Would you believe me if I told you that you could pack for weeks of travel in just a carry on suitcase? Well I didn’t believe that I could either, until the fear of lugging around a huge suitcase through Europe caused me to get very creative, and it’s the BEST move I ever made!
Below, I’ll tell you what I packed for 3 weeks touring France and Italy in just a carry on suitcase. I’ll attach links so you can find items like the ones I brought, for easy shopping. There is definitely room to make this list more personalized to your style so use this as a guide and get creative!
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Now, onto my list.....let’s start from the top, (or tops as you would have it).
Tank Tops
These are workhorses, and a great base layer for nearly every outfit. I prefer ribbed tank tops over jersey because they have better stretch and recovery and mold to my curves. I also do not choose racerback styles because I don’t like when my bra straps show. I brought black, white, bright yellow and blush.
I bought these tanks because I love the fit. I’m a size 16 and the XLarge was a great size for me. If you prefer a less fitted, smoother tank, you can find those here.
Tee Shirts
The secondary layering items I brought were v-neck tees. Personally, I prefer a v-neck because it opens up the neckline and lends an opportunity for different looks with great accessories. I packed black, white, dark green and blush.
I opted for these v-neck tees because they had a micro rib that allows for great stretch. I opted for the X-Large in these and they fit my size 16 body great. You can find other options here.
Button Up Blouses
Dual duty is the name of the game and button up blouses have multiple uses. Throw them over a tank or tee like a lightweight jacket, tie them over a dress or tee for an upscale layered look, wear them as a cover up to the pool, or just as they are with a scarf for Parisian flare. I opted for, you guessed it white, black stripe, and royal blue for my accent color.
I brought the gray and white striped blouse in the photo above, and have linked some oversized, flowy options to the white and blue blouses.
Dresses
Think simple. There are so many options here, just remember you are going to layer this for different looks, so avoid dresses that can only be worn one way. I brought two dresses on my trip, both were sleeveless because I knew it would be hot. If sleeveless isn’t your thing, you can always layer a tee underneath or throw a button up over the top and tie it. One of my dresses was a printed maxi dress, and the other was a little black dress. I was able to really change up the look of both dresses with the help of scarves, belts, kimonos, blouses, etc. It was a great way to stay cool and comfortable on my trip. You can find a great solid maxi option with pockets here.
Lightweight Jacket
is is the final topper layer. I brought a short black lightweight trench coat in a 1X so that it could look dressy like a blazer or a casual throw over my shoulders. While you don’t have to go black, I would stay neutral here and let your other pops of color in your tees, tanks, shirts and dresses, change the look. Also adding a belt or scarf can change it up dramatically. I also brought a lightweight kimono jacket that doubled as a coverup as well as a scarf.
I’ve linked some other kimono options here.
Bottoms
The rule of thumb for packing bottoms is to have half to one-third as many bottoms as you have tops. So for example, if you’re bringing three bottoms, you should have six to nine tops to use with them. For this three week vacation, I brought four bottoms.
I brought a blue maxi skirt, a white pair of jeans,
a pair of black linen pants and black bermuda shorts.
These gave me great options for mixing and matching the twelve tops and two jackets I brought.
Accessories and Shoes
You don’t need to go crazy here, especially with the shoe situation. They are one of the hardest, bulkiest things to pack. I bring three pairs. A sneaker, a sandal and a low comfortable heel.
All of them need to be pretested and easy to walk in, that way they will literally go with every outfit. A tennis shoe with a maxi dress is playful and casual, while shorts with a low heel, dresses them up for a warm evening out. I linked some great options in the links above.
In addition to the three pairs of shoes, I brought two belts, and two silk scarves in differing colorways to give life to my more plain pieces.
During my 3-week tour of France and Italy, packing light was a game-changer. Navigating cobblestone streets and public transportation with just a carry-on was liberating. I managed to create over 50 outfits from the items listed above, making my travel experience comfortable and stylish without the burden of heavy luggage.
By following these tips, you can pack light and travel right, ensuring you're stylishly prepared for any occasion with minimal luggage. Safe travels!
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