Less luggage, more outfits, and a whole lot less stress.
I'm a plus-size girlie who travels carry-on only, wears merino wool in the Dubai summer heat, and refuses to pack a completely different outfit for every day of vacation. Yes, really. And there's a method to my madness.
Let's talk about packing as a plus-size girlie. Albeit a shrinking one these days!
If you've ever looked at one of those adorable minimalist packing videos featuring someone who fits two weeks of clothing into a tiny backpack, you might have had the same thought I have.
That's cute. But my clothes are bigger than yours.
It's just reality. A pair of pants in a larger size uses more suitcase space than the same pair in a smaller size. Add a few dresses, sweaters, pajamas, and everything else, and that carry-on fills up FAST.
But I've learned that the secret isn't necessarily packing fewer outfits. It's packing fewer pieces that create more outfits.
And that, my friends, is where my love affair with merino wool comes in.
Why Carry-On Travel Matters So Much to Me
There's another reason I prefer to keep my clothing with me, especially when I'm traveling internationally.
Finding replacement clothing in my size isn't always easy.
If an airline loses my checked suitcase, I can't necessarily pop into the nearest boutique and replace my wardrobe. Even finding the basics in an unfamiliar city can become a challenge when you wear plus sizes.
And frankly? That's not how I want to spend my vacation.
Keeping my clothing in my carry-on gives me peace of mind. I know what I have, I know it fits, and I don't have to worry about whether my wardrobe is taking a different vacation than I am.
Of course, carry-on luggage isn't immune to problems. Airlines can still require gate-checking, and luggage can occasionally be misplaced. But keeping my essentials with me whenever possible gives me greater control.
Why Merino Wool Has Become My Travel Superpower
If you've followed me for a while, you already know that I love my wool& and WoolX.
Merino wool has become the foundation of my everyday wardrobe, and it's especially wonderful for travel.
Here's why:
- Repeat wears: Merino's natural odor resistance means I can often wear an item more than once before laundering, depending on the activity and how much I've perspired.
- Temperature versatility: Lightweight merino is comfortable in a wide range of conditions, making it useful for changing travel temperatures.
- Easy layering: My dresses, tanks, tees, and cardigans work together instead of functioning as completely separate outfits.
- Less laundry: I can air pieces between wears and wash as needed rather than automatically packing something clean for every day.
- Comfort: I want clothing that feels good during long flights, busy park days, sightseeing adventures, and everything in between.
And perhaps most importantly, these are clothes I genuinely enjoy wearing.
I'm not sacrificing my personal style to squeeze everything into a suitcase.
Wait, Wool in Dubai? In the SUMMER?!
Whenever I tell someone how much I love wearing merino wool, I think there's a good chance they're picturing a thick, itchy winter sweater.
And then I tell them I've worn merino wool through summers in Dubai, Italy, and Florida.
Oh, and let's not forget my everyday life in Dallas-Fort Worth, where summer is absolutely NOT for the faint of heart.
Yes, friends. WOOL. IN THE HEAT.
Here's the thing: not all wool is created equal.
The lightweight merino clothing I love is nothing like those bulky winter sweaters. Merino fibers can help manage moisture and support temperature regulation, making lightweight merino garments surprisingly versatile across different climates.
I've worn my merino favorites sightseeing in the summer heat, exploring Disney parks in Florida, and going about my everyday life in Texas.
And I've been comfortable doing it!
Of course, the weight and construction of the fabric matter. A lightweight merino tank or tee is a completely different experience from a heavy merino sweatshirt. And let's be clear, no fabric is going to make a sweltering Dubai afternoon feel like a crisp fall morning.
But that's exactly why I love having merino in my travel wardrobe.
The same lightweight pieces I wear during a hot summer vacation can become base layers when I'm traveling somewhere cooler.
Add a cardigan, jacket, or another layer, and suddenly my warm-weather wardrobe is doing double duty.
That's a BIG deal when you're trying to pack carry-on only.
Instead of packing one wardrobe for warm weather and another for chilly days, I can build around versatile pieces that work across different temperatures.
And when you're trying to fit plus-size clothing into a carry-on suitcase, that flexibility is worth its weight in gold.
Or maybe I should say wool!
My Disney World Packing Formula
Disney World vacations are a perfect example of how I use a small merino wardrobe to create multiple outfits.
My basic packing formula is surprisingly simple:
- Two pairs of wool& Summit Crops (leggings)
- Two merino tank tops
- Two merino T-shirts
- One black zip-up hoodie for layering
That's my core wardrobe! The hoodie is my layer for chilly AC, cooler mornings, or evenings, rather than another separate outfit.
I alternate pieces daily, mixing and matching the tops and bottoms rather than packing a completely different outfit for every day of the trip.
And because I'm wearing merino, I can often get multiple wears out of the same piece before it needs laundering.
I still pay attention to the weather, how active I've been, and whether something needs washing. After all, a hot and humid Disney park day is very different from an afternoon relaxing on a cruise ship.
But I don't automatically assume that every outfit has to go straight into the laundry after one wear.
The goal isn't to wear dirty clothes. It's to stop washing perfectly wearable clothes simply because I've worn them once.
My Work Trip Packing Formula
My work travel wardrobe follows the same philosophy, just with a slightly more polished look.
Instead of packing separate outfits for every meeting or dinner, I start with a few versatile pieces:
- One pair of my wool& Lane or Foster Kick Flare Pants
- Two to three merino T-shirts or tank tops
- One layer: my wool& Lou Moto Jacket or Johnny Ponte Jacket
- Comfortable, versatile shoes, such as sneakers and flats
- A few accessories to change the look, if I want them
Then I alternate and layer.
