Packing Tips for a European Summer

When I first started packing for our wedding trip to Italy, I was overwhelmed, to say the least! From past trips I’ve learned that organization leads to success, so here are the packing tips I’ve implemented to make packing more streamlined and less stressful for big trips.

Packing Tips for a European Summer

+ Packing cubes

My #1 packing tip is to use packing cubes!! These are complete game changers, I don’t know how I ever packed for a trip without them. I get mine on Amazon. I have multiple sets. It doesn’t really matter the brand as long as the mesh is somewhat see-through so you can quickly see what’s inside. For my wedding trip, I was very careful with how I packed each cube. I used a large cube for each “region” or occasion of the trip (so every few days I would be using a new packing cube). For example: I packed a cube for Rome. One for Puglia before and after the wedding, the pre-wedding events, the wedding day itself, and Sicily.

In each cube I tried to group together the outfits, swim, pajamas, activewear, etc. for the set of days the cube was for. I also planned outfits in advance (more on this below) so I knew what looks were in each cube. This way, when I was in a certain destination I could just pull out the packing cube for that location. Then, unpack the outfits for that leg of the trip. I also knew once we moved to our next destination that I was “done” with a particular cube and wouldn’t need to dig into it anymore.

+ Pack versatile pieces

I always try to pack pieces that can be worn multiple ways. Don’t take up too much space (fabric is important!). I definitely overpacked this most recent trip for obvious reasons. I didn’t want to forget anything for my wedding,. But I usually try to re-wear pieces if I can, especially if I am taking an extended trip. Examples of versatile pieces I will usually pack are:

A printed scarf

Ascarf takes up little to no space and can be used in so many different ways. This is a must, especially in the summer months! You can wear it as an accessory tied around your neck or purse, as a headscarf, or my personal favorite, as a top. You can really use any square scarf, but I love a vintage one (you can find tons of options on The Real Real and other designer resale sites).

Wide leg trousers

Trousers always look chic, both on vacation and at home. I’m slowly building out my capsule wardrobe to include the perfect trousers in every color. You can wear these with any top for the most part or over a swimsuit. They don’t take up much space and can be worn multiple times over the course of a trip.

White linen shirt

Easiest swimsuit cover-up you can throw into a bag, you can’t go wrong with linen in the summer. I also will always pack an extra one to wear as an added layer in the evenings. It’s great for when it gets a little chilly but a light layer is sufficient.

+ Plan outfits in advance

A little advance planning goes a long way. I’ve seen a ton of videos of girls taking detailed photos of every outfit in advance, I have yet to do this but I love the idea for future trips! I usually just assemble pieces together. Then, write down in the Notes app on my phone the components of the outfit and what I think the outfit will be worn for. It helps to do a little bit of reverse engineering of your trip as well to really think through the different events/occasions you will need outfits for, and plan for these in advance.

+ Simplify your beauty routine

This one is sooo hard for me, I was fully convinced I needed my full skincare, haircare, and makeup routine in Europe and brought everything with me. The truth is, I am much lazier when I am on vacation and end up resorting to much more pared down version of my usual routine. When I came home, I could not believe how many skin and makeup products I didn’t even touch. For skincare, I like a more streamlined version of my usual routine and would probably limit my products in the future. These are the essentials I could probably get by with –

For day: vitamin C serum, moisturizer, sunscreen

For night: cleanser, micellar water, hydrating/soothing serum, moisturizer

Makeup: highlighter, skin tint, cream bronzer, liquid blush, brow pencil, lip oil

+ Limit the number of shoes you pack for European Summer

Unfortunately, shoes take the most space and weight (this is important if you are taking multiple flights and don’t want overweight bags!). If you’re headed to Europe in the summer, you will most likely walk more than you are used to, so practical shoes are key. Leave the heels at home (ok, maybe a kitten heel!) and stick to a comfortable (but chic) walking shoe, a couple of pairs of neutral flat sandals, and a dressier pair of sandals. This is a good foundation for shoe options, and you can add other options from here if you have more space or an extra suitcase.

Once you get in the habit of doing a little prep work before a big trip, it makes the overall trip go by so much smoother and you don’t run the risk of overpacking (nothing worse than an overweight bag fee) or finding out you packed tons of products you don’t need and forgot the ones you actually use everyday.