Please help me with my travel capsule for France! - YouLookFab Forum

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Please help me with my travel capsule for France!

Parsley

Veteran

My husband and I will be celebrating our anniversary next month with a trip to France- Yay! We'll be spending half the time in Paris, and half in the countryside in Provence, and I need help with planning what to pack! Could I prevail upon your collective wisdom?

I'm hoping to not pack too heavily, but I'll need clothes for both city and country and a variety of weather conditions. So I'm thinking that versatile layers will be the key, but deciding what to take is so hard!

And that's before even starting with shoes! We'll be walking miles and miles every day, so comfortable shoes are essential, but I'm trying to look somewhat fashionable at the same time.

I'm thinking of taking 4 pairs of pants: black, white, slouchy black & white print, and jeans, maybe 2 skirts, one dress, several tops, 3 lightweight jackets, and one cardigan. Hopefully all these pieces will mix and match.

Here are some of the outfits I'm considering. I haven't pared down shoe choices yet or decided on a dress.
How does this seem for starters? I welcome any ideas for additions (or subtractions) and what does and doesn't work.
Thanks so much!
Marcy

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Dressing

23 replies

Latest reply was from Jjsloane

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

How brilliant! I'm excited for you!

I love all these outfits! But we've lived in France for a while and these outfits look too Summery for September - especially Paris. The temperature can drop very unexpectedly. Although Provence is warmer, the days are shorter so the warmth does not last throughout the day. You shouldn't dress for the warmest part of the day because it's short lived.

FWIW, I wouldn't pack any sandals or cropped pants. I'd add scarves and a trench coat. Keep all your shoes closed. Make sure you have back-up walking shoes. CHECK THE WEATHER a few days before you leave too.

Hope that helps.

Deborah

Veteran

Sadly I have not yet been to France, so no advice to offer but just wanted to say what a fab assortments on outfits:)

christy

Veteran

Oh, wow! Can I just tell you how insanely jealous I am? We honeymooned in France - a couple nights in Paris, but spent most of our time in Provence. Absolutely amazing!

We were there in June, so I can't speak to the weather, but sounds like Angie has you sorted out. I especially love 1 and 5 given Angie's recommendations for being a bit more covered. I also love 10 & 11.

Parsley

Veteran

Thanks, Angie, Deborah, and Christy for the good advice!
We'll be there toward the beginning of the month, so it could still be warm, but you're right, this time of year the weather is unpredictable.

Provence is usually warmer, and I usually wear fairly summery clothes there in September, but it can be cool at night, and sometimes windy during the day.

I wasn't planning to take a trench coat, and hoped to get by with jackets, but I'll keep checking the weather forecasts. Right now it's showing highs in the mid to upper 70's (around 25-ish C.) for Paris while we're there.

I''d probably better take a long-sleeve top or two in case of cool days, and I will take a couple of scarves. Hopefully a long-sleeved top, a jacket and a scarf will be warm enough for the coolest days.

Walking shoes are always such a challenge! I'll make sure to take a couple of pairs that I can really walk in. But I have to take at least one pair of heels for Paris, after all! At least for going out in the evening!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Ah! The beginning of Sept in Provence is warm. Agreed

Paris is different - especially when walking around at night. It can be 16 during the day in the middle of August! You know best whether you run hot or cold, Marcy - I'm just here to remind you that it gets cold when you walk around in the morning and night

Parsley

Veteran

You're right, Angie! And there's nothing worse than being cold. Of course there are worse places to need to go shopping for a new warmer layer!

jayne

Veteran

lovely choices and so versatile...lucky you...are you in france around the 14th? I will be in paris then, but for work

lyn67

Veteran

All great! It's still warm in the EU, but chilly as 12°C in the mornings!

harmonica

Veteran

I love all of these outfits! This is a great start for a capsule. My two thoughts were that if you'd like to bring fewer items, I'd leave the black pants. They are the dressiest, but could be replaced by your black skirt. It is the same idea going on (black bottom) and can be dressed up and down. My second thought was that thinking of packing for a month seems overwhelming (for me at least), but if breaking it down to i.e 10 days, it seems more approachable. I don't know if you plan to do some laundry or have laundry service where you stay, but in that case you need fewer tops. I'd bring a trench too.

Jjsloane

Veteran

Toss it all out and pack ME.
Seriously I would agree with Angie. If you have a lightweight cashmere or linen cardigan or pullover sweater that will work with these bottoms you should be good to go.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Wow - fantastic! Congratulations! And these are all amazing outfits. You look wonderful. The top in that last one is so pretty. And I love the variety of looks you're able to create with just a few pieces. I also adore you in the striped skirt. Gorgeous.

I am no expert on the weather there but I will say that the weather is what always drives me insane when I am trying to put together a capsule! I think I run warmer than Angie because sometimes what she calls cool feels warm to me. But I do agree you should bring clothes for every possibility. And definitely walking shoes - heels are probably a mistake if you are really going to walk. One pair, for sure, for dressing up...but maybe wedges would be a compromise?

Pat C.

