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Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

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carter

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Dressing

52 replies

Latest reply was from Mander

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

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When I was in Europe last summer I ended up rewearing a lot, even though I did check a fairly large bag, because two weeks is a long time and you can't fit as much in a suitcase as you might think (or at least I couldn't). Early May you will likely need sweaters and rain gear but you could also have some warmer days so that makes it tricky. I would aim for a week's worth of items, all or most mix and match. Maybe start with a color scheme or the shoes you plan to take and build around that?

I think your general plan sounds good - I have not been to Omaha Beach so I am of no help there. I found less shopping in London this time than I thought I would, but I did pick up a few things in Germany and Austria.

carter

Veteran

Thanks, Laura. I do need some light weight sweaters. I also know I'll need to pack efficiently to get everything in and leave room for purchases. Have you tried any of the packing cubes? I haven't, but I'm wondering if they'll help or just encourage me to go overweight with our bags.

Anonymous

Hi Carter, sounds like fun. I not sure if I am remembering right but I recall Omaha Beach as walking, plaques, and slightly muddy. Hopefully someone else can fill this in for you.

I am a big fan of packing light and usually do 2-3 weeks out of a carry- on. I will spare you my boring basics I pack. I do use some packing cubes but find they add bulk and weight. I actually like the white net laundry bags for organizing and protecting more delicate fabrics. They also work great as dirty laundry bags as you are traveling.

http://www.amazon.com/Bluecell....._sbs_hg_15

carter

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Marin, 2-3 weks out of a carry-on? You're amazing! Those laundry bags look great. The large and medium size could probably hold several items each. Particularly since I don't want my suitcase to be full from the start, they could keep everything from becoming a jumbled mess. Do you roll or fold your clothes? Ugh...to the mud at Omaha Beach.

Anonymous

That sounds like a great trip!

I personally have very limited tolerance for re-wearing during a trip, at least for anything that's not an outer layer, but I think someone who's neater than I am could probably get away with wearing some tops twice, as long as you have enough options that you don't have to wear every top twice in case one ends up with chocolate stains or whatever.

You seem to have some really great jackets, so I'd definitely take one or two. They'd add instant polish, plus they're something that can be re-worn multiple times without feeling yucky.

The most useful packing tip I learned from my last trip to Europe is really more of a non-packing tip. Basically, it's that I could spend a little less energy and space worrying about making sure I have every permutation of layering top, hosiery, etc. that I might need because there's always going to be a convenient H&M where you can pick something like that up cheaply if it turns out you really need it.

Catnip

Veteran

You need:

A trenchcoat for cold and rainy weather. It doesn't have to be a Burberry. It can be a weatherproof polyester raincoat in a neutral color.

A blazer to die for, something so special that the whole world will notice

2 pairs of perfect jeans

1 pair of pants that look great with the blazer

Several tee shirts, both cotton and silk

Some drop dead scarves and/or necklaces. I know you already have these. Also a shawl or two

A crewneck sweater for casual days to wear over a tee, or thrown over the shoulders French style

Ankle boots

2 pairs of relatively flat shoes. One should be moderately dressy

A relatively large everyday bag. This could be a satchel or whatever style you prefer

A dressier bag, possibly a clutch, for dressy evenings

An umbrella

Misc. lingerie

A bottle of laundry detergent

And that's it.

P.S. You can sleep in a tee shirt and panties

karymk

Veteran

Carter, the less you overthink this, the easier it will be. Have you checked out Une Femme's Paris packing posts? i've done ten days to Europe in a carryon no problem. You just have to have clean underwear and tees. If you care about wearing repeats, don't go this route.

Europe is getting so casual. You won't be out of step in slim jeans and Nike or Puma running shoes. They all wear them, with scarves, jewelry, jackets or trenches. Even to lunch, even to the theatre. It's just the most practical thing. Just be sure they are not in shocking white leather! Loafers with a good sole would be great too. You don't want little thin soled flats in case it rains or in case you will be using the metro systems much, where it can get pretty dirty down there. What I've done for fancy dinners is put my heels in a tote to discreetly change into from flats. That will save you a lot of misery if you walk to dinner, which is really fun.

Go neutral. When I go to Paris especially, or Italy, I forget how neutral they are. London is a bit more colorful. By spring you could break out the light neutrals, but I've never seen white pants much outside of summer. I am sure you could go all black and still be in step. Plus you will always look good in your pictures in the neutrals, and you'll never think," Oh gosh what was I wearing?"

For spring in Paris last time I built a capsule around taupe, lavendar, white and light citron. Everything swapped out so well that I would pack that same wardrobe in a second.

