YOU GUYS. I cannot believe our Spain trip is NEXT WEEK! (We leave the 18th!) We’ll be spending five days in Mallorca and then the following four in Barcelona. We can’t wait!
I feel like it was only last week that we booked the trip — I remember thinking, “but it’s so far away! It will never get here!” and then I blinked and here we are. I’ve been getting a lot of questions on what I plan to pack, so of course, you knew this post was coming!
When we booked our trip, I asked you guys on stories for tips on what I should pack for this time of year and SO many of you recently returned from Barcelona and all agreed: “light dresses because it’s SO hot!” You never steer me wrong! My main goal: pack only light fabrics, breezy dresses, comfortable shoes, and hats and accessories to help keep cool and comfortable!
I know you’re wondering, and yes, I plan on fitting everything into my Delsey Paris 21” Carry-On! (I did it for 10 days in Paris so I know I can do it again!) Luckily it’s pretty easy to carry on in the summer because light dresses take up virtually no room! Every piece I’m bringing is versatile, comfortable and mix and match-able! Wondering how I’m fitting everything into a carry-on? Check out my post on the best hacks for packing for long trips.
Let’s jump into my Barcelona + Mallorca packing list!
What to Wear in Barcelona + Mallorca (And basically everywhere else in Spain)— My Complete Packing List!
Breezy dresses
My #1 requirement for dresses whenever I travel abroad–breezy dresses! They need to transition from day to night so I can dress them up or down. I’m sticking to mostly longer midi length dresses (long enough that they won’t blow up in the wind — which is a very valid concern being outside all day and short enough to stay as cool as possible).
My Everlane Picnic Midi Dress (TTS) will be one of the first things I put in my suitcase! Cotton fabric, a stretchy back and adjustable straps that are wide enough to hide bra straps hit all of the elements of a perfect vacation dress. I have the light blue stripe color, but it also comes in navy and a navy stripe, which would also make perfect additions to a travel capsule wardrobe!
And of course, I’ll be bringing some of my favorite Amazon Mumus (TTS, size tip: size up if you have a fuller chest or a wider rib cage). Checkout my review post to learn why I’m so obsessed with them! The mumu also happens to be magically wrinkle resistant (witchcraft!?)— so it’s the perfect travel dress. I have two of the blue pattern variations, but do I need another one for my Spain trip? This red one seems very fitting to me!
I also ordered two additional dresses (I call them “Mumu cousins”) from the same brand, and I LOVE them! This one is the most beautiful pattern, and I love that it’s fitted through the body with cute little buttons. (Runs smaller in the shoulders, so maybe size up if you have broader shoulders). Then there’s this stunning blue maxi (I’m wearing it below! Runs TTS but the arm holes are pretty big, so I’d suggest wearing a bralette underneath if it bothers you!)
More midi dresses I’m loving for summer trips:
Linen Jumpsuits
My Linen Treasure & Bond Jumpsuit is coming with me! It’s so breathable and looks just as cute with white sneakers as it does with sandals! (It’s also a good double for a swim cover up!) For more jumpsuit outfit ideas, check out my post: The Linen Jumpsuit You Need For Every Trip This Summer.
I’ll definitely be bringing this linen jumpsuit from Amazon too! (Wearing it below! It’s such a steal at $33 — I have it in two colors!) I love the yellow for a pop of color and the neutral linen color is stunning as well! Jumpsuits are great for longer trips too, because sometimes you just don’t want to travel in a dress!
More linen jumpsuit options:
TOPS
Silk Cami
My Everlane Clean Silk Cami (TTS) is a go-to vacation essential. The silk fabric is not too shiny and not too basic, making it the perfect versatile base layer. I did a post earlier this year on why I love traveling with them so much and how to style them on vacation.
White Tank Top
White tank tops are always a good idea, right?! My white Everlane Air Cami (runs a little loose) is super lightweight and is easy to tuck in or knot.
Black Tank Top
Another great staple– Everlane’s Pima Stretch Black Tank Top. I plan on jazzing up the white and black tanks with silk scarves!
Striped Tee
I love this Everlane Stripe Tee (TTS) so much! Packing striped items is one of my best travel hacks, because stripes make you look so chic with very minimal effort! I love that this tee is slightly cropped!
Long-Sleeve Linen Button Down
A light, long-sleeved layer is always good to have no matter how hot the destination — sometimes your skin just needs a break from the sun! It can be worn as a top, tied over a cami or dress as a light jacket, and it can triple as a bathing suit cover up! It’s seriously the most versatile thing you can pack.
My absolute favorite linen button down is this Lolë version (half off right now!) It’s longer/tunic length, so it makes the perfect bathing suit cover-up. I also love the Everlane Linen Relaxed Shirt!
BOTTOMS
Easy shorts
And the linen theme continues! For days that I don’t reach for a dress, I’ll probably wear shorts — these are the exact ones I’m wearing later on in this post! I love them — they are SO soft and come in other colors too! They’re perfect as a cover-up or to wear around town! I also love these J.Crew Linen Shorts. They’ll be great for exploring, hiking, being on the water and they’ll double as a cover-up! I have navy linen shorts, but the olive green would so cute in September, too! Another great pair I’d recommend are Everlane’s Easy Chino shorts — not linen, but they’re such a great staple. They pull on, go with everything, and are just so simple and chic! I’m wearing them below and you can see how I styled them multiple ways in this post!
