For a tour with changeable weather you work best with layers: light basic pieces, a fine-knit layer and one jacket against rain. Choose one colour palette and fabrics that barely crease. That way the pieces combine with each other and packing is easier. With ten to twelve well-chosen pieces you can usually manage two weeks, especially if you can wash along the way.
Why a tour is different from a beach holiday
On a beach holiday you unpack once and you know what weather to expect. During a tour, temperature, programme and place to stay change regularly. A museum in the city today, a walk in the hills tomorrow, a dinner on the coast the day after. What you mainly need, then, is clothing that combines well.
Step 1: choose a colour palette
Limit yourself to two base colours and one or two accents. For example navy and khaki as a base, with light blue and white as accents. That way every top goes with every pair of trousers, and with a few pieces you can make many different outfits. Shoes and bags then do not have to differ per outfit either.
Step 2: think in three layers
| Layer | Function | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Base | Warm days, directly on the skin | Fine-knit T-shirt, polo, blouse |
| Middle layer | Cool mornings, evenings, air conditioning | Fine-knit cardigan, long-sleeved knitted polo |
| Outer layer | Rain and wind | Light raincoat or windbreaker |
With these three layers you can easily switch between warm and cooler moments.
Step 3: choose fabrics that travel
On a tour you often pack and unpack every few days. Fabrics that barely crease and dry quickly are then extra handy. Fine knitwear in viscose or lyocell hardly creases and feels cool. Modal drapes smoothly and stays neat after a day in the suitcase. Jeans or trousers with a little elastane keep their shape, even after a long car ride. You can read more about the properties of modal on our page about modal.
Packing list for Women
- 2 fine-knit T-shirts, such as the Lenora fine-knit two-tone T-shirt in light blue
- 1 blouse or top for a dinner
- 1 pair of jeans, such as the Adelaide high-waist contour-fit jeans in blue
- 1 pair of light trousers or a skirt
- 1 fine-knit cardigan, such as the Veronique fine-knit lyocell cardigan in light blue
- 1 light raincoat
- 2 pairs of shoes: comfortable sneakers and smart sandals or loafers
- 1 scarf, handy against the sun, in churches and on cool evenings
The Veronique cardigan is 100% lyocell and so light enough to drape over your shoulders on a warm day, but warm enough for a terrace after sunset. See more travel-friendly pieces in the Airport collection.
Packing list for Men
- 2 short-sleeved polos, such as the Montgomery smooth-draping modal polo in navy
- 1 knitted polo with quarter zip for cooler evenings, such as the Edmund fine-knit polo in olive green melange
- 1 shirt for a dinner
- 1 pair of light trousers, such as the Vincent slim-fit trousers in khaki
- 1 pair of jeans or a second pair of trousers
- 1 light raincoat
- 2 pairs of shoes: sneakers and loafers
The Edmund polo with quarter zip is a smart middle layer: with the zip open you wear it on a warm afternoon, zipped up on a cool evening. You will find more basics in all collections for Men.
Step 4: how to pack
- Roll or fold. You roll knitwear, you fold shirts and trousers. Rolling saves space and prevents sharp folds in soft fabrics.
- Use packing cubes. One for tops, one for trousers, one for underwear. That way you do not have to empty your whole suitcase at every overnight stop.
- Wear the heaviest items. Jeans, raincoat and your sturdiest shoes you wear while travelling, which saves space and weight.
- Leave room. A suitcase that is full to the brim at departure will never close again on a tour.
An example: how to combine a week
This is what an example week for men can look like:
- Day 1, travel day: jeans, navy polo, raincoat over your arm.
- Day 2, city: khaki trousers, navy polo, sneakers.
- Day 3, coast: khaki trousers, second short-sleeved polo, loafers without visible socks.
- Day 4, hills: jeans, olive green polo with quarter zip, sneakers, raincoat in the backpack.
- Day 5, dinner: khaki trousers, shirt, loafers.
- Day 6, museum: jeans, shirt with rolled-up sleeves, sneakers.
- Day 7, cool evening: trousers, short-sleeved polo and the knitted polo as a layer over it.
For women the same principle works: every top goes with the jeans and with the light trousers or skirt, and the cardigan turns any outfit into an evening look. That way you easily make fourteen different combinations with eight garments.
If you do not wear a piece at all, leave it at home on the next trip. After two or three tours you know exactly which pieces always have to come along and which can stay at home. A fixed packing list can help you choose faster on your next trip.
Washing along the way
With ten to twelve pieces you get far, but halfway you will probably want to wash something. Plan an overnight stay with a washing machine, or wash small items by hand in the sink. Fine knitwear in lyocell and viscose dries quickly if you roll it in a towel after washing and then let it dry flat. For the right temperature always check the label or our care instructions page.
Shop the look
Veronique: fine-knit lyocell cardigan, light blue
Adelaide: high-waist contour-fit jeans, blue
Lenora: fine-knit two-tone T-shirt, light blue
Edmund: fine-knit polo with quarter zip, olive green melange
Montgomery: smooth-draping modal polo, navy
Vincent: slim-fit trousers with mid-rise, khaki
Frequently asked questions
How much clothing do you take on a two-week tour?
Ten to twelve combinable pieces plus two pairs of shoes are usually enough, especially if you can wash halfway.
Which fabrics crease the least in a suitcase?
Fine knitwear in viscose or lyocell, modal and fabrics with a little elastane stay the most beautiful after packing and unpacking.
Should I bring a thick sweater to a warm country?
Usually not. A fine-knit cardigan or a long-sleeved knitted polo is enough for cool evenings and keeps your suitcase light.
