Every time I set out for a weekend home to visit my parents, I seem to get amnesia when it comes time to pack. 

How many outfits do I need? 

How much are we going to do? 

I should bring all of my jewelry because my mom and I love playing around with it, right??!

I never seem to have a grasp on what (read: how much) to throw in the suitcase, so I’ve documented what I packed this time around. Because for once—I cracked the code! If you’re traveling for a week anytime soon, bookmark this post as a reference point. I hope it’s helpful!

In My Suitcase for One Week at My Parents’ House

3 Pairs of Leggings
These are my all-time fav! This was the perfect number of leggings for working out + lounging for a week-long visit. 

One Oversized Sweater 
This was perfect for the mild weather—I didn’t need a coat with it on the warmer days. It was ultra-comfortable but felt more polished than a sweatshirt or athleisure. Also, TBH—perfect for any day I felt a little bloated after delicious holiday meals. 🙂 My sweater was from H&M years ago, similar here.

Blue Wide-Leg Jeans
These are my go-tos that I’ve shared ad nauseum. I wore them to church one morning with a black mockneck and paired with a burgundy sweater on Christmas day. So versatile, comfortable, and reasonably priced. 

Black Wide-Leg Jeans
I believe traveling with a pair of good black jeans is a non-negotiable. They easily dress anything up and work for casual looks, too. I dressed up my outfit from church with these jeans for a family Christmas dinner. I’m always so glad to have these.

Black Mockneck
This sweater is a winter staple in my closet. I wore it on three separate occasions on this trip and never get bored of it. A true (and chic) classic, and the ultimate piece for mixing and matching.

Christmas Eve Dress
The colors of this dress are what originally drew me to it, and I knew it would make the perfect Christmas Eve outfit paired with tights and these black Mary Jane heels (which are the perfect height and very comfortable! I love!). They don’t sell the exact color combo of the dress anymore, but this leopard print is so pretty!

Burgundy Sweater
I brought a burgundy sweater with a pearl collar detail and love that this, too, can be dressed up or down. Perfect with either the black or blue jeans I packed. Capsule wardrobe for the win.

Colorful Sweatsuit
I wore this zip-up and pair of sweats when we drove ten hours, and it was super comfy + made me feel a little pulled together (if you can feel that way on a 10-hour drive, ha). 

Cozy Sweatshirt
Every Christmas break calls for a cozy sweatshirt! I wore this often with leggings when working from home, watching The Holiday with my mom, or putting together a 1,000 piece puzzle with the fam. Cute one here! 

My Favorite PJs
Matching pajamas are one of my favorite delights in life. These served me well for the week we were in Des Moines and are some of the softest and dreamiest (pun intended) PJs I’ve found.

I found this to be the perfect quantity of clothes and a great collection to mix and match from. 

What are your favorite travel basics to pack? Drop a comment and let me know!

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Post Scripts

— A few more thoughts on traveling and our personalities with packing.

— This is how I simplified my makeup bag—

— Forever on a mission to wear the clothes I have and love

— If you also love fashion, you need this book! Changed my perspective on personal style in 2025 (which I shared about here).