Travel Capsule Wardrobe: A Carry On Packing List for 10 Days in One Bag
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This travel capsule wardrobe fits 10 days of outfits into one carry on bag, with nothing checked at the counter. Every piece works with at least three others, so a short run of tops, bottoms and shoes gives you a new look each day. We matched each line with one real product from a brand you know, from the joggers you fly in to the case that holds your earrings.
Start by ticking off what you already own, because most of this list is probably in your closet in some form. Keep to one color story, here black, navy, camel and soft neutrals, and everything will mix without much thought. Wear your bulkiest pieces on the plane and the bag will zip shut with room to spare.
Tap the box next to any line you already own and it gets a check mark. The page saves your ticks in this browser on your device, so you can come back to it the night before you fly. Anything left unticked is your shopping list or your packing gap.
Wear on the plane
Four comfortable pieces go on your body, not in the bag, which frees up space for everything below.
Joggers are the easiest thing to sit in for a long flight, and black ones still look neat when you land. Vuori's Performance Jogger is soft, stretchy DreamKnit with a slim but relaxed fit, a slightly cropped leg, side pockets and a drawstring waist. Our pick: Vuori Performance Jogger
Pick a plane top that will not crumple after hours in a seat. Quince's Cotton Modal Relaxed Long Sleeve Tee is soft, stretchy and wrinkle resistant, in a boxy shape that is just slightly cropped. Our pick: Quince Cotton Modal Relaxed Long Sleeve Tee
Cabins run cold, so wear your coziest layer on board instead of packing it. Vuori's Restore Full Zip Hoodie is brushed French terry with 66% organic cotton, a double layered hood, drop shoulders and a roomy fit. Our pick: Vuori Restore Full Zip Hoodie
Comfortable sneakers handle the walk to the gate and every long day of sightseeing after it. Allbirds' Tree Runner is a light, breathable sneaker made with eucalyptus tree fiber that feels smooth and cool on your feet. Our pick: Allbirds Women's Tree Runner
Tops
Five tops cover sightseeing, a nice dinner and a cool evening, and each one works with every bottom on the list.
Every packing list needs a white tee, since it goes under the trench, the cardigan and the open shirt. Everlane's Slim V-Neck Tee is mid weight organic cotton with a slim fit that tucks neatly into jeans or the knit skirt. Our pick: Everlane The Slim V-Neck Tee in Essential Cotton
Stripes make simple travel outfits look planned, and navy and ivory match nearly everything in this bag. Boden's Cotton Crew Long Sleeve Top is 100% cotton with gentle puff sleeves, and it can go in the washing machine. Our pick: Boden Cotton Crew Long Sleeve Top
Button downs work open as a light layer, tucked in for dinner or knotted over the skirt. Everlane's Everyday Shirt is silky Supima cotton in a soft light blue, with an oversized fit, a gentle cocoon shape and a shirttail hem. Our pick: Everlane Everyday Shirt in Silky Cotton
Silk turns jeans into a dinner outfit and folds down small in a packing cube. Quince's Washable Stretch Silk Tee has a crew neck, a curved tulip hem and a little stretch, and you can wash it instead of sending it out. Our pick: Quince Washable Stretch Silk Tee
One warm sweater covers cool evenings and chilly museums, so make it a soft one. Jenni Kayne's Cashmere Fisherman Sweater is 100% Mongolian cashmere in a boxy shape with a classic fisherman rib. Our pick: Jenni Kayne Cashmere Fisherman Sweater
Bottoms
Three bottoms in black, indigo and navy give each top three places to go.
Pull on trousers look polished at dinner and still feel easy on a travel day. Spanx's CarryOn Straight Leg Pant is made from easy to pack twill with an adjustable drawstring waist, side pockets and a straight leg. Our pick: Spanx SPANX CarryOn Straight Leg Pant
Dark jeans can be worn three or four times on one trip and look just as good on day ten. Citizens of Humanity's Palma Straight Long is a high rise straight leg in heavyweight silk denim with a hint of stretch, in a deep, clean indigo called Inky Rinse. Our pick: Citizens of Humanity Palma Straight Long Clean Hem
Midi skirts give you a dinner outfit with the silk tee or a daytime one with the stripes and sneakers. Boden's Ottoman Knitted Midi Skirt has a textured stitch that looks like pleats, an elasticated waist and is machine washable. Our pick: Boden Ottoman Knitted Midi Skirt
Layers
Two light layers handle cold trains, gray afternoons and air conditioned restaurants.
