Very soon, I’ll be embarking on a 5-week trip to Europe (France and Poland specifically), and I could not be more excited! Lately I’ve been spending lots of time getting myself ready for the trip, and one important part of that has been deciding what clothes to bring. Five weeks is a long time to be away, and at first I was nervous ~ would I need to pack five weeks’ worth of clothes?!
Thankfully, I’ll have access to washing machines while I’m overseas, so the answer to that question is no. So instead, I’ll be bringing 7-8 days’ worth of clothes, and packing them into a carry-on (a 50-liter hiking backpack) and a personal item (a smaller day backpack).
I’ve selected 7 shirts, 1 pair of capris, 3 skirts, and 2 sweaters/layers from my summer capsule wardrobe, which will create a total of over 20 outfit combinations. I’ll also be bringing a blue scarf as an accessory and a pair of shorts for particularly hot days. As for shoes, I’ll be bringing two pairs of good walking shoes and two other pairs for more low-key outings.
Here is a visual of how I’m tackling packing for 5 weeks in Europe in a carry-on:
As you can see, all of my tops, bottoms, and layers are neutral-colored, versatile pieces that can be mixed and matched super easily. I can create a variety of outfits with just a handful of items, and it’ll definitely be enough to get me through 5 weeks.
A pair of sneakers and my Birkenstocks will be my heavy duty walking shoes, and my Keds and flat sandals will be there for backup or casual wear. These shoes are also neutral colored and go perfectly with any and all of the clothes I’m bringing.
So there you have it! If you’re going on a long trip soon, don’t worry about having to pack your entire closet! We’ve all been guilty of over-packing when it comes to clothes, and it’s an easy trap to fall into. But it really is possible to have enough outfits for a longer period of time with even a small amount of pieces. It’s all about picking clothing items that are versatile in their style + color and that will mix + match in a variety of different ways.
Related:
8 Packing Hacks to Help You Pack Smarter
7 Tips for Stress-Free Air Travel
Leave a Reply