3 Weeks in a Carry-On (with International Travel)

Exactly what I packed for August in New England, Paris and the French Riviera

I just got back from a 3-week trip and am happy to report that the whole family successfully traveled with only carry-on luggage (even with an international leg of the journey!). It made for much easier and less stressful travel, and I enjoyed mixing and matching everything to suit the occasion. In this post I’ll share everything in my packing list, but first I want to start with some quick tips for packing light for those of you looking to travel with less but are unsure how to start…

Start with the Essentials

The first step to packing light is to identify the essentials. What are the clothes, toiletries, and other items that you absolutely cannot live without? Once you have a list of essentials, you can start to whittle down your packing list. Remember: outfit repeating is normal and encouraged!

Choose Versatile Pieces

When packing for a long trip with very limited packing space, it’s important to choose versatile pieces that can be worn a variety of ways, as well as dressed up or down. This will help you get the most out of your clothes and avoid overpacking. For example, a dress can be worn with sandals or heels to a nice dinner, or during the day with sneakers for walking around.

Invest in Packing Cubes

Packing cubes are a great way to keep your clothes organized and save space. I hadn’t used them until this year and they have made it SO EASY to stick to my carry on. They also help to prevent your clothes from getting wrinkled. When packing, try to group your clothes by type — this makes it easier to find what you’re looking for and avoid overpacking.

Pack for the Weather

No matter where you’re headed, it’s always important to pack for the weather. If you’re traveling to New England in the fall, for example, you’ll want layers to stay warm. And if you’re visiting the French Riviera in the summer, you’ll need to pack light, airy fabrics to stay cool. And always remember to wear your biggest layers or chunkiest items (i.e. a coat and/or sneakers) on the flight to save room in your suitcase!

Don’t Forget the Accessories

Accessories go a long way and take up very little space. When packing, be sure to include pieces that can change up a simple look, such as bags, jewelry hats or sunglasses. This is also an easy way to add pattern and color to more neutral, mix-and-match base pieces in your suitcase.

Now, let’s get into the specifics — here’s what I packed in my carry-on and tote bag for 3 weeks away. We visited New England, Paris and the French Riviera, and I needed attire for the beach, boating, casually hanging around the house, walking around a city, and fine dining. I’m really happy with what I brought and felt prepared for all of those situations with the exception of sneakers — I failed to pack mine and ended up purchasing a pair on my trip. I’ve added them to the list here because I definitely wore them a lot once I bought them.

• 2 tank tops (Natalie15 for 15% off my favorite brand)

• Tube top

• White button down shirt

• White one-shoulder tank (old)

• Black one-shoulder tank (old)

• Camel stripe top

• 2 pairs of pull-on trousers

• Straight leg jeans

• Denim shorts

• Black slip dress

• White knit dress

• Open knit crochet dress

• Patterned maxi skirt (old)

• Oversized denim jacket

• Black blazer

• Black sandals

• Tan sandals

• Black heels (15BORTON for 15% off first order)

• White sneakers

• Pajamas

• Lounge shorts

• Swimsuit(s)

• Jewelry & bags

• Toiletries, underwear, etc

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