Member

Congratulatons on your anniversary!
I also would suggest bringing a trenchcoat. It can get very chilly in the evenings in Paris in September.Do have VERY comfortable shoes, you will be doing alot of walkig. September is our favorite time to go to France. We spend most of our time in Nice,crowds are gone but it is still warm, then a few days in Paris before returning home to Texas.

Anonymous

My only suggestion is re. footwear. It seems you are carrying several shoes. I would stick to two pairs, tops, plus the ones you'll be wearing on the plane. I usually select the heavier ones for the plane. For that time of year, I would actually consider a pair of mid calf taupe boots. It seems they will go with many of the choices here. Perhaps you can get away without the trench but I would bring a heavier knit and scarves as others suggested.

ElleH

Veteran

I went to Paris one Summer & I was freezing. Stylish walking shoes are probably going to be ballet flats that have some cushion in them. Your outfits look great & I think layers are best. If weight is an issue packing denim is very heavy. Hope that helped. Have fun, I'm jealous.

bj1111

Veteran

echo the trench. add a fold-up umbrella. spent a very wet but enjoyable sept in honfleur.

Lantana

Veteran

I was in Paris for the first week of this month. It was mid twenties, nice. I packed light and never found myself without exactly the right outfit to wear.
My capsule colours were taupe, navy and black ( I advise leaving your whites at home; travellling is such a grubby business.) and every item could mix and match. The capsule follows:
a pair of plain slacks and a figured cotton skirt
one dark, one light sleeveless top
one dark, one light 3/4 sleeve scoop neck top
A long sleeved lightweight wool cardi
A long sleeved, very lightwight, dressy cardi
A black moto jacket
Birkenstock Mary-Janes, olive green flats - I was very glad of a change of footwear at the end of a day's walking
Cotton caftan and cotton ballet pumps for lounging
A trench that packed into a tiny little bag - I did need this a couple of times.
Hope this helps. I found the above more than adequate but I was not hitting the high spots

Lantana

Veteran

Oh, and two belts and a scarf I was given just before setting off.
These dressed up what would have otherwise been rather plain outfits.
I wore one pair of earrings the whole time and instead of jewellery I had my nails done. (I was travelling for a month altogether and the acylic nails lasted all that time. )
And I musn't forget my little straw hat that goes everywhere with me.
The total? 8 kilos including the suitcase!

Beth Ann

Veteran

I read the title of your post and I though ---- Not fair! She's gets to make a capsule for Paris, and me, I get to plan for the Brookfield Zoo! (lol). Well, I think you're outfits are versatile and chic --- very Parisian, and I'll enjoy France vicariously through you!

My faves are 1, 8, 10 and 11. I think for this trip, I'd like to see the multi-colored tops with darker bottoms better than the white -- can't really articulate why.

All of these outfits are easy and sophisticated. I run exceedingly warm, so I'll leave the weather discussion to those who have been there --- I'm going to the zoo now! Gonna go pack lunches.

JR

Veteran

I can't add to the excellent advice you've already received, but I do have to say these outfits are fabulous.

Anonymous

What fun to get to pack for September in France! I'd be tempted to take a half empty suitcase and go shopping.

Carole

Veteran

jealous! Looks like you have some great outfits here, but I would add a few scarves to the suitcase and wear a jacket or lightweight tench.

Have a fabulous time!

Parsley

Veteran

Thanks to all of you for your suggestions and comments!
We spend a lot of time in France, and take pretty much this same trip each September, so I'm pretty used to what to expect weather-wise.

In the past I've sometimes taken a trench and haven't worn it, but I may take my Eileen Fisher anorak jacket since that works better for our casual lifestyle in Provence, where we do a fair amount of hiking and bicycling, but doesn't look too scruffy for daytime in Paris.

Harmonica, I don't think I can bear to leave my black pants at home, but we'll see how stuffed my suitcase is!

Jeanne, you're welcome to stow away!

Suz, I followed your travel capsule with great interest, and I hope I can manage to do as well as you did in preparing for all my different requirements.
I agree that comfortable shoes for walking are essential. It's always so hard, because I want to take my cutest things, but on vacation if your feet hurt you really can't enjoy yourself.

Pat C., yes September is a great time to go- much less crowded since French people's vacations are over. I love Nice, too! We stay up near Arles and les Baux, in olive and wine country.

Zap, i'm not taking all those shoes. I'll be (painfully) paring it down to just a few pairs.

Elle, Weight isn't really an issue, but I'm just trying to not go TOO crazy. I can always wear my jeans on the plane- they're very comfortable.

Bj1111, umbrella, check!

Lantana, it sounds like you've got packing light down to a science!
lf we were just going to Paris I would leave the white pants at home, but I'll like having them in the south, and we do have a washer and dryer in our house there.
You've got some great tips! I can't promise to keep it quite so minimal, but I'm trying to be reasonably sensible...

Beth Ann, well the zoo is fun, too!

JR, Joy, thanks!

Carole, definitely a couple of scarves, to try to look très Parisienne!

If you all aren't sick of this, I'll post some revisions later, along with some shoe decisions. Thanks, all!

Jjsloane

Veteran

I'm in. Tell me when and where.