The Carry-On Edit: NYC

I used to be the person who packed for every possible scenario. A dinner that never happened. Shoes that never left the suitcase. An extra outfit “just in case.” These days, I pack a little differently.

If I’m traveling with only a carry-on, I try to plan every outfit before I even unzip my suitcase. It may sound a little Type A, but it’s the single best way I’ve found to pack lighter without sacrificing style. Instead of packing individual pieces and hoping they work together once I arrive, I build complete looks ahead of time.

New York is actually where this strategy becomes even more important. I know I’m going to wander into stores, try things on, and almost certainly come home with a few new additions. Leaving room in my suitcase is part of the plan. But one thing I don’t do is rely on shopping to complete my wardrobe. Maybe lunch turns into happy hour, maybe you decide to spend an extra hour wandering a museum, maybe your size is sold out, or maybe you simply don’t find anything you love. I never want to feel like I have to buy something just to get dressed that night.

So for this trip, I packed (almost) exactly what I needed for 72 hours in the city, left room for anything that caught my eye, and ended up wearing every single outfit (mostly) as planned. Here’s everything that made the cut.

I always wear my bulkiest pieces on the plane. It saves space in my suitcase, keeps me comfortable for travel, and means I don’t have to waste valuable carry-on real estate on jackets or sneakers. This has become my go-to airport formula.

I wore the RUE SOPHIE Corben Parachute Jacket over a simple Mini T-Shirt with the incredibly comfortable RUTI Work Pants, finished with my favorite travel shoe, the Salomon XT-6 GTX Sneakers.

I wanted my first day to feel effortless but polished since I knew we’d be bouncing between coffee, meetings, and plenty of walking. Matching sets are one of my favorite packing tricks because they instantly look put together, but each piece also works separately later in the trip.

I wore the POSSE Darcy Striped Tank with the matching POSSE Darcy Striped Shorts, layered my POSSE Finn Cardigan over my shoulders, and finished everything with classic Alaia Mesh Ballet Flats and my beloved The Row Estelle Raffia Bag.

I knew we’d be heading straight from the hotel to dinner, so I wanted something that packed beautifully but still felt elevated. The organza skirt ended up traveling surprisingly well, and I loved having the sweater as an extra layer once the sun went down.

I wore this Renggli Organza Cami Top with the matching Organza Pencil Skirt (shout out Morgan Stewart McGraw) I tied Renggli’s matching Silk Cashmere Crewneck Sweater around my waist, slipped into my favorite Paris Texas Lidia Mules, and carried the gorgeous Savette Symmetry Mesh Bag (in beige).

Friday was probably my busiest day, so I wanted one statement piece that did all the heavy lifting. These pants are such a conversation starter that everything else could stay simple.

I paired the Rabanne Paisley Pants with the same Mini T-Shirt (I always travel with two) and reused my The Row Estelle Raffia Bag, which ended up being one of the hardest-working pieces in my suitcase.

Without question, this was one of my favorite looks from the trip. It felt effortless, comfortable, and exactly like what I want to wear on a summer night in New York.

I wore the Lioness Lace Duster with my Amina Muaddi Juliette Leather Thong Sandals and added the perfect pop of color with this Tassel Pochette in Chartreuse.

By the last day, I always appreciate having versatile basics that can be mixed and matched. I actually changed halfway through the day after walking around the city for a bit, which is exactly why I love packing pieces that all work together.

I started in my BRUT I Love Paris NYC Tee with the DONNI. Rib Petal Pusher Trousers, added my Prada Sunnies, then later swapped into the STAUD Track Shorts while keeping the same tee. I finished the look with my ByOrly Carlo Necklace and my favorite Row Leather Flip Flops.

I wanted my last dinner look to feel special without packing anything overly fussy. This skirt was one of those pieces that instantly made the outfit feel elevated while taking up almost no room in my suitcase. PSA: it’s a sheer summer ladies!!

I paired the superdown Sequin Skirt with a simple Knit Tank Top (obsessed with this one, I have it in multiple colors) and repeated my Paris Texas Lidia Mules, proving that you definitely don’t need a different pair of shoes for every dinner. Hot take: these EBY Mesh Panties are perfect for sheer outfits!!

A few packing lessons this trip reinforced:

• Planning outfits ahead of time always beats overpacking.

• Every piece should work with at least two or three other items in your suitcase.

• Wear your bulkiest pieces on the plane.

• Leave space for shopping, but never depend on shopping.

• If you’re debating whether to pack something, you probably won’t wear it.

Looking back through my camera roll after every trip has become one of my favorite ways to evaluate my wardrobe. It’s a reminder that I don’t actually need a huge suitcase full of options. I need a handful of pieces that mix well, feel like me, and make getting dressed easy. Turns out, one carry-on was more than enough. xoxo, Gossip Girl.

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