Today I’m sharing my spring packing list for 2026.
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 2026
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.
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 linen pants from Aritzia. 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.
I also love these linen cropped pants from Splendid, and these ones from Gap look great too. If you don’t want to break the bank, Quince has some cute options.
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. I’ve been drooling over these ones from Donni (on sale here!), but H&M and Madewell both have adorable options too.
Pair these with a fitted tank or white tee with a sweater (love this one too) over your shoulders or an oversized denim jacket.
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). Quince has a pretty good dupe for this one.
Madewell’s take is so beautiful 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.
This set from Reformation is technically pajamas, but no one has to know that, right? This top and shorts set from VRG is SO CUTE.
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 absolutely 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 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. My current favorites are these drawstring linen pull on shorts from Left on Friday. These come in the cutest colors, and I love the flattering curved hem. I also am very tempted to check out these $29 linen shorts from Quince and these 6″ linen shorts from Gap.
These ruffle-hemmed shorts from Abercrombie are so cute.
Basic white tanks + t-shirts
I always travel with a few basic tanks and tees that I can easily swap out with the bottoms I’m packing. I just ordered this tank and this tee, both from Aritzia.
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.
Abercrombie has some incredible finds this year. This smocked drop waist dress is made with a built in bra and looks beautiful. This midi dress comes in so many cute colors and is just begging to be worn in Tuscany. And this smocked ballerina style dress looks like it might even be nursing friendly!?
Leave it to Gap to come through with the Dôen lookalikes. I’m drooling over this smocked plaid dress, this lacy white midi dress, and this gingham slip 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!).
If you’re heading somewhere beachy, consider packing a few breezy coverup dresses that you can wear to the cafe, down to the beach, and out to lunch after. J Crew has so many cute styles this year. I love this one and this one so much.
A few other swoon-worthy brands to consider: Dissh, Daughters of India, Christy Dawn, and Beachwood Baby all have the most amazing, comfortable 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 one. Old Navy has some great affordable options too.
I finally decided to splurge on the Lululemon Align dress last 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.
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. The material is stretchy but thick and holds everything in.
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 and worth the investment. I have this in denim and “casual white” and have worn them both a million times over the last three years.
If you don’t want to spend as much, the Gap Big Shirt is an amazing option (more colors here).
If you’re heading somewhere coastal, I recommend packing an oversized linen button down with you. This can work as a coverup with a suit or as a second layer with a tank and shorts. H&M carries a great, inexpensive linen button down.
Neutral Cardigan
Depending on the weather, you might want to pack one or two neutral cotton cardigans to wear on cooler days or out to dinner. This cotton cardigan from Alex Mill is one of my favorites. I have the Butter yellow, but the Ivory would go with everything!!
I am kind of obsessed with Madewell’s crochet cardigan, and this simple cardigan from Aritzia also looks beautiful. Old Navy’s Seaside cardigan looks so cute, and so does Gap’s pointelle version.
Depending on the forecast, you might decide to throw in a pullover style sweater too. Again, I’d go with cotton for this time of the year. Gap and Quince both have great crewneck pullovers that you could pair with your flowy pants, white skirt, or linen shorts.
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.
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.
I also love the cognac gold buckle ones, and the Droplet buckle ones are so cute too.
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 Jo wrap sandal from Teeks.
If you’re looking to save, I have and LOVE these $55 jelly mules from Anthro and the toe loop sandals from Crocs (just trust me).
Sneakers
You might want to pack 1-2 pairs of sneakers that go with most of your outfits for long walking or travel days.
I have found the Adidas Handball Spezials to be much for comfortable than the Sambas, and they have so many cute colors. I love these Golas from Anthro too.
I recently came across a TikTok thread where a girl was asking for a shoe she could walk 20k steps in per day for her Europe, and there were HUNDREDS of comments referencing Dr. Scholl’s Time Out sneakers. Color me intrigued!
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. For safety reasons, you’ll want to make sure the purse you’re carrying while you travel closes completely.
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.
If you’re looking for something a bit sportier, I recommend the Baggu sling bag or the Quince dupe. So cute!
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 Maia style.
For a less expensive straw bag, Aritzia, J Crew, and Mango all have cute options.
Jewelry + hats + hair accessories
These stackable bracelets from Anthro are my favorite way to spark joy with an otherwise boring outfit. You can’t go wrong with a Ralph Lauren baseball cap, and I love my L*Space bucket hat (it’s packable!). I’m also rely on these scarves to carry me on greasy hair days.
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.
