Packing for Europe This Fall? Stylish Looks to Wear

Packing for fall weather in general can be difficult when the temperature increases significantly during the day. This is further complicated when you’re planning a trip to a city you’ve never been to, during a time of year that’s already pretty variable in temperature.

It’s nice to pack layers that can be removed, while thinking about the pictures you want to look cute in. You’ll probably be walking a lot, so mobility and comfort are also a factor.

1. Camel Trench, Cream Turtleneck, and Dark Straight Jeans

The camel trench coat is definitely a European staple. I think no matter where you’re visiting, if it’s fall in Europe, you can wear a camel trench and it’ll look cute. The cream turtleneck is a nice basic way to keep warm while keeping the attention on the chic trench coat.

Dark straight jeans are comfortable. They look sleek and seamless going into the leather booties that she has. Comfortable leather ankle boots like this are a versatile piece to pack. They don’t have so much of a heel that they’re uncomfortable to walk in, but a little heel definitely helps you feel chic all day long.

2. Chunky Cardigan, Silk Cami, and Wide-Leg Trousers

A silk camisole like this reads very old money, very capsule wardrobe, very European. It’s comfortable and moisture wicking while still being a good layering piece. Here she has a chunky cardigan on top. This cozy cardigan paired with this sexy cami is a great combination.

I also like the wool trousers. Wool or even cotton trousers look comfortable to be walking or sitting in all day long, maybe on a travel day.

3. Wool Blazer, White Button-Down, and Ankle Jeans

This is a very simple color palette, with items that can be mixed and matched in the capsule wardrobe that you’re bringing on vacation. A wool blazer is a warm but not sweltering piece to throw on during a fall day. I like the white button down underneath. It adds a little bit of a pop of color for a more daytime look. She could have a darker camisole underneath, or even a dark turtleneck, for more of a nighttime look.

The ankle jeans look cute with the cuff that shows off the ankle. That’s important with an ankle boot like this. If she were wearing a longer boot, that wouldn’t be a problem. But with jeans and ankle boots, it’s important to either cuff them or make sure that the jean is going over the top of the boot. They shouldn’t be resting at the same spot.

4. Long Sweater Dress with Tall Leather Boots

Here’s an example of a taller boot. Notice that the boot cuts off above the hem of the dress, so we can’t see where it ends. This is a good length of sweater dress. It’s not too constricting, and she can definitely be walking around all day in this. A sweater dress is comfortable and forgiving.

I like that she added a little bit of a cinch at the waist with the belt. A little detail like that is something that takes your outfit from chic but not too put together to fashion forward and feminine. Here she has a lighter colored wool jacket that I could see her combining with many different types of outfits, casual or more formal, during her vacation.

5. Quilted Jacket, Striped Boatneck, and Slim Denim

This is a more casual look. A quilted jacket reads very European, almost like horseback riding and staying in the countryside. It’s definitely fall coded.

A little striped boat neck, a Breton stripe, almost like a marine stripe, also feels French and European. It’s a classic way to add pattern to your outfit without going floral or geometric. A horizontal stripe like this feels very European.

6. Black Turtleneck, Pleated Midi Skirt, and Loafers

This is a good fall and winter European look. When they’re not wearing pants, longer skirts read very European. I think we see fewer minis and mini dresses than we see midi lengths.

Midi length is good for when it might be a little blustery outside. You’re not worrying about flashing anyone, and you can walk around comfortably. It’s not a maxi length that might be too much fabric for a comfortable walk. A midi length is the perfect European coded length.

7. Oversized Scarf, Fitted Knit, and Corduroy Pants

An oversized scarf like this is definitely very European. I feel like we see oversized scarves coming out even earlier in Europe than in cooler cities in the U.S. It’s an accessory that’s not doing too much. Here she doesn’t even need a jacket, because the scarf is keeping her warm enough.

Corduroy pants are a thick material that feels long lasting. This is definitely great for a fall day. She can take off the scarf and still be completely comfortable in the ribbed turtleneck.

8. Cropped Wool Coat, Ribbed Tank, and Wide-Leg Denim

The wool coat is definitely classic European fall. Here the cropped option gives us that same aesthetic on top, while being a little bit easier to wear during a shoulder season. A long wool coat is very European but also very warm. A cropped jacket like this is comfortable to wear on a warmer day, especially since if she gets warm enough, she can just have the tank top underneath.

