A Carry-On Packing List for Minneapolis

I can’t tell you how much of a relief it was to pack for the Twin Cities.

With a record-breaking heat wave at home (we were already in triple-digit temperatures in May), the forecast in Minnesota (highs in the 70s, lows in the 50s) looked absolutely dreamy.

Looking for more packing list inspiration? Discover what's in my suitcase each season: Spring | Summer | Fall | Winter

To get to and from the Twin Cities, we flew two budget airlines, and both charged for a carry-on bag. To keep costs low, we shared my Away Carry-On (with room to spare), and each brought our allotted “personal item” as well – all of this is pretty typical for Michael and me [edit: with rising baggage costs, I now only fly budget airlines with a personal item].

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What was new to me, however, was the challenge I bestowed upon myself to wear some of my more “precious” items throughout our trip. I often leave more expensive or special garments at home for fear of staining or ripping them during a trip, but I’d like to be better about wearing the clothes I love when I’m away from home too.

For this trip, that meant bringing a lot of silk – in fact, nearly all of the tops I packed were silk – which aligned perfectly with the weather. I knew we’d be doing some cycling and eating some messy foods during our visit, and this seemed like the perfect opportunity to put garments I hold dear to the test. I even painted my nails, which is something I almost never do before we leave for a trip.

Dear reader, I was living on the edge.

And with that slight over-exaggeration, here’s everything I packed for our three days in Minneapolis and Saint Paul:

PACKING LIST FOR MINNEAPOLIS-SAINT PAUL

Collage of all packed items for Minneapolis-Saint Paul — *innerwear* || Silk Tank || *tops* || Silk Tank | Embroidered Tee | Silk Tee | Long Sleeve Silk Tee || *bottoms* || Light Denim | Wide-Leg Pants || *outerwear* || Olive Jacket | Silk Bomber Jacket || *shoes* || Sneakers | Leather Flats || *pajamas* || Tee | Silk Shorts || *tech & accessories* || Sunglasses | Digital Camera | Belt | Portable Charger | Crossbody Bag | Tote

MINNEAPOLIS- SAINT PAUL OUTFITS

| wearing || Silk Bomber Jacket | Silk Tee | Wide-Leg Pants | Leather Flats | Necklace |

| wearing || Embroidered Tee | Olive Jacket | Earrings | Necklace | Sunglasses |

FINAL THOUGHTS ON PACKING FOR THE TWIN CITIES

So how did everything fare?

Just fine.

Despite sweaty bike rides, sudden downpours, and ingesting an entire Jucy Lucy, all of my clothes survived the trip.

And even better? I felt right at home in the stylish city with its own kind of alternative and international flair. Packing a suitcase full of a more “precious” fabric was a great travel exercise, and I think it worked well. These garments withstood the test, and they’ve lost a little of their luster. And yes, that’s a very good thing.

| all nail polish from Zoya and Chanel |

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Questions for you

How do you feel about bringing your “nice” clothes on trips?

Do you leave certain pieces at home, or do you chuck it all in your bag?

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Traveling Light: A Carry-On Packing List for Minneapolis–Saint Paul, Minnesota