WHAT TO PACK FOR A SUMMER TRIP TO EUROPE

Most of July is already behind us, which is insane, but that also means that this time last month I was in Europe! It feels like yesterday that I was cycling along the canals in Amsterdam and wandering the cobblestone streets of Antibes. Both cities now hold a firm place in my heart thanks to time spent with wonderful friends, enjoying incredible food, drinking wine and, well, just generally soaking in all the beautiful sights.

So today I’m sharing:

How I pack for trips these days. It’s essentially a 2-step process with a few sub tasks in between.
What I packed for 11 Days in Europe this summer. It all fit within my carry-on suitcase and tote!
15 Looks I wore throughout our time in Amsterdam and Antibes. There were actually 20 looks but I just didn’t capture them all.

My hope is that this packing post will be a great reference for anyone planning a summer trip (to anywhere really) or even those considering a summer capsule closet, because it would work great for that too. Now let’s dig in!

TRAVEL PACKING STEP #1 – PLAN

I used to just wing it when it came to packing and would throw everything I could imagine needing into a giant suitcase and hope for the best, or rather, plan to shop. But now that I’m firmly on the carry-on only bandwagon (I’m an AWAY Carry-On convert) and quite restrained when it comes to shopping abroad, I make it a point to plan ahead and plan well so I can stick to both of those limitations. Turns out that a little prep goes a loooong way and my process usually goes something like this:

1 | Assess the Itinerary |

What are your days going to consist of?
Will you be doing a lot of walking, beaching, biking, boating, touring, driving or relaxing?
Are you going to be going out for meals, visiting galleries or attending special events?
What is the general style of the place you’re going? Do the locals wear jeans and sneakers or do they dress up more?

For our trip: We knew we’d be doing a lot of walking, biking and boating in Amsterdam and more casual touring, beaching and driving in Antibes. We also knew we’d be going out for dinner a lot so I knew to pack a mix of comfortable pieces for the day time and dressier pieces for the evening. I also packed one special evening outfit for our trip to Monaco.

2 | Check the Weather |

This is an obvious one but definitely worth a mention. Be sure to check the weather right up until the day before (or day of if you’re flying later). It could mean the difference between an extra layer to keep you warm or swapping out pants for a pair of shorts to keep you cool.

For our trip: We were looking at a lot of sun, cloud and mid to high 20’s during the days and around 20 at night. So basically the perfect hot but not crazy hot summer forecast. I could have brought shorts with me but I wasn’t really in the mood and ended up wearing dresses on the hottest days anyway.

3 | Get Inspired |

Revisit some of your Pinterest boards for travel, style and outfit inspiration to help you get excited about the potential items, colours and textures you might like to have with you. Of course, you’ll need to be realistic about what’s going to be useful too!

For our trip: This was the first time I’ve really explored my own Pinterest boards for packing inspiration. It helped me so much to get in the mood (despite being exhausted) and it was a useful for building a packing list of both practical pieces and items I was excited to wear.

4 | Make A List |

Try to jot down ideas on an ongoing list during the week or so before a long trip to make sure you don’t forget anything important.
On the same list note a few outfits you can create within each piece so you have ideas about what to put together.
Some bloggers also recommend taking photos of outfits before they travel but I never have enough time for that!

TRAVEL PACKING STEP #2 – ASSEMBLE

Once you start getting close to your departure date you can begin assembling your things so they’re all in one place. I like to use my trusty clothes rack for this so nothing gets creased and I can see my colour palette and selections all in one place. From there my packing goes as follows:

1 | Wash and Prep 1+ Day Ahead |

I like to have everything washed, ironed, etc. at least 24 hrs before packing it. This is partly for my sanity but also to limit wrinkles since warm clothing creases much easier.

2 | Roll, Roll, Roll |

I don’t fold my clothes anymore, I roll them! It’s honestly been an absolute game changer when it comes to my love for travelling with silk and linen.
STEP 1: Start by laying one piece on the (clean) floor or your bed and layer similar style items (ie: dresses, pants, tops) on top of each other (usually up to 5 or so). Start with the linens and silks and easily creased items first so they end up on the largest part of the roll.
STEP 2: Then starting at the waistband or shoulders, gently roll the stack of items into itself until you have a little log of fabric.
STEP 3: Put this directly into your suit case and then add the next one.
Rolled clothing can be packed quite tightly and I swear this is such a space saver compared to folding.
HOT TIP: Take your clothes out of our suitcase ASAP when you arrive so any creases can fall out.

3 | Organize |

Once I have my rolled items in my suitcase I will add shoes in their dust bags and packing cubes of underwear, bras, activewear and jewelry.
Pack all of your toiletries (skincare/makeup) in your carry-on (see my carry-on packing guide here) along with a change of shoes and your sunglasses etc. so they’re handy.
Have your airplane outfit ready to go and try to wear your bulkiest items on the plane.

4 | Keep Shoes + Accessories Minimal |

For this trip I brought one carry-on tote for the beach and one convertible belt bag for all other occasions and exploring.
I limited myself to 4 pairs of shoes for this visit (which is a new record for me!).
I also kept my jewelry very minimal with just one necklace, a few statement earring options and some rings. No fussy chunky pieces or a bunch of chains to untangle.

WHAT I PACKED FOR 11 DAYS IN EUROPE
(4 in Amsterdam + 6 in Antibes + 1 in Nice)

So here’s a look at what I packed. It may seem like a lot of items but I knew I’d be getting sweaty during the day and would need to change for evenings. I wore everything at least once and didn’t find myself wishing for any alternatives or extras. Honestly, if I was going again tomorrow, I’d bring the same things! Here’s what I packed: