25: Everything I wore in France
and all in a carry-on suitcase, to boot.
I'm typing this from the comfort of an Air France pod, which—unsurprisingly—has far better food than Air Canada. Before you assume I’m the type of person who only travels in business class (I’m not), I should mention I was generously treated on a brand trip.
All that to say, we’re en route home to Toronto after a wonderful week away on two separate trips. The first was my best friend’s bachelorette in Montreal, and then I flew straight to Bordeaux for a dreamy work trip with Caudalie. Honestly, I can’t think of a more perfect week.
If you ever find yourself in Bordeaux, I highly recommend spending a few days at Les Sources de Caudalie. It’s the spa and hotel property located just across from Château Smith Haut Lafitte, a centuries-old winemaker that’s also the birthplace of the French pharmacy legacy brand, Caudalie. It was such a moving experience to visit the origin of a brand so near and dear to my heart, one that saw me through so many phases of my acne journey and its aftermath.
We spent our days tasting wine made from the same grapes whose seeds inspired Caudalie’s antioxidant-rich formulas. We walked through art-filled forests surrounding the property, went on bike rides, soaked in mineral spring pools, and relaxed at the spa. On top of that, the restaurant served one of the best hotel breakfasts I’ve ever had (and I love a hotel breakfast). It truly is a very special place.
The best part of it all is that I managed to pack a week’s worth of outfits (with some days requiring multiple changes) into a carry-on suitcase. When traveling to multiple locations, transferring between airlines, taking trains, and carrying personal belongings up stairs, the last thing I need is to burden myself with a large suitcase.
I thought about it. At first, I had enough outfit options planned to justify a medium check-in bag. But it’s so much easier to stay mobile and ready to go at a moment’s notice, especially on quick trips. When I was able to easily hop on the train from Bordeaux to Paris, I knew I’d made the right decision.
This Monos hybrid suitcase has already come with me on several trips this year, and I constantly get asked about it when I’m out. I find the storage capacity impressive, the design sleek, and the suitcase itself surprisingly lightweight.
The trick to packing for this trip was to create a capsule of versatile pieces, with a few accent items here and there, and pack strategically. It’s a little easier to do with spring/summer dressing, but here are some packing tips:
I brought two coats on this trip:
A long Kallmeyer trench (I purchased mine at River Crossing boutique in Toronto—the only store in the city I know that carries the brand, if you're looking to shop local) and a large COS leather jacket (similar here) for colder weather. I packed the leather jacket for my departing flights and wore it on the way home, packing the trench instead (it takes up less suitcase space). This freed up ample room for potential shopping opportunities.I’ve sung the praises of 119 Corbo’s in-house line before:
It’s full of staples that look as luxurious as The Row and don’t wrinkle. This time, I brought this skirt, which I was able to dress up and down on at least three separate occasions throughout the trip.My suitcase is meant entirely for clothes, shoes, and accessories.
All toiletries, makeup, and other essentials go in my personal item.Any item with hollow space,
Like purses and shoes, these are used to store socks and underwear.My travel outfit was a layered, everyday look I could easily repeat:
In this case: my favorite Frame barrel jeans, a Cou Cou Intimates tank top, a Jenni Kayne crewneck (which could be draped over my shoulders or worn), my trench coat, and my loafers.
Yes, I slept on the plane in jeans—these are very comfortable, and I had zero issues!
Here’s what I wore throughout my trip. Sadly, no outfit photos were taken during the Montreal portion of my trip, so we’ll start with day one in Bordeaux:
Packing well doesn’t mean sacrificing style, it just means being intentional. With the right pieces and a bit of planning, it’s possible to travel light and feel like what you’ve brought with you can formulate cohesive outfits. I’ve found that the more I refine my travel wardrobe, the more present I am on the trip itself—less time fussing over outfits, more time maximizing experience. If you’re heading somewhere soon, I hope this gave you a bit of inspiration to pack smarter, lighter, and with confidence.
Let me know your favorite packing hacks! I’m always looking to improve my system. And if you happen to be travelling to France, or even Bordeaux, you know where to go.
beauty in Bordeaux!