I Just Got Back From Berlin—5 Things I Regret Packing and 17 I Wore on Repeat

berlin-travel-packing-list-301430-1658941728750-image

(Image credit: @elizagracehuber)

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

berlin-travel-packing-list-301430-1659023612154-image

(Image credit: @elizagracehuber)

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

berlin-travel-packing-list-301430-1659023610224-image

(Image credit: @elizagracehuber)

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

berlin-travel-packing-list-301430-1659023611113-image

(Image credit: @elizagracehuber)

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, especially in the middle of summer. I would, however, bring along these swishy trousers from Lioness, which I've already gotten tons of use out of this summer. 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

berlin-travel-packing-list-301430-1659023609602-image

(Image credit: @elizagracehuber)

This summer, 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

berlin-travel-packing-list-301430-1659023605289-image

(Image credit: @elizagracehuber)

I'm not sure what I was thinking 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:

Next up: I'm Leaving the Country Twice This Month—46 Items I Wouldn't Dare Travel Without

Senior Fashion Editor

Eliza Huber is a New York City–based fashion editor who specializes in trend reporting, brand discovery, and celebrity style. She joined Who What Wear in 2021 after almost four years on the fashion editorial team at Refinery29, the job she took after graduating with a marketing degree from the University of Iowa. She has since launched two monthly columns, Let's Get a Room and Ways to Wear; profiled the likes of Dakota Fanning, Diane Kruger, Katie Holmes, and Sabrina Carpenter for WWW's monthly cover features; and reported on everything from the relationship between Formula One and fashion to the top trends from fashion month, season after season. Eliza now lives on the Upper West Side and spends her free time researching F1 fashion imagery for her side Instagram accounts @thepinnacleoffashion and @f1paddockfits, running in Central Park, and scouring eBay for '90s Prada and '80s Yves Saint Laurent.