Today I’m sharing my spring packing list for 2025.
Spring is my absolute favorite season for both travel and shopping. I love the colors, and I LOVE layering. Most of all, I love the thrill of planning a trip as the weather slowly gets warmer. I spend most of January, February, and March maniacally planning out my outfits for spring and summer travel. We all have our things.
Something I hear from a lot of people is that they have a hard time not overpacking for trips. This is understandable: we want options! Before I get into the list, I thought I’d go over a couple of packing “rules” that I try to follow.
One way to combat the urge to overpack is by selecting items that mix and match. I try to always create a capsule wardrobe of sorts when I pack for a trip. But remember: just because we are shooting for a capsule wardrobe does not mean we have shy away from color!
Another thing I do–and this is next-level nuts, I know–is keep a note on my phone and write down every day of the trip and what I plan to wear on that day. I even write out the travel day outfits. That sounds insane, and, of course, I deviate depending on the weather and such, but having it all written out allows me to keep everything straight when I’m shopping. And, most importantly, it helps me only pack what I’ll need.
After I go through all of my recommendations, I’ll share an example packing list at the end of the post.
Spring Packing List for 2025
My vibe for my travel wardrobe is always the same: comfy, flowy, easy. Nothing you’ll see on this list will have a restricting waistband, and most of the items I’ve linked will pair well with each other.
You might notice that this roundup looks similar to last year’s, and that is because I have been wearing the same types of outfits for YEARS on our spring and summer trips. I might be biased, but I think these outfit formulas stand the test of time: flowy pants, linen shorts, colorful dresses, button up shirts. It’s not groundbreaking, but it works.
I’m going to start with some base items, meaning the core of the various outfits you can put together. Then, I’ll move on to some second layer options (vital for spring travel) and, finally, shoes and accessories.
Flowy pants
You know we were starting here, right? Flowy pants are the cornerstone of my packing game.
I LOVE these flowy pants from Z Supply. These are so comfortable, but the tailoring makes them look put together. I’ve worn these with bodysuits, tanks, and tees. I wear a medium in these.
If you like the look of a linen pant but don’t want to deal with the wrinkles, consider a cotton poplin pant which will achieve that same beachy, “OOTO” effect of linen. My go-to poplin pants are from Splendid. They are so comfortable and easy to wear.
*This just in: my favorite poplin pants from last summer are back in stock! I have worn these 1 million times and find them so comfortable and easy to style. I love that the pockets make them look slightly less pajama-y too.
Donni makes an amazing poplin pant in a bunch of gorgeous colors (available at ShopBop too), but it looks like Aritzia and Anthropologie have great options too. Pair these with a fitted tank or white tee with a sweater over your shoulders or an oversized denim jacket.
If you’re interested in having a pair of denim on hand–especially if temps are still going to be cool where you’re going–but don’t want to deal with a button and zipper on vacay (lol), you might consider these wide leg drawstring denim pants from Gap. I also like the horseshoe version!
I love VRG Girl for unique vacation outfits, and they have so many cute patterns and styles right now. I bought these floral pants and this top last year for our trip to Spain and it remains one of my favorite outfits in my closet!
White Maxi Skirt
A white maxi skirt is such a useful, versatile staple for any spring packing list. There are one million ways to wear a white maxi skirt: with a tank, tee, floral blouse, paired with a cardigan or jean jacket, with sneakers or sandals or Birkenstocks. The options are limitless, making this the perfect addition to our spring wardrobe this year.
I have the Lucy Skirt from Reformation. It is comfortable, sleek, and looks good all year round. (You can see my full review and a bunch of ways I’ve styled it in this blog post). Everlane has a pretty good dupe for this one.
I’m so excited to see that Quince came out with a beautiful tiered white skirt this year! I love this eyelet version from Gap too.
Matching sets
One thing I always love to travel with is a matching set. The beauty of a matching set is, much like packing a dress, that you don’t have to think about anything: that’s the outfit! And then, of course, you have the option to mix and match with the rest of your wardrobe (are we sensing a theme here?).
Last year, I have worn this Z Supply set (top here and pants here) SO many times. These are great for travel days and long days of walking. The jersey material is breathable, flowy, and just looks so cute with Birkenstocks.
I also have my eye on this beachy set (top and pants) from Z supply. The pants would be super versatile and easy to wear over a suit or with a white tee or even under a button down. So many options which is the beauty!
Free People has a ton of amazing sets right now too. This linen pants + tank set comes in so many beautiful colors and looks so comfortable. I also bsolutely love this strapless set.
