jeans. top. sweater. boots. purse. overnight bag.
I spent last weekend in NYC with my sister Meghan. I was gone for 3 days and packed everything in this Madewell overnighter bag.
I thought it would be fun to give you an idea of what to pack for a long weekend in New York City in the winter.
I’ve shared a lot of posts in the past about capsule packing. (In fact, this first one I wrote back in 2015 is one of my most read posts.) It’s one of the best practices for travel I’ve adopted over the years, and it has improved the quality and removed so much stress from my trips ever since I started incorporating it. It’s never more valuable than when I’m getting away for a quick weekend. That’s when I want most to pack light, be extra mobile, and not waste a minute fussing about my clothes.
So what is capsule packing and how does it work? It’s funny and almost counter intuitive. You’d think that the more you pack the better prepared you’ll feel and the easier it will be to get dressed, but I’ve found the opposite to be true. They call it the paradox of choice; i.e.. too many choices causes clutter which equals anxiety and frustration. I know you’ve been there before, a suitcase bursting at the seams, over the weight limit and yet the entire trip you’re struggling to put a decent outfit together.
CAPSULE PACKING IS ALL ABOUT SIMPLIFIED MINDFUL PACKING.
It’s about being super intentional with what you put in your suitcase so you can bring as little as possible, still have everything you need, be more prepared for contingencies, feel confident in what you are wearing even without your entire closet at your disposal, and most importantly, not waste valuable time on your trip trying to figure out what you are going to wear.
You start by considering your needs are on the trip, checking the weather and choosing your items accordingly. I like to pick versatile neutrals that can be mixed and matched and are interchangeable with each other. I generally stick with one base color (usually black or navy) and work from there. If I’m going to add in color, I’ll typically add in one color that can work with everything I’ve packed. each item included needs to earn it’s valuable space in the suitcase, meaning it can be worn multiple ways on multiple days. Chosen wisely, a few items can create endless outfit combinations.
I also pick one great pair of comfortable leather shoes (boots in the winter, sandals in the summer) that can be styled with all the looks. This works great for simplifying and cutting down space and weight. Shoes are a space/weight killer. I usually include 1 pair of sneakers as well, for exercising, and also to incorporate into the outfits, especially on days where we are doing lots of walking.
Packing light for winter travel can be tricky because you need more layers to stay warm, and winter clothes are far bulkier. My tip is to wear your bulkiest items on travel days to save room, and only bring 1 coat and 1 pair of boots. If you need another coat option, try a packable puffer. They shrink down really small, can be used as a travel pillow, and can also be layered under your main coat for added warmth. This is a good idea in a city where you will be out for longer.
Here’s what I packed into an overnight bag for our winter weekend in New York:
coat. packable puffer. long cardigan. turtleneck sweater. striped turtleneck. white hoodie. floral dress. leggings. skinny jeans. transport tote. overnighter bag. gloves. hat. tights. sneakers. booties. similar here and here as well.
What I love about all these pieces is how comfortable, cozy, and versatile they are. I only really needed 3-4 outfits, but I could have made 10 different outfits with just these few items. Also, they all layer really nicely, which is important when traveling in the winter, you need that extra warmth.
Once you have all your items chosen, try rolling the pieces you’re packing rather than folding, then placing them strategically in your overnight bag to make it all fit!
If you have a trip coming up, my weekly outfit planner actually works really, really well for putting together a travel capsule. There’s a space for what you are going to be doing that day, as well as all the items you plan to wear, even down to the accessories. You can grab one here:
What about toiletries?
How do you pack those?
I find they take up just as much space as the clothes (and that includes them being travel size and not bringing all the things from the bathroom).