WHAT TO PACK FOR EUROPE IN THE WINTER

Hey friends! Hope everyone is having a great week thus far. I've been bundling up more than usual lately as the temps keep dropping here in London. Winter is always pretty brutal, but I've found it to be even more true here in Europe for some reason (depending where you go). While I plan to do a proper packing guide for a long term trip abroad, I thought I'd zoom in a bit and speak to those of you traveling to Europe in the winter. 

For starters, I LOVE being in Europe during the winter for several reasons, but mainly because of the Christmas markets and the significant drop in tourists compared to the summer months. But those things aside, there's something so magical I can't quite put my finger on, and I highly recommend experiencing it for yourself at some point. 

When you do, be sure you pack appropriately. While cold weather may not be foreign to you, European lifestyle causes you to be outdoors a bit more than you may be used to (walking is a much more common mode of transportation than in the states). So wherever you're going in Europe this winter, here's what you need to pack: 

GLOVES

To be honest, I find gloves to be a bit annoying. Even if they keep my fingers toasty in the winter, I usually never wear them- until I'm in Europe. Even if it's not frigid, the seemingly constant state of being outdoors makes your fingers feel like they're going to fall off, so gloves are a must. Opt for something chic like these Ugg tech leather gloves with shearling lining or these "Jenny" leather tech gloves by Burberry. 

BEANIES

CABLE KNIT POM BEANIE: FOREVER 21, PLAID SCARF: H&M, WRAP COAT: MANGO

Beanies are pretty much my best friend in the winter here in Europe. They can make an outfit look more pulled together, they keep your head + ears warm, they hide unwashed hair AND they're easy to pack.  Be sure to bring neutral options (like this and this) as well as a fun color (like this or this) to mix things up a bit. 

 

 

 

PARKA

TARTAN SCARF: BANANA REPUBLIC, PARKA: BANANA REPUBLIC

The warmer the coat you pack, the better. I highly recommend a down option (and if you have a fur/ faux fur lining- even better!) If you're going somewhere really cold, opt for a longer parka (like this or this). If you're going somewhere a bit more mild (which honestly, London usually is) you'll be fine with a wool blend like this or this. 

 

TURTLENECKS

Turtlenecks are a great base layer to wear under those parkas and scarves. You can opt for a more lightweight option like this, or you can go for a thicker knit like this or this. 

THERMAL LEGGINGS

No matter what pants you wear, be sure to pack some thermal leggings as a base. I love these fleece lined leggings and also these. You can wear them on their own or underneath jeans if you want to stay extra toasty. 

 

 

SCARVES

TONAL POM BEANIE: TOPSHOP, TARTAN SCARF: BANANA REPUBLIC

It may sound obvious, but pack a good variety of scarves. This layer is always key in Europe, no matter the season- but especially in winter. I love this chic cashmere oversize wrap in grey (I wear it with everything it seems!) for a good neutral. I also like having some printed options like this or this. 

Hope this helps inspire your packing for a magical winter in Europe (or any cold-weather destination for that matter.) Hope you have a great Wednesday, and stay tuned later this week for a giveaway I'm excited to announce!

xo, 

Whitney

TONAL POM BEANIE: TOPSHOP,  TARTAN SCARF: BANANA REPUBLIC,

7 Simple Products That Create Totally Different Travel Looks.

Happy Friday, friends! Hope everyone has had a great week. I've been asked a lot lately how on earth I packed for 4+ months in one suitcase (especially with seasons changing so drastically from August to December). While I plan to do a post dedicated to long term packing, I wanted to quickly touch on a few items that are great for any traveler to pack this time of year- no matter how long you're traveling. You see- it's not about how much you pack, but how much you can recreate a look using the same items. So today I'm sharing 7 simple items to pack this season that all create unique looks.  

1. BLANKET SCARVES

Blanket scarves have been a LIFE SAVER. Not only can you wrap them up several different ways, but you could literally wear the same all black uniform underneath every day and have a totally different look just from the scarf you wear (I do this OFTEN). Pictured above is this from Mango, but this Nordstrom option even gives you TWO prints in one.

