Efficient Packing: What’s in My Carry-On Bag for a 6-Day Trip!

I just returned from an incredible trip to San Diego with my amazing N6 styling friends. We had so much fun hosting a pop-up shop at Nordstrom, Fashion Valley, where we shared favorite summer items from the store and had a question-and-answer session with 60 attendees while streaming it Live on Instagram. In case you missed it, you can check out the seasonal items we featured here, here, here, and here. During my trip, I also got a sneak peek at the upcoming Nordstrom Anniversary sale merchandise and tried on various items, from jeans to dresses. Stay tuned because I’ll share my top picks from the sale soon!

Looks From The Pop-Up 

The 3 Looks

On this trip, I challenged myself to pack light, only use a carry-on, and still look put-together. I’m happy to report I feel I succeeded! 🙂 I want to share some of my packing tricks with you. 

1. Planning is key! I created a detailed list of all the events I had lined up for this trip, including travel, early morning rallies, going out, and work days. 
2. Next, I laid out my outfits, matching shoes, and jewelry to see if I had all the right pieces. 
3. I wore the bulkiest items on the plane to save room in my bag. 
4. I packed items I could wear in multiple ways. For example, I always pack a favorite button-down shirt/dress that doubles as a dress for lounging and a nice cover-up over my bathing suit. 
5. To keep my clothes wrinkle-free, I ironed them and then rolled them up. Once I arrived, I hung everything up and, if needed, gave them a quick steam or iron. 
6. And here’s a handy tip: I used a packing cube for my shoes to keep them organized.
7. I brought a couple of hostess gifts to give; once they were out of my bag, I had room to pack new cargo pants and sweater that I bought during my trip. 
8. I limit my styling tools. I brought a curling iron and tripod and borrowed a hair dryer (I usually pack my hairdryer). Also, my chargers, jewelry, portable mirror, and computer were in my Naghedi tote.  

These tricks have been helpful for me, and I hope they help you when you pack in the future. 

My Suitcase

Protein bars, bras and underwear are inside the mesh pocket. Plus, hair, skincare, and cosmetics are in the cosmetic bag.

The Away Carry-On

So, why does this mini travel capsule wardrobe work? First, I went for a classic and effortless style, making it super easy to create outfits. I also chose neutral colors that complement each other, so mixing and matching was easy. Plus, I packed different shoe styles in neutral tones, which paired perfectly with all the pants. Did I need to pack extra shoes? I was on my feet for hours working at Nordstrom, so I was happy to have spare shoes to rotate and keep my feet comfortable and feeling good.

This is what I packed!

Row 1: Wallet on a chain ( used as a wallet and handbag) | Naghedi Tote ( stretches and holds all essentials) | J.Crew Navy blazer | Tank (similar style) |Patrick Heritage Jersey (I wore this every evening and on the plane ) |New Balance (trendy and comfortable and goes with jeans)

 Row 2: Tommy Bahama Swimsuit ( I have brown. It includes a halter strap and is comfortable | Frank & Eileen Mary dress ( wear as is and over a swimsuit) | Rails Star Shirt (worn under both blazers and over a tank with jeans) | Frame lilac Blouse ( A splurge but, you will love it!) |Citizen Penny Shirt (You will wear this timeless top on repeat 🙂

 Row 3: White blazer by J.Crew (great fit, love the length and tts) | Linen/cotton lined slacks (so comfortable and love wearing) | J.Crew Jeans | Over The Moon Cotton Pajamas (The most comfortable and breathable pajamas, plus the print is so fun!) |Rag & Bone Belt (perfect color) | Jenny Bird earrings | French Sole (timeless and comfortable) |Vince Pia wedge (love) |Gucci sandal (similar) |Staurt Weitzman Espadrille Wedge

Travel Outfit

Day 1 Outfit

Day 2 Outfit

Day 3 – Early Morning Rally Outfit & Pop-Up Shop Outfits

Evening Outfit

Thank you for reading. Please reach out with any questions or feedback. As a reminder, follow me on the LTK app @stylishsandy to get App exclusive, including Anniversary merchandise content.

xo Sandy