How I Packed for Two Destinations in Spain—With Just One Carry-On

As a stylist who visualizes an outfit for every occasion, committing to a carry-on for a trip spanning multiple locations and climates is definitely a challenge. Fortunately, I actually enjoy the thrill of a packing puzzle—it's a good thing I do this for a living!

Before any trip, I do a little walkthrough of the looks: trying everything on, refining combinations, and taking a photo of each outfit to create a trip library. Some may consider this exhausting behavior, but I see it as a future gift to myself. The prep makes the packing thoughtful and streamlined, eliminates a lot of decision-making once I arrive, and, frankly, relaxes me. So, I did exactly this for my recent trip to Spain.

For the first day off the plane, I packed a paper-thin black silk Harris Tapper dress right at the top of my suitcase, knowing there was a good chance our room wouldn’t be ready. Surprise: it wasn’t. I wanted something I could easily pull out and change into after the flight, swapping out my compression suit for something that would also gently cover the inevitable compression sock lines.

I added a men’s vintage silk fringe tuxedo scarf around the waist, a Le Sundial necklace, Dear Frances mesh sock shoes, and a large Elaree studio raffia tote. It was the perfect transitional look from a night of travel into the heatwave we landed in, and just elegant enough to snap me back into myself for a day at the Picasso Museum, followed by lunch and a little local shopping.

The next day, I kept it simple. A few black slip dresses are some of the best things to pack. They take up almost no room and work just as well for a day of museums as they do for a nice dinner out.

I wore this maxi one with a Fortuny scarf tied around the waist, which could be wrapped around my shoulders if needed inside the museums. I added gold cuffs, one vintage and one Cano, a pair of Vincent Blvd tinted shades, and a La Cortana pouch in the most deliciously soft butter leather. We spent the day visiting the Joan Miró Foundation and the Mies van der Rohe Pavilion.

For beach days, I kept things simple: silk bandanas from Gemsun and Toteme, a men’s vintage tuxedo shirt, Maya Stepper earrings, a Jenni Kayne hat, a Lamia Langa belt, and a pair of shell shorts.

Just a handful of easy styles that could be mixed, matched, and worn multiple days in a row—and pieces that flow well for long days in the water.

After a day of climbing down beach rocks, swimming, and soaking up the sun, I showered and slipped into this loose silk number that grazed my salt-sunned skin for a pre-dinner walk. An Easton Marley dress, a Le Sundial beaded necklace, a vintage silver brooch, a Lié Studio hairpin, Tom Ford glasses, Ancient Greek platform sandals, and a Hereu bag.

We had a magical visit to the Salvador Dalí House in Portlligat. On the heels of my recent article exploring surrealism in fashion, being able to step inside his world felt like a true dream come true. Through their love and partnership, Dalí and Gala created new worlds together, a space for living, working, collecting, and creative dreaming. Visiting this home was deeply important to me. I could have spent endless time there. You could feel Dalí and Gala’s love unfolding through every detail. It also reminded me so much of the whimsical layers my grandmother brought to her own home.

Arriving back in Barcelona, we had a memorable visit to Cortana, a world of natural fabrics, hand-painted textiles, and beautifully draped construction. I loved experiencing the Spanish brand up close, especially seeing how much versatility is built into each piece. This one dress alone, tried on in red, could be worn four different ways. I’m always drawn to pieces that can shift and transform depending on how you style them.

Just in time to try on this lusted-over dress for the opera that evening at the Palau de la Música Catalana. Built between 1905 and 1908 and designed by Lluís Domènech i Montaner, the concert hall is adorned in mosaics and sculptures honoring muses, over 2,000 flower motifs, and glowing stained glass. Visiting this opera house felt like a dream in itself, made even more special paired with the Radiance Case from my collaboration with Nina Runsdorf Jewelry and a tonal Cortana bag.

My Most-Worn Travel Pieces: