My big sister has been asking me for ages how I manage to go on long trips with just a carry-on bag. One principal is that if you can go for a week you can go for a month, you just have to wash your clothes.
Here’s what I take in my backpack. (That was a particularly heavy load in the backpack for commuting to ‘school’ as you will see all the electronics and books in the suitcase here lightening the backpack load.)
Starting at the right, bottom to top,
Row 1: three weights of button-up shirt – summer sun cover, evening flannel, windbreaker-rain jacket. (If it’s going to be really cold you’ll be wearing your heavy coat and heavy shoes during travel.)
Row 2: bag with all the electronica; hiking shoes; undies; fanny pack.
Row 3: quart bag for liquids and gels (which I carry inside a heartier bag); ‘bathroom bag’; maps, guidebooks, reading; computer.
Row 4: bag with dressy outfit, swimsuit, warm socks (this bag rarely gets opened…); bag with 3 tee-style shirts, 3 pairs of pants, sleeping ‘outfit’; dancing shoes…your three button-up shirts complement, so everything goes together.
That’s about it…except maybe a scarf and hat if it’s a cold weather trip, maybe a sundress if it’s going to be very hot. It all fits quite easily into a carry-on sized bag and the containers keep the clutter down, and you’ve got AN (read one!) outfit for any occasion. Go! Have fun!