I bring stuff to Europe that I am ready to leave behind. That way there's more room to bring home things and gifts. For instance, bring and old bag and buy a new one at Lancel!

If you tell me where you are staying in paris I can see if I can tell you where to shop and eat. I have some faves, mostly in and around the 1st arrondisment. I once lived in London and things change, but I know if you love Indian food you are in for a treat.

I have ideas for tea, and for perfume sniffing, if you are into that.

Have fun planning this wonderful trip!

Parsley

Veteran

Carter, that sounds like a wonderful trip- how exciting!
I travel quite a bit, and I'm a big believer in traveling as light as you can, especially when you'll be taking the train and moving from one city to another several times. Just remember that you'll have to be lugging your suitcase up onto the train yourself, and getting it onto a luggage rack. If you overpack you WILL regret it!

It sounds like you're on the right track. I do find that people wear jeans a lot in Paris these days, and restaurants are much more casual than they used to be, so you won't need a lot of dressy clothes. Smart-looking, of course, but not dressy. Knowing your beautiful style, I feel sure that won't be a problem at all! Slacks, jeans, and blouses and sweaters that mix and match and layer well are all you need, along with a trench and some scarves.

My main tip is to take your absolutely most comfortable shoes that you can walk for miles in without your feet hurting! That one thing will do more to make your vacation enjoyable than any other tip anyone could give you.
I have some well-cushioned ballet flats that work well, and a pair of slipper flats that work for me. In the first half of May a pair of ankle boots would still be appropriate, too.

As far as a day trip to Normandy, probably the easiest thing to do would be to do a tour with all the transportation included. That way you won't have to be bogged down with all the logistics, since one day isn't much time at all. Your hotel can probably arrange it or recommend a tour operator for you.

I have to tell you that I visited the Normandy beaches in May and nearly froze to death! It was damp and windy and cool, and even though I wore every layer I had brought I was SO cold! Of course you may have a beautiful warm day, but I'd go prepared just in case!

Carla

Veteran

Carter, DH and I did 4 weeks in Ireland and England April 2010 and 4 weeks England and Scotland September 2013. I did it with a carry on only and still managed to add some new items! I use some packing cubes, but not exclusively.

My leather bomber, jean style jacket, and black trench kept me warm, dry, and stylish the whole trip. 3 pants: black, grey, jean were my bottoms. 8 tops: black, grey, blue turtle neck, 2 black and white and 1 grey and white mariner striped, 1 black lace button down (with a black cami), 1 multi print with grey, blue, black, and pink on a white ground. I brought a dress, but in future would bring a skirt instead. 3 pair shoes: Chelsea boots, leather sneaks, flat slip ons. 2 pashminas, 1 black beret, a pair of gloves and pair of fingerless mitts. I splurged on a Longchamps Le Pliage before the trip, and it was a perfect tote for every day.

The only loser was the dress. The surprises were the gloves, and the leather jacket. It is amazing how much more comfortable you can be when your hands are warm.

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carter

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Good heavens, Catnip. Tell me you didn't just come up with that list off the top of your head?! I'm going to have to study this list. I'm pretty sure the one that's been percolating in my head is at least twice as long!

Karen, I do read Une femme every now and then. Often it's to marvel at how little she packs;-0. I haven't been to Paris in several years. The hotel where I've always stayed is closed for renovations, so I haven't figured that piece out yet. I will let you know when I do. I am thinking neutrals mostly...black, white, dark denim and splashes of color somewhere. My work loafers and black walking sneakers are on the list. My stepmom leaves behind everything she brings so she has the whole suitcase for new stuff. No way could I do that, but I could certainly do one in one out with a handbag! Sorry to say there is no chance I won't overthink this. I love Indian food and perfume! Fill me in.

Parsley, great tip about doing a tour for the Normandy piece. Maybe just a car and driver in the event the weather is too horrid to stay all day. Fortunately, I do have a couple pair of comfortable shoes. They're not real cute, but they'll keep my feet and back fairly happy. Lugging my suitcase on the train myself? Yikes! Hopefully the thought of that will help me keep my packing super light.

Parsley

Veteran

I just read karymk's post and her suggestion to carry heels in a tote when walking to dinner and change into them just before you get there. I do that, too!

And I second what she said about the neutrals. Women in Paris don't usually dress nearly as summery in May as we do here, either. Once I took white pants and a linen blouse to Paris in May, and the minute I left my hotel I felt so out of place I went right back and changed into darker colors and a jacket.

