The Items You ACTUALLY Need When Packing For A Trip
// SMUDGE - The Items You ACTUALLY Need When Packing For A Trip //
It was an incredibly daunting task trying to pack for an open ended trip to Europe this past Spring/Summer. I knew I would be in numerous social and weather situations which caused me to over-pack like flippin maniac. I ended up having to send items home that were just a complete waste of space and also had to buy items that I really wished I had brought with me in the first place. So I thought I’d share my wisdom on what I truly utilized during my travels through Paris, Bordeaux, London, The French Riviera, and New York. These are packing essentials that could be applied to basically any trip away from home. Also, I will share with you my packing woes on what should be left behind to free up that precious suitcase space for shopping!
Black Blazer- An absolute must for looking put together while traveling! A black blazer can take a basic outfit to professional in an instant and also looks super cute worn casual with shorts and sandals. I didn’t bring one with me originally so I snagged a super cute one from Zara while in Paris.
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White Blazer- It may seem silly to bring a black and white blazer but the white is perfect to break up an all black outfit and turns any outfit unexpectedly chic.
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Leather Jacket- If you follow my insta (@smudgebeauty) I am sure you know I basically can’t live without my leather jacket. A high quality leather jacket is so worth the investment and continues to get better with age.
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Cashmere Sweater- Sweatshirts in public really don't cut it in most European countries, especially France, and rocking a sweatshirt with a team / school name plastered on the front is the sure fire way to look like an American tourist. Invest in a handsome cashmere sweater instead for when it gets chilly.
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Simple LBD- I made the mistake of packing a super dressy and expensive LBD that I literally wore ONCE. Yet I had to cart it around the whole trip taking extra care that the dress didn't get ruined. So annoying. What I actually ended up wearing way more was a simple black dress I purchased while abroad that was able to be dressed up fancy or worn casual with the right accessories and shoes.
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Fitted Jeans- Bring a classic pair of fitted blue jeans that you love and feel amazing in. I actually brought two pairs and didn’t regret it for a second. I never get tired of wearing jeans that look great on and go with everything.
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Boyfriend Jeans- Boyfriend jeans weren't as hugely popular overseas as they currently are in America but it is nice to pack them to break up the monotony of skinny jeans. Also they are so cute with a tank or a blazer.
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Black Skinny Jeans- Perfect for going out at night and needing to look sharp without being cold. Also great for all black Parisian outfits during the day.
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Black Shorts- I sent home the distressed denim shorts I packed with me originally because they just weren't appropriate for how most people dressed. But I picked up a classic black pair of shorts to replace them that were perfect on warm days with a tank and still looked put together.
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Black Silk Tank- Can be dressed up or down. Perfect for warm weather or under a jacket if it's cooler.
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White Button Up- So classic and was my go-to for days at a museum or lunch at an upscale restaurant. This item pairs well with everything I am listing and always looks classy.
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White Cotton T- Another no brainer perfect for hot days with shorts and casual picnics paired with boyfriend jeans.
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Sneakers- Bring a pair of sneakers you have worn many times that won't hurt your feet on long walking days ( which is basically everyday in Paris ). I brought my converse but ended up buying a pair of Adidas Stan Smiths because 80% of Parisians wore them everyday, men and women, young and old, they’re obsessed. Converse Chuck Taylors Adidas Stan Smiths
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Booties- One pair of LOW-HEELED boots is a must. I brought ( and even bought ) way too many pairs of boots on my trip that I ended up sending home. I utilized my low heeled black and tan boots the most.
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Sandals- Bringing a pair (or two) of cute sandals (not to be confused with flip flops, DO NOT wear flip flops) is important for warm days and if you end up in beachy weather or by a pool! I wore my favorite SCHUTZ sandals so much and bought a pair of nude sandals as well when I was traveling.
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Low Heels- Ok, so the biggest mistake I made when packing was bringing waayyyy too many pairs of heeled shoes. I literally sent all the high-heels I packed home during week two of my trip. High-heels just really aren't realistic with all the walking that is done when traveling. In Paris I can only recall a handful of times I saw women wearing high heels, even at night, and most of those people were tourist. If you know you’re going to be having lots of hot date nights or going out dancing I would suggest bringing a pair of black low heeled shoes.
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Black Flats- So classic and perfect with anything. When French women aren’t wearing Stan Smiths they are wearing flats.
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Black Bathing Suit- You may end up by the beach or by a pool at your hotel, always pack a classic black bathing suit because you never know when you will need one.
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Floppy Fedora- Ok so clearly I am absolutely obsessed with hats. They are currently my favorite accessory and I packed 6 with me on my trip. They def. took up a large section of my suitcase but I didn't care because everyday is a good hair day while wearing a hat and they just pulled all my traveling outfits together so effortlessly. For a normal human I would suggest at least bringing one and wearing it on the plane so it doesn’t get crumbled in your suitcase.
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Medium to Small Sized Inexpensive Purse- Even though I had been super careful about theft I had a scare in Paris where my purse was stolen but ultimately returned to me. Case in point: don’t bring a super expensive designer bag around with you everywhere on the daily when traveling because you never know. Also try to keep it on the smaller side with the bare necessities inside because when you are carrying it around all day even a small bag can feel heavy on your back and shoulders.
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2 Pairs of Pjs, 5 Pairs of Underwear, 1 Black Bra, 1 Nude Bra, 1 Bandeau- Ok so my other biggest packing f’up other than packing like 500 stilettos is I packed waayyyyy too many pairs of pj’s, underwear, and bras. I didn’t realize how much we would be doing laundry and it wasn’t necessary at all to have 20 pairs of panties. These extra undergarments and pajamas were talking up crucial room in my suitcase so I sent home basically all of them but 2 pairs of PJ’s, 5 pairs of undies, 1 black bra, 1 nude bra, and 1 Bandeau.
Well there you have it, these are my essential items for being a savvy world traveler. Obviously if you're going somewhere like The Bahamas or Iceland this list would be tweaked quite a bit but for most major cities and destinations these items are fool proof for looking chic on the daily. Also don’t forget you will probably be doing lots of shopping and that is what will liven up your look while traveling. Cool jewelry you find at an outdoor market or that super unique hand beaded dress you find at a vintage shop are things you will want to leave room for in your luggage, trust me.
