10 packing tips to look good in Europe

Fashion and travel combine in Europe so if you want to blend in without crumpling all your designer togs or risk having them nicked from hostel laundries, then this list will help you pack for those sleek Euro capitals.

He's got the shoes, the bag and the dog! By: Porcelaingirl° {enthusiastic foolish} / Flickr

1. Pack a chic accessory – a bright scarf, matching gloves, a hat, a killer bag, hot shoes, a trophy dog, etc (this is good advice for men too – see pic left).

2. Take a summer wrap for covering your shoulders when entering churches. You may also need to wear longer trousers or skirts. For stricter Vatican dress codes, Travelista has the lowdown.

3. Bring something classically tailored, like a fitted jacket, or pencil or A-line skirt, and mix in with a trendy top or bottom.

4. Invest in some Capri pants or cut-offs for riding round town on your rent-a-Vespa.

5. Take smarter cuts of jean, ie, leave the ancient baggies at home.

6. Pack a pretty travel dress for those Audrey Hepburn moments.

7. Wear lipstick, gloss and big sunglasses.

Cutoffs & kitten heels by Paul Keleher/Flickr

8. Bring a comfortable pair of ballerina flatties and/or low-heel boots for all the walking tours and Before Sunrise moments.

9. Dust off your old leather biker jacket – they’re creeping back into fashion all over Europe including the UK.

10. Tie, pin up or sleek back long hair. Save the loose locks for the beach.

For the latest street styles and fashion trends in Europe, check out Travelista.com or, for packing help, click on the ‘Europe’ or individual country tabs on this site. For Euro fashion faux pas (or are they!), read this!

Why am I here (and what do I wear there)?

Some people like to blend in when they go abroad, some prefer to stand out from the crowd. Some are sensitive to local dress codes, others want to fly in the face of them. And some just forget to check it’s rainy season when they click ‘complete purchase’ on their bargain flight.

So… I hope to turn this into a useful read for anyone who’s ever wanted to know what the locals are wearing before going on holiday… and for those who have ever landed in places like Sydney expecting endless sunshine and finding eternal rain, or rocked up in Bali wearing sunnies and sarong during the monsoon.

It’s a globally ambitious blog, yes, but if the Man in Seat 61 can collect train timetables from across the globe by country then why not a glorious packing guide equivalent?

Why me? Because recently my little query to the world about what to wear in Reykjavik in freezing cold December, in order to look cool but not feel cold, was returned with a deafening tumbleweed. And then there was the safari in Malawi… do you HAVE to shell out a load of cash on khaki and beigewear? Or are colourful tops like a red rag to a hippo?

Which got me thinking… it’s easy to cock up or at least overpack.

It’s not uncommon to pack a load of ‘holiday clothes’ and not wear them. Unless you’re a seasoned packer of suitcases and backpacks. Even then, there are unforeseen trend clashes – as when a London-based friend packed a suitcase full of vintage loveliness for a trip to New York and was pitied as a bag lady.

And let’s not forget the unique local shopping opportunities. The Beer Lao t-shirts, A/Wear from Ireland, chitenge fabrics from Malawi, Rossi boots from Australia, 66º North gear from Iceland, those lovely Bali pants…

It may work, it may be not. I’m no fashion expert and you’ll have to decide for yourself if you’re up for that tip on tight, bright leggings in Cuba.

I think I probably need a wiki blog mashup to cover all the places I haven’t been – and all the ages I’m not, and all the rainy/dry/cold seasons not yet accounted for, etc etc – which is why I’m including links to discussion forums and any other good stuff I find along the way. No one person can sum up a whole nation’s wardrobe and keep it up to date, but perhaps many people can.

So… feel free to post your comments, or email me and help balance out the universe.