Was this my best packing yet? 2.5 weeks, every outfit, (almost) no regrets.

A full Europe trip recap: what I packed, what I wore, what I’d change next time

psst: I am currently running a giveaway in the Fit Happens chat. Enter before 12pm pacific Saturday if you’re interested.

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My husband and I (used to?) have a tradition.

Every summer, we’d take a longer vacation. And then in September, we’d go to Hawaii for his birthday. We skipped it in 2020 (obviously), and then it just didn’t happen again. First, COVID. Then some visa issues. Then my mom got sick. Then she passed. And the year after that (last year) was a blur.

So, the tradition fell away.

We have gone to Sydney together a few times, but that’s family time, not vacation mode. Not in the way we used to do it. So when we finally got to bring the tradition back this year, I was thrilled.

The original plan was Istanbul in April (I pick destinations based on food first, always). But I had to cancel that trip because of work travel. The day I canceled, I set up flight alerts for anywhere in Europe, specifically on credit card points. And wouldn’t you know it: that same week I got an alert. Fly into Belgium. Fly out of France. Destiny.

I’ve always wanted to visit Belgium. My first boss—the designer who shaped my career—is Belgian, and I’ve heard him talk about Brussels and Antwerp for years. More recently, I’ve been obsessed with Dries van Noten (love their clothes for me) and Ann Demeulemeester (less my vibe, but still inspiring). Plus, chocolate. So Belgium just made sense.

Paris was a hell yes. I’d been twice before, both times for work. I added some fun to those trips, but this time I wanted to experience it fully on vacation. Slow mornings, museum wandering, proper dinners.

To make the dates work, I wanted to add one more stop between Antwerp and Paris. I Googled, found Lille—a smaller city in northern France that looked beautiful—and instantly said yes. So the trip became Brussels → Antwerp → Lille → Paris. 2.5 weeks.

When we travel (especially in Europe), we’ve got a rhythm. Art, history, architecture, culture, food and yes, shopping (that part is more me). We leave the hotel around 9am, explore all day, come back around 4pm to rest. Then we head back out for dinner, walk a bit more, and are in by 9. This suits us perfectly. (Except in Spain. 8pm dinners? Not happening. Love you, Spain, but I can’t eat that late.)

That rhythm means I need about two outfits per day.

My packing strategy was clear:

Pack items that feel like me.
Pack to keep myself interested.
Pack for comfort and practicality.

Here is some common packing advice I did not follow:

Now this is not to say this is wrong advice. If it works for so many people, clearly there’s something there. The reason why I share this is to say the same stuff doesn’t work for everyone. So take the advice that works for you, and for the rest, follow your heart. So here is what I didn’t do because it doesn’t work for me:

1. I did not pack outfits: I didn’t sit down and say, “Here’s my Day 1 look, here’s Day 2, etc.” I packed pieces that I knew I could mix, layer, and re-style based on how I felt that morning. Some days I wanted structure. Some days I wanted slouch. I left room for that. I have written about this method many times. Here’s a primer, and here’s a step by step example.

2. I did not pack limited to one color palette: The whole “pick three neutrals and one accent color” thing? No thank you. I’m not a capsule girlie. I packed what I was excited to wear, and somehow it all still played nicely together. Color coherence doesn’t have to mean constraint. Now, I did use my Destination Vibe Decoder tool to learn about the vibe I wanted to go for, but allowed plenty of room to play.

3. I did not (just) pack a carry-on only: I understand the logic. But, I am not a minimalist packer. I get that some people find joy in doing the most with the least but I travel light for work. When I’m traveling for fun, the last thing I want is a limited closet. Minimalism wasn’t the goal. But using every single thing I packed absolutely was.

4. I did not pack for ‘summer’: You know, all the well meaning packing guides out there for how to pack for a summer vacation? I didn’t follow any of those because I don’t dress stereotypically summer anyway. Plus the forecast said 80s and sunny and it lied. I had layers. I had some wildcards. I had blazers (yup, plural), a range of fabric weights, a cardigan, I was READY!

5. I did not pack only two pairs of shoes: That rule where people say, “Just bring one sneaker and one sandal”? Yeah, no. Shoes change the entire energy of an outfit. I packed eight pairs and wore all of them. Zero regrets.

And here is some conventional wisdom + a few of my own packing mantras that I did follow:

1. I packed for friction: If everything in your suitcase is chill and easy, you’ll get bored. If everything is structured and crisp, you’ll feel stiff. I packed for the mix. Slouchy with sharp. Sweet with sporty. Dress with a dad sandal. That’s what kept it fun.

2. I packed with room for purchases: This was non-negotiable. I wanted to shop. I knew I’d shop. I packed with empty space so I wouldn’t be panic-stuffing shoes into my husband’s bag on the way home. And I did it: brought back four pairs of shoes, a bag, some accessories—and didn’t need to buy another suitcase.

3. I packed for layering: This saved me when the weather turned. Lightweight tops, cardigans, vests, a shirt that doubled as a jacket—layering gave me warmth and variation. This is why I never travel without a good, warm, layered plane outfit that can double as multiple real outfits later.

4. I packed shoes for different moods: I had the “walk all day” shoes. The “cute but comfy” shoe. The “I want to feel dressy” shoe. The “I need toes out but not pain” sandal. The “I need to be lowkey today” flat. The “this is basically an outfit” loafer. Each pair earned its place.

5. I packed flat: I mean this literally. I lay my clothes flat, stacked edge to edge, instead of rolling or folding into cubes. It keeps everything wrinkle-free, lets me pack mindlessly (just keep stacking the clothes one on top of another), and makes the suitcase close without a game of 3D Tetris. I’ll never go back to any other method.

   

   See? Flat packing

Final verdict:

I call this packing job a success, a real A++ packing job.

For three reasons:

• My first goal was to wear everything I packed. And indeed, I wore everything I packed at least once, many things multiple times.

• My second goal was to leave enough room in my bag for items I buy while on my trip. I am happy to report I was able to bring back shoes, a bag, some clothes, a few accessories NO PROBLEM!

• And lastly, I actually liked every outfit I wore. Every single one. No hurried runs to the store, no meh days, no freaking out about the French being so much more stylish. No regrets. Well maybe except for one.

My one regret: I didn’t pack a trench.

The forecast said summer: high 70s to 80s. But when we got there, the weather had shifted. Cold wind, unexpected rain, especially in Brussels and Antwerp. I made it work. I had layers and some warm stuff (I always do that). So practically I was just fine. But a trench would’ve been perfect. Functionally. Aesthetically. Just the right amount of drama and polish. I had the space for it, I just didn’t think I’d need it. Next time, it’s coming. No question.

If you want to see exactly what I packed, I did a LIVE from Brussels when I unpacked. Here’s a reminder:

And now, the outfit roundup:

Airplane fit

And finally, the fit for the flight back:

Btw, I post daily reels when I get ready, real time. This means you get to see HOW the outfit comes together. I did this during most of my travel days too if you’re curious about the making of any of the above.

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So that’s the trip.
I felt like myself the whole time. I had outfits that matched the mood. And most importantly, I actually had fun getting dressed every morning. No panic, no drama, no “ugh, why did I bring this?” Just good fits, good food, and good memories.

If you’ve ever felt like travel packing is a test you’re destined to fail, maybe this is your reminder that you get to define what success looks like. For me, it’s wearing everything I brought, loving my outfits, and not needing to buy an extra bag on the way home. A++ achieved.

Thank you for reading and do let me know if this post was fun and/or helpful! I typically shy away from doing round-up posts but did it this time since a few folks asked. Hope this delivered!

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