The carry-on is an honesty test. Every item has to justify its volume, its wrinkles and the emotional labor of keeping track of it.
Choose a color system
This does not mean wearing beige for a week. It means making sure outerwear, shoes and bags speak to most of the clothes underneath them. The more expensive an item is in suitcase real estate, the more outfits it should support.
Shoes are the tax
Shoes consume space and dictate the day, so be ruthless. A comfortable walking option, an elevated option and perhaps a specialized third if the itinerary truly requires it. Anything else should defend itself in court.
Dress from the top down
Jackets, scarves, jewelry and eyewear create visual variation without requiring an entirely new base outfit. This is especially useful on a trip where photographs make repeated trousers feel more repetitive than they actually are.
Finally: leave room. A carry-on packed to architectural precision on departure becomes a hostile object on the return. Chic planning includes space for the thing you have not found yet.
