I have not always been a light packer.
For just under 30 days in France in April 2018 (when I met my husband), I packed a very heavy checked bag, a very heavy carry-on suitcase, and a very heavy tote in addition. I remember laying out my stuff to pack, and it was nearly my entire summer wardrobe, six to eight pairs of shoes, multiple handbags, accessories, you get the gist. Just loads of stuff. At least half of it sat in my suitcase that entire time and I hauled it back home at the end of the trip. Lol.
While my husband and I were dating, I flew back and forth to France three more times in a year, gradually honing my approach to packing, acquiring the right gear, and making my checklists.
One year later, in May 2019, I took a trip across Central Europe with my parents and brother, followed by some time back in the Midwest while I waited for my French visa to arrive. That time, I packed in a carry-on for the entire six weeks and never felt underprepared or underdressed.
So, first of all. I don’t think light packers occupy any kind of moral high ground. Checked luggage has just given me so much stress and anxiety in the past that no amount of outfit options are worth it anymore. Traveling is stressful enough and I will worry for the whole flight if I check a bag.
I have been in genuinely worst-case-scenario airport situations (think hundreds of lost bags piled at baggage claim due to delayed and diverted flights), dragged my heavy bags through train and subway stations, and had my checked bag delivered on the luggage carousel of a different flight, leading me to think it was lost. I don’t let my suitcase out of my sight anymore—and I make sure I can lift everything on my own without straining my back.
But! I also like to look nice when I travel. I like to be dressed appropriately for the destination, whether that entails fine restaurants and hotels, going to the beach, or simply hanging out in my parents’ backyard.
Some people like Jenny Walton can go on a trip looking amazing, glam, creative, and like they have access to their whole closet. I am not one of those people. If you’re more like me, needing a tightly-controlled capsule wardrobe to look even remotely stylish on a trip, read on.
So, kindred spirits, while it’s not possible to pack in a carry-on and end up with everything you might ever dream of wearing, it is possible to put together a flexible capsule wardrobe that will make you feel comfortable, appropriate, and like yourself. With a little advanced planning.
Here’s how to plan it! Breaking it down for you with deep specificity.
Also!! It means so much to me that you read this newsletter and I love it when you engage with me, whether that’s over text, an Instagram DM, an email (just hit reply to this email), a chat in person, or a comment below. Meeting new people and finding new points of commonality with old friends has been such a joy of this venture. This is a multi-way conversation, and I love to see our little community forming.
Disclaimers:
These tips are not for going anywhere rustic. This is for when you’re flying to a well-trodden and definitely inhabited destination where you’ll be staying in a hotel, rental, or friend’s house and have easy access to a pharmacy, shops, etc., should you forget anything.
These tips are also not for traveling with kids. When I have kids and figure out how to travel semi-efficiently with them (if that’s even possible), I’ll report back.
How to build your capsule wardrobe
This is my process:
Pull out a bunch of stuff you really like to wear that fits the vibe of your destination from your closet and throw it all on the bed.
Start to put together outfits, laying tops at the head of the bed and bottoms at the foot, like a group of flat, overlapping people.
Two or three color schemes will probably start emerging. Pick one (for example, blue and white with pops of orange). Put everything that doesn’t fit within this scheme back in the closet. Neutrals that complement the color scheme (black, white/cream, beige, grey, and potentially navy and olive) can stay.
Choose one (1) seasonally appropriate outerwear layer within the color scheme. I prefer this to hit mid-thigh or longer. (If you have a loud coat, say a tartan trench, maybe the outerwear will determine the color scheme and you’ll build from there.) You will wear this on the plane. Optionally, choose one (1) mid-weight short jacket like a blazer, as long as it layers comfortably underneath your outerwear. This will go in the bag.
Blue jeans are a neutral and you probably need to take at least one pair. I also advocate white jeans in warm weather and black jeans in cold. This applies to jean shorts if going to the beach.
Choose destination-appropriate shoes and accessories that fit the color scheme and work with the clothes. For the “smoothest” looks, I take shoes, belts, and one (1) handbag in either black, brown, or blue. For example, a brown-based color scheme would include a cognac leather crossbody bag, cognac leather ballet flats, brown belt, and a beige trench. Worn together, they make an outfit look coherent and pulled-together, whether you have on a t-shirt and jeans or a nice dress.
