Today I’m sharing my summer packing list for 2025.
If you have followed me for any amount of time, you know I keep my packing situation very streamlined, and the vibe is always the same for my summer trips: lots of linen, fun colors that all flow well together, and nary a restricting waistband in sight. I try to be as comfortable as possible so I can truly enjoy our trips!
In today’s summer packing list, I am going to share a list of pieces that will hopefully all pair well together as you gear up for your summer travels, wherever they may take you.
I’m also sharing a printable packing list for 2 weeks in Europe at the end of the post.
Summer Packing List for 2 Weeks in Europe
I am going to orient this summer packing list around a two week Europe trip–mostly because that’s what I have planned for myself this year, but also because that is what I get a lot of requests for.
That said, this list will work for basically any location, including your community pool and backyard barbecue if that’s what you have on the agenda.
A standard reminder I like to include on every summer packing packing list: just because we are shooting for a capsule wardrobe does not mean we have to stay away from color! Neutrals are great, but colors look amazing in photos (if you care about that kind of thing, which I do). I try to strike a balance between the two and find a way to mix-and-match the items I’m packing. I’m not above repeating outfits on a trip either.
The Perfect Summer Packing List for 2025
Easy Breezy Dresses
If I’m packing for a two week trip, I will pack 4-6 dresses. That might sound like a lot, but there are a few reasons for this. The first is that the dress is the entire outfit. From a logistical/space perspective, it just makes sense! And when the weather is warm, a dress is often the easiest, most comfortable thing to reach for. I always like to have a handful of dresses on hand that I can change into for dinner if we’ve been out at the beach or walking around sweating all day.
My first choice is always a smocked dress. I have and love this one from Z Supply. It’s so comfy and comes in a bunch of cute colors (I have the bright red and it is SO fun).
I love Quince’s take on the poplin Nap Dress–my fave color is the striped or light blue! The cotton gauze version has simpler straps if the ruffles are too much for you. Marine Layer’s eyelet smocked tank dress is so pretty. Old Navy’s $20 version might be worth a try too.
This Madewell shift dress would be so easy to style a bunch of different ways, and I love this little drop-waist red mini dress!
This lace trim shift dress from J Crew would be the perfect companion to an aperol spritz + people watching afternoon.This denim mini dress from Z Supply is SO cute. My mom has this bra-friendly cotton gauze midi swing dress from Quince–such an easy wardrobe staple!
Here are few splurge-worthy pieces from some of my dream brands:
I am drooling over Reformation’s Naella Dress, Everett Linen Dress, and the Baila Denim Midi Dress. I absolutely love Christy Dawn’s Eliana and Matilde styles. And this list wouldn’t be complete with a couple of picks from Dôen: I love this breezy floral Ashlynn dress and this vibrant blue Emmaretta dress.
Neutral Tops, Tees, and Tanks
When I’m packing for a long trip, I like to include 4-5 tanks or tees that will go with most of the pants, shorts, and skirts I’m packing. I also like to pack tops that I can either wear without a bra or, if I must, a comfy bralette (this one is my ride-or-die). If you’re worried about coverage, consider packing a set of Cakes with you!
I just got this Madewell ruffle tank, and it is SO gorgeous. This will be perfect to wear with linen pants, flowy shorts, and skirts this summer. Looks like a few of the other colors are marked down here! This Old Navy dupe looks great.
Madewell also has a great lineup of basic white tees which happen to be a TRAVEL ESSENTIAL for me. I have this boxy crop tee and the longer, more structured “Perfect Crewneck” and wear them both weekly.
Abercrombie also makes really good basics that are perfect for travel. I love their scoop neck line–so flattering! You could also try the boatneck button tank this tie-strap lace cami.
I love this flowy button down top from Tuckernuck, and this linen shell tank from Quince looks very useful. This embroidered tie tank from Free People is also so cute, and I really like this flowy pintuck top from J Crew.
