1. Choose a Colour Story Before You Pack
Packing light doesn’t mean wearing boring clothes. The trick is to pick a simple colour story before you even open your suitcase. Choose two base colours—say black and denim—or tan and white, and then pick tees that work with both. If all your bottoms play nicely with all your tops, you can bring fewer pieces and still have plenty of outfit combinations.
2. Limit Yourself to Three Statement Shirts
For a three- or four-night city break, three graphic tees are usually enough: one for daytime exploring, one that works for casual dinners, and one backup in case you spill gelato down the front of the first two. Pick designs that can dress up or down. Clean typography and small chest prints are easier to pair with jackets and boots than massive full-front cartoons.
Roll each shirt instead of folding—it saves space and keeps prints from creasing as much. If you’re worried about suitcase wrinkles, pack one plain tee you don’t mind sacrificing as a “buffer” between more delicate prints and rougher fabrics like denim.
3. Layer Smart, Not Heavy
The real secret to travelling light with tees is layering. A single lightweight overshirt or unstructured blazer instantly makes a T-shirt feel more intentional. A thin hoodie works as a mid-layer and as a jacket on milder evenings. Pick one outer layer that works with all three tees and wear it on the plane to save space.
Shoes follow the same rule: wear your bulkiest pair in transit and pack one lightweight backup. Trainers and one smarter pair are usually enough for most cities. If your T-shirts feel good and fit well, you won’t miss that extra pair of jeans you left at home.
Finally, remember that city breaks are about exploring, not doing a catwalk show. If you feel comfortable walking for hours and you like the designs you brought, no one will notice that you wore the same jeans three days in a row.