Work with your pieces to lay out different outfit combinations until you have a collection of stuff that all goes together. If, for example, a top only goes with one of your three pairs of pants, it goes back in the closet. Be ruthless. At the end, add back one more neutral t-shirt and/or button-down.
Finally, choose scarves, jewelry, and other small, lightweight accessories that can jazz up an otherwise neutral outfit and dress up an otherwise casual one. If you essentially wear the same outfit combos all trip, your accessories can change everything.
Try it all on!!! This step is key. Once you’ve put together the outfits that work together in theory, you have to put on every single one and make sure they work in practice. I have swapped things out at this juncture many times. I also sometimes go one step further and take mirror selfies of the outfits so I can refer back to them once I arrive at the destination.
Pack the stuff you wear the most. While the impulse is often to pack things you rarely wear at home because your trip will present new settings and opportunities to get dressed, I do the opposite. I pack the things I wear the most, because I know how they fit and feel, I feel great in them, and I know how to style them without thinking too much about it.
I typically end up with:
2-3 pants/shorts (1 worn on the plane)
1-2 dresses or skirts including one that’s dressed up (perhaps an LBD)
4-5 tops (1 worn on the plane)
1 sweater (2-3 in winter, 1 worn on the plane)
0-2 jackets/coats (1 worn on the plane)
3 pairs of shoes (typically flats, sneakers, and a low block heel; sneakers worn on the plane)
1 handbag (you guessed it, brought on the plane - see below)
1-2 belts
A couple of scarves
2 pairs of pajamas
More socks/tights/undergarments than I think I’ll need
1 swimsuit!
And I often take advantage of the hotel/Airbnb laundry, especially for longer trips.
Is this process effortlessly chic? No it is not. Please see my post on effort / effortlessness for more thoughts on that. Feeling and looking good on my trip is way more important to me than being the cool person who’s casual about packing.
Moving on to how to pack it!
The gear that will make your life easier
The suitcase!
My husband and I both use The Carry On from Away. Everyone has these now, so make it distinctive with a colorful bow on the handle, a big sticker, a luggage tag, or a monogram. Away makes a slightly larger one called The Bigger Carry On, but I’ve never felt it was necessary, and I worry about fitting it in the overhead on regional planes.
People also rave about Beis luggage (the colors are cuter than Away imho) and I think Paravel is so chic and will probably invest in one if/when my Away bag ever gives out.
The tote bag!
I cannot leave home without my Lo & Sons O.G. 2 tote—on sale, run don’t walk! It’s amazingly high quality, thoughtfully designed with a padded laptop pocket, shoe bag, water bottle pocket, over-the-handle attachment so you can stack it on your suitcase and pull both as one, strong zippers, chic leather and metal finishes that you get to choose, and pockets in all the right places. My friend uses hers as a diaper bag. It’s also a great work or gym bag. Plus Lo & Sons is a small, family-owned business. I cannot say enough good things about them.
I also bought their Catalina Deluxe Tote in canvas, which is my gym bag and a dream for road trips. Also on sale!!
So. This is key to traveling with just a carry-on. You must be able to fit your handbag inside your tote bag for long enough to board the flight. That way, you get to carry on two fairly large pieces of luggage and your handbag doesn’t get counted as a “personal item.” After you board, you can take it out, wear it crossbody, whatever.
The organizers!
Clear zip bags (large and small) for skincare, makeup, and haircare
Cases for delicates (these are very special and support a small business; these are a lower price point and also appear to support a small business on Etsy)
What to wear on the plane
If this is not already clear, do not wear an outfit on the plane that’s only for the plane! That is a luxury reserved for those who will suffer the stresses of a checked bag.
