Traveling Light: A Packing List for Richmond, Virginia

You know I love to open up my suitcase after every trip and show you what went inside, and today I’m sharing an early spring packing list for a weekend in Richmond, Virginia.

Richmond is just within what I consider to be my driving radius for a weekend away – any further than the 4.5 hours by car from Charlotte, and I’m itching to hop on a plane. But even with the luxury of space in the car, I still prefer to pack everything I need for my time away in a carry-on suitcase.

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Traveling with just a carry-on forces me to carefully consider all of the clothing and items I want to bring ahead of time. After all, the number of decisions we have to make every day is already too high (according to one study, we make somewhere around 35,000 decisions in a day), so anything I can do beforehand to reduce decision fatigue is immensely helpful.

As always, I turn to my phone before I start pulling clothes from my wardrobe, first consulting my itinerary, and then checking the weather.

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

My weekend in Richmond was to be filled with a mix of cultural activities, casual and elevated dining, and a little bit of shopping. This meant my outfits needed to be comfortable but put-together (but thankfully I could leave anything fancy or fussy at home!).

Weather-wise, the early spring forecast showed both bouts of heavy rain and rays of glorious sunshine throughout the weekend. Temperatures were to remain cool, but thankfully not too cold.

(Why is weather so important? Well, even though I had access to my car, I prefer to get to know a city on foot as much as possible).

With this information gathered, I set about pulling out some new and old faves for my weekend wardrobe and packing them into my suitcase. You can see everything I packed in the graphic below, and then read on for some outfit photos and my thoughts on packing for Richmond.

RICHMOND PACKING LIST

Silk Tank* | Linen Sweater* | Breton Top | Jumpsuit* | Light Denim | Trousers℅ | Trench* | Alpaca Cardigan℅ | Sleep Shirt* | Crossbody Bag* | Heeled Sandals* | Sneakers℅ | Belt | Sunglasses |

WHY I CHOSE THESE ITEMS

Tops

Silk Tank* | This tank has a V-neck that’s just deep enough for date night, and shallow enough to feel comfortable for daytime.

Linen Sweater* | An easy, breathable sweater is perfect for spring days with cool mornings and sunny afternoons.

Breton Top | This top is as classic as a black tee in my book – effortless and comfortable to wear.

Jumpsuits/Dresses

Jumpsuit* | Lately I’ve been hot and cold on wearing dresses, but a drapey, elegant jumpsuit is always just right.

Bottoms

Light Denim | As the weather begins to warm, my denim begins to lighten. This pair has just a bit of stretch, and it is so comfortable to wear for hours in the car.

Trousers℅ | Somehow trousers have turned modern in the past few years; these are soft and drapey – and perfect for an evening at the museum followed by dinner and drinks.

Outerwear

Trench* | I picked up this trench on my first visit to London nearly ten years ago after sifting through racks and racks of options, and it’s still such a great style for travel.

Alpaca Cardigan℅ | A soft, fluffy cardigan in an unexpected color. Somehow, it works with just about everything (is it a neutral hiding in neon?).

Pajamas

Sleep Shirt* | I can’t sleep in anything uncomfortable – especially when I’m already adjusting to sleeping in an unfamiliar place.

Shoes and Accessories

Crossbody Bag* | This bag is little but mighty, thanks to its many pockets – and a crossbody strap keeps my hands free for more important things, like coffee.

Heeled Sandals* | I honestly didn’t think I could go back to wearing heels after several years at home barefoot, but it turns out the trick is a wide-toe box, a block heel, and good cushioning.

Sneakers℅ | White sneakers with minimal branding – what more can I say?

Belt | A classic black leather belt that looks far more chic than its price tag suggests.

Sunglasses | My new go-to pair, with a helpful lifetime warranty.

Not Pictured

Undergarments | One bra to wear, one bra to let rest, and then far too much underwear (just in case!). Plus a nude-to-me camisole to wear under my lighter tops.

Makeup and Toiletries | My usual makeup, stored in this bag (reviewed here), accompanied me on this trip. Dry goods and style tools have been toted along in this lightweight bag, lately. As for the rest of my toiletries, I leave all my liquids like sunscreen, foundation, and cleansers in their quart bag.

Jewelry | Well, I packed a small case of jewelry for this trip, but mostly resorted to wearing the pieces I had worn the day before: a chain necklace, a pendant necklace℅, and stud earrings.

Camera | My iPhone still can’t quite compete with this point-and-shoot.

Umbrella* | Well, I used the one I always keep in my car – but if you’re traveling in the Southern U.S. and Mid-Atlantic states, it’s best to have one within reach for our sudden storms!

RICHMOND OUTFITS

Alyssa wears a v-neck silk tank, jeans, and sneakers in two photos — Silk Tank* | Light Denim | Sneakers℅ | Belt | Crossbody Bag* | Sunglasses | Chain Necklace | Pendant Necklace℅

Alyssa and Michael take a mirror selfie before dinner — Linen Sweater* | Trousers℅ | Heeled Sandals* | Belt | Chain Necklace | Pendant Necklace℅

Alyssa runs her hands through her hair at a rooftop bar — Jumpsuit* | Trench* | Chain Necklace | Pendant Necklace℅ | Chain Hoops | Stud Earrings

Alyssa wears a blue sleep shirt and peers out the window — Sleep Shirt*

Alyssa wears a Breton top with jeans and a trench — Breton Top | Light Denim | Sneakers℅ | Belt | Crossbody Bag* | Sunglasses | Chain Necklace | Pendant Necklace℅

*this item is no longer available and a similar product is linked

MY THOUGHTS ON PACKING FOR RICHMOND

On this particular packing list:
Reflecting on the items I brought to Richmond, this felt like a pretty successful pack! I felt polished and comfortable in every setting – never over- or under-dressed.

But I did encounter an issue with my wardrobe as I made my way through the weekend: the faux-leather piping on my trench coat started to crumble, and once it started, it couldn’t be stopped. As it was my only coat for the weekend, I had no choice but to brush away the black flakes and continue wearing it. I wouldn’t repurchase this coat today, but I’m hoping to find the time to fully remove the piping now that I’m back home.

General thoughts on packing for Richmond:
Packing for Richmond isn’t unlike packing for any other destinations here in the region; although it is a center for commerce and government (you’ll see plenty of business wear during the week), the presence of higher education institutions pushes the needle a bit more casual. Still, I observed the city’s style is a little more classic than avant-garde.

Regardless of whether you want to fit in or stand out in Richmond, there are a few non-negotiables: Comfortable walking shoes, sunscreen, an umbrella, and a light jacket (yes, even in the warmer months -the A/C in some places can be fierce!) should all be on your Richmond packing list.

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Questions for you:

Have you ever had a reliable garment fail you during a trip?

What is your go-to outfit for an elevated dinner out?

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