Last night, we arrived home in San Francisco from our European summer vacation. I woke up at 3:45 this morning so that’s pretty good if I pretend I am on East Coast time until I get over the jetlag (there was a 9 to 10-time difference depending on where we were).
If you read my Summer Travel Wardrobe post, you know I tried to pack lightly by mixing and matching and limiting shoes (the hardest part for me). And I succeeded except for a couple of things that I would have done differently which I will explain in a bit.
Here’s a lot of what I wore for two weeks in Europe while packing lightly (and almost ALL of it is on sale now) with some affiliate links at no additional cost to you.
Paris
Here I am at the Marché aux Fleurs wearing a sold-out Madewell scarf that I got on sale (similar one on sale here) with a denim jacket (great price), striped tee shirt, and white jeans. It was a little chilly so I was glad for the layers. I also wore the scarf on the airplane.
The white sneakers were so comfortable for the 20k+ steps we were getting in every day. And I love that new crossbody (comes in different colors). After I downsized to a smaller wallet, I found it had plenty of room for different eyeglasses, iPhone, maps, metro tickets, makeup, etc. It still looks like new after heavy use this past month.
Athens, Greece
Here’s the Pickett family at the Parthenon (I should have been standing uphill)! I got a lot of use out of the versatile J. Crew pleated denim skirt. It was sold out for a while but I see that it’s back online now. I had to shorten it but you may not have to if you are a little taller (and it’s cute as a midi). I’m wearing it with a thicker Michael Stars black tee shirt, Gucci belt, comfortable Sofft black sandals that you will see in the next photo.
Mykonos, Greece
This red wrap dress is really on sale (only $39.99 at the Loft). I was able to rinse it out and let it dry in the sun for another use. Packs well, too. I could walk all day in the Sofft sandals. I bought them last year and now they are at Nordstrom Rack.
My flight attendant client said to wait to shop for bathing suit cover-ups in Mykonos. That is just what I’m doing here in one of my Madewell tee shirts (like this) and Banana Republic skinny blue jeans.
Really deliberated showing an unretouched photo of my 62-year-old, feta and rosé filled body in a bathing suit. But it’s to make a point about the Madewell scarf working double duty as a pareo (sold out). I should get this other one, too (on sale–before it sells out, too). I like the red bathing suit (sucks the tummy in) but FYI, I wish I had sized down one size to fit tighter in the rear.
Prague
Here I am at the John Lenin wall (used by activists against the Communist party when they were controlled by the U.S.S.R). I’m wearing a white denim jacket, skinny jeans, and a striped tee shirt (on sale). Comfortable.
This floral wrap dress (on sale) was great to wear with sneakers or slight heels out to dinner. It’s from J. Crew and lightweight. This is at The St. Vitus Cathedral in the Prague Castle. Don’t miss it if you go. We really loved Prague.
So to recap… I adjusted my previous checklist just a bit to include a pair of flipflops (wore them a lot in Mykonos). Plus more panties. I still did hand-washing, though for the two-week trip.
I wish I had had one extra bathing suit since we wore in them a lot in Mykonos (so I added one more). I also added two more cover-ups to the list (bought at the destination) as they were worn often during the day. With this lighter wardrobe, I had some room for a couple of bottles of great Greek olive oil and some little gifts to bring home.
Stacked Greek Salad
My last Summer BBQ menu post featured a Greek Salad and the recipe is here. But now I’d like to suggest composing the salad ingredients with a little flair like we had at a restaurant in Mykonos… It’s stacked and the feta is sliced rather than crumbled. We were all saying “lettuce is overrated in a salad.” 🙂 I may do this tonight!
Now back to unpacking, grocery shopping, work, tons of laundry… but I’m still dreaming of…
Thanks for stopping by!
Mary Ann
Great work! Couldn’t’ have been better.
girrrllllll…….you shared your age with me, STUNNED, you can still wear sleeveless, and look so good?!?!?
what a blast my stylish friend!
Debra
Please give directions for how you tied the pareo. Loved it with your suit.
Thanks, Teresa! I just bunched up two ends and tied in a knot. It was windy and I wanted it to stay on!
Thanks for the post. My daughter and I went to the Marche aux fleurs Reine 8 years ago but I didn’t know it’s history until I read your post. I have a picture of my daughter in almost exactly the same spot. Beautiful place!
Mary Ann,
Between you and Tess at Nine & Sixteen I’m convinced I need to pare down when we travel. I love your style and have copy cat some of your items for everyday fashion. Thanks for sharing this. Did you do a carry on only or a check-in bag?
What a wonderful vacation. When youre caught up with sleep, let me know about outdoor living for July 11th post.
xo,
Karen
You are adorable, Mary Ann! I love your taste in clothes (and interior design). Thanks, too, for sharing your packing list! I usually end up not packing too much but packing the wrong things. So thanks for your help!
