Alright, so you’re thinking about what to wear for a summer trip to Europe. Man, I’ve been there, and let me tell you, it can feel like a bigger deal than booking the flights sometimes. I wanted to share how I sort of fumbled my way through it and what actually worked, because honestly, the first time I went, I got it all wrong. Packed way too much, and still felt like I had nothing to wear. Classic, right?
My First Step: Facing Reality (and the Weather)
So, this last time, I decided to get serious. The very first thing I did, before even looking in my closet, was to really check the weather. Not just “Oh, it’s summer, it’ll be hot.” Europe is a big place! Rome in July is a furnace. Paris can be surprisingly mild, even rainy. Amsterdam? Always bring a layer. I made a list of the cities and the actual expected temperatures and rainfall for when I’d be there. Sounds basic, but I used to skip this and just hope for the best. Bad idea.
Then, I had an honest chat with myself about what I’d actually be doing. Was I going to fancy Michelin-star restaurants every night? Nope. Mostly, it was going to be tons of walking, museums, cafes, maybe a nice-ish dinner here and there, but nothing too over the top. This helped me cut out a whole bunch of “what if” outfits that I knew, deep down, would just stay in the suitcase.
Figuring Out My “Go-To” Pieces
I started thinking about what makes a good travel outfit for me. My main rules became:
- Comfort above all. If I can’t walk 10,000 steps in it, it’s out. This especially applied to shoes. More on that later.
- Mix and match like crazy. I tried to stick to a color palette – mostly neutrals (black, white, beige, navy) with a couple of accent colors. This way, almost everything could be worn with everything else.
- Fabrics that breathe. Linen, cotton, Tencel, light rayons. Anything that wouldn’t make me feel like a walking sauna. I learned this the hard way sweating through a polyester top in Florence once. Never again.
- Easy to wash, quick to dry. If I could rinse something out in the sink and have it dry overnight, bonus points. Especially for longer trips.
The Actual Closet Dive and What I Picked
Armed with my list of activities and weather realities, I went through my closet. I was pretty ruthless. Anything too precious, too uncomfortable, or too “one-trick pony” got left behind.
Here’s roughly what made the cut:
- A few good t-shirts and tank tops. Plain ones, mostly. These were the workhorses.
- Two pairs of comfortable trousers/pants. One linen pair, super breezy. Another pair, maybe a bit more structured but still comfy, like some wide-leg pants that weren’t jeans (too hot and heavy for me in summer).
- One or two pairs of shorts. Not super short-shorts, but something decent for city walking.
- A versatile skirt. A midi skirt was great because I could dress it up or down.
- Linen shirts! Oh man, these were lifesavers. I took two. Wore them open over tanks, buttoned up, tied at the waist. So good for covering up from the sun without getting hot.
- One or two simple dresses. Something I could wear with sneakers during the day, or with nicer sandals and a bit of jewelry for the evening. A slip dress is surprisingly versatile.
- A lightweight cardigan or a thin sweater. Evenings can get cool, and AC can be fierce.
- A light jacket. A denim jacket or a packable windbreaker, depending on the forecast.
And the SHOES. This is where I used to mess up big time. This trip, I stuck to three pairs:
- Super comfortable walking sneakers. The ones you can actually log miles in without blisters. I made sure they were broken in.
- Stylish but comfy sandals. Not flimsy flip-flops. Something with a bit of support that still looked good. I walked miles in these too.
- One slightly dressier flat or low wedge (optional). For those nicer dinners. But honestly, I could have skipped this if I was tight on space.
The Try-On Sesh and Packing It Up
Before anything went into the suitcase, I actually tried on different outfit combinations. Took photos on my phone so I wouldn’t forget. This helped me see if I had any gaps or if something just didn’t work. It felt a bit silly doing a fashion show for myself, but it saved me from bringing stuff I wouldn’t wear.
I also got serious about packing cubes. Game changer. Made everything fit and stay organized. I aimed for carry-on only, plus a personal item (like a tote bag). It’s so much easier navigating trains and cobblestone streets without a giant suitcase banging into everything and everyone.
So yeah, that was my process. It wasn’t rocket science, just a bit more planning and being honest with myself about what I’d realistically wear and need. Ended up having a much better time because I wasn’t stressed about my clothes or lugging around a heavy bag. Hope some of this helps you figure out your own Europe summer wardrobe!
