I Just Got Back From Berlin—5 Things I Regret Packing and 17 I Wore on Repeat
Roughly three years after my last trip abroad, I finally stepped foot on foreign soil again, this time for a weeklong trip to Berlin and Zurich. The trip itself was perfect (if you don't count having to deal with connections in the middle of a full-blown air-travel crisis), from the candlelit French dinner I enjoyed right off of Berlin's Spree to my day trip to Dielsdorf, Switzerland, a picture-book town 20 minutes outside of Zurich. My packing job? Let's just say it had its low points.
After so much time away from traveling, especially internationally, and with only a carry-on suitcase to work with, my packing skills were a little rusty. But now that it's been a week or so since I got back, I've had time to ponder those items that I probably didn't need, as well as the ones I couldn't have survived my seven-day jaunt around Europe without. Scroll on to see every outfit I loved from my trip and simultaneously learn all about the items I could've very well left at home.
Pack: Lightweight Tops and Trousers
Leave at Home: Non-Walkable Sandals
Breezy cotton tops and lightweight trousers were among my most-frequented items during my trip, which conveniently took place during a mid-July temperature spike. But even with the warm weather, I was able to walk miles on end in my flowy, breathable tops and pants. The only thing hindering me from walking everywhere were the sandals I chose to pack, which, despite being easy to walk in in NYC, didn't quite cut it in Berlin, where cobblestone streets are the majority instead of the exception.
Next time I'll bring:
Keep: Silk Dresses and Versatile and Comfy Heels
Leave at Home: Items That Only Go With One Thing
I'm a certified outfit repeater. When I find a combination that I love, I'll wear it again and again until I get sick of it. Such is the case with this look, which includes a Miaou corset and a Silk Laundry dress that I fashioned into a skirt. Here's the issue: When you pack items only for the sake of wearing one outfit, you inevitably have to leave more versatile items at home, cornering yourself on days when you're not wearing that one perfect look. Next time, I'd keep the dress, which can clearly be worn in multiple ways, as well as my By Far shoes that are surprisingly comfortable and elevate any outfit, and leave this patterned corset at home. I love it, clearly, but a more neutral option would get more use.
Next time I'll bring:
Keep: Windbreaker Pants and Easy Sneakers
Leave at Home: Unnecessary Knits
Though I ended up finding a time to wear this cashmere sweater-vest, I don't think that I would allocate precious luggage space to it next time. I would, however, bring along these cargo trousers which I've already gotten tons of use out of. And, of course, my Sambas had to tag along—they go everywhere with me.
Next time I'll bring:
Keep: Tube Tops and Slip Skirts
Leave at Home: Knee-High Boots
This season, no clothing item of mine has gotten more use than my tube tops. Paired with skirts, trousers, jeans, and more, the Y2K style is proving to be a versatile and essential contribution to my wardrobe. So, of course, I brought along a number of variations on my trip. Not so essential, though, were the knee-high boots I somehow managed to fit into my suitcase. Though I have been known to wear them at all points in the year, bringing them along on a midsummer trip was simply unnecessary. I wore them once, yes, but I assure you there were countless other items I could've brought that would have (1) taken up less space and (2) proven to be more valuable.
Next time I'll bring:
Keep: Washable Fabrics and Cool Sneakers
Leave at Home: Just-in-Case Outerwear
I'm not sure what I was thinking about bringing a heavy-duty leather jacket on a mid-July trip, but hey, what's life if not a learning experience? Rather than packing outerwear just in case the flight was cold or it looked good with one of my outfits, next time, I'd rather bring along lighter-weight layering pieces that could be worn to stay warm on the plane but also throughout the trip. No question, though, for traveling, there's no combo better than barely there pants (these are from SIR and are incredible) and cool and comfy sneakers (mine are Wales Bonner x Adidas).
Next time I'll bring:
Shop everything else I brought on my trip:
Given that Berlin is known for its going-out scene, I couldn't possibly visit the city without bringing my Norma Kamali Pickleball dress.
I've gone through stages of being really into stacking jewelry, but these days, my rotation is pretty simple. I wear the same silver chain necklace every day, have a gold bracelet soldered on (I got mine at Catbird), and never go a day without my Cartier Tank secured on my wrist. Really, the only bold jewelry item I ever wear is a belly chain, and even that is fairly low-key when you consider that this is the style I picked.
Packing running shoes is always a drag because they take up a good amount of space and don't really contribute to your daytime outfits. The way I justify them—besides the fact that they allow me to explore new places on foot and that running keeps me feeling energized and grounded on vacation—is by stuffing them with annoying small items, like socks, in your suitcase.
This story was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated.
Eliza Huber is an NYC-based senior fashion editor who specializes in trend reporting, brand discovery, and the intersection of sports and fashion. She joinedBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing in 2021 from Refinery29, the job she took after graduating with a business degree from the University of Iowa. She's launched two columns, Let's Get a Room and Ways to Wear; profiled Dakota Fanning, Diane Kruger, Katie Holmes, Gracie Abrams, and Sabrina Carpenter; and reported on everything from the relationship between Formula One and fashion to the top runway trends each season. Eliza lives on the Upper West Side and spends her free time researching F1 fashion imagery for her side Instagram accounts @thepinnacleoffashion and @f1paddockfits, watching WNBA games, and scouring The RealReal for discounted Prada.
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