A car and driver would work for Normandy. We hired an old British officer as a guide, and he drove us to the beaches and the cemeteries and knew all the history, so it was great.

carter

Veteran

Carla, I'm in awe! 4 weeks in a carry on? My husband would be floored! Thanks so much for your list. I will build mine around it. The Longchamps tote is a great idea. I don't have one that's light enough. I wouldn't have thought about gloves or a bomber jacket in May. So glad you mentioned them. I don't understand fingerless mitts. When would you choose those over gloves?

Anonymous

Oooh- packing thread- my favorite! I too am a huge advocate of carry-on only. It lets you make tight connections and gives you the ability to easily navigate public transportation (travel tip: keep an eye on your bag - my husband's got "lifted" on an airport shuttle bus in Paris). Remember too that European hotel rooms (and closets) can be tiny compared to US ones so you will be tripping over a big suitcase.

I was in Paris in May a few years ago and the weather was very cold (scarf, gloves, heavy coat) so check the weather forecast carefully.

I echo the choices above. My husband and I travel a lot and our usual trips comprise high-end business dinners on the one end and hiking/sight-seeing on the other so I have to pack a wide range of items. We always manage to do carry-on, and our trips have included two weeks in Scotland, four weeks in Amsterdam/Paris/Umbria (with day trips), and two weeks in China. I have a comprehensive packing list (if anyone is interested) that covers all the occasions we have encountered- running that checklist really takes the stress out of packing.

Lately I have been packing a couple of dresses and one pair comfy heels (dresses are knits, ones that pack small)- I find I enjoy dressing up for dinner, and I repeat the dresses during the trip but no one sees except my husband and he hasn't complained yet.

Key is versatility (everything goes with everything else), flexibility (a tee shirt and scarf ended up being a most-complemented outfit on one trip), and ability to launder a few things if needed (hotel sink).

A key travel item for me has been my merino wool sweater I got in New Zealand about 8-10 years ago. I is light-weight but extremely warm, packs small (will fit in my handbag!), and truly repels odors (I can hike all day in it, then pair it with jeans, heels, and a scarf for dinner- seriously!) and is machine-washable. Mine is by Icebreaker but I don't see the exact one on their site (maybe I need to go back to New Zealand again!)

Also key is my big Longchamps tote (Le Pliage). I use it as my "personal item" on the plane and as a day-bag if we are shopping, etc. It holds a ton of stuff (think purchases for the trip home that you may need to show for tax rebate or customs).

Can't wait to hear about your trip!

carter

Veteran

Pam, I would love to see your packing list! I will PM you.

Elizabeth P

Veteran

Jumping in only because I'm obsessed with travel capusles, and love to hear what people say, and how the decisions get made. No advice - I"m pathetic at travellinglight, but truly do want to be better.

I must admit I'm not sure how you can stick to only 2 repeats, in 15 days, in a carryon. That's 7 bottoms!

Pam, I would LOVE to see your checklist.

And I'll echo Pam's recommendation for marino wool. My sister had discovered Icebreaker while travelling in NZ, and was raving about it - all her quick dry athletic wear started retaining odours. But not the wool! I was totally floored with my first piece... took it camping, wore it every day (not for long hikes, but pretty much every evening, often after hiking and not showering), and was still able to wear it out to dinner at the end of the week, with not one whiff of odour. Honest. I now have several pieces, long and short sleeved, from Costco. And they keep their shape and don't fade!

bj1111

Veteran

just tried icebreaker. a touch scratchy compared to smartwool, but the hiking shirt was awesome.

pam. is this the brand you are referring to?

carter

Veteran

Elizabeth P, I will not be traveling in just a carry on...so not to worry! I don't want to overpack and still have nothing I want to wear though. Unfortunately, I can't wear wool. It really irritates my skin, regardless of how soft it is. We won't be doing anything sweaty, so I'm hoping cotton or cashmere will be fine.

Elizabeth P

Veteran

Ah... totally missed that!

Also forgot to mention that my obsession with travel capsules has resulted in a fairly extensive pinterest board... in case this helps at all.

http://www.pinterest.com/eliza.....-articles/

carter

Veteran

EP, what an awesome board! I'll go through the whole thing tonight. Thank you!

Gaylene

Veteran

My approach to creating a travel capsule is a bit different these days--probably due to Angie's influence. I start by figuring out a total outfit for each of the events you've outlined and then "testing" each outfit by actually trying it on to make sure everything works as well in real life as it does in my head. I also try to figure out modifications that would work if the sun was shining or if the day was cold and stormy. Once I've got that sorted, I try to cull out anything that looks like it only works for a specific outfit or for a unique set of circumstances. I look for substitutions that can play nicely in more than one outfit or would work in multiple settings. If I think I'd wear an outfit several times, I look for a second, or even third, topper to keep things from looking too boring. I try to eliminate bulky items by finding lighter weight alternatives--the bulky sweaters stay home while the cashmere hoodie gets subbed in to the capsule. If a bulky item looks like it will more than pull its weight because I love wearing it (my leather jacket, for example), it stays, but a light-weight, unlined raincoat would get subbed in for my heavier Burberry trench because a cashmere hoody/leather jacket combo could be layered under the lighter raincoat for Burberry days, but would be more versatile on a particular trip.

