I rarely take trips that are longer than 10 days to 2 weeks, but I also like to have options when I travel. That can be difficult when you also want to travel light. As you know, if I go solo, I pretty much always pack in a backpack, because I don't like to hold people up trying to wrestle a bag into the overhead. It's entirely doable though, especially when traveling in the summer, spring, or early fall.
Now, the way to really get a lot out of your travel wardrobe is to not pack by day and instead pack a small mix-and-match capsule wardrobe. I did bring along one thing that didn't go with everything, and that was this red Trailblazers shirt I would wear on the plane, but it goes with almost everything else and it's made of a moisture-wicking athletic fabric, so it's perfect for hot weather and repping my city. I always bring along an outer layer and wear it on the plane (you can always take it off if it's too warm, but the plane is often cold), and this athletic jacket is perfect. Let's see how all the tops match (almost) all the bottoms I brought along with:
You can definitely swap out any of thes bottom pieces with something you like more. I enjoy a good pair of jeans with stretch and sneakers for walking all day, but if you prefer a pair of leggings, a longer skirt, or a comfortable pair of sandals, go for it. I almost always choose neutral bottoms and one fun piece that still goes with everything.
So, I brought a total of 3 bottoms, plus the pair of jeans I was wearing. You don't have to bring that many, but if you're a chronic overpacker, this is definitely not going to feel like enough. In all honesty, it gives you so many options, without being overwhelming. Here we have jeans, my favorite pair of shorts (Columbia), my favorite black joggers (PrAna), and a snap skort (PrAna). I chose this color skort, because I also have a favorite pair of green joggers that I often take on trips and I don't need everything to be black. They also have 2 regular pockets, a zip pocket, and a slip pocket on the undershorts. One of my packed tops is this fun shadow puppet bunny that I bought at a market in London that has a longer back than the front. My other packed things here is this pair of scalloped ballet flats (Skechers). They don't take up much room, they go with most things, and they're super comfy to walk in all day.
My next top in my bag is a white linen tank, because it breathes well and can be dressed up or down. I also packed a longer cardigan that can keep me warm, but looks great with dressier items. It's a perfect item to wear to a nice restaurant that might be a little enthusiastic with their air conditioning, as a lot of places in the summer tend to be.
Next up is a basic cropped black tee. It is roomy, without being too long. You can get them in a bunch of colors, and I do have it in others, but black tends to hide dirt, if you happen to spill food or whatever on yourself.
Last, is this high-low split tail tank top. I've had this for forever and I love it. It can be sporty or casual or even dressy, depending on what you pair it with and accessories to add.
Okay, last last is this travel dress I love from PrAna. I have it in both rust and black and wish I had purchased it in a third color before they discontinued it. It has big pockets, it's the perfect length and it's amazingly comfortable. It looks layered, has a split hem on the back of the tank, and gives your body extra air flow when it's really hot out. You can add another layer, like I have, by throwing on a tee over it, making it look like two separate pieces, add the athletic jacket for a sporty look, or the cardigan for date night.
While we're at it, that cardigan is a great cozy loung piece when you're just hanging around your hotel room. Throw it on over your pjs (these are from H&M and purchased from Poshmark) instead of a robe.
If you've been following me on Instagram, you probably know that I bought this new backpack from a local company, Portland Gear, because it is waterproof (benefit if you live in Portland or another rainy place), it has a wide opening, so you can see everything inside and make it easier to pack, and because it came in this new pink color. Love!
All of my clothing fits in a medium packing cube and my underwear, socks, and extra bra will fit in a small one that I also put my travel lighted makeup mirror in for some cushioning. This bag fits everything else I need, too: my toiletry bag, my second pair of shoes, travel hair straightener, backup battery + cord, snacks, laptop, charging cords, a reusable grocery bag, a rain jacket, my reusable water bottle, and my tiny purse with all my everyday essentials in it. You can carry it if you want, but if you're traveling on a very budget airline and are limited to one personal item, then you can consolidate and this full bag still fits under the seat in front of you.
This backpack looks bigger than it actually is, mostly because it's wider than other backpacks I take, but it's easy to carry, has just enough pockets for everything and also has top handles and one of the front to help you pull it out of a car trunk, the overhead, and from under the seat. It also has little feet, so it sets upright when you're trying to pack and unpack it. When I posted about it on IG during my last trip, a friend said he and his wife saw it and purchased one for each of them for their next big trip.
This is the standard size, but it also comes in a compact size for those who don't need to bring as much, use it as a commuter bag, or don't travel with a giant laptop like I do. This is the only bag I'll be taking on my next trip, which will be short, but it'll have enough room to bring back things that I may buy, too.
Anyway, I wanted to show you this great bag, but also how you can create 21 different outfits with not that many pieces, so you can wear an entirely unique outfit every day of your trip for 3 weeks or less, in case you care about looking different every day in pictures. I have traveled with much less and haven't felt limited by what I've brought. In fact, I'll have a much smaller selection on this next trip, which I'll document as I go.
What's your biggest packing struggle?
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