Fashion Edit: South of France, one carry on

A two-week escape through France—from a Parisian pause to coastal drives and cliffside lunches along the Côte d’Azur.

Jul 01, 2025

Truthfully, I want my wardrobe to whisper “passport stamp” at all times.

Even in February. Even at baggage claim.

Linen that creases like a love letter. Silk that whispers against the skin. Flowy pants that can hold their own at both a beach bar and a Michelin dining room. Bright, citrusy colors that make you feel slightly more alive than whatever meeting you’re running late to.

It was even the reason I started a swimwear line in 2014. Not just for the beach. For the mood. The lifestyle. The suitcase collection, what happens when you dress like a woman who’s just come from somewhere beautiful, or is about to go.

The beginning of Summer, I roadtripped through the South of France—from Marseille to Antibes—with one carry-on, no backup plan, and a highly curated wardrobe that could handle wine tastings in old vineyards, chapel visits, seaside lunches, impromptu flea markets, and jazz-filled nightcaps in crumbling Gothic squares.

Because packing isn’t about function. It’s about expression. I wasn’t just preparing for a trip—I was setting a tone.

The Route (and the Mood) *more on my itinerary later

Marseille: Checked into Tuba Club—more retro swim club than hotel—and had a spiritual experience from a bowl of bouillabaisse from the nearby fishing village.
Cassis: Dove into cold water and rosé-fueled conversations, pretended I spoke French. Found this amazing store and bought a patterned linen set.
Vence: Lit a candle in Matisse’s chapel. Got emotional over lighting and all the sparrows at sunset.
Saint-Paul-de-Vence: Smelled old perfume. Bought a travel backgammon set I didn’t need. Pretended I wrote poetry.
Nice + Antibes: Jazz, oysters, barefoot bookstore browsing. Also, the carbonara of my life.
roadside cherries, vintage shops, and that one local who told me I dressed “comme une femme libre” (reader, I nearly wept).

The Carry-On: Sartorial Jazz

I packed with a goal, easy to mix and match, can both be dressed up or down, playful, unbothered, sun-kissed, and slightly mysterious. Someone who drinks wine slowly and never rushes through a gallery.

In the bag:

Oversized tote or personal item
2 swimsuits
1 colorful silk slip dress (worn four times, styled differently each time)
2 lightweight tops, 1 “conversation” skirt
1 oversized button-up (as cover-up, dinner shirt, and sometimes nap blanket)
1 easy sweater (for sunset walks and over-air-conditioned taxis)
2 pairs of sandals: one “walk forever,” one “let’s flirt” (heeled)
A cute hat
Jewelry that can be worn as a statement but also as a core piece
I always bring incense paper, I like a hotel room to smell good
A thank you note, just in case
A bit of space… for treasures I hadn’t met yet

I always leave room for treasures. A half-empty personal item, just in case: a vintage embroidered blouse in Aix, handmade sandals from a seaside stall in Cassis, a tiny bottle of star lavender cologne that made me feel like Bardot in the '60s.

Because the secret to living out of a carry-on for two weeks isn’t just “packing smart.” It’s knowing yourself. What you’ll actually wear and have fun in. What will make you feel like the best, most leisurely version of you?

Happy leisuring,
Cara
☀️🍒🪞