Once I've got all this sorted, I look at the size of suitcase that would work best, always assuming that I will have to carry my luggage in my hands at some point for a certain distance or possibly up a flight of stairs. Having options is great, but feeling bogged down by your possessions is a sure way to ruin a trip. I consider things like what I'll be doing if I have to check out of a hotel mid-morning but my train doesn't leave until late afternoon, or what I'd do if I can't move directly from the airport to a hotel because of transportation issues. Strikes and unforeseen events can disrupt even the most careful plans. Once I've settled on my luggage, I weed out a bit more until I can pack everything in so I can handle the overall weight without strain and so there is a bit of extra room for things I might purchase on the trip. If I'm wavering, I ask myself if said item could be easily purchased at my destination if I felt I really needed it--buying an extra top or scarf is pretty easy in either Paris or London!

carter

Veteran

Gaylene, you are so right about the testing! Lack of testing is so often the cause of my traveling wardrobe issues...everything works together laid out on the bed, but very little works IRL. I will be diligent about that this time. Great points about the weight and size of the suitcase as well. I have a medium ultra light suitcase and a small carry on, both on wheels, so hopefully I'll be ok. If not, I'm sure my husband will rescue me! You and Aubergine are also both right about being able to supplement with purchases if I need to...I need to keep repeating this to myself as I start to throw in "what if" pieces at the last minute.

jenanded

Veteran

Carter, I am a convert to carryon after too many stairs when travelling just think the tube and metro. I did 3 months with carry on and still didn't wear everything! And that was New York, London etc, meetings and my own time. If you are culling now, perhaps you can make travel capsule from some of the things you will cull but are fine to wear then toss and replace when you travel. I am heading to Ny and DC for about 10 days so have been saving my going soon knickers, trousers etc and plan to leave them on the way. I agree with everyone else that Paris and London are way more casual now. Ankle boots, jeans, great coat and scarf are definites as I almost always travel to Europe in May when you are going. So good idea to start planning now. Can't wait to see your capsules.

Louise

Veteran

Definitely layers for London, May could bring a heat wave or cold & rain!

Anonymous

Yes, Icebreaker is the merino wool sweater company. And their wool is not scratchy. My merino sweeter is really one of my favorite items and goes on every trip.

Carla

Veteran

About the fingerless mitts...my hands are always cold, and I find the idea of heating in the UK doesn't compare to North American indoor temperatures! The fingerless mitts allowed me to page throughout a book or magazine, of type on my iPad, while still keeping my hands warm! I wore them on the plane, and having warm hands helped me fall asleep.

Bonus picture, packed and ready for go!

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Elizabeth P

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Fingerless mitts are also awesome if it's chilly and you are trying to take photos.

Wendy45

Sounds like a great trip!
I keep a list with items I packed for the previous vacation. It helps me not. to pack too much, or forget items I can't do without. And I also keep track of the weather forcast for the region I am travelling to....if it's been cold and rainy the days before you leave, you might want to pack an extra sweater!

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

It's been a long time since I went to Europe. I would focus on comfort and ease. Limited color palette (black, grey, cream) with a scarf or bag to bring color to the outfits. As Parsley said, comfortable footwear is absolutely critical. I think if I went to Europe I'd focus on food and sightseeing and less shopping as I find the US is still shoppers/customer paradise. Also, the Euro, which launched at $1 to 1 euro, is now $1.36 to 1 Euro so in effect everything is more expensive there. Of course, if money is no object then this doesn't matter.

You are so lucky to go! Looking forward to seeing your pictures.

greycat6

Veteran

All the packing suggestions above sound spot on. We were in Europe for an extended line last summer and you can't go wrong with the above advice.

We hired a tour operator to tour Normandy Beach and HIGHLY recommend this. There are several to choose from and you will be able to get recommendations from your hotel. Plan on a very long day or extend to two days if you are really interested in this sort of thing. Often, the package will include a round trip train ticket from Paris so make sure to check you so don't purchase the train ticket twice. There is a great museum at the American Cemetery. My husband, who is NOT a museum guy, went back to visit the museum after I came back to the US with the kids. He was that moved by all that he saw.

What a fabulous trip! Enjoy!

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