Pack light and stylish for 2 weeks in Europe this winter. Discover the ultimate Europe winter capsule wardrobe guide for exploring Christmas markets comfortably and chicly.
Introduction
I am over-the-moon excited for my upcoming trip to Europe! My husband and I are spending 2 weeks travelling to a few large cities in Europe, with a focus on the world-famous European Christmas Markets! We will begin our journey in London spending 3.5 days exploring all the wonder that this magical city has to offer. Our next stop will be Paris where we will spend 5 days immersing ourselves in all things markets, architecture, and delicious food. The peak of our Christmas market adventures will be in Strasbourg, France! This fairytale city is the perfect location to get into the holiday spirit and get the full market experience. The last city we will visit is Amsterdam where walks along the dreamy canals will be the perfect way to wrap up our trip.
The main challenge with a long trip in the winter is trying to be stylish while also packing light. Cultivating the ideal winter travel wardrobe for a long European vacation can be tricky. The great news is that I have researched packing for Europe in the winter to the fullest extent and have assembled what I believe is the best capsule wardrobe for exploring the Christmas markets of Europe in style, while also packing light.
Why a Travel-Specific Winter Capsule Wardrobe is Essential
I am the QUEEN of overpacking. I always feel like I will need multiple options for every possible photo op. While I still, of course, get all of the photos I could dream of, I have also travelled enough to know that the extra skirt or additional dress “just in case” -1. Does not get worn 2. Creates a huge headache trying to lug heavy baggage across the cobblestone streets of Europe.
Bottomline: Pack light. You NEVER need as much as you think and you will REGRET packing in excess.
Let me help you simplify your packing list while helping you cultivate a look that screams style without overpacking.
How to Build Your 2-Week Europe Winter Capsule Wardrobe
First Thing: Make Sure Your Color Palette Can Mix & Match
This is not a novel tip but is a key one. Make sure you choose items that can be mixed and matched. Trust me – I am a hot pink and sequins kind of gal but those items can stand out and do not always match everything you pack. So, as much as it pains me to say, for a two week, long-haul trip, leave the wild stuff at home and try to adhere to a palette that lends itself to mixing and matching. Now – that does not exclude you from packing a versatile velvet dress to be worn on numerous nights out.
Therefore, for my European Christmas market adventure I stuck to neutral tones with pops of red and green to match the holiday vibe. We’ll dive into those specific pieces in a minute.
Step 2: Select Core Clothing Pieces
An item absolutely necessary to face the cold and unpredictable weather that you may face in Europe is a warm coat. I have chosen a long, wool coat from Banana Republic. I am confident it will keep me warm and dry on our long days of walking.
For this trip, I have opted for 3 body suits, 3 sweaters, 2 tops, 2 plaid skirts, 2 silk skirts, 2 jeans, and 1 leather pants.
All of these items can be mixed and matched to maximize outfit combinations and keep me warm. These pieces also lend themselves to casual for daytime exploring and elevated for romantic evenings.
The last key element is a perfect pair of shoes. I have opted for Naturalizers boots, which will keep me warm and dry. These boots are ideal because they are water resistant and pair well with both skirts and pants.
I also packed a pair of Adidas sneakers because they go with everything and are perfect for walking.
Now, I did mention style being a key part of building an ensemble. While I am an absolute advocate of narrowing down your selection to a few items that can be mixed and matched, there are a few occasions that call for something extra special, like a Twilight Tea at The Savoy in London or Photography Session. For those occasions, I did pack a green, velvet dress and little black dress that can be worn for more fancy occasions, which if you enjoy including a few of those on your trip, I highly recommend adding a statement piece or two to be worn for those special moments.
Step 3: Accessorize for Warmth & Style
I grew up in the midwest but have been living in Texas for the last 4.5 years. While I grew up being cold 8 months out of the year, my environment has been the complete opposite since moving to Texas where January is really the only “cold” month. Needless to say, I have gotten used to being warm and my winter wardrobe was last updated in college. Therefore, both my style and needs have evolved drastically. For this trip, I adhered to the principles I stated above; only bring a few key items that can be worn a lot. Especially in the case of outerwear, accessories should be able to be worn with basically everything. I chose cashmere-lined leather gloves and a pashmina from Quince as my outerwear accessories. I also have a headwrap that is old but still stylish and functional.
Side note: I prefer a headwrap to a hat. Personally, I think it is easier to style your hair and keep your ears warm without compromising your look.
My staple for every trip in the last couple of years has been my Quince leather crossbody. It hugs right to my chest and is just big enough for all the essentials. This is a perfect item for travel and I highly recommend it.
However, if you are like me and you enjoy photography, you’ll need a bag that can accommodate a camera for longer days of exploration. I had wonderful luck with my Portland Leather backpack. It has substantial space for a DSLR camera and your essentials without being too bulky and being stylish.
Packing Tips for a 2-Week European Winter Trip
I have seen just about every packing tip under the sun claiming it’s the “best” way to pack. At the end of the day, if you keep the number of items you pack to a minimum and maximize every bit of space you have, it won’t leave you with an aesthetic suitcase but everything you need will be stuffed in your carry-on.
I know that isn’t the ultimate hack you may be looking for, but I have found rolling vs folding, packing cubes vs not, does not really matter. Any method you can apply to get all of your stuff in your suitcase is the ultimate hack.
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Sample 2-Week Outfit Schedule
After thoughtfully considering every piece, I have assembled my Europe winter capsule wardrobe. I have mixed and matched every item in my wardrobe to create the perfect Christmas market travel outfits.
I featured one outfit each day, but there are several days where I plan to mix up my look for the evening, which I did not picture here. As you can see, every item is used at least twice, if not three, and can be worn day or night.
[Links to my favorite pieces are coming soon]
The Wrap Up
I highly encourage you to build your own European winter capsule wardrobe to suit your needs and style! Just remember that the key to packing light and dressing with style is to bring a few items that can be coordinated in multiple combinations. I wish you the best of luck assembling your Christmas market travel outfits and let me know your favorite tips & tricks below!