What to Wear in Europe: An Outfit Guide

Ashley Rossi is always ready for her next trip. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram for travel tips, destination ideas, and off the beaten path spots.

After interning at SmarterTravel, Ashley joined the team full time in 2015. She's lived on three continents, but still never knows where her next adventure will take her. She's always searching for upcoming destination hotspots, secluded retreats, and hidden gems to share with the world.

Ashley's stories have been featured online on USA Today, Business Insider, TripAdvisor, Huffington Post, Jetsetter, and Yahoo! Travel, as well as other publications.

The Handy Item I Always Pack: "A reusable filtered water bottle—it saves you money, keeps you hydrated, and eliminates waste—win-win."

Ultimate Bucket List Experience: "A week in a bamboo beach hut on India's Andaman Islands."

Travel Motto: "Travel light, often, and in good company."

Aisle, Window, or Middle Seat: "Window—best view in the house."

See recent posts by Ashley Rossi

Do we follow our own packing advice? You bet we do. More than that, we constantly road-test and hone our advice, because there’s always room for improvement.

On a recent trip to London and Oslo, I packed using the tips and tricks from my story on how to pack light, be comfortable, and look cool in Europe. I stuck to my own advice (except I brought two extra pairs of shoes), and always felt appropriately dressed.

Here’s what I wore, how I wore it, and where you can get similar pieces.

For Sunny Days

Because the spring weather was great, I got a lot of use out of a relaxed dress. The chambray shirt is a great layer, and this outfit was super comfortable and stylish.

Shop the Look: Polarized sunglasses, t-shirt dress, chambray shirt, slip-on sneakers, and day bag.

For Sunny Days

Because the spring weather was great, I got a lot of use out of a relaxed dress. The chambray shirt is a great layer, and this outfit was super comfortable and stylish.

Shop the Look: Polarized sunglasses, t-shirt dress, chambray shirt, slip-on sneakers, and day bag.

For a Boat Ride

In Oslo, I took a boat ride through the fjords, and luckily the weather was perfect. I was happy I brought an extra layer just in case, but was comfortable in my casual jeans and t-shirt.

Shop the Look: Dark jeans, leopard flats, day bag, t-shirt, polarized sunglasses, and a bomber jacket.

For a Museum

I always like to dress up for museums and take my time strolling through galleries and exhibitions. I especially love this cotton dress for traveling—it looks great in photos, doesn't wrinkle, and is super comfortable.

Shop the Look: Striped dress, black flats, and day bag.

For Travel Days

I had a connecting flight from London to Oslo on my trip, and needed to be ready for a day of activities when I landed. This is my ultimate transit-to-activity outfit and it's both super comfortable and stylish.

Shop the Look: Light sweater, scarf, printed jumpsuit, and black flats.

For Drinks

In London, I went out with my best friend for drinks and I'm glad I went on the dressier side to blend in with more formal local sensibilities. I felt comfortable and still fit in with this outfit.

Shop the Look: Shift dress, slingback heel, bomber jacket, and cross-body bag.

For Brunch

I took my mom out to a Mother's Day brunch at my favorite London restaurant, Bluebird, which is a little on the fancier side. I wanted to look polished, but still needed to be able to wear the outfit for the rest of the day. This ensemble worked great, and I was happy to have the scarf for added warmth later in the day.

Shop the Look: Long sleeve knit shift dress, day bag, scarf, and leopard flats.

For a Casual Evening

Even though casual in Europe is still kind of dressy by American standards, it doesn't have to be fussy. This outfit is simple, chic, and comfortable, and great for a casual dinner or meeting friends for drinks.

Shop the Look: Black jeans, dressy tank, suede jacket, slingback heel, and cross-body bag.

For a Formal Dinner

While not part of most European vacations, I attended a gala dinner at the Oslo Opera House, and that meant packing a wrinkle-free yet formal outfit. This jumpsuit got the job done and was super comfortable all night.

Shop the Look: Black jumpsuit, necklace, clutch, and black heels.

For a Walking Tour

I spent most of my days in London walking around or relying on public transportation, so I needed comfortable shoes and cool outfits. This pairing kept me comfortable all day as I strolled through markets and gardens—and was still cute enough for my Instagrams.

Shop the Look: Dark jeans, shift tank top, leopard flats, and day bag.

For Rainy Days

This outfit would have been great if it rained, but luckily I didn't need it. I love traveling with this rain jacket—the inner layer zips out for warmer climates, and it covers most of your legs so you don't need an umbrella.

Shop the Look: Zip-out liner rain jacket, slip-on sneakers, dark jeans, linen sweater, and day bag.

For a Bus Tour

For a bus tour around Oslo, I knew I would be in and out of a lot of sights and museums and wanted to make sure I was warm enough for the bus and air conditioning. This outfit was comfortable and chic.

Shop the Look: Black jeans, light sweater, leopard flats, polarized sunglasses, and day bag.

More from SmarterTravel:

We hand-pick everything we recommend and select items through testing and reviews. Some products are sent to us free of charge with no incentive to offer a favorable review. We offer our unbiased opinions and do not accept compensation to review products. All items are in stock and prices are accurate at the time of publication. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.