The Dirty Dozen: How would you do it?

Whether it's Kennebunkport or Kathmandu, everyone needs a stylish, flexible, streamlined travel wardrobe. And if you happen to be flying anywhere, it's often recommended, especially in international cases, to bring a change of clothing or two in your carry-on, in case your luggage gets routed to you in Hawaii via... Seoul. Now that would be a disaster.

This piece of advice got me thinking... how long could I last using one carry-on?

A large carry-on bag could hold, if packed correctly, about a dozen items plus essentials like shampoo (trial size) and travel documents, etc. Say you are going somewhere with one carry-on. You get to pack 12 clothing/shoe/accessory items. What would you bring, and how long could you last without repeating an exact outfit, not counting your plane outfit?

Hayley's Dirty Dozen:

1. black v-neck tee shirt
2. printed blouse
3. chiffon cami
4. khaki mini-skirt
5. white jeans
6. dark straight-leg jeans
7. black sundress
8. flat metallic leather sandals
9. black wedges
10. white blazer
11. bright scarf
12. statement necklace

Outfit Combinations:

Sight-Seeing in Rome

Seafood dinner in Cinque Terre

Day at the Uffizi

Cafe Za-Za in Venice

Audience with the Pope

Cruise to Capri

Shopping in Milan

Alexanderplatz Jazz Club

Eight outfits with twelve pieces! Not too bad. And I didn't even cheat by just taking Outfit 7 and throwing on the scarf. If you are willing and able to re-wear items (everyone should be, and is), you can truly pack light and live light. Here are a few principles that made this Dirty Dozen a success:
- all neutral bottoms and neutral outerwear
- one flat and one high sandal, both dressed up or down
- a scarf replaces a necklace
- neutral dress, dressed up or down
- prints that are few but flexible
- comfortable shoes and washable pieces (except blazer)

If you could squeeze in one more top or a few pieces of jewelry, maybe even a belt, you could smash out a handful more awesome combinations. And all these outfits were classy, appropriate, and relatively comfortable.

What would be in your Dirty Dozen?
Hayley