Honeymoon: 1 Week in Carry-on

When it comes to travel, I don’t like to pack a lot - in fact, on numerous occasions, my husband and I have done carry-on only to such destinations as Iceland and Ireland bringing only backpacks (not even a rolly suitcase). After over a year of being married it was time to finally plan our honeymoon. We decided on a whirlwind trip arriving in Paris, then heading to Brussels, Ghent, and Bruges, then heading down to Luxembourg and Metz before heading back to Paris to fly home. As we solidified our schedule including trains and hotels in each place, we realized what a truly jam-packed trip this would be and once again found ourselves leaning back on our tried and true habit of carry-on only. Today I want to share what I brought to not only pack light, but to also keep style top of mind as we took on our honeymoon for the ages.

Where to start

Unsurprisingly, we are huge fans of a capsule wardrobe here at AHS, and packing in a carry-on is no different. Keeping in mind I haven’t captured, undergarments, accessories, or toiletries keeping your packing small is the best way to make sure you can still fit everything you need. Selecting pieces that will ensure you have great looks, and that everything goes together will take some planning and consideration but will be well worth it when you don’t have to haul a suitcase on your next getaway!

Bottoms & Shoes

Keeping in mind that you’ll be wearing part of your capsule wardrobe on the plan when it comes to bottoms I wanted to keep my options only and brought along wide-leg denim (that is very comfortable for sitting for long hours, this is not the time to wear your tight raw denim my friends) and a pair of dress slacks. What is nice about this trend of wearing suiting is that often these garments are light-weight and don’t take up space so take advantage where you can! As for shoes, it is no surprise that sneakers were one of my two pairs for this trip. I can honestly say after everything we averaged almost 20,000 steps a DAY so comfortable shoes were not up for discussion. My second pair is an old reliable pair of healed boots I frequently wear so I knew I wouldn’t have to break them in and make my feet soar, plus they made my evening looks a little more elevated, which is always a bonus!

Tops

Deciding on tops for this trip was a little bit tricky because I felt like I wanted to be a little fun but still wanted the flexibility of being comfortable and having some street style. As it was the beginning of April we still had a chill in the air to deal with so layers were my best option in keeping the looks interesting but unified. To start, I pulled some basics including a white turtle neck, a black graphic tee, a black v-neck tank and a body suit in a fun lilac purple. This meant that I had a base for most outfits and had the flexibility to lose layers if need be. For the element of fun, I also included a mesh-mock neck bodysuit with a floral pattern (I’ll admit probably one of the most dynamic pieces I own) and a white cropped puff-sleeved shirt for a bit of drama. The “fun” pieces were great because I could also layer them under other, more casual items to utilize them as much as possible.

LBD and Accessories

Arguably the most versatile item I took was my black ribbed midi-length black dress which was one of my favourites on this trip because I could wear it as intended or layer a number of items over or under it to get different looks. Each day I had an evening look and could switch between my trousers and this dress for variety. I also brought along what may be my favourite purse I’ve ever owned, the green belt bag by Ela Handbags. I love this bag so much because it can hold way more than it looks and is perfect to wear for travel, especially when you have a backpack on your back. It also looks great and was the perfect bag for evenings out, with nothing ever leaving my sight.

Go with your gut

When it comes to capsule wardrobes, you can read all the advice in the world but when it comes down to it, you know your style best and therefore you know what you will absolutely wear and what you won’t. I auditioned each of these pieces and planned each outfit on my trip to make sure that each item was worn at least twice so I would get the absolute most out of my wardrobe while I was away and it was well worth it. Follow your instincts and bring what brings you joy and makes you feel your best, it is your trip after all!

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