Carryons Only: How to Pack for a European Getaway (Part 1)
Because dragging a giant luggage on cobblestone streets is the worst.
Fact: I traveled to 3 European countries over 17 days and I didn’t check a bag.
Another fact: I am NOT someone who wants to wear the same few boring outfits on a trip.
Not to overstate it.. but, choosing outfits for vacation is one of my greatest joys and reasons for living. So, I’m sharing how I did it and a few recommended options here. Part 1 will cover pants, shorts and dresses.
Note: I visited London, the South of France and the Amalfi coast in late May.
What I Carried
1 Away Carry-On Flex. Here is a less-expensive option by Travelpro. I have a TravelPro carryon as well, and it’s great quality.
1 Away Weekender. Again, if you don’t want to splurge on Away, here is a similar Samsonite style for a great price.
Compression packing cubes are an absolute must! These are the ones I used.
What I packed
Pants
2 pairs of linen pants in black and beige, and 1 pair of linen shorts. I love the linen pants from Vince because they look and feel high quality.
Abercrombie has some great options at a lower price point. I love this pair in the on-trend butter yellow color. Anthropologie also has the Colette linen pant, offered in petite, which I appreciate as a proud 5’3” woman.
Here are a few linen shorts recommendations from DL1961, Madewell and Staud (trying a longer length this summer!)
Zimmerman makes the most beautiful shorts, and if they’re in your price range, I highly recommend them for the elevated look you want in Europe.
I also packed 1 pair of jeans, but I won’t go into jean recommendations here — that’s a whole different post…
Dresses
I’ve always loved dresses and they are a complete outfit, so I brought 5 dresses of varying lengths and sleeve styles
Here are some similar styles for this year:
I scooped up this Pretty Woman-esque Wayf design for summer. I love a polka dot moment, and this will look great with flats or a heeled sandal at night.
Of course, a simple black dress is a must, I like the button detail of this L’AGENCE one or this Alex Mill mini.
You can’t go wrong with solid-colored shift dresses. You could wear this Posse dress over and over with different accessories. It comes in a bunch of colors.
Midi and maxi dresses in linen and cotton are the work horses of your summer wardrobe. This Posse maxi dress in gingham screams La Dolce Vita
I also love the neckline of this Nicolas midi dress.
For more color or fun details, my first stops are Anthropologie and Tuckernuck, they both carry a lot of Farm Rio (known for bright and cheery vacation dresses) and always have lots of options.
Happy shopping! And be sure to subscribe for more packing tips. In part 2, I’ll cover tops, shoes and handbags.