I Swear This Flawless Summer Travel Capsule Wardrobe Fits in My Carry-On

Look, I’m not here to pretend that I’m a "carry-on only" traveller year-round. As far as I'm concerned, fall layers and winter footwear require a checked bag, and I’m fairly sure anyone who claims otherwise is lying. But! When it comes to summer travel, I really have it down. Do I travel this way all the time? Absolutely not—but I even when I don’t, these 20 core summer items are inevitably what I end up wearing on repeat.

This capsule is a not-too-dramatic evolution of summer’s past, with a few happy little additions that feel fresh for this season. It's obviously grounded in loads of neutrals for maximum mix-and-matching—but insert punchier options should you have a bit more of a devil-may-care attitude to colors and prints. For the record, I have the Away 'Bigger Carry-On' suitcase, and I love her dearly. All of this (just subtract my airplane outfit) fits happily inside, plus a book I probably won't read, and a week’s worth of undies, socks, and swimwear. If I can do it, I promise you can too.

Relaxed Pants

If I could only take one outfit with me on a trip this summer, it would 100% involve a pair of wide-leg linen or poplin pants. If you have room, both a solid neutral plus a bright stripe option is definitely the way to go.

Wilfred

Lodge Linen Pant

$128

Topshop

Plissé Pull-On Wide Leg Pants

$60

Reformation

Olina Linen Pant

$178

Go-To Tank

You know it's your go-to when you buy multiple in the same color, and deem one of them your "good tank". My personal rule is that a go-to tank should be under-$50, but this Toteme ribbed style is so good I broke my own rule.

TOTEME

Espera Rib Stretch Organic Cotton Tank

$110

Madewell

Plus Supima® Rib '90s Tank

$38$25

ZARA

Cotton Tank Top

$11

Minimalist Heels

If you're into a heel, then one low, strappy pair really is all you need. Black or another neutral is easy, but taking one colorful style and pairing them with everything—even when it's a little bit wrong—is big vacation energy.

TOTEME

The Minimalist Suede Sandals

$540

Intentionally Blank

Anca Sandal Heels

$189

Reformation

Serenity Bare Sandal

$248

Flip-Flops

Full transparency: I actually skipped the heels on my trip to Spain last month, and just went for two pairs of flip-flops (leather and rubber). Zero regrets.

DOF STUDIOS

Dof Studios Nadia Sandal Black

$200

Havaianas X Farm Rio

Flip Flops

$38

Steve Madden

Marnie Flip Flops

$70

Black Dress

Find yourself a lightweight black dress that speaks to your style, and wear it with leather flip-flops every single time you're forced to go straight from your daytime activities to dinner.

MANGO

Linen Dress With Knot Detail

$60

DISSH

Jem Black Linen Maxi Dress

$180

Reformation

Astoria Dress Es

$248

Light Knit

Whether it's a crewneck cardigan or a V-neck sweater, you want a light little knit that will fit in your tote just in case the AC is out of your control.

J. Crew

Cardigan Sweater in Tencel™-Lyocell

$118$90

MANGO

Knitted Cardigan With Jewel Button

$60

H&M

Short Fine-Knit Sweater

$18

Easy Shirting

Re-up on a classic white button-down, or feel free to lean into variations like summery eyelet details and boxy, silky styles.

TOTEME

Embroidered Organic Cotton and Silk-Blend Shirt

$540

Madewell

The Oversized Straight Hem Shirt in Signature Poplin

$73

ZARA

Embroidered Shirt ZW Collection

$109

Tailored Trouser

A little more put-together than those aforementioned pants, these are ready to be either paired with sneakers by day, or belted for some extra polish when you're heading to dinner.

THE FRANKIE SHOP

Piper Pleated Crepe Wide-Leg Pants

$245

Banana Republic

Siena Wide-Leg Italian Wool Pant

$150$89

everlane

The Linen Way-High® Drape Pant

$128

Breezy Top

I'm talking about summery tops that feel super effortless yet pack a little drama—think tie-fronts, billowy sleeves, relaxed ruffles, and lots of eyelet details.

