You can easily take a vacation for up to two weeks and barely wear the same thing twice. Best of all, you only need a carry on! I used a standard carry-on sized suitcase, which is 9 x 14 x 22 inches.
What I fit in:
-2 T-Shirts and 1 pair Soffes for sleeping
-2 pairs Denim Shorts
-1 pair Denim Jeans
-3 Tank Tops
-2 short sleeved Shirts
-1 off-the-shoulder cropped top
-1 Sweater
-1 Chambray
-2 Skirts
-3 Dresses
-1 pair Wedges
-2 pair Sandals
-Large Makeup Bag
Not pictured: Your curler and Dry Shampoo will fit on top of your suitcase. Pack your extra socks and underwear in your makeup bag if you have room, or roll them and use them to stuff the bottom and corners of your suitcase to save room. If you're going to carry-on your bag, you won't be able to take aerosol cans on. Items like this are things I've bought at my destination before!
I can’t even fit all of this on my bed, but I’m going to show you how I packed it into one carry-on suitcase with room to spare. The key is choosing a color pallet, and picking pieces that can mixed and matched with everything.
I brought 2 bikini tops and only 1 bikini bottom. As you can see you could switch out either top as they both match the bottoms. I also packed a cute palm tree one-piece swimsuit with a lace up back. Terrible tan lines, but it’s just so cute!
I only packed one pair of jeans. I would usually opt for shorts on summer vacations, but they’ll work nice for dinners when you don’t feel like wearing a skirt or dress. They go with each top and shoe that I brought, and can be dressed up or down.
For the tops, as you can see, I have 2 black shirts, 2 white shirts, and 1 navy, 1 olive. They each will go with either the Chambray, or the Sweater, or both, and will go with at least 3 options for shorts or a skirt.
Pick dresses that can easily be dressed up or down, and make sure either the Sweater or Chambray will match so you’re not stuck in an off-the-shoulder mismatched look on cool summer nights. All three of these dresses will go with each shoe that I packed.
The skirts that I chose are more dressed-down looks, but each one goes with at least 3 tops that I brought, making them versatile.
If you plan on doing more activities during your vacation you might consider some pieces that you don’t mind getting dirty, and shoes that you can walk a long time, or even doing some climbing in. It all depends on what you have planned!
Let’s get down to how I fit all of this into one carry-on suitcase!
I lined the bottom of the suitcase with pieces that would either clean easily, or I didn’t mind if they were a little dirty. I folded the skirts, bikini separates, and what I packed for pajamas and used them to line the suitcase.
For structured-cup bikini tops, use soft pieces like bikini bottoms or socks to stuff the cup so it won't lose shape during your flight.
Roll pieces that don’t fold very well - that will save you space! I rolled the denim skirt and used it to stuff the front of my suitcase.
A common mistake in packing is to put your shoes on the bottom of your suitcase. The reason why I used clothes on the bottom is the suitcase is not flat on the bottom. If you put your shoes on the bottom you're missing out on some valuable space.
For the next layer, I put my bulkier shoes in the corner so they would stay in place, and used my jeans and shorts to frame them. Once again, I rolled the denim as it saves space versus folding it.
On the other side I put my makeup bag. If you're not planning on checking your bag, remember all of your liquids need to be 3oz or under, and need to fit in a quart sized ziplock.
I was able to fold all of my dresses and fit them comfortably on top. I had a lot of extra room, so I tossed in a curler and my dry shampoo. I usually opt for curlier hair over straight, especially in hot and humid weather. I find my frizz looks better if it's curly.
Bonus travel tips: hang your dresses up as soon as you get to your hotel room. The dresses I packed don’t wrinkle, but I wanted to keep them clean and looking nice.
Several of the shirts that I packed wrinkle easily. Rather than spending that extra money getting travel size wrinkle release I always just hang my shirts in the bathroom when I shower. The steam will quickly release the wrinkles, and it's chemical-free!
If you’re worried about shoes getting your clothes dirty use a shower cap to cover the bottoms, or throw them in a plastic bag.
For your hot tools you can buy a sleeve to keep them in, which I highly suggest. Try this Vera Bradley one!
Okay! Back to packing. I used the top half of my suitcase for my shirts and sweaters. I simply folded the sides in, and brought the hem of the shirt up to meet the collar. They lay flat the best this way, and fit perfectly in the top of my suitcase.
You can easily survive two weeks living off just these clothes. I still had extra space in my suitcase, so I could fit more for longer trips.
I used to be a chronic over-packer, and I still would forget something every time. I find that if I cut down on what I pack I think more about what I will really need, and I'm less likely to forget to pack anything. You can always get toiletries from your hotel, or buy a sweater if you forget one.
I know that packing for winter is COMPLETELY different from summer, so, stay tuned for How to Pack Like a Boss For Your Winter Vacation. I know just how tricky it can be to fit your bulky clothes into a carry on, and I’ll have more tips and tricks on how to make the most out of your luggage! Don't even try to waste that space on your Parka 😉
XO,
Reece
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