my boyfriend recently asked me to go to europe with him for a month . We will be staying at hostels and everything we have will have to be carried with us. I have no clue of how I am going to prepare chic fashionalbe outfits that also are going to be able to fit into a back pack and not be washed a lot! I don't think I'm cut out for this type of trip but can' t wait to go. haha thanks for the help.

Lucky you! I was in Europe backpacking for 9 months and had a blast.

Backpacking is definitely definitely for the adventurous souls but that doesn't mean you should leave you chic dresses at home. You definitely need to dress nice for night events like dining out in Paris, going to the theaters in London or the opera house in Vienna. I went in summer, so I brought 2-3 short black dresses that didn't require ironing. Not all hostels have irons and laundry rooms.

It's steamy hot in summer but if you are going to the mountains in Switzerland, then you'll need a jacket, you can actually go skiing in summer.

Also, churches/chapels in Vatican City and Italy are super strict with dress code. Most of them don't allow visitors to enter if their shoulder and/or knees are exposed. To my surprise, they are even more strict than Egypt!

Have fun!

It sounds amazing - to go Europe for a month.

A friend forewarned me about the churches/Vatican in Italy - she advised me to bring a cardigan and a sarong- that way I wouldn't be turned away. My only advice is to bring a lint brush - if you bring a few items that are wrinkle free - they can be hand washed in the sink and can be wrung out with a towel and air dried.

Have fun.

I love the traipsing around Europe scenario.... I did it a while ago and I think the key is one type of outfit per event, with layers that can be switched around to create more outfits.

So.... I love the suggestion above from Aihui about a black dress or two, plus a bunch of scarves, one pair of nice jeans (denim is heavy, so you will want to be careful about how many pairs of jeans you bring), a couple of twill cotton pants and shorts and a variety of nice t shirts, plus the ever helpful cardigan or two. Light on the jewelry - wear earrings that you can have on at all times, like huggies, and same thing with bracelets and necklaces. This way, you can swap the t-shirts with all the pants, same thing with the cardigans and make a bunch of different outfits, and you will have cardigans for over the dresses when it's cool out.

for shoes, I would definitely think twice about bringing heels - or make sure they are really versatile, b/c they take up room and are heavy. Ballet flats are your best friend in Europe, as are cute sneakers like my beloved Hogans - and look in Fabulous Nobody's closet - she has great walking shoes.

SO FUN!!

Yeah! Lucky Lucky You!
Don't say your not cut out for it.... believe me, I went backpacking in South America and Europe and managed to bring just a small backpack and shoulder bag along with me. All of the essentials fit :)

Here are my recommendations:

- 1 pair of jean shorts that you'll live in, 1 pair of longer cotton/blend shorts.
- 1 pair of dark denim jeans that you can dress up or down, depending on shoes and accessories.
- 2 cardigans that are different enough to really switch up your look.
- At least one scarf... you'll find bundles more street shopping that you can pick up along the way.
- Your favorite walking sneakers (le tigres are close to my heart) and a pair of cute sandals that you can wear out too (gladiators if your a fan... matt bernson makes a very comfy gladiator that's still dressy enough and affordable).
- A light cotton/linen blazer would be quite useful for those more special occasions.
- 2 cotton dresses; 1 above the knee, one below (maxi dress is great for night)
- Your favorite pj's, a pair of yoga pants that can be worn to bed and hiking.
- 1 hat (pick any style) for those days the hostel shower was shut off.
- A shoulder bag for hands free carrying; large enough to fit your daily essentials (a book etc) but small enough to not be a bother.
- Buy your heels in Florence/Paris/or London...

Have an incredible trip!


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Seems like you are having a very similar dilemma to mine (see my post for away from home for one month), except hostels may not have laundry service (I had trouble even with the better hotels in Europe) and Fedex suitcases might be too expensive. Pack things doesn't wrinkle easily, also drys quickly. Look at the positive side, at least it's summer time!

American Apparel has a dress/top you can wear 18 different ways. Buy a couple of those, add 1 or 2 pairs of jeans (one blue, one white or black), one or two pair of flats, a pair of heels, some t shirts/tank tops, scarves and tie them all together with different accessories. Make sure you can mix and match everything you bring. One color scheme, like Black/White/Red or Navy/White/Yellow, or Brown/Cream/Grey combo. Check it out: http://store.americanapparel.net/rsa8339.html
It's the best discovery for travel.
I agree with LAYERS. Very important!
A cardigan and a jacket that goes with everything is important too because it cools down at night.

Have fun!

I had a friend who got gladiators custom made in greece. they are beautiful and fit perfectly...definitely worth checking out if you are there.

simple, classy and lightweight. Take lots of pieces that you can mix and match!

I'm going to Turkey for a few weeks soon, and I found that this website is very helpful:

http://www.slowtrav.com/europe/packing.htm

I'm taking many of her pointers!

For sneakers, perhaps you might want to get insoles - they might be good for your back by providing extra support while walking all day :)

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dark bottoms with lots of different color tops (some casual tees and some dressy), couple of sarang that can be worn as a dress, skirt , or a scarf on tees, black heels ans a few comfy but stylish flats.