12 Days in Italy With a Carry-On: How I did it as a Personal Stylist
When I told people I was spending 12 days in Italy with only a carry-on, I got a lot of surprised looks. As a personal stylist, though, I knew it wasn't about bringing more clothes—it was about bringing the right clothes.
Packing light isn't just something I did for this trip—it's something I help clients do all the time. This year alone, I've helped three established clients pack carry-ons for two-week European vacations, and I've guided countless others through travel packing over the years. The strategies I'm sharing here aren't travel hacks; they're the natural result of having an IVY-Method wardrobe.
Here's exactly how I made it happen.
Click here to see what I packed but don’t panic shop!
I packed mix-and-match basics and let accessories do the heavy lifting.
The foundation of my suitcase was simple: neutral tops and bottoms that could be worn multiple ways. Most of my tops were tanks and tees, and I brought just one pair of comfortable stretch jeans along with a few versatile pants.
One of my hardest-working pieces was a green linen button-down and shorts set. I wore it at the pool, on a boat, at the beach, and even dressed up the button-down with nicer pants for dinner.
Instead of packing lots of statement clothing, I used accessories to create variety through color and print.
I brought: 2 scarves, 4 necklaces, 1 purse
Those small additions allowed outfits to feel fresh without sacrificing versatility.
2. I kept a consistent color story.
One of the easiest ways to create a travel wardrobe that works together is to limit your color palette.
For this trip, my accent colors were green and orange. Most of those colors appeared through scarves, jewelry, and my purse, with one pair of green pants adding a little extra personality.
Because everything fit within the same color story, nearly every top could pair with every bottom. Getting dressed became effortless, and I never felt like I had "nothing to wear."
I also kept my shoe selection simple but high impact:
Gold slim sandals that paired with literally everything
White New Balance sneakers
White athletic sneakers
That's it.
3. I repeated outfits (and did a little laundry).
You do not need a completely different outfit for every day of your trip to look stylish or have variety in your photos.
I repeated outfits throughout the vacation and washed a few items in the sink when needed. Our final Airbnb even had a washing machine, which made it easy to refresh pieces before traveling home.
Repeating outfits gave me far more flexibility than overpacking ever could.
The Real Secret to Packing Light
My biggest piece of advice is to resist the urge to buy an entirely new vacation wardrobe.
Packing was easy for me because I already follow the IVY-Method in my own closet. My wardrobe is built around pieces that fit well, mix and match effortlessly, and reflect the style and energy I want to project.
When your closet works for your real life, packing becomes simple. Instead of stressing over what to bring, you can focus on enjoying the trip.
And if you're wondering whether 12 days in Italy can really fit in a carry-on—the answer is absolutely yes.
The exact items I wore 👇
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