What’s the weather like? Will you be walking? Transition from day to night looks? Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered for all things Malaga!
Continuing with my carry-on only packing, Jhonathan and I traveled to Malaga, Spain this past December and each only brought a carry-on. For the weather in December, we were looking at 40-60 degree weather with possibility of rain, clouds and temps fluctuating to the 70’s. This might sound odd but when you are from Houston, you are used to sporadic weather changes so I know how to pack for pretty much any weather and make it work!
So Here’s What I Brought
I needed to pack clothing that was comfortable, but also wearable no matter where we went dresscode wise. This can be tricky, but I have learned it’s all about the color palette and materials.
Packing dark wash denim is always a must. You can dress them up or down and as long as they are comfortable, can be worn all day! I paired mine with a chunky knit chevron sweater in blush and maroon. The over the knee boots completes this all day appropriate look for shopping in the city and hitting local restaurants and museums. Below I have added a few pairs of my favorite denim. They are a bit of a splurge but the quality totally makes them worth it! You will have them forever!
A Fun Print Workout Look & Something For Layering
So if you are going to Malaga, you must visit El Caminito Del Rey. And for this hike I highly recommend a comfortable activewear set and with the temps fluctuating; layer! We bought a jacket, and a backpack so that once the temps raised we were able to place our jackets in our backpacks and feel much more comfortable. I am wearing a printed set with a lightweight cotton zip up cardigan. This was perfect for the hike, accompanied by my running shoes.
A Dark Colored Sweater Dress
This was a must for any trip! A sweater dress was actually ideal for the Malaga December weather. This one from Lulus was perfect with a belt bag and my over the knee boots. The reason I recommend a dark color is because they give off a more dressier vibe and can be worn from morning brunch to a show in the evening.
And lastly, you will want to have a transitional coat with you…preferably with a hood! I actually had to purchase this one while in Malaga because the temps dropped on us the first day and started raining! This coat not only kept me warm, but also ended up being my most favorite purchase which I wear all of the time now! I purchased it in a color that went with the palette I packed so that everything could seamlessly be paired together and looked complete. That is really the key to packing light. Make sure everything compliments each other so that you can mix and match pieces and above all look great while being comfortable! – Because the last thing you should be doing is worrying about your uncomfortable outfit! Vacationing is all about enjoying the sights and culture around you!
I like to pride myself on my packing abilities when it comes to traveling. Jhonathan and I have made many trips with only a carry-on, but to do so I have to use space saver bags and limit the amount of shoes and accessories I take, etc. Well with the Andiamo Classico, I wanted to see exactly what all I could fit inside without space savers! Below is everything I packed for my recent 4 day trip to Albuquerque. And in case you were wondering, yes the Classico is a carry-on!
So for this trip I wanted to bring a variety of colorful dresses and athletic wear. We would be experiencing all different types of terrain on this trip so I wanted to be prepared, but still pack efficiently. I was able to pack all of the following, easily in the Classico.
3 – Dresses
- Short long-sleeve black dress
- Double layered navy long-sleeve maxi dress
- Double layered turquoise long-sleeve maxi dress
4 – Shoes
- Tan sling backs
- Cognac slip-ons
- Rhinestone flip-flops
- White leather block heel ankle booties
4 – Athleticwear pieces
- Sports bra
- Leggings
- T-shirt
- Hoodie
1 – Jewelry organizer filled with jewelry
1 – Straightener
1 – Curling iron
1 – Hat
1 – T-shirt
1 – Pair of shorts
(socks and undergarments and pjs)
And just for fun I have included 4 of the looks so you can see the pieces I packed, how I styled them, and the condition the clothes were in after being in the suitcase (no, I didn’t iron anything)
Now whenever I travel I always wear a comfortable look and my athletic shoes, that way I do not have to take up the space in my suitcase with two large pairs of shoes…so if you were wondering where my sneakers were, I was wearing them instead of packing them.
And that’s it! Everything I needed to look my best on this trip fit perfectly in this case without space savers! I of course put my electronics, makeup, chargers etc. in my “personal item” for easy access, but when it comes to carry-on’s this case is truly chart topping! From the sleek appearance, to the storage capability this suitcase is well worth the investment and will definitely be headed with me to Paris in the Fall. Find the perfect Classico color for your next trip at the Andiamo site linked here, and happy traveling! <3
To many of you I’m sure this is going to sound pretty crazy. How could a fashion blogger possibly take only a carry on to NYFW? Well here’s how it did it!
#1 Comfort and versatility is key!
Bring shoes and accessories that you can wear with multiple looks. Skip on the pair of heels that you will only wear with one look and pack the boots that go with everything and are comfortable. I say this because there is an overwhelming amount of walking to be done. On average, we walked 7 miles a day! – Keep that in mind before you pack those stilettos… chances are they will just be taking up space in your luggage.
#2 Plan your ensembles out ahead of time
This is a really big one. I always pack extra, but this was a really incremental part of me managing only a carry on. Take only what you will actually wear! As a blogger, I needed to average 3 ensembles a day. So that meant I had to coordinate 9ish outfits. The reason for so many is morning and evening looks, along with additional ensembles to shoot in. By curating and stylizing my ensembles ahead of time, I knew exactly what I would be wearing which day and with what accessories. This limits un-needed access.
#3 Create a Final Cut
So when I packed, I made sure every piece would be worn and made sense for the occasions and looks I was aiming to create. If it didn’t make sense, I didn’t bring it. Here is what made my cut!
My carry on packing list:
Accessories
- Elaine Turner Ally Crossbody
- Jewelry roll storage: held 3 pairs of earrings, 2 necklaces, 2 bracelets, contacts and toothbrush
- Felt hat
- Curling Iron
- Straightener
Shoes
Dresses
Jackets
- XOXO embellished blazer
- Danny Nguyen Couture Jacket
- Chunky sweater cardigan
Tops
Bottoms
- Dear John Distressed Jeans
- Danny Nguyen Couture Embellished Mesh Skirt
- Express Shorts
- Black High-Waist Mini Skirt
Now to make this work, I chose to wear one of the shoes I selected so that I only needed to pack one pair, and I decided to wear a top and jeans so again, this cuts down on a few of the larger pieces that would otherwise be in the bag.
The next tip to make this work is space saver bags! I cannot rave enough about these bags! They have assisted me on multiple trips! All of the ensembles I packed for this trip fit into 2 bags and with the air out, took up minimal space.
The contents above is what all I had to place in my carry on. Everything easily fit with space to spare! If you are looking for a great sized, affordable carry on check out Target!
So that’s it! I hope you found this helpful if you are looking to travel with less baggage! As for my chargers, medications, and makeup, those were all stored in my tote as I like to keep those items handy! Happy travels!
