How to Pack a Carry-On Bag For 1-2 Weeks

I am constantly being asked by friends and customers how to pack a carry-on for a one or two-week trip. Ideally, everything should fit into one small bag. In this article, I am going to focus only on women’s wardrobes. If you follow the ideas and guidelines suggested, you’ll look great and wear everything you take with you. 

Trust me. I’ve been doing this for years.

Why Pack a Carry-On 

Most people pack a carry-on to save money, especially nowadays, all the airlines charge for checked bags unless you’ve achieved a level of status. 

Who wants to start their vacation with lost luggage? That’s another reason to pack a carry-on. 

Finally, isn’t it a PITA to carry a heavy bag around? I find it exhausting. This is especially important for travel to Europe if you plan to use the trains or buses to move around. I always do and believe me, schlepping a heavy bag on and off trains, especially in Italy, is not fun.  

With the help of my friend Rhonda Sargaent Chambers, a professional model and spokesperson, I created this photo shoot to illustrate how to pack a carry-on bag by mixing, matching, and layering your clothes so you always look great and travel light. I asked Rhonda to keep the wardrobe choices classic with a nod to Italy (stylish but a bit conservative) since I wanted to show pieces that could travel anywhere.

I arrived at Rhonda’s with my makeup kit, a bottle of prosecco, and my camera. Rhonda supplied the wardrobe. I loved her choices and the color palette.

How To Pack a Carry-On For a 1 or 2 Week Trip

Choose a core neutral color

For summer travel I like white, navy, beige, or brown, but if you prefer black, go for it. You can add one accent color but it must coordinate with everything else. Scarves are a great way to add color and pattern. Pack one summer dress, and one top that can dress up a pair of pants for an evening out.

Pack a hat

Hats are a must for summer travel. There are a lot of great hats in modern fabrics that you can fold up, or stuff into a handbag.

Wear comfortable shoes

Practical shoes are a given. Only pack shoes that you know you can walk a minimum of five hours in. By knowing I mean you’ve tested them before you leave for your trip.

When packing shoes I never pack more than two pairs. Update: I’m a little older now and I like more shoe options. For summer I add an extra pair of sandals.

Pack a comfortable and supportive pair for heavy walking and travel days, and one pair of sandals that can dress up an outfit for dinner, or a day at the museum. Resist the urge to pack your favorite high heels if you’re traveling in Europe where there can be a lot of cobblestones.  If you’re traveling in the summer, think casual, comfortable, fresh.

 

The ultimate layered look!

This layered look is perfect for travel days. Rhonda’s wearing a tank, white button-down sweater under a jacket, and pants. You can get at least three more outfits out of just these pieces. Layering is perfect for days spent in transit. You can remove pieces as needed and they are lightweight enough to simply go into your hand bag.

What you don’t see in this photograph is the cute ivory sweater under the jacket. I always carry a similar sweater with me no matter where I go. It’s perfect over a tank top or strapless dress when you need a little more coverage, and practical when you go from a warm outdoor location to indoor air-conditioning. Even if you are going to the beach, take it with you; I frequently travel to California where the evenings can be chilly. If you’re on the coast or in the mountains the temperature can drop 10 degrees or more in the evening. Honestly, I wear this sweater more than anything else in my wardrobe.

Be creative!

Remember, you can change up the scarf and the shoes and suddenly it looks as if you’re wearing a completely new outfit. Pair the tank under the jacket, add pants and a hat and you’ve got a great walking outfit.

 

Take  a summer dress

What’s summer without a great dress to wear out to dinner? If you like visiting churches, you will probably need to cover your shoulders.  In Italy, for example, this is a must…Most of the important churches you’ll want to visit won’t let you in with bare arms. It’s also a good idea to be respectful of the customs of other cultures.

 

 

You’ll probably want to swap your trainers or walking shoes for sandals, though nowadays trainers and dresses are everywhere. Again, try to pack only two pairs of shoes for two weeks. This has been (was) my practice for six years.

No more clothes are required, just a little rearranging! This is how you can look stylish with only one carry-on bag. For more info, you may want to watch “What Goes in My Carry-on,” a segment I did with CW33. 

For ideas on what to wear for a fall photo shoot, check out this article.

All images and material copyright Penny Sadler. All rights reserved.