Backpack Room Only — 10 Item Packing List

What would you pack for a summer holiday if you could only take 10 garments?

I recently asked myself this question, inspired by my friend Kim. She just got back from a 2 week trip to London + Paris, and she packed everything in a backpack. Not like a generous, carry-on size backpack — more like a school-sized backpack!

You know my brain thrives on a good clothing puzzle, so I dreamed up the most minimal packing list that would still allow me to get by nicely for a two week summer trip (with laundry stops, of course).

Keep scrolling to see:

• my 10 piece packing list
• my aesthetic + color palette + how I deal with Vacation Caroline
• my packing formula (it’s so basic it works!)
• small footprint, big impact accessories to pack too
• 12 outfits I made using these 10 pieces

These simple pieces might not look that interesting in a suitcase, but don’t forget — even the most plain outfit comes to life when it’s being worn!

A QUICK NOTE ABOUT VACATION CAROLINE

I try not to get too caught up in packing for a fantasy version of myself. AKA vacation Caroline. AKA the version of me that believes I’ll become an entirely new person on vacation!

How many times have I packed my most rigid, too-small, yet hot-girl jeans — thinking “Oh, it’ll be fine!” — only to end up wildly uncomfortable with no other pants to wear and it NOT being fine.

Thankfully, I got rid of those jeans a while back, and these days, I stick to shapes that have been time-tested in my regular life. Things like mid rise bottoms, flat shoes, no fussy undergarments, and loose tops. That way, I can be confident they’ll work while traveling AND back at home.

But that doesn’t mean sacrifice joy for practicality! It’s fun to dress outside your norm on vacation! The key is to find that sweet spot where whimsy meets your core preferences.

AESTHETIC & COLOR PALETTE 

My aesthetic leans heavily minimalist in the summer, so I went with a pared-back palette that makes me feel happy and like myself.

Yes, I went safe with a lot of black pieces. While I love the look of a white pant or dress, I just KNOW I will spill something or sit in something and I don’t want to deal with that on a trip. So even though a white dress is so vacation vibes, I know I will actually be 10x happier / more at ease / less distracted by my clothing if I wear black.

THE PACKING FORMULA

You’ll probably notice this packing list follows a pretty basic formula:

Bring one dressier option + one casual option per category (tops, bottoms, shoes, etc).

It’s so basic, it works! And it’s a particularly helpful editing tool when you’re trying to pack ultra light.

My 10 Piece Packing List

• • •

TWO BOTTOMS

1 | DRESSY BOTTOM | Abercrombie Sloane low-rise linen-blend trousers

Black can always lean dressy, and trousers always give a polished vibe. Of course you can dress them up, but you can also wear them on a plane or train.

Since we are talking summertime here, I went with a linen blend to keep cool while minimizing the wrinkles. Best of both worlds, plus it cuts down on air-drying time on laundry day.

2 | CASUAL BOTTOM | Agolde Parker denim shorts | Same shorts with a longer inseam

• • •

TWO DRESSES

3 | DRESSY DRESS | J.Crew High Neck Midi Dress in Linen

That high neck is so elegant!

4 | CASUAL DRESS | Gap linen-blend mini dress

If two black dresses is too much black for you, feel free to swap this casual dress to a colorful option. For me, I absolutely love wearing black in the summer, so two black dresses is no problem.

Kim told me she loved packing dresses on her trip. It made getting dressed each day a breeze since she didn’t have to put together a whole outfit.

• • •

TWO SHOES

5 | DRESSY SANDAL | Reformation Lake Flat Sandal

In white, these simple sandals make a statement.

If your trip is sportier, consider bringing the Slim Tevas instead.

6 | CASUAL SNEAKER | Veja White Volley Sneakers | More sizes here | Cute in blue too

These are super slim for packing and made of a breathable canvas.

• • •

THREE TOPS

(tweaked the formula just a bit here!)

7 | DRESSY/CASUAL TOP | J.Crew Clio Top in Textured Gauze

The little tie straps, the ruching — so vacation!

8 | DRESSY/CASUAL TOP | Faithfull Antibes Open Back Linen Top

Absolutely love the strappy open back on this top.

9 | CASUAL TOP | Abercrombie Body Skimming Tee

I went with a whisper grey tee, instead of white. It still gives a light impression, but it makes laundry easier, since you can throw all of your clothes into one load, instead of doing separate loads for darks + whites.

• • •

ONE OUTER LAYER

10 | J.Crew Featherweight Cashmere Shrunken Cardigan

• • •

ACCESSORIES & EXTRA ITEMS TO PACK

When you’re packing minimally for two weeks, a laundry stop is a must. Kim booked a mid-trip stay at an Air Bnb with a laundry machine. She messaged the hosts beforehand to confirm whether or not they offered detergent, too. This little bit of planning went a long way in the success of the trip!

And — this is my favorite hack from Kim — she packed her undies in a mesh laundry bag. It was useful for suitcase organization and laundry day!

Don’t forget, you can always zhuzh your outfits with accessories. Here are a few that would pack down nicely and add major impact to your looks:

• A silk hair scarf. Takes up zero space in your suitcase but it would entirely change the vibe of denim shorts and a white tee.
• Sunglasses. Try a colorful pair for extra impact.
• A day bag that converts into a clutch. This one from Madewell is so good.
• A silk evening bag that can pack down completely flat.
• A pendant necklace on a silk cord. This one has been on my wish list for a long time!
• Socks. This striped, sporty pair from Anthropologie is real cute.
• A belt.
• A baseball cap. Here’s my all-time favorite cap from Madewell.

12 OUTFITS

• • •

And there you have it!

I loved putting this post together! I hope it sparked some ideas for you. Summer lends itself to light packing anyway, so why not lean into the ease and bring less anyway?

Thank you for reading Unfancy today. It means so much to me. Feel free to subscribe at the bottom of the page to keep up with my posts. You can also find me on Instagram.

And hey, want to chat over Facetime? I now offer one-on-one personal styling sessions. I’ve got *one* slot left in July — book it now!