How To Actually Pack Less Things (detailed guide)

Traveling is my passion, but packing can often feel overwhelming. It has gotten a lot better for me over time, and I can confidently say that after packing and unpacking at least 150 times, I have some wisdom to share with you today.

I’ve noticed there are certain things I do and questions I ask myself no matter the kind of trip. And that’s exactly what I want to share with you today!

Ready to learn how to pack less things? Let’s go!

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Let me start by saying that it doesn’t matter how often or how many times you pack, every trip is different.

Destinations are different.

Activities are different.

The length of the trip is different.

And even you are different!

So how on earth are you supposed to know what to pack each time?

Well, that’s exactly what I’m here for! 🙋🏻‍♀️

Today I want to share with you exactly how to pack less things! This is the method I use when I’m packing my own suitcase. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a seasoned traveler or planning your first trip, the stress of deciding what to bring can feel like a daunting task.

A lot goes into play when packing the perfect suitcase… from colors and personal style, to versatile pieces and weather, and of course the most obvious one:

QUANTITIES!

So, here’s my tried-and-true method to help you pack less and travel light.

🎥 Sign up to watch this video for a behind-the-scenes of me packing for a recent trip! ✈️

*There are 18 different looks right here!!! And they are all fun, stylish and easy to copy!*

The Secret to Packing Light: How To Know The Right Quantities?

The key to packing the perfect suitcase lies in balancing versatility and necessity. In order to determine the right quantities, there are 3 things you need to factor:

1️⃣ Activities: How are your days going to look like? Are there special occasions or events that require specific outfits? Realistically, how many times will you change clothes every day?

Spoiler alert: you won’t always change twice a day!

2️⃣ Length of the trip: How long is your trip? How many times can you wear each piece? Are you going to be able to do laundry? (don’t forget to factor in travel days too!)

3️⃣ Destination: Where are you going? How’s the weather? Are there cultural considerations to keep in mind?

Asking yourself these questions before you start packing will help you select the right pieces and create outfits that will be comfortable for your trip. This varies depending on your style and type of vacation, but by learning these principles you can learn how to pack for any vacation!

I promise it gets better over time.

How to pack light and travel with carry-on only

Why does this matter? Why is this step so important?

After answering the questions listed above, you will be starting your packing process from a much better place. Having a clear understanding is going to help you get started and have a more practical and realistic approach to packing.

For example, I recently packed for a 6-day trip to Cozumel, Mexico. And I can confidently say that I packed the right pieces. I was so happy with all my travel outfits because I asked myself the right questions!

The hero pieces for the trip were:

A black crop top: this cute top doubles as a workout top and it’s great for the beach. I also love using it as a layering piece and to go out at night too. It’s amazing! Oh and did I mention it has a built-in bra? OBSESSED 🤩 (order 1 size up) *it’s OOS in black – but browse other options here*
Brown linen pants: I’m loving replacing some of my black pieces with brown! These pants are super comfy and stylish. They run TTS. Pro-tip: if they feel small at first, wear them for a little bit. Linen stretches.
White linen shirt: this piece is great as a cover-up and as an every day shirt. You will always look more polished and stylish with a linen shirt. It’s an easy way to elevate any outfit! (it runs TTS)

These pieces are from a super cool and affordable sustainable brand called Quince.

*For reference I’m 5 4′ and weigh about 130 lbs.

Why We Overpack (And How to Stop)

Packing less isn’t just about having a good strategy—it’s about learning to trust yourself and your style. A lot of us tend to overpack because we don’t want to feel unprepared. We worry we’ll forget that one piece we’ll need or we pack a few “just in case” items that never end up getting worn. Sound familiar?

But here’s the thing: when you learn how to plan intentionally, everything changes. You will have everything you need—and the best part? You’ll actually wear every piece you bring. No digging through piles of “meh” outfits or stressing about what to wear each day. You’ll feel polished, put together, and confident—without the clutter.

