The best and worst clothes I packed for my European summer holiday

Pack with no regrets.

As my self-indulging Instagram feed would tell you, I’ve just spent a month in Europe. Yes, I became one of the people I enviously hate-watched, one of the lucky few who escaped Melbourne’s gruelling winter for Europe’s shining sun. Because it was my first time on the continent (and because of the thousands of dollars dropped), I wanted to make it the best trip ever.

That started at the packing stage. I found my TikTok For You Page cluttered with haul videos showing off new purchases bought specifically for overseas holidays. I engaged the help of a stylist and my editor to figure out what clothes I should be bringing with me. I even asked strangers to weigh in on my packing choices.

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Clothes that make me feel good make a difference in how I experience the world. That goes the other way, too. In my 16kg suitcase, I carefully curated a travel capsule wardrobe. Over four weeks, I visited Amsterdam, Berlin, Paris, Lisbon and Porto. So, how did my selections fare? Below, I share the five items I regret bringing, as well as my five most hardworking items.

Items I regret bringing

One of the pieces that only left my suitcase once was a polka-dot silk midi slip dress. A piece from the now-defunct Melbourne label Lois Hazel, this dress was packed on a whim. I thought I’d find myself in a situation that desperately required a fancier dress. Perhaps I’d watched too much Emily In Paris, but no soirée of that calibre eventuated. A lot of the style I gravitated to in Europe was laidback and relaxed, meaning I didn’t feel a pull to this slightly dressier option.

On the flip side, I regret packing too many T-shirts. I packed four T-shirts, three of which were the same baby tee fit. While my plain white tee got plenty of love, the other two coloured T-shirts were left at the bottom of my suitcase. I didn’t feel inspired to reach for them as they felt limiting, styling-wise.

The silliest packing mistake I did was bringing too many bathers. I figured I’d spend days at the beach, without actually paying attention to where I was headed. In the end, I spent one day near the water (near is accurate, the water in the seaside town of Azenhas do Mar in Portugal was freezing). Next time, I’d crosscheck my itinerary before bringing three bathers along with me.

I only brought one pair of shorts with me. They’re a favourite pair of mine, a mid-rise, thick denim number that end mid-thigh from Kowtow. While I have no problem strolling around Melbourne in them, the Europe heat and 11km of trekking I was doing daily presented a new problem: chafing. Luckily my boyfriend brought his Thicc anti-chafing stick with him.

I regret bringing two pleated mini skirts. It can be tempting to bring multiple versions of a tried-and-true style, but it’s something I wish I swapped for suitcase space. The skirts were pretty interchangeable too; anything I paired with one of the skirts also went with the other.

If I had my time again, I would bring my much-loved Project Bowman pinstripe piece and leave the houndstooth one at home. Even though mini skirts are mini, they take up a surprising amount of space when rolled.

Items I don’t regret bringing

One of the pieces I got the most wear out of was a secondhand, linen red dress bought from Brisbane-based vintage shop Oneul three years ago. I found it to be the most multifunctional piece I had with me. It’s a simple dress – it’s got spaghetti straps, a scooped necklace and a slightly A-line finish. I felt both comfortable and stylish wearing it, two of the major ticks in my proverbial book.

An antidoteas to my array of bland T-shirts, I found myself reaching for my secondhand Lee Mathews navy blue silk singlet in every city. Though the design is simple, the reflective fabrication added a nice touch to my outfits. Playing around with texture is key! Plus, silk pieces take up next to no luggage space.

I also couldn’t live without a couple of button-up shirts. Do you know how I said repeat styles are a waste of space? That doesn’t apply to button-ups. I brought two with me – a secondhand, baby blue number and a striped, oversized E Nolan one.

Both proved to be worthwhile for styling and sun protection reasons. Having a thin shirt to throw over a dress or top helps protect bare shoulders from UV rays. Nights can get a bit chilly (depending on where you are), so a long-sleeve piece should be packed just in case.

I’m just as surprised as you are to hear I’m including my secondhand turquoise knit vest as part of my top packing choices. I’m a vest girl at heart and couldn’t bear to be without one. Worn back to front and by itself, it’s a piece that is a direct reflection of my personal style. The moral here is to make sure you’re bringing items that make you feel like you.

While you’re traversing across Europe, you need pieces that move with you. My secondhand, checkered midi skirt fits that bill entirely. Breathable yet flashing-proof, a long skirt is one of this year’s most-loved pieces. The skirt also came in handy during my stopover in Abu Dhabi, where some cultural sites required a certain dress code from women.

My parting words for fellow travellers: pack less than you think you need. The more limited your range of clothes, the more inspired you’ll be to style pieces in inventive ways (and you’ll have less to lug around, too).

For more packing advice, try this.