The denim, with the wide leg but not baggy fit, feels very fashion forward while still chic.

9. Knit Vest, Poplin Shirt, and Tailored Trousers

A light poplin shirt layered underneath a sweater, or a knit sweater vest in this situation, is such an effortless, classic silhouette. She’s very comfortable in a loose fitting shirt, but it looks so fashionable layered with the vest like this. The tailored trousers add a little bit of color, as well as keeping with the formality of the outfit.

I could also see her wearing straight jeans, or maybe a more fitted trouser in a darker color, or a denim, while keeping the loafer the same so it still feels walkable but professional.

10. Leather Jacket, Gray Sweatshirt, and Dark Jeans

Here’s a little bit more of an athletic, casual leaning European fall outfit. In classic European style, we don’t necessarily see as much jersey cotton like this, but it’s definitely doable. I like that she paired it with the leather jacket with the collar. It feels a little bit more fitted, so less casual than if her jacket were baggier and oversized.

The heel on the boot here feels walkable while definitely elevating the outfit for pictures.

11. Midi Shirt Dress with Opaque Tights and Chelsea Boots

As we said before, a midi length dress or skirt is perfect for a feminine outfit that’s still very walkable. The opaque tights are a good choice with a dark material like this, especially with a low boot. If she were wearing a higher boot, she wouldn’t need to worry about the color of the tights because they wouldn’t show. But with a low boot like this, it’s important to choose a tight in a coordinating color. The black with the black here looks seamless.

She could also wear a more sheer tight. I think a sheer tight looks good for more of a sexy nighttime outfit, but here for the daytime, it feels like the opaque tight is doing some of the work of keeping her warm. If she had a brown boot that matched the bag and the belt instead of a black boot, I think a sheer tight would make more sense, because the stark black against the brown with the navy might be too many colors.

12. Merino Crewneck, Pleated Trousers, and White Sneakers

The pleated trousers and the white sneakers are definitely European coded. We don’t see as many bright colors, and we often think of neutrals, so pairing the bright color with the neutral here is a good way to add color without veering too far out of the desired aesthetic.

She could add a white button down underneath this crewneck, which would add a layer of warmth while also adding a little bit of interest. For warmer days, she could just have a silk tank underneath, with the merino crewneck on top and then the white or off-white wool jacket or trench that she has, which would leave us with just a little bit of the crewneck color popping out.

13. Belted Wool Coat, Cashmere Scarf, and Black Boots

Here we have almost an ombre, balayage color palette. It’s definitely lighter on top and then gets darker. When in doubt, that’s the way to go. Start with lighter colors on top and then move darker on the bottom, or use solid colors on the bottom, so that there’s not much going on down there.

Here she has black boots with a black pant. If she had a navy boot, she could go with a navy pant, and that would give us the same feeling of a solid color base.

14. Fair Isle Sweater and Straight-Leg Corduroys

A Fair Isle sweater is usually a very warm option. This is good for when you know there are going to be colder days on your trip. Usually with a bright print or pattern like this, it’s good to tone down everything else, as she has done. She has a solid brown color base with the corduroys and the boots. The boots add a little bit of height while definitely being walkable.

I like her camel colored jacket, which is a staple piece to bring on a trip to Europe in the fall. It would go with any outfit you’re wearing.

15. Rain Shell, Fleece Layer, and Cropped Wide-Leg Pants

A rain shell is a little bit more sporty, but definitely one of the more practical pieces you can put in your suitcase. Here she has a fleece layer underneath, so this is maybe more of a sporty day. She’s out in the rain, and she might be sweating a little bit. A fleece layer really does pack in the warmth, more so than cotton or even wool sometimes, for how lightweight it is.

I like the cropped wide leg pants. With a wide leg like this, a crop is easier, especially on days that it’s raining. If they weren’t cropped, I could see her folding them up, which isn’t really practical with a wide leg. If she wanted to, these boots could go even higher up, but if the weather’s not that cold, an ankle boot can make sense.

