One carry on suitcase, two weeks of clothes.
Recently, our little crew took a road trip to Florida for spring break. Of course, traveling with three young kids means lots of stuff. As a habitual over-packer, I wanted to challenge myself to streamline things this time around, especially knowing how much we’d have to bring with our littles in tow. Much to my surprise, I was able to fit all the clothes I packed for our 2 week trip into – get this – a carry on suitcase. WHAAAAT?!
That right, friends, I did the impossible. (And was very proud after, ha!) How’d I do it? Well. I planned ahead and essentially created a well-curated vacation capsule wardrobe. Even better, after 2 weeks of travel and creating outfits from my selections, I felt like I could have made a lot more adorable outfit combinations! It was a perfect mix of dressy and cozy, beach and adventure, staples to mix and match and statements.
Below, I’m sharing everything I packed in my vacation capsule wardrobe. (One important note: We did have access to a washer and dryer where we stayed, which is something I used a few times and definitely helped to keep things fresh especially amongst the hot Florida sunshine!)
Everything I Packed In My Vacation Capsule Wardrobe
Tops
3 – 5 T-Shirts + Tanks –
- T-shirts and tanks are the best for mixing and matching, because you can wear them so many ways. Pair them with jean shorts, biker shorts, midi skirts, layered, or on their own. When it comes to tops, they’re truly the best staple to bring on a trip because of their versatility!
- T-shirts + tanks I brought:
- Loose grey tee – Such as the Pact Organic Cotton Softspun V-Neck Tee
- Classic white tee – The exact shirt I have (and highly recommend!) is The Supercool from AYR. I love the oversized, flattering fit.
- Yellow tee – A little color is always a nice suitcase addition! The exact shirt I brought is the Everyday Shortsleeve in Creamsicle by Outdoor Voices.
- White Tank – I love the Agolde Poppy Tank — it’s thick enough so the fabric isn’t see-through, yet it’s lightweight and breathable. I also love the style of the AYR “Flex” tank!
- Dressy Tank – It’s always nice to have a dressier option, so that you’re prepared for anything! I brought my favorite silk tank, the Sezane Palma top, such I also love something like the Sezane Lucie Top.
Long Sleeve Shirt –
- For cool nights, windy days, or just when you’d love a little more coverage! A long sleeve top is essential in a vacation wardrobe.
- I have honestly found one of my favorite tops of all time with the AYR French Fry top. I have it in the “Bauhaus” blue and white stripe pattern, and I’ve found myself reaching for it every single week. (Can you tell I’m into this brand right now?!)
Sweatshirt –
- Again, just so you’re prepared! Even though beach days are warm, when the sun goes down, it’s always nice to cozy up with a sweatshirt. I brought my Mate The Label Sweatshirt in “Bone” – it’s one of my favorites – and it looks adorable paired with the matching joggers.
Jean Jacket –
- Another great option for layering, and of course, jean jackets go with pretty much everything. I’ve had my J.Crew Classic Denim Jacket in Brilliant Blue for about 5 years now; it’s an item that’ll never go out of style.
Bottoms
1 – 2 Pairs of Athletic Shorts –
- From morning beach walks to working out, athletic shorts are great options for when you want to be active. I also love to wear them while chasing after my three kids! On our trip, I packed two athletic short options from Outdoor Voices: my white “Move Free” shorts, and my black biker shorts.
Jean Shorts
- If there’s a must-have summer or warm-weather staple, a great pair of jean shorts are it! Of all the items I brought on our trip, these were the ones I wore the most. I brought my Agolde Parker Loose Vintage Cut-Offs.
Long Pants
- Because rainy days or cooler nights do happen! Jean pants work perfectly, but I opted for my white Everlane Straight-Leg Crop pants.
1 – 2 Pairs of Comfortable Pants
For travel days and cozy nights, there’s nothing like a great pair of comfortable pants to complete a beach day. I brought my Everlane Perform 24/7 Leggings and Mate The Label Organic Terry Classic Joggers.
Dresses + Skirts
1 – 2 Dresses
- I love a fabulous dress to pair with a glass of wine while watching the sunset, or fun side adventure. Plus, dresses are just so easy while traveling; you throw one on and – bam – a pulled-together look with hardly any effort. The dresses I brought on our trip include a past season Anthropologie Yellow Polka Dot Dress + Hill House Home Nap Dress (I have the Ellie Nap Dress and adore it!)
1 – 2 Skirts
- I always love a pull-on midi skirt for a beach trip, which is the type I chose to bring! My exact skirt is the Side-Slit Midi Skirt from J.Crew, however it’s running out fast, so if you missed the boat on it definitely browse more similar options here!
Beach Gear
3 – 4 Bathing Suits
- Of course, you can’t forget bathing suit options for a beach trip! For our two weeks in the sun, I brought 4 suits, which were a mix of two-and-one piece options. Two of my favorite, sustainable options include Summersalt + Vitamin A.
1 – 2 Beach Cover Ups
- Every beach day needs a fabulous cover up! I love finding options that can double as a shirt for layering while off the beach as well. On our trip, I brought two options: Vitamin A Playa Shirt Dress and a colorful kimono.
Beach Shorts
- Make no mistake: These are different than athletic or jean shorts! Beach shorts are easy-on/easy-off, and lightweight. The shorts I brought are past season Anthropologie; you can browse similar options here!
Shoes
1 – 2 pairs of Sandals
- From sandy shores to quaint town shopping, sandals are a must on any warm-weather vacation. I chose to pack my trusted Birkenstocks – they’re great for pretty much every situation and are comfortable, too!
1 – 2 pairs of Comfortable Walking Shoes
- We did lots of fun side adventures on our trip, like hiking and tackling Disneyworld with our family (A post for another day!) I brought my Rothy’s “The Sneaker”, which are the perfect combination of the comfort of sneakers and the ease of slip-on shoes.
1 – 2 pairs of Dressy Shoes
- I brought two of my all-time favorite shoes: My Loeffler Randall Starla Ankle Wrap Sandals and my Dolce Vita woven mules (Mine are past season but you can shop similar finds here!) Both of these options are great because they’re more elevated than what you’d wear to the beach, but they’re still approachable.
Before I end this post, I want to give two quick tips for packing! The above may seem like a lot to fit into a carry on suitcase, but the truth is that if you are smart with how you pack, you can easily do it. For most items, I roll them neatly instead of folding, which I’ve found helps to keep wrinkles at bay and also helps to fit more within a suitcase. The other pro tip I have is to leverage packing cubes! Mine are BAGGU and work great. (Plus I love their fun designs.)