Short trench coats are easier to carry over an arm than a long coat and still look sharp in a new city. Boden's Swing Box Short Trench is cotton with a contrast collar and a double breasted front, and Boden pitches it for exactly this kind of autumn city break. Our pick: Boden Swing Box Short Trench
Thin cardigans are the layer you pull on and off all day, on trains, in restaurants and over the silk tee. Everlane's Cardigan in Ultrasoft Merino is lightweight ribbed merino with a V neck and a cropped, fitted shape. Our pick: Everlane The Cardigan in Ultrasoft Merino
Shoes
Three pairs plus the sneakers you fly in take you from long walks to dinner and warm days.
Flats that handle a long walk and a dinner reservation save you from packing a fourth pair. Rothy's Daily Flat has a flexible knit upper, a cushy Arch Effect insole and a rubber sole with supportive pegs. Our pick: Rothy's The Daily Flat
Loafers make jeans and trousers look finished without the fuss of heels. Steve Madden's Lando is a leather platform loafer with horsebit hardware, a chunky lug sole and a 1.5 inch heel. Our pick: Steve Madden Lando
Pack one pair of sandals for warm days, beach towns and dinners outside. Dolce Vita's Dom is a strappy leather sandal with a cushioned footbed and an adjustable ankle strap, in a warm saddle tan. Our pick: Dolce Vita Dom Sandals
Bags and travel gear
The right bag and a few small helpers keep everything organized from the first day to the last.
Hard shell carry ons that fit the overhead bin mean no checked bag and no wait at the carousel. Away sizes The Carry-On to fit in all overhead bins and gives it a lightweight shell, an interior compression system and a grab handle underneath. Our pick: Away The Carry-On
Packing cubes keep tops, bottoms and socks in their own spots, so you never dig through the whole suitcase. Calpak's 5 Piece Packing Cubes Set comes in several sizes with mesh panels for seeing inside, plus a water resistant pouch for toiletries or damp things. Our pick: Calpak Packing Cubes Set (5 Pieces)
Small crossbody bags keep your passport and phone close in busy stations and markets. Cuyana's Mini Paloma Bag is Italian pebbled leather inside and out and fits a phone, wallet, passport and sunglasses, with a slip pocket and a key loop. Our pick: Cuyana Mini Paloma Bag
Big cashmere wraps act as a blanket on the plane and a scarf at night. Quince's Cashmere Wrap is Mongolian cashmere, and Quince itself suggests it for napping on a long flight. Our pick: Quince Cashmere Wrap
Zip jewelry cases stop necklaces from knotting together at the bottom of your bag. Cuyana's Travel Jewelry Case is Italian pebbled leather lined in suede, so rings and earrings travel safely. Our pick: Cuyana Travel Jewelry Case
The Printable Checklist
Pack in this order
Put shoes along the bottom of the suitcase, then the packing cubes, then the trench on top so it creases less. Roll knits and tees and lay the shirt and silk flat. Keep the jewelry case, the crossbody and the wrap where you can reach them on the plane.
Plan one laundry stop
Ten days in one bag works best if you wash a few things around day five. The tees, the striped top and the knit skirt are easy to wash in a sink or a hotel laundry room. Check the label first and leave anything marked dry clean for when you get home.
Check your airline before you go
Carry on size and weight limits differ between airlines and between domestic and international flights. Look up your fare and route a few days ahead so there are no surprises at the gate. If your airline only allows one small bag, the crossbody and the jewelry case can ride inside the suitcase.
What should be on a carry on packing list for 10 days?
Plan on four pieces you wear on the plane, five tops, three bottoms, two layers and three or four pairs of shoes. Add a carry on suitcase, packing cubes, a small crossbody, a wrap and a case for jewelry. Ours has 22 lines, which is enough for 10 days with one quick wash.
How do I build a travel capsule wardrobe?
Pick one color story, such as black, navy and camel, and choose pieces that each work with at least three others. Lean on fabrics that pack well, like knits, cashmere and stretchy blends, and wear your bulkiest pieces on the plane. A travel capsule wardrobe built this way turns a small bag into a new outfit every day.
Can I really fit 10 days of clothes in a carry on?
Yes, if every piece mixes with the rest and you plan one laundry stop halfway through. Packing cubes squeeze clothes into tidy blocks, and wearing your sneakers, hoodie and joggers on the plane saves a lot of space. Tick off what you own here, then fill the gaps slowly before your trip.
