Picture this: it's late January, and I have 48 hours to pack.

Not for a vacation. For basically all of 2026.

We knew we were heading to Mexico. That was it. We had Mérida locked in for the first month. After that? Completely open.

No confirmed cities. No clear weather forecast beyond "warm." No idea if we'd be at the beach, in the mountains, at a fancy dinner, or hiking somewhere random on a Tuesday. (when does that ever happen? 😂)

For me, this was the ultimate "graduation" moment — everything I'd learned about packing light, put to the real test.

At first, I'll admit, it sent me into a full spiral. I started pulling out every "just in case" piece I owned. The big suitcase came out. The anxiety was very much present.

But then something shifted. I took a breath, went back to basics, and decided I was going to pack with calm energy. And that's what I want to talk about today.

Because here's what I've learned after years of carry-on travel: if you know the weather and a few likely activities, nothing else really matters.

I actually didn't know that was it. That's the whole secret 😳

How did I do it?

When I sat down to pack, I didn't make a list of cities. I made a list of weather conditions.

The parts of Mexico we would visit run warm to hot. I knew beach days were likely and of course the usual city exploring, dinners, and probably a few dressy occasions here and there.

✅ Done.

That's enough information to pack a complete, functional wardrobe for months.

I wasn't packing for Mérida specifically. I was packing for warm + casual + maybe a few nicer moments.

Those are categories, not destinations — and categories don't change just because the city does.

I also gave myself a built-in safety net: I knew we'd be visiting the U.S. in April for 5 days, which meant if I realized I was missing a piece of clothing, I could grab it then. That one small mental note took so much pressure off. You don't have to be perfect on day one. You just have to be covered.

Now, 2 months in, I'm writing this email from Playa del Carmen — and after that, we're heading to San Miguel de Allende for April and May. We still don't know what comes after that.

And I feel completely fine about my suitcase.

The same carry-on I packed in 48 hours has worked for a colonial city, a more relaxed coastal town, and is about to work for a charming, slightly cooler highland city.

I've done laundry.

I'll swap out a couple of items in the U.S. as planned.

Everything else has pulled its weight.

Here's the full packing list:

This is basically my entire closet until October 😳 (my husband carries my toiletry bag + gym shoes in his suitcase this time around)

Tops (8)

• ​Navy linen top (currently OOS — similar linen tops linked)
• ​Scoop Neck Tank Top × 3 (Redwood Brown, White & Navy / Size XS)
• ​Organic Cotton Waffle Cropped Sweater Tank (White / Size S)
• ​2 cropped tops (white & black / Size S)
• ​Cotton Cashmere V-neck Crop Top (currently OOS — similar options linked)

Bottoms (6)

• ​Tapered Linen Pants × 2 (Navy & Flax / Size XS)
• ​Cotton Poplin Pull-On Pants (Garden Green / Size XS)
• ​Cotton Poplin Pull-On Shorts (Garden Green / Size S)
• ​Silk Mini Skirt (Navy / Size S)
• ​White Pants (SPANX version sold out — similar options linked)

Dresses & Jumpsuits (3)

• ​Linen Jumpsuit (Martini Olive / Size XS)
• ​Linen Mini Dress (Gingham / Size S)
• ​Sporty LBD — Power Up Square Neck Dress (Black / Size S)

Shoes (4)

Quick note: I packed 4 pairs because I'm shooting content for the blog. I genuinely do not need all of them, but wanted some variety in my photos.

• ​Nappa Leather Slides (Bone)
• ​Flat Leather Sandals (Bone)
• ​White Leather Sneakers​
• ​Platform Leather Sandals (Cashew)

Layers (3)

• ​Cotton-Gauze Button Down Shirt (White / Size XS)
• ​Cashmere Long Cardigan (Grey / Size XS)
• ​Cashmere Crewneck Sweater (Oatmeal / Size S)

Miscellaneous

• ​1 bathing suit​
• Gym: 4 leggings (my favorites here) + 5 tops + Trailrunners (Nordstrom)
• Underwear / Socks (all underwear / all socks)
• Toiletries (in my husband's bag — no shame 😂)
• ​Linen Pashmina
• ​Leather crossbody bag (Dusty Pink)

This is the longest I've had this tiny 20" suitcase as my whole closet. I'm sure I'll be over my outfits by summer, but guess what? It will be just fine.

Here's what made it work: I packed versatile, lightweight pieces in neutral colors that work across different settings.

​A cotton crop top looks just as good wandering a market in Mérida as it does at dinner in Playa. These tapered linen pants have been on rotation since day one. My crossbody bag matches everything.

Nothing too crazy. Nothing that required knowing exactly where I'd be.

What I'm swapping in the US for the rest of the year:

Because I knew this moment was coming, I didn't freak out because I knew I'd replace a few pieces. Here's what I'm picking up:

• ​Chambray Shirt - a slightly more structured layer for cooler temps
• ​Green Wide Leg Jeans - adding some transitional versatility
• ​Cashmere Vest - San Miguel is cooler than any of the other places
• Possibly leaving behind 1–2 pairs of shoes + a dress (TBD)

The moral of all this: I guess you don't really need a confirmed itinerary to pack well. (I just learned this)

You need a weather range and an honest look at how you will actually spend your days.

Beach town or mountain city?

Casual or slightly dressy?

Warm or transitional?

Those are the only questions that matter. Once you can answer those, you can pack for pretty much anything.

Maybe this will give you something to think about. I truly hope it makes packing feel easier.

Remember, if I can do this, so can you!

Thanks for being here 💜

XO,

Aimara

>>> PS: if you have the LTK app, I've started posting daily content there with outfit pics and short styling tips. You can follow me here!​