Europe and the UK are some of the most fashionable places in the world. Visiting is so exciting, and it can mean long days full of walking and sightseeing. So, I’m sharing a roundup of outfits that you can wear to stay stylish and comfortable while exploring.
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20 Outfits For Traveling in Europe and the UK Throughout the Year
Just like anywhere else you travel to, there is always a mix of maximalism and minimalism styles in Europe and the UK. It’s fun to combine these styles when you’re abroad, but I personally lean more towards understated looks. The right outfit is always a balance of comfort, versatility, and feeling stylish. When you’re wearing something that you feel good in, you’ll be more focused on exploring, enjoying your trip, and you won’t worry about looking like an American tourist, ha!
What Do People in Europe Wear? A Few Thoughts and Tips
You won’t find as much athletic wear outside of the gyms in the same way you do as the US! It’s always a good idea to wear tailored pieces though. Think blazers, trousers, and button ups but all outside of the office. You can wear these with simple accessories and comfortable shoes like chic sneakers.
If you’re heading abroad in the summer, lightweight linen pieces are nice for the daytime. I always remember to pack a cotton sweater or a lightweight jacket too. Sandals are perfect for warm weather places, but I do avoid flip flops!
Here’s What to Wear When You’re In Europe or the UK. Plus, an Outfit for What to Wear When Traveling to Europe
I put together different outfits for different locations and seasons. In some places, you’ll want to lean into color. In others, neutral colors will be the better choice. While it’s fun to wear outfits that feel like European fashion, it’s always most important to make sure your packing list reflects your own personal style.
Cropped Jeans And A Button Up You Can Layer
Okay, let’s start out with a few denim looks. A chic pair of jeans, comfortable loafers, and a button up will never fail you in Europe. You can rewear each of these pieces in so many ways, too. If you’re traveling in a season when you don’t want an added layer, just wear the button up by itself.
Blue Denim and A Simple T-Shirt: An Easy Base Outfit for Outfit Building
This is the perfect base outfit that you can build on or wear by itself. I love how it works with a blazer, denim jacket, linen jacket, or leather jacket. Wide leg jeans always look good with a low profile sneaker. I wear this pair. The options are endless here when it comes to shoes though. You can wear jeans and an elevated tee with chic sneakers, flats, or loafers. If your goal is packing light, pieces like these will help you get the maximum wear out of your clothes.
Click here for a blog post all about how to dress up jeans.
The Perfect Linen Pants
These linen-blend pants go with sweaters, blouses, or t-shirts. You can also wear them with a wide variety of shoes. The elastic waistband is somehow chic because it’s small, so it’s not even noticeable. These are the type of pants you can wear on a long travel day, for touring around, or even with a swimsuit. You can dress these up. But, I love how you can dress them down with a baseball cap and comfortable shoes. They come in several color options that are also good to wear in Europe.
Summer Outfit Idea for The Mediterranean
Okay, speaking of linen pieces, I’m also dreaming of what everyone calls a Euro summer. Who wouldn’t love to spend time in the South of France or somewhere along Italy’s coast? Summer outfits in coastal areas of Europe or even the countryside should feel a little different than the outfits you wear in cities. Lean into bright colors! I saw this outfit and immediately bookmarked it for summer travel even here in the US.
Linen Shift Dress
A plain linen shift dress is made for European travels. You can wear this by itself or wear it with a sweater.
And, you can wear it with just about any type of shoes depending on where you’re heading. I’d style this dress with comfortable espadrille flats for a long day of walking around. You could also wear it with these low strappy sandals that I wear everywhere when it’s warm. Or, it works perfectly with heeled sandals for a nice dinner.
My white linen shift dress is old from Everlane, but I linked a similar one from Quince! I love the neutral colors, personally, but it also comes in fun prints like gingham.
Maxi Length Sundress
A maxi sundress is always a good idea for summer in Europe. You can easily layer this with a sweater over your shoulders or around your waist in case it gets a little chilly at night. This style works well with flat espadrilles, sandals (I’m wearing this pair), or sandals with a heel.
Linen Pants That Go With Everything
These gingham linen pants are far more versatile than they seem. I love how they look with a the tops in the same print, but I also wear mine with linen button ups for a super casual look. The black and white small gingham elevates them, so you can wear them seamlessly from day to night.
Comfortable and chic smocked dress
This dress comes in several different patterns and colors, and it’s on my wishlist for warm weather in general. This is perfect to wear in Europe or the UK, whether you’re heading somewhere by the ocean or staying in the city. It would look super chic with a leather jacket over it for cool nights in the city.
Linen Maxi Dress
This classic linen dress is perfect to wear all day and into the night – even if you’re heading to a special event. You can wear these dresses with espadrille heels, sandals, these mesh flats, flat sandals.
