I’ve realized something about myself: no matter how last-minute a trip is, my weekend bag always includes these 5 pieces. I can try to overpack (and I do, often), but when it comes down to it, these are the things that actually get used. The rest just ends up folded at the bottom, making the weekend bag heavier for no reason.
Maybe it’s age, maybe it’s the quiet luxury obsession that’s finally sinking in, but I find so much comfort in knowing a few good pieces will carry me through. Whether it’s a quick countryside escape, a city staycation, or visiting family, these five always earn their space.
1. Versatile clothes
This is the backbone of any weekend bag. Instead of packing a dozen “options,” I stick to a few pieces that mix and match effortlessly. For me, that usually looks like:
- One soft knit: usually cashmere or merino in navy or camel. It works over dresses, with jeans, even tossed around shoulders.
- Tailored trousers: I bring one pair that sits at the ankle. They don’t wrinkle too badly and work with whatever shoes I’ve packed.
- A versatile dress: It’s the piece that ends up saving me. Simple enough for daytime, but with the right shoes or earrings, it passes for evening too. Sometimes it’s a silk dress, sometimes a cotton shirtdress, or a knit when the weather’s cold.
These three cover every scenario: morning coffee, museum afternoons, dinner out.
I once crammed five different dresses into my weekend bag for a Florence trip and ended up living in just one navy slip. Lesson learned.
It also helps that they’re in an old money color palette – camel, ivory, navy. Everything plays well together.
2. Shoes I don’t have to think about
Shoes can make or break a trip, literally. I’ve done the blisters-in-Paris walk of shame, and I never want to repeat it. That’s why I only pack two pairs at most:
A walking pair: Most weekends I pack loafers if it’s chilly, or ballet flats when it’s warm. My Aeyde Lana loafers have done everything from city trips to quick countryside escapes, and they’ve never let me down.
An evening pair: usually something slim and a bit dressier. Sometimes it’s the same as my walking pair, sometimes it’s a second option.
Sneakers are tempting, and sometimes I’ll swap them in, but if I’m honest, they rarely make me feel pulled together the way loafers do. If you’re curious, our old money shoes guide breaks down the best options for travel and everyday life.
3. Toiletry bag
I used to be the person who threw makeup and skincare into random pouches. It always ended in disaster, leaky bottles, missing toothbrush, the dreaded hotel run for cotton pads. Now, my toiletry weekend bag is just as essential as clothes or shoes.
It always includes:
- Mini cleanser, moisturizer, and SPF (travel-sized saves space, but I decant into Muji bottles to keep it neat).
- A signature scent in a rollerball. Just enough to feel like myself without carrying glass bottles.
- Basics I forget without a list: toothbrush, floss, hair ties, deodorant.
I also slip in a little luxury, usually a face mask or a tiny pot of body cream. Not because I need it, but because there’s something lovely about doing a mask in a hotel robe before bed. It’s my version of making a place feel like home.
4. Book or entertainment
Weekends away come with little pockets of downtime, train rides, slow mornings and evenings when everyone else is napping. That’s when I always reach for a book.
I have a bad habit of packing something overly ambitious (like a dense biography), but I’ve learned that slim novels or essay collections are better travel companions. They slip easily into a tote and don’t feel like homework.
If I know I won’t focus, I’ll load up a podcast playlist or download a few movies instead. The point isn’t to finish something, it’s to have something that slows you down, a little buffer between the go-go-go of travel.
5. The one accessory that makes it all feel finished
It sounds small, but one accessory pulls everything together. I’ve tested packing five necklaces, three belts, earrings for every mood… and they mostly stay in the pouch. The reality: one piece is all you need.
For me, it’s usually:
- A silk scarf: I always slip one in, usually something neutral with a subtle print. It ends up being the most useful thing I pack, tied onto a bag when I want it to look less plain, in my hair on windy days, or around my neck if the evening turns cooler.
- A slim leather belt: I usually toss in the same old brown belt, it’s nothing fancy, but it keeps jeans and a tee from looking too plain.
- Gold hoops: I hardly think about them anymore, they just go in every bag. Small, light, and they always give a little lift to whatever I’m wearing.
I pick whichever one I know I’ll wear every day, not the one I think I might. And honestly? That choice has never failed me.
If you’re building your collection, our old money accessories woman should own post is a good place to start.
Why five pieces is enough
The more I pare down, the more stylish I actually feel. Overpacking always leaves me stressed, like I’m inventing outfits I don’t even like. Sticking to these five categories keeps everything streamlined. Clothes, shoes, toiletries, entertainment, one accessory, that’s it.
It’s not about deprivation. It’s about traveling lighter, with things you truly wear and use. I’d rather spend time wandering through a new city than debating outfits in a hotel mirror.
And if there’s space, I’ll toss in one indulgence, maybe a silk nightdress, maybe something else. But even without it, the five always cover me.
Final thought
Packing used to feel like a headache I never got right.
Now it’s more of a habit, I grab the same pieces, zip the bag, and know I’ll be fine wherever I end up.
My weekend bag always includes these 5 pieces. Yours might be different, but that’s the beauty of it. The point isn’t to have the same essentials as everyone else. It’s to know yourself well enough to pack the things you’ll actually use, the pieces that make you feel at ease, even away from home.
People Also Ask
What should I not pack in a weekend bag?
Anything that falls into the “just in case” category. I used to throw in multiple dresses, an extra pair of heels, even a curling iron I’d never use. Those things almost always stayed untouched. If you know deep down you won’t reach for it, save the space.
How do you keep clothes from wrinkling in a weekend bag?
I keep it simple: I usually roll the soft pieces and fold the trousers or dresses. If something comes out a bit creased, I hang it in the bathroom while I shower and that’s usually enough. Nine times out of ten, the steam sorts it out.
Do you need different bags for different kinds of trips?
I don’t change the bag itself, but what goes inside shifts a little. The same five categories always come with me, clothes, shoes, toiletries, entertainment, and one accessory. The only thing I really change is fabric, lighter stuff like linen if it’s hot, heavier pieces like wool when it’s cold. Otherwise the same bag works just about anywhere.