Comfy but elevated shorts
I bought the older version of these chic belted denim shorts from Sézane last summer and got an unbelievable amount of use out of them. These look great with tops and sweaters of any kind and are a massive step above the denim cutoffs I’d wear around at home.
One of my favorite warm weather outfit formulas: pull on shorts + tank top + button down shirt open over the top. I love these functional green shorts from Z Supply and have my eye on this pair from Quince too.
I also LOVE a linen short for travel. Linen pants tend to bug me a little because of how wrinkly they get, but for some reason, wrinkly linen shorts don’t bother me in the slightest. I believe Reformation has the best in the game–I have the old and new iteration of these Mila shorts in Oatmeal and a Striped version and wear them constantly (although be warned they are definitely SHORT). I am very tempted to check out these $29 linen shorts from Quince.
I am obsessed with these ruffle boxer shorts from Sonderhaus. I wear these with a tank, over a swimsuit, or with a big sweater at night if it gets chilly. These are so well made and COMFORTABLE. These are really well-priced for the quality. They run a little big–I am going to keep my normal size and just roll them up to fit better on my waist, but I probably could have gone down.
Basic white tanks + t-shirts
Abercrombie has the BEST tanks for layering. I buy one of these scoop neck tanks in white each year. They also have a longer “tuckable” version.
And I will, of course, need to bring a fresh white t-shirt or two. Madewell’s “cotton perfect tee” is really good, and I also love Gap’s shrunken tee.
Comfy, colorful dresses
I always pack several dresses when we travel because they are just so easy. For the most part, I try to stick with cotton or linen just because these fabrics are much more comfortable for me on long days walking around.
I’ll kick things off with Z Supply–no surprise there. I just bought this Beachside Midi in the bright red color. It is beyond comfortable and will be easy to style with sandals and a cardigan in the evenings. (Also available at Shopbop). I own and love the Winslet Maxi too.
Sézane, of course, carries such beautiful dresses too. The Clare dress is stunning and the perfect summer dress. I love this knit mini dress and this beautiful floral midi. The Pippa looks so comfy for travel and like it would be so easy to wear with sneakers and sandals alike (they have a tank version and a mini version now too!).
And if you really want to splurge on an heirloom quality dress that you’ll wear for years to come…there’s Dôen. I am in love with this floral Leanne dress, this poplin tank dress, and this gorgeous striped dress.
I am very, very intrigued by Quince’s line of warm weather dresses (should I order a bunch and do a try on haul??). I love this Reformation-esque swing dress, this Jenni Kayne lookalike, and this breezy linen dress (looks like they have a cotton gauze version too!).
A few other swoon-worthy brands to consider: Daughters of India, Christy Dawn, and Beachwood Baby both have the most amazing, loose-fitting dresses.
Workout dress
The workout dress trend is one of the best things to happen to our generation and easily my number one travel packing list item. A black workout dress looks good with Birkenstocks, sandals, and sneakers and is so comfortable on a long day of walking around. You can easily pair this with a chambray shirt (more on that below) or a pullover sweatshirt.
Abercrombie carries a bunch of cute workout dresses. I love this high neck one and this slightly-flared square neck one.
I finally decided to splurge on the Lululemon Align dress this past year, and I’m afraid to report that it really is THAT good and worth every penny. It is flattering, comfortable, and–you’re not going to believe this–has shorts that are detached in the back so you can easily use the bathroom without undressing completely. Real, next level progress here. It does run small, so go up a size. Also comes in a cami version–LOVE.
One piece swimsuit
This is a must if you are going somewhere beachy. I love a one piece because, in keeping with the theme, it kind of serves as an outfit. Throw on a pair of denim or linen shorts, and you’re good to go.
Hunza G is the crème de la crème. I have the Pamela style, and it SNATCHES (and, trust me, I try to avoid that term if at all possible).
A very close second to Hunza G is Youswim. I have 3 Youswim styles and wear them all the time. They are SO comfy and come in the most fun colors. The reason I say these are a close second to Hunza G is because the material is a little less substantial, so you don’t feel quite as snatched. I still definitely recommend them though. One thing to note is you have to treat these carefully: wash on cold, lay to dry, etc.
Button up shirt
There is nothing–and I do mean nothing–more useful than a button up shirt. I especially love them for travel because it’s a lightweight extra layer that can instantly give your outfit a fresh look. Last year for Spain and Portugal, I brought both a white button up and a chambray blue button up with me and wore each of them several times. Throw this over a workout dress, flowy pants and a tank, or paired with linen shorts.
My go to button up is the Max shirt from Sézane–these are extremely well made. If you don’t want to spend as much, the Gap Big Shirt is an amazing option (more colors here).