2. RED LIPSTICK

I ALWAYS love a good red lip. It creates such a statement that it can make an outfit look totally different with it vs. without it. Some of my favorites include "Ruby Woo" by MAC, "Cruella" by NARS and "Red Smile" by Dior. 

 

3. STATEMENT SUNGLASSES

I bought a pair of classic-shaped sunnies when I was in Paris last September and I can wear them with anything. But when I found these Prada sunnies on a fluke sale in Sorrento last month, I splurged. They're more of a statement pair, but it's been so fun to alternate them into my wardrobe because they create a totally different look (a very similar look-alike pair by ASOS here)

 

 

4. SOCK BUN WRAP UP

Sock buns are my best friend. Not only do they create a totally different look than wearing your hair down, but it's great if you haven't washed your hair. Not great at doing a sock bun on your own? Fear not. Kits like this Beachwaver wrap up or this MIA Bun Ease make it incredibly simple. 

5. BEANIES

Also great for masking unwashed hair, beanies create a unique look and are perfect for this time of year. Another perk? Unlike other hats, these guys are super easy to pack because you can squish them in any suitcase corner without consequence. Go for a neutral that can be worn with a lot like this or this. 

6. CLASSIC STRIPED SHIRT

I've worn my black + white striped shirt non-stop between August and still wear it now. It can be worn on its own, layered with a scarf or under a jacket. It literally goes with just about anything else you pack, so the possibilities are endless. I got mine at J Crew, but you can find them here, here or here as well. 

7. REVERSIBLE OUTERWEAR

I LOVE reversible outerwear. Coats are something you need to wear everyday this time of year (depending where you travel of course) but I get tired of wearing the same one over and over (and your suitcase really doesn't allow for you to pack too many!) Enter reversible outerwear. Coats like this or ponchos like this and this let you wear them 2 ways, giving you double the options of looks to wear. 

If you have these items in your suitcase, you can mix and match all the above to create an endless number of looks with just a few items. I hope you find them to be helpful as you pack, or even if you're staying put and just need to revamp your current closet. 

What other items have you found to be versatile during your travels? Let me know in the comments below!

Have a great weekend, and stay tuned for an exciting giveaway I'll be announcing on the blog next week!

xo, 

Whitney

Rhine Valley Germany Travel Guide

Happy Wednesday! Hope everyone is powering through the week after the long holiday weekend. 

A couple weeks ago, Haley + I popped over to Germany for a few days (which was SO easy thanks to Eurostar). I had never been before, so I was so excited to finally check another country off my list!

While Germany is HUGE and has so many places I'm dying to visit, we opted to start with the Rhine Valley. Named after the Rhine River, this region between Koblenz and Frankfurt (roughly) is home to Germany's most dramatic landscape: forested hillsides, castles, idyllic villages and vineyards galore (now you know why we chose to come here first-castles AND wine!) 

We started in Cologne, with the plan of driving along the Rhine River until we hit Mainz (and then cut over to Frankfurt). While we did divert from the plan a bit, I'd highly recommend renting a car and making a drive that's similar to this. It lets you see and do things on your own timeline, so if you want to stay at a castle or a winery a bit longer, it's no problem. 

But first, let's talk about our time in Cologne (or Köln). This 2,000 year old city in western Germany is known for it's stunning twin-spired cathedral. (Bonus tip: It's incredibly easy to get here from Brussels via a train if you're already in Belgium and wanting a quick taste of Germany!)

A little bit of advice: if you come to Cologne in the winter, DRESS AS WARM AS YOU CAN. It was SO cold, and I was so thankful that we packed as many layers as we did. You can shop the ones I wore here:

After walking around the city and scoping out the cathedral, we needed a little bit of relief from the cold, so we checked into our hotel to warm up.