A basic tee and pants combination becomes more polished with a jacket. A tank under the same jacket creates a different look. Switching between tops keeps everything fresh without requiring a mountain of clothing.
And those jackets are exactly the kind of pieces I love for travel. They make an outfit feel intentional without requiring me to pack several completely different ensembles.
I can look professional, feel comfortable, and avoid checking a bag just to have enough clothing options.
My London and Transatlantic Cruise Adventure
One of my favorite examples of making a versatile wardrobe work was my September 2026 trip.
I spent time in London before boarding the Disney Dream for a 13-night transatlantic sailing from Southampton to Fort Lauderdale.
That meant preparing for multiple destinations, changing temperatures, sightseeing, time on the ship, and different types of activities.
Exactly the kind of trip that can tempt you to pack your entire closet!
Merino pieces were an important part of my approach because I could build different outfits through layering and repeat wears.
I also put together a packing graphic for that trip, which I'll share here to help illustrate how I planned my wardrobe.
The graphic's clothing plan includes four bottoms, five tops, two dresses, and two layers. The four bottoms are Rosso pants, Aspen Wide Leg Pants, Aspen Shorts, and a skort. The five tops are two Lily Ribbed Tanks, a Dawn Boxy Tank, a Poppy Reversible Tank, and a Raegan Ribbed Tank. The dresses are Adrienne and Clara, and the layers are a black Aspen hoodie and a purple D23 Expo sweatshirt.
It also shows two pairs of shoes, Brooks sneakers and silver Birkenstock Arizona sandals, plus two crossbody bag options. Those illustrated outfit ideas were my planning tool, rather than a day-by-day record of everything I wore. My actual travel photos show how the wardrobe worked in practice.
The point isn't that every trip requires exactly the same number of pieces. A cruise, a business trip, and a Disney vacation each have different needs.
It's that I can start with the same basic principle: choose clothing that works together, can be worn multiple ways, and doesn't automatically need laundering after every wear.
Even My Undergarments, Pajamas, and Socks Are Merino!
Here's where my dedication to merino wool really comes into play.
I don't stop at dresses, pants, and tops.
My travel wardrobe also includes merino undergarments, pajamas, and socks.
Why? Because the same benefits that make merino wonderful for my everyday outfits can make it useful for those essentials, too.
Lightweight pieces can be easy to pack, and many can be hand-washed when needed. Merino socks can also offer moisture management and comfort during long travel days.
Of course, I still change and wash underwear regularly. Merino isn't a substitute for basic hygiene!
But having clothing and essentials that are comfortable, versatile, and relatively easy to care for makes travel simpler.
Packing Less Doesn't Mean Having Fewer Options
Here's what I think people sometimes misunderstand about traveling carry-on only.
I still want choices.
I want to be comfortable on the plane, look cute while sightseeing, have appropriate clothing for dinner, and feel put together when I'm traveling for work.
I just don't need a completely separate wardrobe for every occasion.
A dress might work on its own one day, layered over a tee the next, and under a cardigan another day.
A pair of pants can work with a tank, a casual tee, or a more structured jacket.
And when everything coordinates, I can create outfits based on the weather, the day's activities, and my mood.
That's what makes a capsule wardrobe work for me. Not a strict number of pieces, but how many ways I can actually wear them.
My Advice for Fellow Plus-Size Travelers
If you're interested in trying carry-on-only travel, especially as a plus-size woman, here's where I'd start.
Choose pieces you already love. Vacation is not the time to discover that your supposedly perfect travel pants are uncomfortable after two hours.
Build outfits, not individual looks. If an item only works with one other thing in your suitcase, think carefully about whether it's earning its space.
Embrace layering. A small number of tops, bottoms, and outer layers can create considerably more outfit combinations than packing complete outfits individually.
Pay attention to fabric. Merino wool is my personal favorite because of its comfort, versatility, and repeat-wear potential, but the principle of choosing hardworking clothing applies to other fabrics, too.
Don't ignore your essentials. Pajamas, socks, undergarments, and comfortable travel clothing deserve just as much thought as your daytime wardrobe.
And remember that your clothing size matters. You don't need to pretend your clothing occupies the same amount of space as someone else's to become a successful carry-on traveler.
You just need a packing system that works for YOU.
My Favorite Merino Travel Pieces
Some of my most-used wardrobe staples come from wool& and WoolX, including:
- wool& Summit Crops
- wool& Lane and Foster Kick Flare Pants
- wool& Sierra Tank Dress
- wool& Lou Moto Jacket
- wool& Johnny Ponte Jacket
- WoolX merino tees and tanks
- Merino sleepwear, underwear, and socks
These are the kinds of pieces I build my travel wardrobe around, selecting what makes sense for each destination and type of trip.
Final Thoughts: More Adventures, Less Luggage
I'm a plus-size girlie who loves to travel. I love Disney vacations, cruises, international adventures, and discovering new places.
What I don't love is hauling around an enormous suitcase or worrying about whether my clothes will arrive at the same destination I do.
Merino wool has helped me approach travel differently.
Instead of asking, "How many outfits do I need to pack?" I ask, "How many outfits can I create from the pieces I'm bringing?"
And that little shift has made a big difference.
Now I'm curious: Are you a carry-on-only traveler, or do you prefer to check a bag and bring ALL the options?
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