H&M carries a great, inexpensive linen button down if you want something more beachy.
Neutral Cardigan
Depending on the weather, you might want to pack one or two cotton cardigans to wear on cooler days or out to dinner.
I have the older version of this open knit cardigan from Sézane. It is SO dreamy and useful, and I’m so glad they brought it back this year.
If you are traveling somewhere that might still be colder…I just purchased my first Alex Mill cardigan (for research, of course) and love the weight and 100% cotton knit texture. It is not an open knit, so it is quite warm.
A few lighter weight options: I absolutely love this elegant crochet cardigan from Anthro and this lightweight cardigan from Z Supply. This one from H&M looks great.
Oversized denim jacket
In my opinion, there is no outfit that wouldn’t work with an oversized denim jacket. This is my go-to layer for spring travel and such an easy thing to wear through an airport to save on suitcase space too.
Reformations’ version has such a great silhouette, but for a cheaper option, I like Quince, Levi’s, and Free People.
Sandals and Birkenstocks
I always have these grand dreams of waltzing around Europe in a delicate strappy sandal, and then when it comes down to it, I reach for my Birks. Every. Time. I just love how an all-white Birkenstock looks, to the point where I am now on my third, yes third, pair. I buy a new pair every other summer and plan to do so forever and ever.
If you can’t stand the thought of Birkenstocks (I get it) but still want a cushier sandal, I recommend the Bibi Lou slides from Anthro or Sézane’s Lenny Low Mules or Tilda Sandals.
If you are looking for a more strappy sandal, here are a few of my picks: Sézane Adeline sandals (I own and love these–perfect for lighter walking days or out to dinner), the Sawyer flat sandal from Reformation, and the Raye Void sandal.
For sandals under $50, you can’t go wrong with an Oran dupe from Amazon, this scalloped slides from Dolce Vita, or these strappy sandals from Gap.
Sneakers
The Adidas Sambas are a nice trendy option. It looks like the ones with the light blue stripe I have are back in stock! These are comfy but definitely flat–good for a few hours but not an entire day of walking, in my opinion.
I have heard great things about the Reebok Club C line, and these ones are on sale right now on Amazon. I love the gum sole. These ones are on sale too and look like they have a slightly slimmer sole.
If you are open to a splurge, it seems like people just rave and rave about Vejas. I like the V-90 style and think they would be so cute with jeans and dresses alike.
I have also heard amazing things about Golas. These white ones with the green and pink details are SO cute.
A statement bag
I always carry a small crossbody purse with me when we are traveling to hold all of my daily essentials: phone, card holder, hand sanitizer spray, and, of course, lip balm.
Clare V. has some really pretty colors in their travel-friendly Midi Sac (read my review here) and Grand Fanny style. If you don’t want to spend that much, Quince’s dupe for the Midi Sac is honestly amazing (love the raffia version too!).
You can’t go wrong with a Sézane box-style crossbody. I love that you can adjust the straps to secure the purse really close to the body on travel days. The Mini Milo (review here!) is my fave and the perfect compact size, but the slightly larger Claude comes in a lot more colors.
A couple of travel-friendly purses under $100 that caught my eye: this woven style from Quince, this chocolate box bag from Mango.
If you’re heading somewhere beachy and want a bag with more space, I am SO in love with my Justine bag from Sézane (review here) and also love the Paloma style.
For a less expensive straw bag, check out my faves from Target and J Crew.
Jewelry + hats + hair accessories
These stackable bracelets from Anthro are my favorite way to spark joy with an otherwise boring outfit. I have and love this baseball cap from Clare V. I’m also banking on these scarves to carry me on greasy hair days.
If you’re heading on a beach vacation, you might want to consider bringing a packable straw hat along
Spring Packing List Example: 2 Weeks in Europe
The following list is geared towards a later spring/warmer trip–think high 60s, low 70s. If you’re going earlier in the spring or to a cooler climate, I would add 2 or 3 more sweaters and maybe even a pair of jeans just in case.
- 3 pairs of comfortable pants
- 3 pairs of shorts
- 1 white maxi skirt
- 2 matching sets
- 4 dresses
- 1 workout dress
- 3 tank tops
- 2 white t-shirts
- 2 swimsuits
- 1 cardigan
- 2 button down shirts
- 1 denim jacket
- Birkenstocks
- 1 pair of strappy sandals
- White sneakers
- Crossbody purse
Thank you so much for checking out my spring packing list! I hope you have a fabulous trip!!
On that note…
Our 2 week Spain and Portugal itinerary
30 tips for traveling internationally with small kids
For more packing tips and travel resources, click here.
