Bite-Sized: The Carry-On Formula
how to travel for ten plus days and never tire of your wardrobe
With many carry-on adventures overseas for ten days or more, I finally have a formula for packing that I live by—albeit it’s much easier to achieve in a carry-on when it’s summer but the formula works regardless. I have found there’s a certain vibe and personal styling that comes naturally from a place and my suitcase. Oddly enough, the bigger my bag, the less resourceful and effortless I am. The key? I aim for the half the number of outfits as days on the trip. Moving around between different towns and cities with this amount of pieces to play with and re-style I never feel out of options.
So if my trip is ten days, I pack for five dinner looks, plus one or two daytime specific pieces, and the odds and ends like swimwear, or workout gear. When I’m deciding on what to pack, my goal to have it all work with an essential set of accessories—one everyday bag, one evening bag, and an oversized travel tote that doubled as a day-trip bag. Usually I try and keep it under four or five pairs of shoes—this most trip it was two daytime sandals, one evening sandal, sneakers and a pair of closed toed shoes.
Shockingly, I felt overpacked on this trip, and didn’t even wear every piece ( a carry-on challenge I’ve adopted from my stylish friend Marlien who writes Le Catch) I found myself marveling and people’s massive trunks on holiday, wondering what they had in there!
Here’s everything I packed for my recent holiday traveling in Greece and Austria, two unrelated destinations that posed packing challenge going from the beach to the chillier mountains but accomplished. My itinerary was 1 night in Athens, 4 nights in Paros, 2 nights in Mykonos and 4 nights in Lech, Austria.
I missed a few pictures of my favorite looks especially what I wore my first night in Athens, jet lag got the best of me. Here’s a picture of it when I wore it in the Hamptons. This rope belt has become a wardrobe hero—instantly making a simple look elegant.
Finding an overnight travel look has been a lifelong quest for me, this fits the bill. Comfortable to actually fall asleep in, and I still feel pulled together at the hotel check-in. This tote I have in two sizes, and I love it for big trips because the canvas is lightweight, and it has long and short straps. I also swear by this Rimowa Essential Cabin Plus Sleeve for carry-on adventures (the sleeve is key to house my laptop and iPad so I don’t have to carry it in my tote).
I packed three bikinis, and a one-piece which I change into for lunch. Although they are a steep investment, Eres swimwear lasts forever, most of my suits I’ve had 5+ years. This orange top and bottom I bought in Greece in May, and got the most miles. Plus two coverups, this linen dress, and Hermes sarong. I found some breezy cover-ups in town, more details here. This hat was the easiest I’ve found to travel with, rolls up in my suitcase and you can actually lay down and read in it.
I discovered Renata Quaglia earlier this year and have been wearing her hand crochet shell necklaces whenever I feel like my outfit needs an unexpected accessory. This Row skirt which I found on sale years ago, has become a staple. Similar versions here and here. I scored this Prada top on Vestaire Collective, new here, and similar here. I bought this Gucci matching set in 2021 and the cost per wear equation has made it one of the best purchases, perfect for a night out in Mykonos. Here is set (top/bottom) that serves the same vibe.
A few more recent purchases this sarong skirt (which will get a lot of use in September in LA) paired with this bodysuit that is so chic under jackets. Then this Bode dress was perfect for European summer nights, with its bare back and fringed hem. I wore it both looks twice in Paros and Mykonos. These Emme Parsons sandals are the best thin and strappy style I’ve found, you can actually walk in them.
Nights in Austria were a bit chilly, this black silk slip dress is super old, similar here. Threw my partners black sweater over my should, and my go-to evening sandals. I had also packed my favorite Suzie Kondi sweater incase it was really cold in Austria—not necessarily worth the space it took up for the two wears I got out of it. But I love it paired with my Row silk slip skirt, and Renata Q shell, and this Buck Mason knit tee.
And yes, packing cubes make this all possible.
Easy travels
x OM
I think a set of similar but more affordable pieces would be useful for most of us. A row skirt is about $1150 unless you buy from Poshmark or the Real Real. The high end, low end articles on capsule wardrobles that have that feature are awesome. Personally, I invest in upscale clothes and accessories but very mindfully.