Capsule wardrobe: 2-week summer European vacation
printed tee / grey tee / striped tee / black printed tee / white tee / black sleeveless shirt / denim shirt / merino hoodie / cross body bag / cardigan / packable nylon jacket / leopard print scarf / floral scarf / Pumas / watch / leggings jeans / Paige boyfriend jeans / Capri pants / activewear shorts / denim shorts / knit dress / Crocs / belt / sunglasses / passport holder
Two weeks, two countries, four cities, one carry-on bag. Or: how to take a European vacation* in style and without baggage fees.
This summer, we’ll be taking our 10-year-old abroad for the first time, and revisiting cities we have lived in or love: Birmingham, York and London in the U.K., and Paris.
And since lugging luggage around is a sure way to weigh down a vacation, we’ll be doing it all with just one bag apiece.
The strategy: the fewest number of items possible. The tactics: casual clothes made of non-wrinkling fabrics, to allow them to be rolled up and stacked tightly together; and lots of neutral colors, for maximum mixing and matching.
What to pack for a 2-week summer European vacation
The packing list, otherwise known as a capsule wardrobe:
- 4 short sleeve T-shirts, in two solid colors (white and grey) and two prints for variety.
- 1 sleeveless top, for really warm days.
- 2 ¾ length shirts, including a classic striped mariniere. (Not pictured: a color blocked baseball tee.)
- 3 layering pieces, since temperatures can vary from morning to night: a cardigan (I’m bringing this one), hoodie and denim shirt.
- 1 packable rain jacket. (Option #2: This one from Lands End folds up inside its own pocket.)
- 5 bottom pieces: 1 ankle length leggings jeans (which I love and wear), 1 mid-calf crop denim, 1 pair denim walking shorts, 1 pair travel capris, 1 pair mesh shorts.
- 1 knit dress, for evenings out or feeling Parisian at the Louvre.
- 2 pair of cute and comfortable shoes, like these Pumas and Crocs flats.
- Accessories! Two print scarves (leopard and floral), sunglasses, belt, cross-body bag and watch. And don’t forget your passport!
You may have noticed there aren’t any pajamas in this list. No need to pack such specialized wear when any one of the T-shirts can be worn at night with the mesh shorts, which can also double as exercise clothes for those of you much more disciplined than I am.
As for the carry-on bag, since we’ll be moving from point to point, much of it by train, rolling cases didn’t seem as practical, so my husband and I will both be carrying Osprey backpacks.
Mamas: What would you bring on a two-week trip?
* Or two weeks anywhere in summer weather, really. This would work equally well for Europeans hitting the States in July, or anyone traveling to Australia in December, though in both those cases, I’d toss in a swimsuit, too. (Australians, tell me if this would be the right packing list for your summer season.)
Learn how to build capsule wardrobes in the Frantic But Fabulous style workshop—including a checklist of closet essentials. Love everything you wear, starting now!
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