Everything I’m Packing for a 12-Day Trip to Europe this Autumn
“Packing light” is not a phrase I use often especially during the cold-weather months when bulky sweaters and layers are required. For shorter trips or domestic travel, I feel at liberty to overpack and/or haul around my ginormous suitcase. However, longer trips abroad call for more manageable luggage with extra space for souvenir purchases to boot.
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It isn’t an impossible task, but does require a little more thought and planning (at least for me). This fall we are headed to Europe for nearly two weeks and have a broad range of activities planned. To complicate things even more, we will have different weather from place to place — cool days, possibly some rain, and snow in the mountains. My challenge is to be prepared for it all with a single piece of 25″ checked-luggage and a carry-on tote bag.
This post will cover:
12 Mix-and-match outfits for Autumn travel
This is how I created a different outfit for each day based on where we will be and what we will be doing. Mixing-and-matching and re-wearing basics are the clincher. I’m taking laundry soap sheets with me just in case!
Guiding principals:
- Pick a color scheme and commit
- Dress it up with accessories
- Limit shoes
Of course, any of these ensembles are subject to change due to weather conditions or unexpected changes in our itinerary. But, these pieces will provide me with sufficient choices to come up with something suitable no matter what happens:)












The final packing list
It will help that I will be wearing my bulky peacoat and hikers on the flight. Although this may appear to be a lot, my warm layers are very squishy and packable. We have one of these vacuum-packing sets to help flatten things out if we get desperate for space, but I’m feeling confident that it is all going to fit!

- Packable parka
- Windbreaker
- Quilted Vest
- Peacoat
- 5 Sweaters / tops
- 3 Base layers
- 2 Jeans / pants
- 3 Leggings / joggers
- Socks & intimates
- Winter hat & gloves
- Baseball hat
- 2 Scarves
- Sunglasses
- Daypack
- Waistpack
- Crossbody bag
- Hiking shoes
- Tall boots
Shopping links to individual pieces
The first thing I do when packing for a trip is shop my own closet. I already have a lot of what I want to take. Then, I’ve been filling in with a few new things that I know I’ll be able to wear on another trip I have planned for December. I’ve included links below to the items that are still available to purchase. For pieces that are too many seasons in the past, I’ve added links to similar finds.
Outerwear
- North Face Thermoball packable parka
- Helly Hansen rain jacket / windbreaker
- Brooks Brothers quilted vest [similar here and here]
- L.L. Bean peacoat [similar here]
Sweaters
- Stateside black fleece top [similar here]
- Equipment black cashmere turtleneck
- Aqua pink cashmere turtleneck
- Derek Lam 10 Crosby Grammer Sweater [similar here and here]
Active Base Layers
- Kari Traa Silja long-sleeved top
- Helly Hanson Lifa crew base layer [similar here]
- Lorod colorblock long-sleeved top
Bottoms
- Rag & Bone jeans
- Nili Lotan corduroy pants [similar here]
- Electric & Rose black leggings
- Lululemon stretch high rise joggers
- Allude wool sweatpants [similar here and here]
Accessories
- Moncler pom-pom hat [similar here and here]
- Anthropologie corduroy baseball cap
- Loro Piana floral cashmere scarf [similar here and here]
- Salvatore Ferragamo patterned silk scarf (similar here and here]
- Dita sunglasses [similar here and here]
Bags
- Lululemon black sherpa waistbag [similar here]
- Topshop mini crossbody bag
- REI Flash 22 daypack [similar here]
Related posts
Headed somewhere this fall? Here are a couple additional fall travel prep guides that you may be interested in:
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