MY PACKING SECRET TO 14 DAYS IN FRANCE WITH 1 CARRY-ON:

14 days, 1 carry-on.  I know, where do the shoes go?  One of my girlfriends told her husband that I was going away for 14 days with just a carry-on and she said he laughed his head off, he knows me well.  I don't like to check bags anymore, it's time consuming and you risk lost luggage and aggravation.  However, I usually don't go away for14 days at a time.  Since on this trip to France 5 of us we would be traveling by train from Paris, and then in an SUV, we needed to make sure all our stuff would fit so we agreed to bring one carryon size luggage and a tote bag.   I've linked a few things in this post that I've been asked about after I posted about the trip.  If you missed that post, you can read it here.

I'll start with the secret to my packing success, these right here, Vacuum Storage Bags. You fill them with clothes, close them up like a zip lock bag and use a little plastic pump to sucks the air out, (no cord, no battery, and you take the pump along). Your clothes flatten into a flat pancake packet.  It's amazing!  I experimented before the trip to see how easy or difficult this would be since we would be on the move a lot, packing and unpacking.  Also, how wrinkled would my clothes be? (I'm not an ironer).  Much to my surprise when you let the air out, the clothes fluff right back up.  This is seriously genius!!!  And they are reusable and inexpensive.  I used three medium size bags (the box comes with a bunch of different sizes) and three fit all the items on my list below. Here's how it works...

This is all you need, bag, pump and the little blue thing that slides across when you close the bag just like a zip lock lunch bag.

This is about 1/3 of my packing list below.  One pair of jeans, one big scarf/cape, three long sleeve T-shirts, one sweater, one jacket.

Put it all inside the bag, screw the cap off and attach the pump, it's super easy like a bicycle tire pump, only the air is coming out instead of going in.  

If it's a little lumpy that's OK.  I used 3 medium sized bags and here's what I brought. Everything is mix and match, easy if you keep the color palette simple.  And everything can be layered.  The pancakes bags, as I call them, all fit on one side of the suitcase leaving the other side free for 3 pairs of shoes, loafers, ballet flats, and boots, I wore these sneakers on the plane.  I even had room for an extra purse. (If you know me, you know).  My hair dryer brush fit too. This thing is also amazing.  I have very curly hair and with the L'ange dryer brush it only takes 15 minutes to dry and straighten, as opposed to 30 minutes with a regular hair dryer.  I also had room for a small fold up umbrella.  Paris was rainy.

Here's what I brought...

• 4 T-shirts 1 black short sleeve, one black long sleeve, one leopard print long sleeve, one cream color long sleeve.  I don't like to take a heavy jacket if the temps are in the high 60's.  I'd rather put a t-shirt under a sweater and then a little jacket or cardigan.
• 1 big brown and beige sweater 
• 3 turtlenecks, one black fitted, one black boxy, and 1 stripe I also worn on plane
• 1 black and cream stripe sweater set
• 1 pair dark wash denim jeans, also worn on plane
• 2 pairs of pants, 1 black and white, 1 solid black pair
• 2 skirts, both plated, 1 knit, 1 pleather
• 1 black and white big wrap scarf/shawl.  These are great for the plane especially coming home because if you can't fit your purse into your carry-on tote and it's a small cross body, you can slide it around to your back and keep the shawl closed, works every time.
• 1 black cardigan, worn on plane
• 2 boxy Chanel type jackets, 1 black, one cream (I LOVE this jacket and it comes in tons colors)
• 1 pair black leggings (for morning yoga)
• I pair of pajamas, socks, undies, hat

Cosmetic bag / toiletries, journal, vitamins, jewelry, and snacks went into my carry-on tote bag.

That's a lot right!  If you need to pack light, these vacuum bags are the way to go!  I can't wait for my next trip...

Happy Travels!