A founder's guide to packing for a European summer—from the beaches of Sardinia to the streets of Paris.
There’s nothing more fun than getting to test out the pieces I curate before we make them available to our customers. One of my favorite parts of owning Confête is seeing how our dresses feel and look in real life moments - real vacations, real date nights and in those unforgettable moments that become some of your favorite memories.
This summer, I spent several weeks traveling through Sardinia, the South of France, Bordeaux, and Paris. I am notoriously an over-packer BUT even then, just about every look was intentional—whether it was for a beach club afternoon, a winery lunch, an elegant dinner overlooking the water, or wandering through beautiful cities with a gelato in hand.
Some dresses became instant favorites that I am so excited to reach for over and over again (I'm looking at you Marisol Fringe Dress!) Others reminded me why versatility matters so much when you're living out of a suitcase. If you're planning a European vacation, a honeymoon, or simply looking for timeless dresses you'll wear all summer long, these are the pieces I'd happily pack all over again.
My European Summer Packing Guide
Sardinia, Italy
Boat days, seaside dinners & coastal towns
Wearing the Anchor Top and Shorts for a boat day
A look at the dresses (and one set!) that worked best for warm days by the Mediterranean, relaxed afternoons exploring the island, and dinners overlooking the water.
Seashell Society Midi Dress, $72
This exact dress is sold out, but other perfect polka dot options: #1 and #2.
My FAVORITE dinner look! This would be so gorgeous for a bride-to-be. I wore it to our early anniversary dinner.
South of France
Romantic villages, beach clubs & long summer lunches
The effortless dresses I reached for while exploring the French Riviera, wandering markets, going to beach clubs and dressing up for sunset dinners.
Wearing the Portofino Striped Mini Dress for a beach club day and lunch at Club 55. Similar here in pink.
My favorite, favorite place in the South of France is Saint Tropez, so it's the perfect opportunity to wear something over the top for a night out like this super fun, fringe maxi dress.
Now available in black and burgundy. Blue is sold out for now. This is my perfect night out dress no matter where you are!
And you always need a fun accessory like this sequin clutch. Comes in pink and yellow.
Bordeaux
Wine country, beautiful hotels, wine tastings & vineyard dinners
Elegant pieces that felt polished enough for wineries and countryside dinners while still being comfortable enough to wear all day.
I wore the Olive Blossom Eyelet Midi Dress (only $58!) for a day of wine tasting in Saint Emillion. I love that it has a structured bodice, but it's smocked in the back, so you'll be chic and comfortable all day long.
Pretty pastels and florals like the Provence Maxi Dress felt perfect for dinner at a vineyard chateau. And like the Olive Blossom dress, it has a corset style bodice in the front, but a smocked back, so it's really comfortable.
Wearing the Provence Maxi Dress to dinner in Bordeaux
Paris
City strolls, cafés & evenings out
The dresses that transitioned seamlessly from daytime sightseeing to dinner, and the styles that inspired my upcoming Paris After Dark edit.
The Colette Mini Dress, $68, is a great versatile piece for a European vacation because it's an easy to wear mini dress but has this really great scarf detail that feels super chic. And it has pockets! Also comes in pink.
One of my favorite things to do in a place like Paris is go to a fancy hotel for drinks. The Ritz Paris is iconic, so that's must-visit for me, and I wore this sleek little silky polka dot midi for a cocktail there.
The Rosette Stripe Maxi Dress is equally as great for a dinner out as it is strolling and popping into a museum.
And here's a sneak peek at this super fun set that is coming in our . It just screams Paris, and I can't wait to mix and match the top and bottom this fall and winter.
What I Learned Packing for Europe
After several weeks traveling through Europe, I want to share a few packing lessons I use over and over again. Sorry - none of them are about packing less! (LOL we're maximalists over here!). But they are about packing smarter.
1. Pack dresses (or sets) that can do more than one thing.
The pieces I wore the most weren't necessarily the fanciest—they were the ones that work just as well for a chic dinner as they do for sightseeing in sneakers like the Palm Court Polka Dot Dress or the Olive Blossom Midi.
2. My Night to Day Trick.
Similarly, I have a night to day trick I use on all of my long trips (and this doesn't work with every dress). I take a dress that I wear to dinner one night and then re-wear it as a beach cover-up or a daytime sight seeing dress. And the reason I wear it to dinner first is because if you wear it sightseeing all day and it gets all gross and sweaty, you won't want to wear it again.
3. Pack for the moments—not just the destinations.
Before I zipped up my suitcase, I thought about the experiences I was most excited for: a beach club in Saint Tropez, wine tasting in Bordeaux, wandering Parisian streets, and dinners overlooking the Mediterranean. Packing by occasion made it much easier to choose outfits I was genuinely excited to wear.
4. Give yourself options.
Some evenings called for a romantic floral maxi, while others felt right for a sleek black dress or something with a little sparkle. Having a few different moods in my suitcase meant I never felt underdressed—or like I was wearing the same look over and over. If you're a super planner like me, I like to create a little board in Canva, so I can see where different dresses can work for different locations.
5. Leave a little room in your suitcase.
Because obviously we're going shopping!
Shop My European Summer Edit
One of my favorite parts of this trip wasn't just seeing beautiful places—it was creating memories in pieces that made me feel confident and excited to get dressed every day. I hope this guide gives you ideas for your own adventures, whether you're planning a European vacation or simply looking for dresses that make ordinary summer moments feel a little more special.
If you're heading to Europe this year, I'd love to hear where you're going. And if you wear one of these dresses on your own adventure, don't forget to tag @shop.confete—I absolutely love seeing where our dresses travel next.