HYATT REGENCY COLOGNE

We LOVED staying at Hyatt Regency Cologne! We had a beautiful room that overlooked the cathedral + Rhine River (which meant we could enjoy the view while staying warm.) The room itself was clean, had such a comfortable bed and had all the standard amenities you hope for in a hotel. We put on some jazz music, popped a bottle of champagne and unintentionally took a little cat nap because we were so relaxed. 

I did a bit of hotel research and Hyatt Regency Cologne was hands down the best option I found if you want a luxury experience with the best views of the city. I highly recommend staying here whenever you visit Cologne!

Even in the cold, we loved exploring all that Cologne has to offer. We popped into a biergarten for a paint of their local Weißbier (which is the German name for a standard white wheatbeer) and a plate full of German meats like bierwurst, teewurst, mettwurst and salami. Some looked... interesting (to say the least) but tasted delicious. Others tasted as interesting as they looked. But overall, it was fun to try the local cuisine and experience 

Quick Tip: One thing we found was that very few places accepted credit card, so be sure to carry plenty of cash (in this case, euros) to avoid getting stuck. 

After our time in Cologne, we hopped in the car and drove about an hour south along the Rhine to Königswinter so we could see our first castle: Schloss Drachenburg. This beauty is a private villa in palace style that was built in the late 19th century. Unfortunately it closes in the winter so we weren't able to tour it, but it was still beautiful to see on our drive along the Rhine (and it's someplace I recommend stopping to see no matter when you visit).

We were told how wonderful the wines are in the Rhine Valley, so we made sure to visit a couple wineries in between castles (you'll notice most of them are situated on steep hillsides). 

Wine situated in the Rhine region makes up approximately 60 percent of all Germany's production. They're most popularly known for their white varietals- particularly Riesling. If you'er like me, Riesling typically makes you think of the sugary "wine on training wheels" we used to drink in college. But that's actually a common misconception. While they can certainly be sweet, there are also lots of great Rieslings that are very crisp and dry.

Among those great whites, we loved visiting Winery Lunnebach. Several wineries had already closed for the season, we were so happy to find they were open and ready for us to taste some of their delicious wines (I bought 4 bottles to bring home and have no clue how I'm going to fit them in my suitcase- but that's a problem for another day). 

Some others worth checking out if you go during peak season? Vom Boden (Peter Lauer), Weingut Joh. Jos. Prüm, and Weingut Karthäuserhof.

We ended up spending more time wine tasting than originally anticipated, so we ended up staying in Mainz for the night instead of heading all the way to Frankfurt (I'll just save that city for another trip!) Turning in early for the night was necessary, because we woke up early the next morning to visit what we were most excited about: Eltz Castle!

This medieval castle is owned by a branch of the same family that lived there 33 generations ago (that's the 12th century!) It's located just between Koblenz and Trier (above the Moselle River) and was an absolutely gorgeous drive to make. Again, this time of year it was closed so we couldn't tour the inside (it's open from April through October if you want to do that)  but I'd be lying if I said it wasn't awesome to have the whole place to ourselves!

Once we left Eltz Castle, it was time to drive back up to Cologne to return our rental car and catch the train back to London via Brussels. It really was such a quick trip and I wish we could have stayed a bit longer! But nonetheless, we got to see some of the most beautiful landscapes + castles, and drink some tasty wine. So overall? A great success in my book!

Regardless of where you choose to go in Germany, here are a few things I found to be true during my short time there: 

• Germans are direct. This doesn't mean that they're being rude- it's just status quo to be a straight shooter (which can seem a bit counter-cultural coming from the south where people LOVE to throw in lots of fluff and sugar coat everything).

• Germans also love structure and are very punctual. Do your best to be on time for wine tasting appointments.

• Most people speak at least some English, but learning a few basics like "danke" (thank you) and "guten tag" (good day) is a common courtesy.

• As previously stated above, carry cash. Credit cards aren't always accepted- even at restaurants that seem like very modern establishments.

• Also previously stated, if you visit in the winter- DRESS WARM.

Anything else you want to know about Germany? Let me know in the comments! 

xo, 

Whitney