of items I didnāt actually need and they just took up space / were never worn. It also made me stressed, because I brought items to shoot and then ran out of time. Iāve become much more intentional about my packing in general, so I thought Iād share my philosophies with you, in case you suffer from these same struggles too! Not to mention, bag fees are only increasing in cost, so hereās to saving money and being less stressed!
Daily Ritual Long Sleeve French Terry Shirt | Madewell Jeans | Silk Scarf | Vince Warren Slip On Sneakers | Ilia Rosette Lipstick
Side note - the shirt Iām wearing here is one of my favorites! I have it in grey and black, but the olive just came back in stock and Iām going to grab it. I love traveling in it because itās so soft and comfy! For under $50, you canāt beat it!!
TIPS
Think about your trip - It sounds silly, but do it! What does the itinerary look like? Pool all day and dinner at night? Day trips with a small break, then dinner with everyone? This will help determine if you need 1 outfit per day or 2.
Talk to your travel companions ā What are they going to wear? Thereās nothing worse than packing too little and not being on the same page with everyone else. Or maybe itās just a girl thing? Nick says he doesnāt ever feel that wayā¦ But for our Mexico trip last year, the only bottoms he brought were his swim trunks!! I digress. For this specific CDMX trip, I chatted with the other girl and we decided pants for most days and then a dress for one nicer dinner. We were on the same page and I felt good about my choices!
Research the area ā Traveling to Mexico City is not the same as traveling to a resort in Cancun. It has a different feel and is a lot more conservative. Look into the culture you are about to visit and make sure you arenāt drawing attention when you shouldnāt be ā itās your best bet for safety!
Check the weather ā No really! The first time I ever went to San Francisco, I packed like I was going to San Diego. Who knew you could be somewhere sunny, yet cold in July?! Thereās a reason my post What to Wear in San Francisco is one of my most popular posts. Hah! Anyway, this will help you decide if you need a jacket, etc, so do it.
Travel size it up ā I have travel sized pill boxes and empty silicone bottles that I can put products in, but one of my favorite things to do is get the actual travel sized item and just fill it up from my full size beauty product. Travel size items are ācuteā and usually have a ānot so cuteā price attached, so buying travel sizes of things you already have can help you cut down on refill costs! You can also go and get samples from Sephora and use those too, depending how long your trip is/they have your product!
Practice versatility ā How can you wear an item more than once and make different looks? Think of your suitcase as a capsule collection and make sure you can re-arrange most of it!
Take pictures of your outfits ā I wish I could take credit for this, but I canāt. I got the idea for Kathleen Barnes of Carry Bradshaw Lied. This kind of goes hand in hand with practice versatility. I used to make lists of my outfits, but pictures are so much easier, plus you can literally visualize it! When I didnāt know what to wear, I would just reference my phone. PLUS I didnāt pigeonhole myself into assigning certain outfits to specific days. I felt like I had the freedom of my closet, but on the go!
CARRY-ON SIZED BAGS
I will say, check with the airline with which you are flying, because some of them have different rules. Educate yourself and make sure you are within protocol! I have gotten on fights with people before, because their website said one thing and their gate checker said another. Here are my faves:
Delsey Luggage (blog post on it here)
REAL LIFE EXAMPLES:
VACATION: Mexico City in February for 4 days, 3 nights using Delsey Carry-On + Dagne Dover Backpack
6 Tops: t-shirt, s/s sweater, l/s sweater, off the shoulder blouse, ruffle blouse, workout top
4 Pairs of Shoes: black sandals, brown loafers, platform sneakers, tennis shoes
3 Pairs of Pants: jeans, black jeans, leggings
2 Jackets: denim jacket, black denim jacket
3 Bras: strapless, regular, sports bra
1 Dress: knit midi dress
1 Scarf: could be worn as a poncho or a scarf
1 Purse: small crossbody
1 Swimsuit: Bikini Top and Bottom
Accessories: 1 bandana scarf, 1 pair of statement earrings, 1 pair of basic earrings, 1 necklace, 1 pair of sunglasses
Toiletries + Makeup + Socks + Underwear
WORK TRIP: Fayetteville Arkansas for 2 days, 1 night using Dagne Dover Backpack
3 Tops: s/s denim button up, s/s blouse, workout top
2 Pairs of Pants: black kick flare jeans, leggings
2 Bras: regular, sports bra
1 Jacket: Moto Jacket
2 Pair of Shoes: loafers, tennis shoes
Accessories: 1 necklace, 1 pair of earrings
Toiletries + Makeup + Socks + Underwear
One last thing... regarding how it all fits in your suitcase, Iāve tried it all. My favorite has been using the Kon Marie folding method and using old shoe / purse drawstring garment bags to house shoes and make sure the bottoms donāt touch any of my clean clothes!
What do you think? Do you have any tips or tricks that help you pack smarter and lighter, so you can utilize carry-on baggage space? I will say itās a lot harder to do this for the winter time ā boots and jackets take up a TON of space; however, it is possible to pack lighter if you apply these principals and think it through!
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