How to Pack a 5-Day Work Trip in a Carry-On (and Actually Have Options)

There are two types of travelers. The ones who check a bag without thinking about it. And the ones who have made a religion out of never checking a bag. If you're in the second group, you know the specific satisfaction of walking straight off the plane while everyone else waits at baggage claim. You also know the specific frustration of realizing you've packed five variations of the same neutral blouse and none of them feel right for Thursday's client dinner.

Packing light without packing boring is harder than it sounds.

Here's the system that changed how I travel.

• Two SAUV sets: the Everyday and the Moderne. One is soft organic cotton for everything casual: the flight, working from a cafe, a low-key dinner. The other is a sleek high0quality nylon that holds its shape all day and reads elevated without trying.
• Then four sleeves: Everyday Long Sleeves. Moderne Long Sleeves. Drama Queen sleeves. Fleur Sleeves. Two tops and four add-ons that fold flat and take up the space of one packed blouse.

The week, mapped out:

• Monday - Everyday set, no sleeves. Travel day, casual.
• Tuesday - Moderne set with long sleeves. Meetings all day. 
  • Tuesday night - Snap off the long sleeves, snap on the Drama Queen for dinner.
• Wednesday - Moderne set with the short sleeves. Same elevated look, no one knows it's the same shirt.
• Thursday - Everyday set tank with sweater on top. Then, I snap on the Fleur sleeves to meet up with a friend for drinks.
• Friday - The combinations I haven't tried yet. Two bases. Four sleeve options. Eight or more looks, depending on how you mix them.

What I'm not packing: a blazer I'll take off and carry all night. A separate going-out top. A second dress for Thursday. A cardigan for the freezing hotel conference room.

SAUV sleeves fold down to almost nothing. The dust bag keeps them safe and fits in your work bag. Everything washes easily if you need a quick hotel sink rinse.

Five days. One carry-on. More outfit options than I used to bring for two weeks.