Packing for a Week in a Carryon

Packing for a week in a carryon has become one of my favorite hobbies. In doing this for both Guatemala and Paris, I never ran out of clothes and even had a few garments to spare. I've found that it's easiest if I break down what I need for any outfit and pack a small variety of versatile basics in each category. 

Shoes: one sandal and one sneaker. I took white sneakers to both Guatemala and Paris, along with tan "chacos" from Target to Guate and black Tevas to Paris. Neither option is fancy, though in Paris I would do the white sneaker with a dress if I wanted it to be a little more elevated. I also realized quickly, in both Guatemala and France, that sandals were not frequently worn by non-tourists. Still - and especially in Paris - I was glad to have an open air option.

Jackets: one structured and one soft. I took a denim jacket as my structured jacket both times, but this could have been a blazer or leather jacket if I had been packing more formal outfits. For the soft jacket, I took a hoodie to Guatemala and a duster to Paris. Other soft options would be a cardigan or sweater, again, if I had not packed such casual outfits. 

Outfits: in Guatemala I packed mostly neutral shirts and pants, while in Paris I wore dresses every day, except for maternity jeans on both travel days. To go with the dresses I packed a variety of biking shorts for walking comfort, and various styles of bras.

Pajamas: this is where the rubber hits the road for me, and I tend to prioritize suitcase space for an extra outfit or two. In Paris, I packed one nightgown and showered before putting it on every night, so it stayed fresh longer. When it was due to retire, I used a shorter, casual dress that I had packed but didn't wear. These type of versatile pieces are the bread and butter of light packing, and I have to remind myself of that when I wish I was bringing more impactful outfits along. 

Sticking with more neutral outfits is the key to light packing, and after these last few trips I've come to prefer it as my travel aesthetic. One reason for this is that what feels very cool and relevant at home may feel loud or immodest in another setting. I also like to absorb as much as I can from the culture around me, and something about dressing as sort of an impressionable canvas leaves me open to better observing what I'm surrounded by. I can think more clearly about translating what these styles may mean for my own style if I'm not coming in so determinedly dressed. 

photo was taken by my friend Emily when we were waiting in Antigua for our ride to the airport