16. Cable Knit, Denim Skirt, and Over-the-Knee Socks

Over the knee socks are a statement piece that don’t take up a lot of room in your luggage, but they add a lot of warmth. This outfit could easily handle changing temperatures throughout the day. It’s a mini skirt combined with a warmer sweater, rather than a mini skirt by itself, which would feel very cold in colder temperatures.

She has the long socks, which are noticeable, but they don’t pop too much because of the black boot. I think a brown boot in this situation wouldn’t make sense unless it were almost as tall as the socks.

17. Black Slip Dress with a Chunky Cardigan Over It

Here we have the midi length dress with tights and boots again. Ankle boots are often what make the most sense for a vacation capsule wardrobe, since they’re good to pair with pants as well as dresses. In cooler temperatures, you definitely do need to add a tight underneath.

Again, the black boot with the black opaque tight makes a seamless line underneath her midi dress. It doesn’t draw too much attention away or feel like we have too many conflicting colors. The only pop of color is the chunky cardigan on top, which also adds a little bit of texture to an otherwise formal outfit.

18. Herringbone Overshirt, Long-Sleeve Tee, and Utility Pants

This herringbone overshirt can definitely take you through multiple different weather types as well as temperatures. Here it’s paired with a casual white t-shirt. The pattern here is a good one to have in a capsule wardrobe, because it feels chic and polished while being warm and comfortable enough to do some real walking.

The leather shoe in brown is a little bit more unexpected than a white leather, but the brown leather feels more appropriate for fall.

19. Turtleneck Bodysuit, Faux Leather Midi Skirt, and Boots

I love the faux leather midi skirt combined with the leather boots that she has. I think this works because of how dark both the midi skirt and the boots are. This is a neutral color palette in general. She has the camel coat with the black turtleneck.

A black turtleneck bodysuit really does go with almost anything and any color. It’s a great layering piece, and the first one that should be put into a capsule fall wardrobe. The camel coat can be taken off, and this looks like a very chic day or nighttime outfit.

20. Cropped Puffer, Cashmere Hoodie, and Slim Trousers

This is a color palette that works for fall and winter. It feels chic enough to be photographed on your vacation. I like that she has the hoodie over the collar of the puffer jacket. This definitely has a little bit more of an athletic feel, and it’s a little bit more easygoing because of the hoodie underneath.

I think the trousers definitely add a little bit of polish to this outfit while still being completely walkable. She has the white sneakers, which help us with the color palette of the brown leather, the charcoal, and the beige. It’s neutrals with dark colors here, and the white sneakers bring it all together.

21. Two-Piece Knit Set with a Long Wool Coat

The long wool coat is definitely one of our top staples for a European capsule wardrobe. A knit set underneath is comfortable and as leisurely as we can get while still being chic. It reads like old money.

It’s especially great to have this in a high quality material. There can be a big difference in aesthetic between a cashmere or high quality knit set and one that costs $15. Any knit set can begin to pill because of how much use it gets and the wear it takes on. But when a knit set made of high quality material begins to break down, it doesn’t necessarily lose its value, whereas a knit set that isn’t high quality starts to look cheap and too leisurely very quickly.

22. Navy Peacoat, Cream Sweater, and Dark Wash Jeans

The peacoat is another very European fall coded piece. Rather than a long line wool coat, we have a shorter, more comfortable wool jacket in the peacoat. The peacoat is also a little bit less fitted when you close the buttons, which lends itself to being layered pretty heavily underneath on cooler days.

She also has the plaid scarf underneath, which adds a little bit of interest, and the straight dark wash jeans, which match nicely with the navy. Sometimes you’d think dark wash jeans in the same color as navy would be too matchy, but navy is actually one of the colors, along with neutrals and black, that can easily be matched exactly. Navy looks good with navy.

I like that she has a brown boot and a brown bag here. I think that if it were a black shoe with a black bag, the bright pop of color might make a little bit less sense. But here the small brown accents transition nicely with the small brown accents in her scarf.

Pieces That Pull These Looks Together

A few staples that make most of these looks work.

• befen Genuine Leather Tote Bag. Big enough for a laptop, structured enough to look put together.
• PRETTYGARDEN Open Front Oversized Cardigan. The throw-over layer for the weeks when the mornings are cold and the afternoons are not.
• Amazon Essentials Low Heel Ankle Boots. A low block heel you can walk in all day, with a side zip.