White Linen Midi Skirt
This white linen midi skirt and striped linen top are a go-to outfit for Europe in the spring and summer. They look great together! These are the types of pieces that are perfect to pack because they’re versatile enough to mix and match with other things you pack too.
Linen Pieces That Feel Like A Matching Set
This linen top is the epitome of chic, and it will be perfect for anywhere you’re traveling in Europe this summer. It can easily be dressed up or down. I wear it with these linen pants, the skirt I’m wearing above, or even jeans. You can style it with just about anything, and that goes for shoes too. This top feels like it’s made for a trip to Europe given how tailored it is.
Shirt Dress for A Warm Day Outside
A linen or cotton shirt dress for a busy day outside is always high on my summer packing list. The breathable fabrics are a dream when you’re doing a lot of walking. Think about a dress you’ll wear in the summer that is breezy and keeps you cool. You can wear this style of dress with a sun hat like I did, and you can wear any casual shoes you want.
I love how the second dress is styled with linen pants too! We love versatility.
Jeans, A Button Up, and A Trench Coat
This is the definition of a classic outfit that works just as well in Europe and the UK as it does here in the US. You can wear it with any style of shoes you want, so you can wear this exact outfit throughout different seasons. One of the reasons I love these jeans is how they work with boots, flat boots, loafers, and flats.
Corduroy Pants and A Cozy Sweater
Okay, if you’re heading abroad in the fall, winter, or early spring, corduroy pants are such a good idea! I love this pair because they feel elevated, but they’re super comfortable. They come in several different colors. I really love them in black for all seasons. If you want them to feel a little more like fall or spring, go for the color I’m wearing. They match with navy, brown, and black so there are lots of styling possibilities.
Structured Blazer That Goes With Jeans or A Skirt
If you’re traveling to Europe or the UK during the fall or spring, a blazer should be high on your packing list. A blazer is one piece you’ll always see a lot of Europeans wearing too.
You can easily mix and match a blazer with seasonal pieces in the spring and fall. For example, I wore this blazer with jeans but added a basket bag to give the outfit more of a spring feel. If I were wearing this outfit during the fall, I’d opt for a suede or leather bag. Shop my denim outfit here.
My exact blazer is old Sezane, so I found one that’s nearly identical and also by Sezane. How fun is the scalloped blazer for spring or even summer days? It’s a linen blend, and it also comes in black. I’d wear it with a linen or cotton skirt!
White Linen Skirt With A Blazer
You can see below that I also wear this blazer in the spring with the same white linen skirt I styled above. This type of outfit is perfect for a city vacation in Europe or the UK!
The Perfect Suede Jacket for European Travel
Give this gorgeous suede jacket a try if you need a versatile option for your European travels. It looks chic with jeans, trousers, and even a skirt. It also comes in tons of different colors and fabrics, so if suede isn’t for you, try one of the cotton options. I’m wearing it below on a fall day, but this jacket also works throughout other seasons. It’s easy to layer a trench coat or winter jacket over it.
Stripe Tops to Wear With A Skirt or Jeans
Stripes are always a good idea for transitional seasons, as well! Plus, in certain areas, you’ll find nights are cooler than they are here in the US during spring or summer. So, it’s nice to pack a sweater when you’re traveling to Europe! I also love to wear a striped t-shirt and jeans as a base outfit. You can add a sweater or jacket over it too.
Tonal Looks
A monochrome or tonal look immediately elevates whatever you’re wearing. These outfits are a good choice for Europe and the UK, where they’re popular. I love how neutral colors look in a tonal outfit, but you can also do this with bright colors. In the summer, a red would be fun and so would a pale yellow.
Comfortable but Chic Sneakers
If you want to wear sneakers, this pair is the definition of chic! They go perfectly with wide leg jeans or barrel jeans, and your feet will be happy since they’re comfortable. They come in tons of colors.
How To Dress European Style As A Traveler
Wear Stylish and Comfortable Shoes
The one shoe I don’t wear when traveling in Europe is a pair of flip flops. I don’t find them to be particularly comfortable or practical for a European vacation because you tend to do a lot of walking.
Add Accessories
Accessories are an easy way to spruce up an otherwise simple outfit. You can wear fun bauble necklaces or you can keep it simple with dainty jewelry. I prefer simple jewelry, but sometimes summer outfits look fun with a statement necklace or fun earrings.
Limit Overly Athletic Clothing
Athleisure wear isn’t as popular in the UK and Europe as it is here in the US. So, it’s best saved for actual exercise – like a walk in a park in London. You can also travel in these outfits too, especially during the fall, winter, and spring when you can layer over athletic outfits with a coat. Chic shoes help make your outfit feel a little less like a gym outfit, too.
Stick to Neutral Color Palettes If Uncertain
If you aren’t sure what to wear, neutral colors are always a good idea. However, if you’re around the coast, be sure to go for color if you like to wear color!
Okay, I hope this post helps with your Europe packing list!