Also, we want to take a trip to England with our 33 year old daughter and 30 year old son. I’m just curious if you rent a home when you travel with your adult children or what kind of accommodations you make for the four of you. I’m trying to get an idea of what we should do.
Thanks for your input….I bet Chief is glad you’re home!
Barbara
Looks like a wonderful trip and how great that your kids were able to go with you! That’s a lifetime of memories right there. In the interest of packing smart for both sexes, what would you suggest for men wanting to lighten their load on extended trips? Did you have any suggestions for your husband or son?
Yes…it was a trip of a lifetime..that’s for sure. I think the same rule applies for men regarding shoes…try for three maximum. Three shirts for each pair of pants or shorts. My guys like to pack for themselves but my friend Netta helps her son and husband by having them pack mostly navy and white clothing and it all coordinates.
Thanks for this post, perfect timing….I’m going to Paris for the first time and was feeling overwhelmed as to what to pack. This is a good guideline.
You are welcome…have fun! It may be warmer so dresses are a good idea.
great post! What a wonderful trip, thank you for sharing! And I agree, you look fantastic in all the pics!
You look utterly amazing in every picture!
You are really sweet to say that, Rebecca!!
Looks like you’ve got this packing thing down! I’m making notes. I love the look of summer dresses and white sneakers. Enjoyed following you, family and friends on another fabulous summer vacation. Welcome home! xo
What a fabulous post! Loved all your fashion advice and pictures of how you wore them. Glad you are back and can’t wait to catch up and hear all about it!
Mary Ann, it seems you missed your calling. You would have made a fantastic petite fashion model. You look so cute in everything you wore! And I love all your choices! What a great trip, from Paris to the Greek Isles! Welcome home!
Ha!! Everything I wear comes in regular sizes too.
HOT MAMA IN THAT SUIT AND WRAP……………..YOU LOOK BETTER THAN SOME 30-SOMETHINGS!I AM SERIOUS!
OH, that HUNK of FETA with the tomato and onion, cucumber and peppers LOOKS DEVINE!You will need a cold glass of ROSE to GO WITH!
I think I will give you another day or two BEFORE I CALL FOR THE TOTAL REVIEW!!!IT takes me about a week to get on TRACK!
Did you see any women in KAFTANS AT NIGHT?
XX
You taught me to put my shoulders back!
I’m curious to know what luggage you brought. Were you able to get everything in carry-on’s (always my number 1 goal since the airlines seem to like to lose my luggage)? What would you do differently if you’d been gone for a month?
We used the medium-sized Away roller suitcase. Our carryon is really small. I bet I could have gotten it all in their larger carryon though since I had room left over. I think when you can hand wash in the summer–what I packed for two weeks would be the same for one month.
Job well done! The trip I missed your talking about was from Russia to Paris by train and still getting over bum foot. How did you even do that? Looking forward to hearing about the great food memories you had on this fab trip. p.s. I think your 62 year old feta-rose body looked great brave soul!
I really am pretty covered up with the pareo 🙂
You look fabulous in every picture. Thanks for the links to the items you used and enjoyed and the finalized list. Any chance you can advise where the hat originated that you are wearing in the photo outside the shop in Mykonos? Always enjoy your posts!
I got that last year in Provence. It got rained on and lost it’s shape a bit. I’d like to have a Helen Kaminsky next.
Love this post! You look awesome in a bathing suit btw!
Not if you saw me without the pareo 🙂
Your trip looked amazing and so did you. My daughter Katie has both the J Crew dress and the Loft floral and they are darling! We LOVED Mykonos and all the white and blue and pelicans and feta. Also did a river cruise down the Danube which started in Prague and ended in Budapest- both beautiful places.
Barbie
People staying in our hotel had been on the River Cruise, too and loved it!
love your fashion posts Mary Ann!!! so stylish but comfortable…absolute perfection!
Thank you Mary Ann for the tips! I always pack too much! What a beautiful vacation. I really want to see Greece!
I packed too much last year and didn’t wear some things so I tried really hard to streamline this year. And the packing cubes really help.
The trip looks fabulous! Thanks for sharing! Regarding your bathing suit…..I usually wear an 8 but size up in swimsuits. What are your thoughts since you mentioned you wished you had sized down? Thank you.
I bought an 8 and wish I had gotten a 6. But I bought an 8 in the other bathing suit in my travel wardrobe post https://classiccasualhome.com/summer-travel-wardrobe-mix-and-match-outfits/
and it fit fine.
Looks great. I especially like the two wrap dresses–very on-trend.
Looks like you had an excellent time with good weather.
IT looks like you had a wonderful trip! I love all of your picks for travel, it is always nicer to travel light and then have room to bring home your treasures. I am off to check out the wrap dresses. Have a great day!