So let’s talk about budget friendly flights:

You’re scrolling through Kayak or Expedia or whichever website is your favorite and you want to find the cheapest flight. You’re going to visit your best friend in Chicago and you score a roundtrip flight for only $150! It also happens to be on one of your favorite airlines! So win-win, right? More money for food and booze!

Fast forward and you are looking at your itinerary and you noticed your flight was so cheap because you are in boarding group 5, you are assigned a middle seat, and you are not allowed a carry-on, but only one personal item.

For those of you who do not know, a “personal item” is, according to United Airlines, a purse, briefcase, or laptop bag that can fit under the seat in front of you and must be no bigger than 16 x 11 x 8in.

So that is what happened to me… and it was a problem.

I’m great at overpacking. Like really great at it. I love to be prepared for absolutely anything! Going to the mountain? I’ll count out about 10 sweaters and I’ll probably pack a swimsuit in case there are hot springs. Going to the beach? I pack every sundress I own, plus multiple rompers, and swimsuit covers.

However, the mountain and the beach are pretty safe. You know it will be cold or hot, makes things simple, right? But Chicago was a whole other story… I was preparing for weather to be anywhere from 50 degrees to 90 degrees. Plus I had to factor in humidity and choose which fibers would be best. If I was allowed a carry-on then I could have overpacked to my hearts content and been fine. But that wasn’t the case. I had to figure out how I was going to pack 7 different outfits in one small backpack.

So here it goes! For you Lizzie McGuire fans, Kate Sanders would be so proud. Following these guidelines allowed me to stay away from any “shameful” outfit repeating:

1. Layers! Pack things that are easy to layer, it helps save so much space if you are mixing and matching tops!
   • I packed 3 sweaters, 2 tees, and 2 bodysuits
   • I also had room for a change of underwear and socks for every day
2. Versatile denim
   • I really really wanted to pack 2 pairs of denim. But I physically couldn’t fit them in my bag… So I settled for my Mile High Rise Super Skinny Levi’s. They’re my comfiest pair of denim and they’re extremely versatile.
3. Choose shoes wisely
   • If you’ve ever lived in a city then you know that sneakers are non-negotiable. Am I right or am I right? Good. Glad we got that covered. I also packed a pair of heeled booties for going out dancing.
4. Accept that you won’t have your entire beauty routine with you
   • I know, going a week without exfoliating sucks. But that’s travel. I barely wear any makeup so I had plenty of room to pack lotion, conditioner, a razor, a pack of makeup removing wipes, and my curling iron. The only thing I really missed was dry shampoo…
5. Space saving pro tips:
   • Wear one jacket to the airport and carry a second one over your arm. Nobody at the airport is going to stop you from having an extra jacket on your lap.
   • If you take daily vitamin supplements like me then count them out and stick them in a ziplock bag. It takes up almost zero space!
   • Take a small purse and only one. At the PDX airport the flight attendant didn’t even bat an eye at it when I carried it with my backpack, but at ORD a flight attendant told me to stuff it in my backpack before going through security.

Since I spent more time trying to navigate my way around the city, I had little time to pose for perfect Instagram photos that feature every detail of each outfit I wore. But below is an example of how I created 2 looks by only taking off one layer:

With a plan to tour the city all day and hit up the clubs later in the night, I had to dress for both days. So I went with jeans and an off the shoulder bodysuit for later. To protect me from the chilly breeze during the day (it’s called the Windy City for a reason), I layered on a cropped sweater and a leather jacket. The only problem with this outfit was that I had to wear my dancing shoes for 13 HOURS! My feet hurt before the clubs were even open. Luckily I have this weird superpower where, every time I hear one of my favorite songs, my feet miraculously go dumb and I can dance non-stop!

Admittedly, I usually don’t care about outfit repeating. But if you do then hopefully this guide helps you out! I don’t believe that fashion should ever be sacrificed while traveling. If you want to avoid the cost of carry-on luggage or checked baggage then just remember that it’s easy to get creative and still look fly while you fly! Happy travels!