I'm A New Yorker Moving to Nice, France—Here's What I'm Packing

Packing light? That’s a foreign concept for most fashion people (myself included). Even as a seasoned traveler, I’ve come to accept that no matter the destination or duration of my trip, I’m destined to dish out a few extra dollars for my luggage. Believe me, I’ve tried, and failed, countless times to pack more efficiently. Yet, despite my lived reality as a chronic overpacker, I recently became determined to take on one of the biggest challenges of all: moving abroad. Yes, friends, you read that right! The girl who has never packed light a day in her life unironically decided she’d uproot her entire existence in New York to become an expat in Nice, France. Call me a masochist or a radical optimist, but after spending a few months traveling through Berlin, Paris, and Milan in the spring, I’d become convinced I could learn to live with less.

C’est si romantique, right? Oui, in theory. But in practice? Not so much. It’s one thing to figure out what to pack for a vacation, which, by the grace of a high-power, I’d managed to pull off this past spring. But figuring out what to pack to move abroad? Well, that’s a whole different story. In all fairness, I’ve moved across the country twice before, but that doesn’t come close to the logistics (and luggage) required to move to a new continent. I knew I’d have to really pull a magic trick out of my back pocket, or in this case, my baggage, to pull this big move off. Ahead, I’m sharing my experience moving abroad, including a few suitcase organization hacks and tips on what to pack for your own trip (or move) to the South of France. Spoiler: my suitcases were overweight in the end, but as the French say: c’est la vie.

One of the first things I’d recommend you do when planning a move abroad is ask yourself a few questions: How long are you moving? How do you want to show up in that new place? How much do you want to spend on moving costs? How much do you want to bring with you? And lastly, how much are you willing to leave behind? Be frank with yourself, because what works for one person doesn’t work for everyone. During my packing process, these questions helped me decide to sell most of my belongings except the essentials (i.e., clothes, books, vinyl, and mementos). After making that decision, adopting a “lighter” approach to packing became easier, as I could sort through my belongings into three categories: sell, store, or suitcase. Admittedly, this approach made parting with things the easiest part; the hardest part was accepting how much time it took to pack. Because I was determined to fit my entire life into these categories, I spent around two months selling and packing. 

The only thing that kept me from pulling my hair out during the process—and that I’d recommend for anyone considering a similar big move, or simply a closet downsize—was second-hand resale platforms: Facebook Marketplace, Depop, Poshmark, and my personal favorite, The RealReal. It made getting rid of things for my move far less stressful. Once I had successfully downsized, the next phase of my packing journey became planning what would go into storage and what would be in my suitcases. Based on my previous experience traveling throughout the South of France, I knew the most pragmatic choice for the temperate climate was to put some of my more winter-forward items into storage (e.g., heavy coats and boots). That left me with the rest of my wardrobe, which I was determined to fit into three suitcases. Stubborn? Maybe, but I knew that nothing is worse than carrying too much luggage at Charles de Gaulle.

With my tentative flight plan being a one-way New York to Paris, a short layover, and then Paris to Nice, one oversized handbag, a roller carry-on, and two checked suitcases were something I knew I could manage to move alone in an airport. Feeling confident about my decision, my next course of action was to see what could actually fit in my Calpak set. I’ve always loved my luggage set from them because they’re quite spacious, but the second I started packing, I knew I was going to need a miracle—thankfully, storage compression bags exist. I bought a few off of TikTok Shop and used them to pack all my staples into my pink suitcases. For my second, larger checked bag, I packed my shoes, bags, and accessories. Of course, packing all these items took a few attempts that led me to buy a few extra packing accessories: a handheld device to check the weight, AirTags to track the luggage, and organizational cases for some accessories.

Ultimately, those tools finally helped me get over the finish line. Of course, as a chronic overpacker, I did give myself one final contingency plan: extra money for fees. Since I was moving abroad, I gave myself a little grace that my bags might be heavy—a genius move on my end, because it did come in handy. Despite my luggage being overweight, the journey itself was comfortable—partly because of my travel look, which let me get through CDG effortlessly and even earned me a few compliments from women at the airport. Although I didn’t fully adhere to AirFrance’s weight restrictions, the process taught me one pivotal lesson: the goal doesn’t always have to be packing lighter, but bringing what best fits into your new life.

For me, the things that best fit my new life are elevated staples you can wear with ease on Nice's sun-soaked streets. The city is filled with cool cafés, so I typically wear looks that match the city's chiller pace—for example, a tube top styled with satin shorts and strappy sandals. It’s the ideal look for a day spent lounging at a bistro like a local.

While the vibe of Nice is far more chill than Paris, if my plans for the day extend beyond trying out a few new bistros, I still prefer to opt for staples that are a bit more polished. I’ve found that whether I’m going to the grocery store, checking out a vintage market, heading to French lessons, or writing a few stories, a satin tank with matching shorts and ballet flats is an elegant formula that works in various settings.

Nice has so many incredible places to visit that sometimes I like to pretend I’m still a tourist. On those days when I’m determined to visit a museum or a new sight, I decide I’ll dress up for the occasion. Of course, I don’t want to stand out too much, so I usually take one tailored item (e.g., a tailored blazer) and make it feel more casual by styling it with relaxed denim, ballet flats, and a sleek shoulder bag. 

Beyond exploring the city’s museums, beaches, and nightlife, one of the best things about Nice is that you can easily explore nearby destinations. On weekends when I want to jet off to Saint Paul de Vence or St. Tropez, I lean on the staples that I first packed late last spring: my favorite vintage Khaite dress, flat sandals, and fun accessories. Every time I pack these pieces, they remind me that you really don’t need too much, just a few really great pieces that make you feel at home (no matter where you are in the world).