Your bulkiest shoes, ideally with no metal so you can leave them on at TSA Precheck security (Sidebar: if you’ve gotten this far, I assume you’re interested in travel efficiency and I would strongly advocate that you get Precheck. Many credit cards will reimburse the cost but even out of pocket, it’s worth it in saved time. When you don’t check a bag, you can check in and get your boarding pass in the mobile app, skip the long line at check-in, skip the long line at security, and stroll straight from the front doors through Precheck and to your gate. Fun! Relaxing! Time to get a coffee and fill your water bottle!)
Compression socks if it’s an overseas flight
Comfortable pants you will wear on your trip
Button-down shirt you will wear on your trip
OR in place of pants and a shirt, a comfortable dress, maybe a shirtdress, that you will wear on your trip
Sweater or sweatshirt you will wear on your trip
The one coat you’re packing, if it’s winter
Warm scarf/wrap if it’s an overseas flight and/or winter
Baseball cap (optional)
Next week, in part 2, I’ll share everything else on my checklist for both your suitcase and your tote bag/backpack besides clothes. Plus, what not to pack. Stay tuned!
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This week’s updates and recs
Reading: “Urgent, tender care” by Anuradha Roy, on the Vittles Substack
I loved this essay about finding familiar food in a foreign place, and how that food led to friendship, teaching, and learning. It ends with a recipe for Kachhi Karhi, a warm, brothy Indian dish that you can now occasionally find at a small cafe in St-Nazaire, France, thanks to this writer.
Listening: A Thing or Two podcast with Claire Mazur and Erica Cerulo
I think I’ve mentioned this podcast in passing but never formally recommended it. The two hosts met at the University of Chicago and have been working together ever since! They’re the original source for great recs from the zeitgeist, their rapport is delightful, and their guests always bring “thingies” to recommend to the audience. I literally jot things down in my iPhone notes while listening because I want to follow up on all the recs.
Watching: The Ted Lasso series finale
A perfect ending to an imperfect but pretty darn wonderful show (I thought the third season was weak except for the Amsterdam episode). Did I cry all the way through the finale? Yes I did. Can’t wait to let some time pass and rewatch the whole show from the beginning. What a gift it was.
Buying: Gap barrel jeans
I wanted a really loose white jean for the spring and went back to the source at Gap after buying and loving this pair so much. They are somehow on sale for $16.99 right now (which I feel nervous about because clothes should not be that cheap) but go for it I guess? Gap jeans run one size small on me, so I ordered both one and two sizes above my true size. I ended up keeping the one two sizes up because I wanted them very oversized, not restrictive at all. I just use a belt to define my waist. The waistband puckers, but I like the interest that adds—almost like a paper bag waist.
Making: Lemony Pasta with Asparagus and White Beans by Melissa Clark, from NYT Cooking
The advantage of this newsletter coming two days late this week is that I made something really great for dinner Thursday night. I had a huge bag of English peas from our local farm store, so I threw those in at the last step of combining everything, so they only cooked for 2-3 min. I used Sfoglini, my favorite short pasta. Shelling peas takes forever, but it’s a really pleasant sensory experience, since the pods crack open satisfactorily, they smell green and sweet, and the peas inside are so lovely and cold and round. It also gave me a good 30 minutes to put on some chill music and chat with my husband after work.
Doing: Seeing dear friends at my 10-year college reunion
Ahhhh, it was a treat to go back to my college campus this past weekend and introduce my husband to such an important part of my life. He’d already met most of my friends from college, so it was also a reunion of our ever-widening circle. I was very socially tired by the end of the weekend and have been recharging my introvert batteries ever since, but oh-so-happy and fulfilled.
Leave any questions or thoughts about packing in the comments! I know many of you are packing in a carry-on already and I’d love to learn from your methods.
xx Jane
A great guide and basically what I do when traveling. The only things I'd add is to make sure to pack your essential toiletries + valuables in your tote in case you're forced to gate check your suitcase. I also make sure to pack an extra top + underwear in my tote in case my gate checked luggage gets lost (which has happened to me!)
PS: Absolutely second the Away carry-on! I received the millennial pink version about 5 years ago as a gift and it's still going strong. I also use it to store out of season clothes when not traveling.
Oh JAne - I can’t believe you have been out of College 10 years - what a fun weekend - I want to hear more about it🌞🌻💛