This shift doesn’t happen overnight, but the more you practice, the easier it gets. And once you experience the freedom of packing light and still feeling like your best self? You’ll never want to go back.

This is a rough guide of how I decide how many pieces I need to pack ⬇️

👚 Tops: 1 for every 1.5 days (factor in the days where you won’t wear tops because you also have dresses/jumpsuits/maybe bathing suits) and some tops can be worn 2-3 times!

🩳 Bottoms: 1 for every 3 days. (add an extra one if the trip is less than 1 week long. You’ll have the space in your carry-on)

👗 Dresses/jumpsuit: 1-2 total (but not necessary)

🧥 Layering pieces: 2. Think of a button down shirt or a denim jacket (you usually wear these on travel days, so they don’t take space in your suitcase)

👟 Shoes: 1 per occasion → (casual/every day wear like white sneakers, dressy-ish but comfy like flat leather sandals, gym and hiking shoes like trail runners, and easy and versatile every day wear like Birkenstocks). I travel with these 4 pairs of shoes most of the time, but feel free to skip trail runners if you don’t hike or workout.

👜 Accessories: headbands, earrings, rings, necklaces, etc. I don’t really count these because they take so little space. I usually pack 3 headbands, dainty necklaces and 4-5 pairs of statement earrings that I fit inside this tiny jewelry box.

The accessories that can take a lot of space are handbags. And that’s why I travel with just a crossbody bag and I always wear it, so it’s never really inside my suitcase. (this is where I get my crossbody bags)

💄Miscellaneous: this category is WHY you have to pack exactly the right outfits lol – I feel like this is where most suitcases start filling up. Beauty products, pajamas, underwear, curling iron, vitamins, workout clothes, etc. Consider your special needs too. There are things that can be non-negotiable in this category, and that looks different for everyone.

⭐️ Pro tip: If you’re going on a long trip, you only need to pack for 12-14 days. Seriously, that’s it. You can wash your stuff pretty much anywhere and it’s a lot easier than you think (and sometimes it’s a fun adventure!) ⭐️

🧐 Peek my brain while I pack for a trip!

I just made a video about my entire packing process. So, if you have 20 minutes, you can watch a video where I explain my thought process a little bit better.

It’s an easy-going video with a presentation (hello, I’m so professional! 💁🏻‍♀️) giving you a peek of how my brain works when packing for a trip and all the different things I consider.

I will also send you the full packing list with all the links you need and the top styling tips. You can save it and use it as a guide for any of your future adventures!

This is a private video, that you can only access by signing up here ⬇️

⭐️Watch the video here & learn how to pack light!⭐️

How To Pack Less - Travel Light In A Carry-on - by Ways of Style

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The 3 golden rules when selecting your final pieces:

If you follow these rules, you’re half way there. Seriously!

✅ All your tops must match all your bottoms.

✅ Create all your travel day outfits with pieces you will also style during your vacation.

✅ All (or most) your shoes should match all (or most) your bottom pieces and dresses.

I go more in-depth on all these things and more in the members-only video I mentioned. This is so much better to learn via video, where I sit down and explain how this all looks like when I’m packing for an actual trip. So, sign up and watch it here.

Hope you found this post useful and that you’re starting to feel confident about packing light and in-style. You’ve got this 💪🏼

Remember, I’m always here if you have any questions. I’m more than happy to help you out!

Thanks for reading, and I hope you have a great day ahead.

XO,

Aimara

PS: sign up and watch this video that will teach you how to pack light in under 30 minutes!

About The Author:

Hi, my name is Aimara and I am the voice behind Ways of Style. I was born and raised in Venezuela until the age of 27 when I moved to Chicago, and 2 years later I met my best friend and husband. We now travel full time and live out of a carry-on bag, so believe me, I know a thing or two about how to maximize every single piece I own.

I love creating new looks, and looking cute while I’m traveling. And in this blog, I try to share all my looks, even if I don’t have the best photos ;) My goal is to help you maximize every piece you have in your closet and to encourage you to live with less things.