Whenever I fly to Europe for a week with only a carry-on and a purse as my personal item, people always want a detailed breakdown of how I manage it. I’ve refined a packing approach that lets me travel light while still having plenty of outfit options I actually enjoy wearing. I even recorded a video showing how I fit a week’s worth of clothes into just two packing cubes. Here’s how I planned, packed, and pulled together outfits for a seven-day trip to Italy.
I traveled with three friends who are fellow creators, and our plan was simple: see important art in museums and galleries and enjoy the food in Florence and Venice. The travel agent who booked our trip suggested we bring “smart neutrals,” which influenced my choices and helped me build a compact, cohesive wardrobe.
Where I Started
Research and a few photos from other travelers showed that people in Italy tend to dress a bit more put together—think tailored jackets, dressier jeans, layered looks, and shoes that are comfortable but polished. I imagined a wardrobe with classic pieces in neutral tones and a few accents for personality. That approach felt right for walking around cities, visiting museums, and dining out.
Mornings can be chilly in October, so I planned outfits with layers and options that would keep me comfortable all day. I also made sure my choices felt true to my style—yes, leopard print counts as a neutral in my world—so I would enjoy everything I packed.
A few times we were mistaken for locals and spoken to in Italian, which felt like a small victory for the wardrobe strategy. Below I list what I packed and how I combined pieces into easy, interchangeable outfits.
What I Packed: An Itemized List
Note: I like pieces I wear for years, so many of my items are no longer available; I’ve listed similar styles where helpful.
- Leopard coat
- Tweed blazer
- Leopard sweater
- Red tank, black tank, tan tank
- Black sweater
- Blue sleeveless top
- Floral mesh top
- Denim wide-leg jeans
- Brown wide-leg jeans
- Wine maxi skirt
- Leopard maxi skirt
- Small gold hoop earrings
- Large gold hoop earrings
- Green sunglasses
- Black leather boots
- Brown suede zip boots
- Small sling bag
- Crescent sling bag
Having two options in each category—jackets, shoes, bottoms, and bags—gave me flexibility. I could swap a thicker blazer for a lighter jacket, choose sneakers-like zip boots for long walking days or dressier black boots for evenings, and pair jeans or a silky skirt with a variety of tops. The key was mixing a few versatile pieces to create many different looks.
How I Fit It All In My Suitcase
I filmed a short packing video that demonstrates how everything fits into two large packing cubes. In the clip I show tricks for maximizing space—like rolling skirts and nesting socks inside shoes—so soft items compress and make every inch count. The packing cubes, plus wearing one full outfit on travel days, left room in my suitcase for a toiletry bag and a few souvenirs I picked up along the way.
Because silk skirts and tank tops take up very little room when rolled, I could pack multiple bottoms and still stay compact. Ultimately, all my clothes fit into two large packing cubes, leaving space for purchases and small extras.
Putting It All Together
I traveled wearing one pair of boots, jeans, a black tank, and a jacket, which saved space. That strategy—wearing one outfit on the plane and packing versatile pieces—meant I could buy a leather purse in Florence and still close my suitcase easily. The outfits I wore each day were simple, comfortable, and interchangeable, and I often recreated combinations during the trip when I forgot to photograph them.
Packing For Weather
Mid-October in Italy delivered cool mornings and pleasantly warm afternoons, so layering was essential. Most days I wore a tank or tee with a jacket I could remove by midday. On cooler days I chose thin sweaters with rolled sleeves to stay comfortable in shifting temperatures.
Layers gave me flexibility for museum visits, long walks, and evenings out. A colorful tank or patterned blazer added personality without compromising versatility.
Packing For Style
To keep outfits interesting, I packed a few bold accents—like a red tank, a blue sleeveless top, a floral shirt, and a leopard skirt—paired with more classic bags and shoes. Choosing neutral, classic bags and footwear made almost everything interchangeable and reduced decision fatigue.
I added a pair of green sunglasses for a touch of whimsy that didn’t overpower any outfit. Small accessories like two different sets of gold hoops were stored in a jewelry pouch inside my toiletry bag so they didn’t tangle and were easy to reach.
Packing For Comfort
Comfort is the foundation of every packing decision. I took two pairs of boots that I’ve already broken in: one with a low pointy heel and a pair of suede zip boots with cushioned platform soles. Both were comfortable for long days of walking. On this trip we averaged around eight miles a day and topped ten miles one day—so supportive, familiar shoes were essential.
Silk skirts were a favorite because they’re breezy, comfortable, and compress to almost nothing when packed—so you can bring several without taking up much space. Alternating shoes each day also helped prevent soreness from long city walks.
Reusing the same shoe and jacket choices across multiple outfits creates reliable combinations that make morning decisions easy. That simplicity frees mental energy to enjoy the trip—like hunting down the perfect plate of pasta.
A Quick Thesis On The Pitfalls of “More Options”
Packing more items isn’t always better. Bringing many stand-alone, statement pieces can actually leave you with fewer practical outfit options because items may not coordinate. A variety of colors and prints sounds appealing, but without a unifying element—like a consistent shoe and bag color—you can end up with pieces you don’t wear.
To avoid this, choose a limited palette and a couple of neutral bags and shoes that pair easily with everything else. That approach keeps your suitcase compact and your outfits versatile.
On this trip I chose both brown and black boots plus two small black purses because most of my clothing had tones that worked with either. That small bit of intentionality made every outfit come together effortlessly.
Why I Aim For “Harmonic Packing” Instead
Harmonic packing means choosing pieces that mix and match freely. With four tops and four bottoms you get many outfit combinations; layer jackets and swap accessories and the number of looks multiplies. Instead of packing seven unique, single-use outfits, aim for items that play well together. That strategy yields far more real options in a compact, stress-free way.
This method isn’t the only way to travel stylishly—some people can curate a suitcase full of bold, unmatched pieces and make it work—but it suits my preferences for ease and reliability. When outfits are simple to assemble, I can focus on exploring and enjoying the trip.
Packing & Travel Must Haves
Beyond clothing, a few travel essentials make a big difference for comfort and convenience:
- Hard-shell carry-on suitcase
- Weekender bag used as a personal item
- European outlet adapters
- Portable charger
- Compact umbrella
- Plane snacks (nuts and protein bars)
- Noise-cancelling headphones
- Toiletry bag
- Packing cubes
- Jewelry pouches
- Sleep mask
- Location tracker (for luggage or valuables)
- Pashmina that doubles as a plane blanket
Small comforts like a sleep mask, a soft pashmina, snacks, and reliable headphones make long flights much more tolerable. Packing cubes and a well-organized toiletry bag keep everything tidy and maximize space, and a portable charger keeps your phone ready for photos and navigation while you’re out exploring.
I left room for a few souvenirs—most notably a leather purse I bought in Florence after a friendly local recommended a small shop. It fit perfectly into my harmonic suitcase and worked with everything I’d packed, which felt like the final confirmation that the approach was right for this trip.
Other Trips & Travel Tips
If you enjoy travel posts and packing guides, I have other trip write-ups and practical tips that cover travel with kids, road trips, and weekend getaways. These posts dive into what worked on different itineraries and offer more packing ideas for a range of climates and activities.
Note: Some items mentioned here are similar to what I own. I find that packing with intention—focusing on versatile pieces and comfort—lets me travel lighter without sacrificing style or practicality.