Two types of people
There are two types of people when it comes to packing for a European summer.
The first somehow manages to fit three weeks in the South of France into a carry-on.
The second brings twelve bikinis, six dresses, three pairs of sandals and still spends the entire trip saying:
"I wish I'd packed that."
We're definitely the second.
But after enough summers spent chasing the sun around Europe, we've learnt that the best holiday wardrobe isn't necessarily the biggest one.
It's the one where everything works together.
The bikini you'll wear on repeat
Every holiday starts with the intention of rotating through all your swimwear equally.
In reality, there is always one favourite.
The bikini that fits perfectly.
The one that somehow works for beach clubs, boat days and lazy afternoons by the pool.
The one that's permanently damp because you've worn it every day.
When choosing swimwear for a European summer holiday, fit should always come before trends.
A good bikini will outlast whatever colour is currently dominating your Instagram feed.
The oversized linen shirt
Possibly the hardest-working item in any holiday wardrobe.
Thrown over swimwear.
Worn open over shorts.
Tied over a bikini for lunch.
Used as a cover-up when you've slightly underestimated how strong the Mediterranean sun actually is.
The best holiday pieces are never the most exciting purchases.
They're the ones you end up wearing every single day.
Jewellery makes everything look intentional
There is something about gold jewellery and sun-kissed skin that makes even the simplest outfit feel elevated.
A dark bikini.
A white shirt.
A pair of linen trousers.
Add jewellery and suddenly it looks like you planned the outfit.
Whether you did or not is between you and your suitcase.
The dress you don't have to think about
Every trip needs one dress that solves all problems.
Dinner reservation?
Wear the dress.
Sunset drinks?
Wear the dress.
You've spent too long getting ready and now everyone is waiting downstairs?
Definitely wear the dress.
The best holiday dresses aren't overly complicated. They're comfortable, flattering and work with the same sandals you've already been wearing all week.
The mistake everyone makes when packing
Packing lots of options sounds sensible.
Until you're carrying three versions of essentially the same outfit.
Instead, focus on pieces that can be worn multiple ways.
A bikini that doubles as a top.
A shirt that works as a cover-up.
A dress that can take you from beach to dinner.
Less luggage.
More outfit combinations.
Far fewer holiday packing regrets.
The European Summer Formula
If we were building the perfect holiday wardrobe from scratch, it would probably look something like this:
3 bikinis you genuinely love
1 oversized linen shirt
1 easy throw-on dress
1 beach-to-bar cover-up to go over your favourite bikini
1 pair of linen trousers
1 sarong
Gold jewellery
A good tan (optional, but helpful)
That's it.
The best European summer outfits are rarely the most complicated.
They're the ones that make you feel confident enough to stop thinking about what you're wearing and start enjoying where you are.