Guide to Packing for Living in Europe… or Anywhere with Seasons…

You’re down to the one-week mark before your adventure abroad begins and you find yourself in a packing panic. How in the world can you fit my entire LIFE into one or two suitcases? How will you squeeze in five months and three seasons of clothing? Other than the obvious necessities like your phone, laptop, camera and converter, what in the world are you going to wear?  Never fear, packing procrastinators, here are 10 tips to maximize your packing potential, and maybe you’ll even save some room for souvenirs you collect along the way.

1. Versatility is key.

Between the changes in seasons and trips to other countries, there’s no way to prepare for all possible weather conditions. But you can get close. Part of the allure of European fashion is its flawless simplicity. Try to stick to solid colors, things you can easily mix and match, dress up or dress down. Patterns are more limiting in their flexibility, but you may find yourself missing patterns come springtime. If you’re traveling, remember that you may be doing an array of activities throughout the day – anything from hiking to casual dining – all in the same outfit.

2. Be prepared to re-wear.

Time to learn the art of outfit repeating. Laundry in Europe is expensive and hard to come by, not to mention the difficulty of having to translate all of the particular washer and dryer settings, and the last thing you want to do is accidentally shrink half the clothes you brought along for the semester. To avoid laundry fiascos, be sure to bring Tide To-Go with you for easily removable stains (think pasta sauce). In the meantime, you may be re-wearing the same pants a few days in a row, or the same sweater all week. Don’t freak out. The key is finding new combinations so you can make the best use of the clothes you brought without appearing in the exact same outfit in every picture you take.

3. Black is the new black.

Take a hint from Danish fashion and always go with black. It hides stains, it can be dressed up or down, it soaks up the sun (great for colder countries), and goes with pretty much any other color. Plus, black is chic and an absolute necessity for any European closet.

4. Accessorize.

Now that you’ve learned to re-wear any and all black clothing you own, you can mix it up with different colored accessories. From scarves to hats to necklaces and fanny packs, Europeans love their accessories. Some advice I received from a female Danish friend: “Be prepared to wear a scarf every day August through June, and then spend July mourning your lack of scarf.” Besides, accessories weigh less than clothing and will revitalize your wardrobe when you feel like you’ve been wearing the same things over and over again.

5. Travel lightly.

If there’s one thing that still amazes me about Europeans, it’s their ability to fit such an extensive wardrobe into a tiny little suitcase. When taking weekend or even weeklong trips, never bring anything bigger than a carry-on size bag or you’ll immediately peg yourself as an American. Europeans are expert packers; so take note, because airlines like Ryan Air and Easy Jet will charge you extra if your carry-on exceeds a certain weight. You’ll be thankful you did when you’re traipsing your way through a new city trying to find your hostel.

6. Layer like an onion.

The weather in Europe is finicky and forecasts are unpredictable. If you’re like me and always cold, you’ll never go anywhere without at least a sweater, probably a jacket too, and god forbid you forget to bring an umbrella. If you plan to be out all day exploring a new place, the more layers the better. It’s always better to be over-prepared than under prepared. Anything you end up taking off you can just save for the next day. 

7. Comfort is never overrated.

Despite your desire to fit in with the European fashion community, comfort is never to be overlooked. Those Italian leather heels may look amazing on you, but remember that a) you may not have room for them in your suitcase and b) you can’t practically wear them for your walking tour that day. That being said, I recommend avoiding the typical American tourist look of jeans and sneakers. There are plenty of other comfortable shoe options available, so invest in them because you will be walking everywhere. One of my education professors from Denmark is fond of saying: “You know you’re in Europe when your feet hurt.” However, comfortable clothing is not to be confused with athletic clothing. In Europe you’ll find that athletic clothes, like leggings, sneakers, and sweatshirts, are reserved oddly enough only for sports. You will rarely find Europeans wearing athletic gear around town simply because it’s comfortable.

8. Bring your own deodorant.

Toiletries are not the same in Europe as they are in the US. For example, I had the misfortune of discovering they only sell powdered deodorant in Danish pharmacies. So, because toiletries are often different, expensive, and hard to find, bring as many of them with you as you can: shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, deodorant, etc. Anything you don’t use up by the end of your time abroad, you can leave behind and that frees up some extra space for coming home. For weekend trips, however, keep in mind your TSA security guidelines! That deodorant is precious!

9. Remind yourself of home.

Let’s face it, you can’t be a European fashion star all the time. You may find, especially in the long, dark winter months, that in the comfort of your own apartment, dorm, or homestay, you are craving something that reminds you of home. Don’t be discouraged from bringing your favorite baggy t-shirt or comfy sweatshirt along with you. Bring those memories with you and it’ll feel like your dog or significant other is right there with you. 

10. Don’t be afraid to leave things behind.

Packing up to go home may be even more difficult than the initial packing process. But never fear! Many study abroad programs have “free cycle” days where students can donate items of clothing or toiletries they don’t want to take back home or don’t have room to take back home. If you’ve worn things out, spilled wine on them a few too many times, accidentally shrunk them, or simply didn’t wear them, it’s okay to leave them behind. Chances are you probably found something during an impromptu shopping spree that you much prefer anyway.

So there you go! These 10 tips hopefully have given you some idea of how to start the dreaded task of packing for your adventure abroad. While I have addressed the issue with a trip to Europe in mind, these same rules are going to apply to practically anywhere with season changes from Argentina to New Zealand. If you’re going somewhere that doesn’t have a cold winter season (Middle East, Brazil or Africa for example) or you’re just going abroad for the summer, your packing should be even easier. But please do still take at least one sweater… you may be surprised at just how cold a Zimbabwe night can be!

Now, go get packing and get ready for the time of your life! Bon Voyage!

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Anything you think we missed?  What would you absolutely never go abroad without?  Let us know in the comments below!

[accordion_tab title=”Collegiate Correspondent: Sarah Brown” default]

Sarah Brown is a current senior at Tufts University studying English and Child Development. An avid traveler and writer, she spent an incredible semester in Copenhagen, Denmark in the spring of 2015 studying the Danish education system, learning Danish, making lifelong friends, traveling to 10 different countries, and embracing a European lifestyle. She dreadfully misses her bicycle, the rye bread, the sound of the Danish language, and dressing head to toe in black every day of the year. Sarah also speaks French (even to those who have no clue what she is saying), and has traveled to France several times through exchange, language, and study abroad programs in quest of the best chocolate croissant – and to perfect her French. As someone who embraces adventure, getting “intentionally” lost in new places, and meeting new people, she is very excited to be joining the Voy team. After working in the Copenhagen International School this past spring, she hopes to pursue teaching abroad in international schools. Bucket list destinations include: Thailand, New Zealand, Croatia, and Peru.[/accordion_tab]