the best things to wear for 3 weeks in europe (ft. printable packing list!)
This post is gonna be part packing guide, part lookbook. I wanted to share about how I chose what to wear in Europe and also show you some of the looks themselves!
One big thing I loved about Europe? The fashion. I got the opportunity to hit Berlin, Paris and London (We were actually in Paris during Paris Fashion Week!). When planning my trip, I wasn’t just packing for the weather (you should definitely bring a back-up umbrella in the U.K. by the way) but I knew that when I got free time to wander about, I didn’t want to immediately stand out as a tourist. Chunky tennis shoes aren’t my jam anyway, but they were not going to be found in my suitcase for a European trip.
Americans have a particular culture around clothing. Overall, we dress way more casually than Europeans do. Sweats, slip-on shoes and a baseball-style cap is a look I leave the house in quite frequently when ducking out for a target run or even to grab food, but that look would translate to European streets, well, very differently. I should point out that my wardrobe already looks somewhat European: I don’t wear bright colors and athleisure isn’t really my style. Still, my wardrobe had to be altered a bit from what it usually is in order to blend in. What I eventually packed helped me out a lot!
And if you don’t care about standing out, that’s fine! Work whatever you want! But if you, like me, think it would be great if Parisians would be less judgy par juste un petit peu , then you might want to follow my lead.
I paired my dark-wash mom jeans and gray sweater with heeled booties to look timeless.
If you’re taking a longer trip, especially if you’re flying there, I would recommend keeping layers in mind. Having a light jacket when you’re out and about is great because you can take it off and tie it around your waist if you have to (or do what I like to think is the more chic option and wear it around your shoulders).
In general, I tried to keep things pared down to basics that I could create lots of different looks with. I kept it mostly neutrals, but I saw a good amount of jewel tones like navy and emerald around too. Specifically, I saw LOTS of long pea coats and plaid trousers. Pair these with a chelsea boot and you’ve got a look fit for a leisurely cafe stop or window-browsing.
Here’s what I personally wore! Feel free to tailor things to your personal style and destination!
TOPS:
gray sweater x2
beige sweater
long-sleeve mock-neck top x2
black tee shirt
blouse
I tried to incorporate a variety of tops that could take me from a cozy on-the-plane look to Instagram-friendly outfits. A great way to keep variety is to bring a variety of neutrals. I actually wish I’d brought a wider variety with me. I had a couple shades of beige but I could have really warmed things up with darker browns or more patterns.
BOTTOMS:
black jeans
dark-wash denim
black leggings
Something I didn’t see much of were distressed jeans. What I DID see a lot of were clean-cut pants and trousers. Black jeans and dark denim look more upscale than mid or light washes. While I didn’t really wear leggings as pants, seeing as that’s another very “American” thing to do, they were great for the days I knew I had lots of walking to do. I wore them with a thinner top and a long cardigan.
LAYERING:
oatmeal cardigan
gray cardigan
denim overall dress
mock-neck dress
rain jacket
Like I said above, keeping a variety of layers on hand is going to be key, especially if you’re traveling to multiple places in one trip. I would recommend wearing your bulkiest layers on the plane to save room. You’ll look (and feel) like a human marshmallow, but you can always take off your chunky sweater, fuzzy cardigan and puffer coat once you’re on the plane.
I borrowed my roommate's denim jacket and yes…went for a Canadian tuxedo look.
I actually saw someone on the street wearing a similar outfit after this day so I felt pretty good about the denim-on-denim look.
SHOES:
pointed ballet flats
black combat boots
black heeled booties
These were all I needed! I wore a sturdy pair of combat boots on the plane and on days that I knew I would be walking a lot. The heeled booties helped dress up an outfit and the ballet flats are a classic that were reserved for fancier dinners or events.
bags
carry-on weekender
black cross-body
black backpack
My weekender bag was my carry-on. In it I could fit my camera, some books for the plane and (most importantly) a spare outfit and my shoes, just in case my luggage was lost along the journey. This actually happened to my roommate, so I was beyond relieved that I kept extra clothes on me.
I made my backpack my “personal item”, so I could get away with more room. Honestly, bringing the biggest bag you can as your personal item is one of the greatest travel tips I’ve ever heard. In my backpack I kept some books for the plane, my chargers and a smaller cross-body bag for the days that I had free time to venture. It was the perfect size for my wallet and metro passes.
I paired this denim dress with sweater tights and booties to dress it up.
accessories:
pearl earrings
silver bar earrings
blanket scarf
I (surprise, surprise) kept my accessories pretty simple. A basic pair of studs and another pair of dangly earrings will get you pretty far. Going the minimalist route, I brought one big blanket scarf that I could use as a blanket on the plane. I also used it as a makeshift hood one day in a bout of cold rain in London, because I forgot my rain jacket??
what i bought:
plaid trousers
wool peacoat
Both of these were staples I saw EVERYWHERE. A peacoat was a wardrobe essential I was wanting to get in the U.S. anyway, and there’s no better excuse to buy something stylish than being in Paris, is there?
general tips for dressing in europe:
Less is more. You don’t need every accessory and you don’t need to sparkle to attract attention (unless you really love sparkles, of course). Coco Chanel said it best: before you walk out the door, take off the last accessory you put on.
On the topic of keeping it simple, pick one statement item and style the rest around it. This tip is more like a all-the-time style tip, but I put it to good use abroad.
Keep logos and labels out of it. Unless it’s a Gucci belt, obvious brand logos aren’t quite as important.
Find your uniform and perfect that! I always love a good pair of denim, a boot with a small heel and a classic top. I wore a lot of that and it was pretty functional to have a stylish go-to each day.
I wore this peacoat/trouser combo on the day we went to Buckingham Palace and Victoria Fountain in London.
