You know that moment you're packing for a fall trip when your suitcase is wide open, your clothes are everywhere, and you’re thinking: “How does anyone pack a carry-on for this season without losing their mind?”

Yeah... I get it.

Fall is one of the hardest seasons to pack for. The weather can’t make up its mind, one sweaters take up the space of three t-shirts, and shoes? Ohhh the shoes.

But as I always say... it doesn’t have to be a struggle 😅 (don't slap me through the screen)

Once you understand a few simple tricks, fall packing suddenly feels… dare I say… easy. And I’m here to walk you through it, step by step.

So, let’s talk about the 3 biggest struggles women face when packing for fall travel (aka the things you’ve probably Googled at 11 p.m. the night before a trip 👀), and how to fix them so you feel confident, stylish, and light as ever.

1️⃣ “How do I fit bulky fall clothes in a carry-on?”

Translation: sweaters, coats, and boots are eating up every inch of your suitcase.

Here’s the fix:

• Pick thin-but-mighty fabrics. Merino wool, cashmere, and lightweight down are warmer than chunky knits and way easier to pack.
• Wear your bulkiest pieces on the plane. Even if it’s hot where you’re leaving from, that coat or pair of boots doesn’t need to eat suitcase space.
• Understand how many quantities you'll need. Don’t guess — use simple ratios. One sweater for every 2 days, one bottom every 3–4 days, one versatile coat per trip, and one pashmina or scarf that works with everything. Stick to these numbers and you won't overpack again! The shorter the trip, the more you can tweak these numbers down.
• MVP move: Bring a good pashmina. Blanket, scarf, outfit finisher — she’s got range ;)

Bottom line: bulky isn’t warmer. Smart fabrics and layers will save your suitcase (and your sanity).

2️⃣ “How do I look stylish when the weather keeps changing?”

Translation: fall can be 45° and rainy in the morning, then 70° and sunny by lunch. You don’t want to feel underdressed or stuck in layers that make you look frumpy.

Here’s the fix:

• Color palette magic. Stick to 4-5 main colors (like navy, camel, cream, olive, burgundy). This makes mixing and matching automatic — no mental gymnastics every morning.
• Intentional layering. Base layer → sweater → jacket/coat → scarf. When your layers look styled instead of thrown on, you feel chic and stay warm.
• Golden rule: Make sure every top matches every bottom. That way, when you’re peeling layers on and off all day, whatever’s left still looks like an outfit — and you’ll get way more combinations out of fewer clothes.
• Carry smart. A small backpack lets you stash layers throughout the day as the weather changes. (I do this constantly, and it makes my life so much easier on long days of exploring).

I travel with the backpack below as my personal item (similar ones here, same brand). We use it at our destinations all the time! It makes it really easy to have extra layers handy when the weather can't decide.

I also happen to have an irrational fear of being cold 😂

⭐️ Pro tip for long trips: Re-wash 5–6 key pieces at around day 10 or 11. If everything goes together, you'll be able to create new outfits by mix and matching in different ways.

3️⃣ “What shoes should I pack for a fall trip?”

Translation: you’re torn between comfort and style, and you’re scared of packing the wrong pair.

And I get it, packing the wrong pair of shoes is one of the worst things that can happen (packing related of course 😅), so you do have to think about this.

Here’s the fix:

• Test drive first. Don’t wait until London to find out your shoes rub in all the wrong places. Do a real trial: walk at least 10,000 steps in them before your trip. It’s normal if they feel stiff the first 2–3 wears, but once they’re broken in, they’ll be ready for all your explorations (and your feet will thank you).
• Make sure all your shoes match most of your bottom pieces (all if possible). You shouldn't have a pair of shoes that only goes with one bottom piece. And also, don't forget they have to match your dresses too!

Quick cheat sheet for matching your shoes to your bottoms in the fall:

👉🏻 Loafers → jeans & trousers

👉🏻 Sneakers → literally everything (that's why I love them)

👉🏻 Ankle boots → dresses + tights, skinny jeans & wide leg pants

• Limit yourself. 2–3 pairs max: one walking shoe, one dressier shoe, maybe one “fun” pair. That’s it. You'll pick your shoes based on occasion/activities NOT colors.

🎯 Pro tip! Do the bottoms test. Lay out every pant/skirt/dress you’re bringing and make sure each shoe works with all of them. It’s such a simple trick, but it will save you from packing “orphan shoes” that only go with one outfit.

Here's how it looks like for me ⬇️

✅ All my tops match all my bottoms (7 tops x 4 bottoms = 28 looks)

✅ All my shoes match all my bottoms (and my favorite linen dress). The sandals in the middle are the Reef Water Vista, those are mostly for water related activities. I'm currently in Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula until the end of November.

✅ I tried on every single outfit in advance to make sure they looked good in real life (I already know 99% of the pieces in my closet are comfy). Flat lays do not count as try ons.

In all transparency, it doesn’t take me 10 minutes to get here. I usually pull out double the pieces, then move things around until everything clicks. These rules are golden for longer trips (21+ days). For shorter getaways, you can totally relax them a bit.

Most people think their struggle is suitcase size. It’s not. It’s quantities. Once you realize you don’t need 12 tops or 5 pairs of shoes for a week long trip, packing suddenly feels lighter.

For reference: I’ve traveled with just 9 pieces for 4 days (and it worked out perfectly). For my upcoming 6-week Asia trip, I’ll take ~22 pieces and create 50+ outfits — all from this little 20” carry-on. (Yes, I’ll share every detail with you!)

Thanks for hanging out with me here 🩵

If packing light is your struggle, stick around — I’ve got lots more tips coming.

XO,

Aimara

More travel styling articles? I've got you! ⬇️

• ​A minimalist fall packing list using the 54321 method​
• ​How to pack less toiletries​
• ​The 7 best travel accessories you will actually need​