Flowy shorts
I always pack a handful of easy, comfortable shorts that look good with the majority of the tops I’m packing AND the swimsuits I want to bring (more on that later).
My current favorites are the linen Getaway Shorts from Left On Friday. I love the drawstring detail and flattering curved hem. I also just ordered these Somerset Shorts from Anthro and they are beautiful–and baby bump friendly too!
Splendid’s Campside shorts are always a good choice. I have heard amazing things about Quince’s smocked waist linen shorts, and they come in a bunch of beautiful colors this year!
I like these green ones from Z Supply too–and these dreamy eyelet ones!
Comfortable pants
I like to pack a few pairs of lightweight, comfortable pants when I travel in the summer time. And while I might not reach for them as often as the shorts or dresses, they are nice to have on hand.
This year, I am packing my Rio pants from Beachwood Baby because they work super well with my baby bump. I also have my eye on the drawstring high waist version for after I give birth!
I love this printed floral pants from Anthro–these would look fabulous in photos.
Z Supply always makes such amazing pants. I have the older version of these linen cropped trousers and LOVE THEM. Their Scout pants are also incredible, and they have a bunch of matching tops.
I have heard such great things about Pact’s split hem cotton gauze pants, and I also want to give these breezy Aerie pants a try. These $40 linen pants from Quince have incredible reviews.
Wear Anywhere Skirts
There are two skirts I believe every woman should own, and that is a white maxi skirt and a silk mini skirt. Both make great additions to any travel capsule.
I love my Lucy Skirt from Reformation (review here), but Quince has a good dupe (runs big) and a tiered version too.
And Quince’s washable silk mini skirt is so cute and romantic–not to mention useful because it goes with everything. I have worn mine SO many times the last few years. This is such a great piece to bring for dinners and such. It takes up zero space and can transform your whole look.
Workout Dress
I like to pack along one workout dress when I go on a long trip like this. They are so useful, look cute with everything, and SO comfortable. My favorite is the Lululemon Align Dress–the shorts are detached in the back so you can use the bathroom without undressing completely! Abercrombie carries a version of this now too.
Swimsuits
My favorite suits for travel are, hands down, from Youswim. They are stretchy and comfortable and easy to pair with linen shorts. My favorite style is the Aplomb One Piece.
Aerie is my favorite place to shop for affordable swimwear, and I also have had good experiences with Quince too.
Easy second layers
For our next trip, I plan to pack just a couple of extra layers: an oversized denim jacket, a white linen button down, and an open knit cardigan.
For denim jackets, Quince makes a cute affordable one. Anthro has an extra swingy oversized one, and so does Free People.
I am packing my Beachwood Baby linen button down (I bought this one because it’s ultra long and can double as a cover up!). You can also find them at Quince, Gap, and Z Supply. I love a button down over a suit, tank and shorts, tee and pants, you get the idea.
I always, always pack a lightweight off-white cardigan for cool evenings. I have the older version of this cardigan from Sézane and will pack that again this year too. Z Supply and Banana Republic both have these too.
Depending on your destination, you might want to also pack a pullover crochet-type sweater. These make great swim coverups for cool mornings. Love these from Z Supply, Quince, and the short sleeve version from Aerie.
Sandals and Sneakers
I tend to be very unfussy about my travel shoe situation. I will usually wear a pair of comfortable sneakers on the plane and then pack a pair of Birkenstocks and 1-2 pairs of flat sandals. For summer trips, I wear my Birkenstocks basically every day that we aren’t flying, and then I’ll change into sandals when I put on a dress for dinner. I used to pack way more options than that and found myself just reaching for my Birkenstocks every day. This saves a TON of space in my suitcase too, so it’s a double win.
If you read my newsletter or follow me on IG, you know I have an obsession with all white Birkenstocks. I purchase a new pair for myself every other spring and wear them into.the.ground. The big buckle version are also very, very cute, and if I were ever to deter from the all whites, that is the direction I would go.
