Once it’s sunny outside and the calendar starts showing days off, the travel season is on: a few days’ road trip across Romania, a mini holiday in the Danube Delta, picturesque city breaks, postcard type. Until we get to fully enjoy the journey, there is a lot of stress around packing and the most frequent questions begin with: “should I pack 10 different outfits, just in case?” and they end with “should I wear those comfy sport shoes, or should I get some cute and fancy shoes?”

My first advice, which can be applied in case of any luggage, irrespective of the destination or duration, is the following: choose only outfits you are used to wearing and that you love. An exotic printed shirt that you do not know how to match, the dress that is too complicated to tie up, some pumps that always cause you blisters – they will all end up at the bottom of your luggage, in case you decide to pack them up. Why would you think that the holiday will teach you all of a sudden how to wear them?

A city break implies long walks in order to discover the city, that means lots of walking hours that can be very tiring. Just so you don’t look like a not badly dressed tourist (knee length trousers with oversized pockets+ a polo T-shirt + white sport shoes with thick sole (or hiking shoes) + a baseball cap + nylon backpack + a colored purse, think that you’re spending the weekend walking in a cosmopolitan city. You’re not there to conquer the Everest! You have endless possibilities to try on fancy, but comfortable outfits. You just have to choose items that can easily be combined, multiplying the outfits, with small adjustments.

Here is what I suggest you to place in the luggage, for a three-day city break.

Day 1

A pair of cigarette trousers (colored or printed) + a comfortable wavy blouse + a cotton, flax or denim jacket + a pair of espadrilles or canvas sneakers

My recommendations:

Zara light blue cigarette trousers: 119.90 lei Ι H&M floral print flounce top: 59.90 lei Ι H&M denim jacket: 139.00 lei Ι Office Shoes – New Balance green sport shoes: 299.00 lei

Day 2

A pair of chino trousers, or the day before ones + a light shirt or a striped T-shirt + the day before, denim jacket (or a light blazer) + a pair of colored sport shoes

My recommendations:

Massimo Dutti chino beige shoes: 289.00 lei | H&M striped blouse: 89.90 lei | Office Shoes – Converse orange sneakers: 299.00 lei

Day 3

A light, colored or printed dress, made of cotton, viscose or silk + flax or denim jacket + a pair of flat beige or golden flat sandals, or the canvas Day 1 sneakers

My recommendations:

Mango navy blue with polka dots dress: 199.90 lei | Zara short flax and cotton jacket: 249.90 lei | Il Passo thick sole beige sandals: 399.00 lei

Separately, you can go for some accessories:

– a pair of evening earrings
– sunglasses
– a mini bag or a clutch

Mango emerald green leather mini bag: 159.90 lei | Zara golden earrings: 59.90 lei | Optiplaza – Prada sunglasses: 841.50 lei

Extra, for any of these days:

– a cotton or flax oversized scarf ( for Air-Con spaces: airport / flight / museums)
– a messenger bag to put the wallet, the phone, the charger, the tube tickets, the map, the photo camera, the sun glasses)
– a folding textile shopping bag to place inside magazines or souvenirs

Mango cotton striped scarf, 99.90 lei | Mango plaid flax scarf: 79.90 lei | Zara yellow shopper bag: 149.90 lei | Anna Cori gold shoulder bag: 390.00 lei | Anna Cori gold bag: 360.00 lei

Pack everything in a checked-in bag, prepare your passport and it’s all done. Have a safe trip!

Samsonite Skytracer troller: 509.00 lei | Mirano – Capital troller: 599.00 lei