I’ve talked before about how motherhood kinda stole my fashion mojo, but as I planned my month long sojourn in Italy, I was determined to inject a little style into my stay. I deemed it my vacay persona. But being very intentional about what I what I wanted to wear also meant I put a ton of time and planning into packing – so much so that I was able to carry on over three week’s worth of wardrobe. Now that is a travel miracle.
But don’t you worry, I’m going to share exactly how I did it!
While I usually only wear jeans, I decided Italian summer heat required dresses. Given that they’re a complete outfit all in one, a dress is actually very practical for travel. The last thing you want to do is waste time worrying about putting an outfit together. A dress does all the work for you. This classic button down tank dress was the perfect piece to dress up with a statement earring and heels or dress down with simple sandals. It’s also crazy affordable.
One of my favorite finds for this trip was this two piece look from Apiece Apart. Made from super lightweight poplin, this outfit became my go-to look for wandering the smoldering streets of Rome. I could also swap in a simple white tank top or tee to create three looks while hardly taking up any precious cargo space.
I think I would officially live in a linen shift dress. The midi-length and sleeves were ideal for visiting churches where modesty is often required.
This sweet shirt dress I scored from my friend Em’s new enterprise Encourage Vintage reminded of what someone might have worn while shopping the Sunday market in decades past. I modernized the look with a woven belt bag – my new go-to travel accessory. I have sworn off carrying a bulky bag ever again!
This lace and cotton dress was the perfect mix of drama and complete comfort in the crazy Italian heat. Pairing it with a pair of wrapped sandals and a cute woven bag offered just the right amount of dressiness I was looking for.
But now, how did I fit all of this, and more into a carry on?? Becoming a pro packer is actually pretty simple.
Step 1, meticulously plan your outfits. Then you will be sure to not overpack. For 27 days of travel, I created the following packing plan:
- 8 dresses
- 2 jumpsuits
- 1 pair of shorts
- 1 pair of pants
- 3 tops
- 1 set of PJs
- 1 robe
- 3 pairs of sandals
- underwear
- 3 swimsuits
Combined that created 16 outfits. I simply did laundry throughout the trip or washed my underwear in the sink! I planned to shop if I got really sick of my choices, but I never had to!
Step 2, get yourself some packing cubes stat. Packing cubes are a gift from the travel gods. These little cubes allow you to compress your clothes into the smallest cubic inches possible. This is your primary goal – maximize all the space you have. Additional pro tip – roll your clothes rather than fold them. You’re able to fit a lot more in each cube that work.
Step 3, take the time to get all your favorite beauty products in travel size. It made sure I had minis of all my necessities – toothpaste, haircare, skincare, all the things. You can still have all your favorites at the ready. Pro tip: there is so much amazing skincare in Europe (and the EU bans 1,328 chemicals from beauty products while the US bans just 30) so scoop up as many goodies as you can while there.
Step 4, wear all your warmest, bulkiest clothes on the plane. You know it’s going to be freezing anyway.
Step 5, wear your sun hat on the plane. You can usually find room in the overhead bins on international flights as so many people check their bags.
A few other little tips – look for wrinkle resistant fabrics if you can. Wrinkled dresses drove me a bit crazy but luckily I could get an iron almost everywhere we stayed. Also avoid synthetic fabrics. I had one poly-blend dress and it made me sweat like crazy! I also packed my belt bags in a large but light purse that was my second carry-on.
If I, a consummate over packer, can be reformed, so can you. I’ve included some of my favorite travel essentials below. And if you have any failsafe travel or packing tips, please share them in comments. I just booked my next international adventure and I want to do even better on the next trip!
photography for apartment 34 by andrea posadas creative
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