How I Packed 12 Days Into a Carry-On (+ Everything I Packed)

I hope everyone is having an amazing week.

There’s something about August that feels different. The pace slows, the days are still long, people are squeezing in one last vacation, and there’s a collective reminder to enjoy summer before fall arrives.

After a bit of travel, I’m back in Michigan for a moment. My parents’ house has become my temporary home base while I prepare for my move back to New York.

Last week, I spent 12 days between NYC and Amagansett and packed everything I needed into one roller carry-on and a Boat and Tote.

A friend recently asked me the last time I checked a bag, and honestly, I couldn’t even remember.

I’ve become someone who truly loves to travel light. Not because I want to limit myself, but because I know what I need and I know how to make everything work together.

I genuinely love every piece in my wardrobe, so there’s never a moment when I unpack and think, “I don’t want to wear this.” Everything has a purpose, everything feels like me, and everything can be styled multiple ways.

That’s the magic of creating a wardrobe you truly love.

By popular request, today I’m going to break down my entire packing method — how I pack, the specific pieces I brought and why, and how I styled everything to create 12 days of outfits that worked together.