Carryons Only: How to Pack for a European Getaway (Part 2)
More tips for a elegant and efficient vacation wardrobe.
In Part 1, I shared the luggage, pants, shorts and dresses that I brought on my 17-day European vacation.
Part 2 will cover the tops, shoes and bags that rounded out my wardrobe.
What I Brought
Tops
3 sleeveless tops in solid colors and 1 short-sleeved blouse
1 white cotton/linen buttondown and one long-sleeve blouse
I recommend sleeveless tops that go beyond a basic tank, in a cotton, linen or blend. Here are a few similar styles that I have or am eyeing for summer:
This Rails top is flattering and on trend with the tie detail. The eyelet trim and breezy silhouette of this Madewell tank makes it a summer staple.
I look for details that make a simpler top stand out, like this Sézane halter with beaded neckline, or this similar Club Monaco tank with straps that cross in the back.
I also like the button detail and trim of these tops by La Ligne and Reformation.
Finding short-sleeved blouses is more difficult, because sleeves that are large or puffy are not flattering for me… and they’re everywhere. I brought a shirt similar to this J.Crew top, with a non-offensive sleeve to body ratio. (Although, I think I only wore it once, so I don’t know that it was worth it.)
Speaking of J.Crew, they always have the perfect cotton and linen buttondowns, and I wore this top in white many times.
My favorite way to wear it is unbuttoned and tied at the waist over a dress. It also looks great worn open over a tank and shorts.
Another go-to is TWP — their distinctive sleeve cuff and cotton-silk fabrics make them stand out from other brands. The “Next Ex” version is my favorite.
Shoes
Shoes take up a lot of room in your luggage, so I had to be honest about what I absolutely needed to bring and what was just a nice to have.
Years of wearing stilettos has left your girl with some foot problems — I need comfortable shoes for walking... plus, bringing heels to Europe is just not a good idea.
So, I settled on 1 pair of white sneakers, 1 pair of black sandals and 1 pair of loafer-style tan flats.
Plain, white leather sneakers go with everything, including dresses. Brands I like that are actually comfortable are On, Cole Haan and Tory Burch.
Every summer, I spend hours hunting for comfortable sandals that aren’t… how do I put this delicately... ugly as sin. And when I do, I buy them in multiple colors.
Here are some slides that are similar to the ones I packed at varying price points: from Schutz, Larroudé and Gianvito Rossi.
I love the look of ballet flats, but I don’t think I could walk for miles in them. I opted for a flexible, loafer-style flat in a neutral color. Again, here are some at varying price points: Rothy’s, Stuart Weitzman and Tod’s (I have the Rothy’s and the Tod’s pairs and can confirm both are comfy!)
Bags
I brought 2 handbags: a tote and a small leather bag with adjustable strap, both in neutral colors.
Enough has been said about the Longchamp Le Pliage tote (I have the original medium). It’s what I brought, and it’s a classic for a reason.
My other bag was the Celine Box Bag, which I think they discontinued… here are lookalikes from Sézane and Fleuron.
I hope you found Parts 1 and 2 helpful, and you’re inspired to not check a bag on your next vacation!