If your fall trip includes multiple climates — like cozy mountains and sunny beaches, or chilly city mornings and warm afternoons — you’re about to face one of the hardest packing challenges ever.

I know, because I’ve done it.

I spent three months traveling through Italy (mid-September to mid-December) starting in the north, where it was already crisp and cool by October, and ending in Sicily, where the days were warm but the evenings still chilly enough for Christmas markets.

And yes, I did it all with one carry-on suitcase.

It took planning, patience, and a few rounds of outfit try-ons (okay, maybe five 😅). But once I figured out how to make most pieces work for both climates, it was a game-changer.

Here’s exactly how to do it — so you can travel from cold to warm (or vice versa) without overpacking or sacrificing cute outfits.

✨ Quick Tips Before You Start Packing ✨

Here are a few things that make a huge difference when you’re packing for both warm and cold destinations:

• Count your days in each climate. If 70% of your trip is warm, don’t let the cold days dominate your suitcase. Start packing for where you’ll spend most of your time.
• Plan outfits, not random pieces. Don’t pack a “cute top” just because you love it. Think in outfits. That’s how you avoid pieces that only work one way.
• Stick to a color palette. Make sure every top matches every bottom. It takes work (I spend about 1 or 2 hours laying everything out and testing combos), but once you do this a few times, it'll become second nature.
• Consider what you’ll actually be doing. If you have a one-off activity (in my case it was a sunrise hike to Mount Etna in December), don’t plan your whole suitcase around it. I just wore all my layers + trail runners. Done.
• Have a “travel day” outfit that works for both climates. Flights often take you from one extreme to another. I usually wear comfy joggers, a plain t-shirt and a denim jacket + pashmina so I can adjust as needed. All with pieces I can continue to wear throughout my trip.

3 Smart Tips for Packing for Two Climates (Without Overpacking!)

Here’s how to build a travel wardrobe that actually works when your trip goes from chilly mornings to sunny afternoons — or from cozy mountains to the beach.

These are the exact strategies I used for my 3-month Italy trip. They’ll help you stay stylish, comfortable, and confident no matter where (or how) the weather changes.

1️⃣ Use connector pieces that bridge both climates:

This is the secret to making one suitcase feel like two wardrobes.

Connector pieces are items that work in both climates — they tie your warm-weather looks to your cold-weather layers so everything flows together without feeling mismatched.

Here’s what that looks like in action 👇🏼

• ​Button-down shirt: Open over a tank or swimsuit on warm days, then layered under a sweater or jacket when it cools down. Which fabric you pick, it's up to you and your trip!
• ​Black midi dress: Wear it with sandals and fun jewelry at the beach, or with a sweater, leather sneakers, and a pashmina in colder cities.
• ​Leather sneakers: I wore mine almost daily in Italy — they worked for city exploring, travel days, and even casual dinners when styled with my midi skirt or dress.

💡 Pro tip: Choose connector pieces that work with everything else in your suitcase. If a piece only matches one outfit, it’s not versatile enough to earn its spot.

2️⃣ Get real about quantities:

Packing light starts with your carry-on, but success comes down to how many things you actually put in it.

Most people overpack because they don’t realize how little they actually need, especially when traveling through different climates.

Cooler weather means less sweat, which means you can easily rewear things. You don’t need 10 tops for a 10-day trip!

Here’s a better formula that actually works: (you'll create your travel day outfits from this final packing list)

👚 6 tops — a mix of short and long sleeves that all work with your bottoms

👖 4 bottoms — including at least one that transitions well between climates (like wide-leg pants or comfy joggers)

👗 2 dresses — because they take up little space and instantly give you new outfit options

🧥 1–2 outer layers — one for mild days and one for colder days (only if there are abrupt temperature changes)

👟 3 pairs of shoes — one for walking, one for warmer days, one for evenings

💡 Pro tip: If you’re traveling longer than two weeks, don’t add more clothes — plan to do laundry. It takes less time than repacking an overstuffed suitcase.

3️⃣ Choose the right fabrics:

When you’re traveling through different climates, fabric choice makes all the difference. It’s what keeps you comfortable without adding bulk, and it’s the reason I was able to wear the same pieces in both chilly Bologna and sunny Sicily.

During my Italy trip, most of my tops were made from thicker cottons and lightweight cashmere, not flimsy summer fabrics. They kept me warm when layered but still felt breathable on warmer days.

Even my black dress was a cotton–cashmere blend — soft, structured, and cozy enough for cooler evenings.

I also packed a couple of long-sleeve tees that worked in every possible way:

• Worn on their own for mild days
• Layered under sweaters when temperatures dropped
• Styled under my button-down shirt for an extra, lighter layer

💡 Pro tip: Look for midweight, natural fabrics that drape well and handle temperature swings — like cotton blends, merino wool, or cashmere. Avoid ultra-thin linens or bulky knits; they’ll either feel too cold or take up half your suitcase.

The right fabrics make your clothes adaptable — and that’s the key to feeling comfortable and stylish no matter the weather.

Packing for multiple climates isn’t easy. It takes thought, patience, and a few outfit try-ons before it all clicks. But once you get the hang of it, it truly changes the way you travel.

You’ll look put together, feel comfortable in any weather, and never waste time deciding what to wear on vacation again.

When I look back at my three months in Italy, I’m reminded that packing light doesn’t mean sacrificing style. It means having just enough of the right things.

I hope this post inspires you to try it for yourself. You can absolutely do this. I get success emails from you guys every single week saying they finally packed light for the first time and loved it. It is 100% possible for you too!

So take your time, lay it all out, and have fun with it. Once you’ve done this once, you’ll never go back to overpacking.

XO,

Aimara

More cold-weather packing articles:

• ​How to pack a carry-on for winter travel​
• ​A fall packing list using the 54321 method (great for 10-day trips)
• ​Your Europe fall packing guide organized by region​