What to pack for a European Summer. A capsule packing guide.

Fewer pieces, more outfits, and everything works together.  

There is a particular kind of packing anxiety that shows up about two weeks before a European summer trip. Too many outfit options and somehow nothing that actually works together, a suitcase that is too full and still somehow wrong.

The fix is not more clothes. It is fewer, better ones that all speak the same language.

Here is the capsule we would pack, five pieces, one small bag, more outfits than you would expect.

The Dress That Does Every Dinner

The Cleo Dress is the one piece in this list that does not need a partner. Broderie detailing, a smocked back that adjusts to fit without a zip, and cotton voile that does not need an iron after a long flight. Pack it once, wear it to every dinner reservation on the trip.

The Two Pieces That Become Five Outfits

The Lulu Top and Capri Pant are built to be worn together and separately. Together, they are a full outfit for travel days, the kind of thing you can sit in for a long train journey and still look considered when you arrive. Apart, the top pairs with denim you already own, and the pant dresses up with anything from the rest of this list.

The One Piece That Covers the Beach and the Evening

The Milan Maxi Skirt ties over swimwear for the beach and stands alone for evening, which means it is quietly doing the job of two garments while taking up the space of one. A short inner lining means it never needs anything underneath..

The Actual Packing List

Cleo Dress, one
Lulu Top, one or two, they layer easily

Capri Pant, one
Milan Maxi Skirt, one
A pair of sandals that work for both beach and dinner

Five pieces, worn in combination, genuinely covers ten days without repeating an outfit twice in a row.

If you are building this capsule on a smaller budget, a few more pieces are currently in our Sale collection.