Back in March, I went on the trip of my life.

For a late graduation gift, my parents gifted my sister and I with a European holiday, and it was magnificent. Thanks again, Mom and Dad!

We visited Rome, Venice, Verona,  Lucerne (Switzerland), Paris, and London.

I was told that I had to fit two weeks’ worth of clothes and shoes in one large piece of luggage without exceeding 50 pounds. No one believed that I could do it, especially after seeing this picture of what I had laid out to take:

But I did! And I was happy with my strategic choices because I could wear a new look for each city.

Here’s a breakdown of the essentials that I packed:

— Coats/Jackets – I brought at least 4 and bought 1 in Paris. There was 1 faux leather bomber jacket, a pink rain-slick trench, a black double-breasted coat, and a sweater. The one I bought in Paris was a navy, puffy coat, with a faux-fur trimmed hood.

— Pants/Leggings – Skinny jeans are so versatile. They were great for the daytime when we were walking around the cities and could transition to evening rather effortlessly. I felt the same way about leggings. Plus, they kept me warm. For leggings, I brought 1 pair of black and 1 pair of navy.

— Tops – This was probably the hardest for me. I was strategic in choosing tops that I liked and could be easily layered. The weather was chilly, so not only did I pack cardigans, but also three sweater-shirts. Blouses were essential; I chose a few of my favorite ones, and so were the tanks that go under them.

— Evening-ware – This wasn’t too difficult because my daytime outfits could easily be dressed up. However, I brought a polka-dot and tulle mini skirt to wear with tights and a black, skater-skirt; bought a long, mint skirt in Italy; and brought two dresses, which I think I wore one of.

— Shoes – Oh, shoes! For obvious reasons, the shoes were not only essential but quite hard to choose. They take up a lot of space and can add significant weight. I brought a pair of black, lace-up, short boots; tall, brown, faux-leather, flat boots; pink tennis shoes; black, wedged, versatile heels; the most comfortable pair of nude colored flats; and a few gladiator sandals, which I didn’t wear. I was not only comfortable after miles of walking, but also had an appropriate pair to choose for each outfit.

— Accessories – I think every fashionista would agree that the accessories complete the look. I brought three or four scarves, an ear-warmer for the cooler weather, headbands, minimal jewelry, one carry-all purse, knee-high socks, a woolen – cloche hat, and a braided belt for my waist that is basic enough to use for blouses as well as sweaters.

Take a look at what I wore in each city!

Rome: Exploring the Piazza del Popolo

Rome: The Vatican and The Colosseum

Venice: A Gondola Ride Around the Floating City

Verona: Visiting Juliette’s Balcony

 

Lucerne: The Swiss Alps

London: Harrod’s, The London Eye, Buckingham Palace

 

I’m going to share my Paris look in a separate post because there are a lot more pictures!

Have you had a similar experience with packing and styling for an overseas trip?!

-♡♡♡-

Amy