You might prefer a pair of sneakers that go with dresses and such, as opposed to wearing Birkenstocks all day every day. If that’s the case, I recommend Vejas, Dr. Scholl’s, or Adidas Handball Spezials.
If you want to bring some “dressier” sandals, I recommend Sézane’s Adeline sandals. Quince’s YSL dupe slides are super cute, and I love these slides from Splendid.
Crossbody Purse
Every traveling girl needs a good crossbody purse. I like to carry a crossbody bag even through the airport, so I can easily access my phone, our passports, hand sanitizer, etc. And then during the days we are out exploring, I have Tyler carry a backpack with the girls’ stuff and I still just wear the crossbody bag.
When it comes to picking a good crossbody bag for travel, I like to follow the rule of thumb that it should be completely enclosed and secure. Adjustable straps are always a plus, so you can wear it close to the body and not have it hanging loosely.
This year, I am bringing Clare V’s Grande Fanny. This is such a practical, “hands free” travel bag. It sits snugly across my body and holds a lot more than a standard crossbody. I have it in the Cream Rattan and it goes with everything. (Full review here!).
Other crossbody ideas: the Mini Milo from Sézane (have and love–review here), Clare V’s Midi Sac (also have and love this–review here) or the Quince dupe.
Madewell has some good options such as this woven sling bag and this chocolate crossbody one. I absolutely love this raffia bag from Mango. I have seen a lot of girls out and about with these nylon swing crossbody bags from Baggu too.
Accessories
I always like to pack a baseball cap for hikes or beach days. These ones from Clare V are so cute, and I also really like the pastel Ralph Lauren caps (more choices on RL website).
I also like to bring a couple of hair accessories for greasy hair days–for example, a Sézane square scarf to tie around my ponytail. I also love my Machete claw clips.
Anthro is my favorite place to shop for “vacation jewelry.” I this necklace layering set and these stacking bracelets.
And we can’t forget sunglasses! Raen makes my favorite polarized sunglasses. They are such amazing quality and super lightweight. I just got these gold framed glasses from our local L*Space store and think they are so cute. I’m also VERY interested in Quince’s line of polarized sunglasses.
Summer Packing Essentials
I thought I’d share a few of my favorite packing essentials, the items that keep me organized–and more importantly–sane as we hope from city to city.
We have been using our Away suitcases for 8 years now, and they have held up amazingly well. I use the Large and Carry-On sizes to pack up everything for both me and my two young daughters. (If you are traveling with kids this summer, you might find this post helpful!).
I LOVE using packing cubes and find them enormously helpful. I love CALPAK’s set so much because each cube has have a label slot and a secret pocket in the back.
I use Dagne Dover’s Dakota backpack as my carry on for travel days, and then my hsuband carries it as our day bag when we are out exploring. I have the Large size, and it fits everything I need and is super comfortable to wear (Full review here).
And I have to shoutout CALPAK’s clear cosmetic cases. I use the medium size for long trips, and it holds everything I need for both me and my daughters. I used to think tech organizers were a sham, and then I actually used one. This one from CALPAK neatly holds all of our converters and chargers and makes so much easier.
Printable packing list for 2 weeks in Europe
I wanted to include this as an example of how you can plan out your packing list and daily outfits. I usually do this in the notes in my phone, but I’m hoping this printable packing list for 2 weeks in Europe will explain it a little better. Basically, on the left side you can see the list of all of the clothing items you’ll want to pack. On the right, you can list out your outfit ideas by location. So, you could jot in “Paris Day 1: floral dress and sneakers” or something like that.
This will help you visualize organize your wardrobe so you can see where you can rewear and mix and match. This will help you not overpack.
Thank you for checking out my summer packing list! I hope this was helpful, wherever you are headed. Have an amazing trip!!
On that note…
International Travel Checklist: 23 Things to do before Traveling Abroad
Our 3 week Europe itinerary: Paris, Croatia, Slovenia, and Italy
Lake Como and the French Riviera
For more travel tips, city guides, and itinerary inspo, click here.