DÔEN

Henri Voile Eyelet Top

$248

DISSH

Mimi Black Linen Tie Front Top

$100

Anthropologie

Long-Sleeve Eyelet Poplin Tie-Front Top

$148

Long Vest

If you haven't yet paired a long black vest with a white skirt, have you even gotten dressed this summer?

MANGO

Long Vest With Openings

$70

Reformation

Aspen Linen Top Es

$148

Gap

Linen-Cotton Longline Vest

$80$63

Sneakers

In place of the all-white sneakers that dominated past seasons, I'm currently a fan of low, vintage-inspired sneakers that feel just a little bit wrong (but oh-so-right).

ADIDAS ORIGINALS

Samba Mn Suede-Trimmed Leather Sneakers

$150

Reebok

Club C 85 Vintage Sneakers

$90

adidas Originals

Sl72 Og Sneakers

$100

Oversize Tee

I've written before about how oversize graphic tees were very notably everywhere in Spain, worn long over linen trousers and poplin skirts alike. It takes every fibre of my millennial being to avoid the half-tuck, but I promise it's key.

H&M

Printed T-Shirt

$20

Tibi

Crispy Oversized Easy Tee

$425

Topshop

Athletic Club Oversize Graphic T-Shirt

$43

Happy Jewelry

Simple gold chains and classic silver earrings are all well and good, but the vibe is more about fun pieces that can punch up your basic, capsule wardrobe. Colorful jewels, cord necklaces, and beach-inspired pendants are where it's at. Totally fine to get a little weird.

Roxanne Assoulin

Glass Gem Pendant Necklace on Braided Cord

$85

Zara

Long Crab Necklace

$30

MARTHA CALVO

Radiance Gold-Plated Necklace

$175

Polished Belt

My top picks are slightly sculptural, with hardware that feels like a little piece of art.

KHAITE

Axel Gold-Tone and Leather Belt

$980

Heaven Mayhem

Bean Belt

$190

B-Low the Belt

Gracie Leather Belt

$148

Classic Cap

I only ever want my caps to feel like they've been borrowed from someone's parent's friends during a visit to their beach house over a holiday weekend.

H&M

Embroidered-Motif Twill Cap

$18

Madewell

Broken in Organic Cotton Twill Baseball Cap

$30

JW Anderson

Baseball Cap

$145$87

Woven Tote

Summer's raffia bags are never not a thing, but a woven rope tote is where I've landed this summer. They're market bag-adjacent, just with a little more structure.

Cadiz Hand-Knotted Rope Tote

$90$70

Clare V.

Sandy Bag

$145

Faherty

Sunwashed Market Tote

$98

Zip Pouch

A tidy little zip pouch will double as a way to stop your things from jiggling around in your rope tote, as well as an evening bag to take to dinner. Loewe's Puzzle Fold clutch is firmly on my mind as a great leather option complete with a handy wristlet, but sometimes canvas and raffia styles are more the speed.

LOEWE

Puzzle Fold Leather Clutch

$1600

Polène

Ilo Pouch

$95

MANGO

Pochette Natural Materials

$40$26

Long Shorts

Slightly controversial, but I love a long short. Just lean into the knowledge that they're not meant to be flattering. They're just meant to be belted and worn out for a wine when pants feel like too much to ask.

Free People

Boomerang Long Denim Shorts

$98

Gap

11.5" Mid Rise Longline Denim Shorts

$70$41

Topshop

Linen Blend Bermuda Shorts

$55

Ankle-Grazing Skirt

Poplin, satin, silk, or linen. Pick your poison, pair it with a longish top and flats, and you'll be on your way.

Siovhan Satin Skirt

$123

Reformation

Petites Lucy Skirt

$198

COS

Linen A-Line Maxi Skirt

$135

Strapless Top

My pick is a longer style of strapless top with a little structure or shape, rather than a standard, tight boob tube. So good to elevate those long shorts, or wide-leg pants, and strike that balance between chill and polished.

COS

Linen Bustier Top

$120

ELOQUII

Bubble Peplum Strapless Top

$75$60

A.L.C.

Renee Strapless Top

$395