Comfy + Cute pants for the plane
I don’t remember a time in the last several years where I haven’t worn my Lululemon Align leggings for a long flight. They just feel like nothing, honestly, or…butter! (Because being nude feels the same as a dairy product, right?) They don’t feel like regular leggings at all— not too tight and they don’t dig into you. In short, they are INCREDIBLE and worth every penny!
BUT — I am very intrigued by their new “on the fly” pant, which I saw on my friend Liz, who raves about them! They look like the PERFECT travel pants! They’re more polished than a jogger, which I love.
LEATHER JACKET
A leather jacket might sound like an odd choice next to all my lightweight, breezy pieces, but I was so glad I had this last year in Italy. It can still get cool at night, so it’s good to have at least one layer to throw over your shoulders! A leather jacket is much nicer than a sweater and I love how the contrast of leather instantly elevates a look. I got mine in Florence at Massimo Leather but linking similar ones below!
More leather jackets I love:
SHOES
First, we need to talk about the importance of *breaking in your shoes* before you leave for vacation! You never want to bring new shoes on a vacation where you plan to do a lot of walking. This will take a bit of planning ahead, but is well worth it, trust me.
Some tried and true tips for breaking in your shoes + avoiding blisters on your trip:
- Spray leather shoes with shoe stretch which makes leather softer and allows them to form to your feet.
- Wear shoes around the house with socks (and/or blast them with a hair dryer or a steamer if you are in a pinch and don’t have shoe stretch spray!)
- For shoes that rub your heels, stick these no-rub heel pads on the backs–they are amazing!
- For blister prevention–Megababe’s Thigh Rescue works great as an anti-rub for shoes!
- The BEST blister bandaids (for prevention and protecting existing blisters) are “blister cushions“– if you’re in Europe, look for the brand “Compeed”–which they have in a lot of pharmacies. They also sell the brand here as well (but I discovered they’re more expensive here!) Amazon makes some great knockoffs though. They work so well and are waterproof and rub-proof! These saved our lives in Paris where we walked so many miles each day and made the mistake of not breaking in shoes enough beforehand!
White Sneakers
The first thing you should pack for a long trip are comfortable sneakers — nothing ruins a day of exploring like painful blisters! I’ll be packing my go-to Tretorn (TTS!) sneakers because they’ll go with everything in my suitcase and are beyond comfortable. Check out my post about 6 cute summer outfits with sneakers!
More white sneakers I love:
Comfortable Slides
I will definitely be bringing this pair of KAANAS rattan slides–they’re on major sale right now! They took a wear or two to break in, but now they’re so comfortable and they go with everything! My other favorites are the Steven Greece Slide Sandals and Sam Edelman Leather Slides because they can be dressed up or down (I think of them as an elevated flip flop), and I can easily walk miles in them! The good news about a warm weather trip is that slides take up ZERO room, so you can pack a few pairs!
More leather slides I love:
Leather Wrap sandals
Huarache Sandals
Chic Swimsuits
I’m bringing a few swimsuits for our time in Mallorca. I’m thinking this Amazon High-Waisted Bandeau Bikini, this Ruffled, Retro-Vibe Bikini and this chic One-Shoulder Scalloped Bikini.
ACCESSORIES
Silk Scarves
Multi-functional, silk scarves are essential for summer trips. First, they elevate a simple outfit with interest and/or color. Second, they can be worn around the neck, as a fun bracelet, tied to your bag or around your hair. (In a pinch, if your scarf is long enough, you can also drape it across your shoulders, which can be important for some Europe dress codes — to enter some museums, churches, etc.) Third, they hide unwashed hair and/or keep hair off your neck when temperatures spike.
I have a lot of vintage scarves I’ll be pulling from, but I love this one from Mango, and how cute is this Madewell Fruit-Themed Bandana (on sale!) for Spain?! Tip: You can also find cheap scarves at most European markets! Some of my favorites came from the leather market in Florence, Italy!
Related: See my hair scarf tying tutorial to learn how I tie scarves in my hair!
Sun Hat
A must for any long trip and especially in the summer, I’ll be bringing my fave packable straw hat from Amazon! Also, this packable black version from Madewell is so cute! This white option is so chic, too! And this classic J.Crew Panama Hat is on sale!
Sunglasses
Because so many vacation pictures are taken wearing sunglasses, I think it’s really important to bring a pair you really love. (You never want to look back at all your photos and be like “UGH why didn’t I get cuter sunglasses!?” My Ray-Ban Hexagon Aviators have been my go-to of choice lately! I also got these cheapie cat-eye sunnies off Amazon and I love them because they’re adorable and cheap, and I won’t be upset if I lose them in the water! I love how retro they are!
MISC Items:
Travel Streamer
I don’t travel ANYWHERE without a mini streamer! Honestly, I cannot stand wrinkled clothing, and I hate irons, so, therefore, I am never caught without one. I highly recommend investing in a dual voltage steamer, otherwise, if you take your U.S. steamer to another country (even with a converter), you will likely ruin it! It’s worth the extra $10 or so to get one you can take overseas! I learned this the hard way on our Italy trip. (RIP steamy.)
Sunscreen
Never forget sunscreen! My favorite body sunscreen is the Beautycounter SPF lotion and I always keep the Mini Sunscreen Stick in my bag at all times! It’s great for reapplying on the go (they are both SPF 30!)
Megababe for ALL THE ISSUES:
Have you heard of Megababe? It’s a brand created by one of my favorite instagrammers, Katie Sturino. She makes THE BEST products, which are all especially great for traveling anywhere that involves heat and lots of walking! I love their mini rose deodorant, travel wipes, thigh chafe stick (I rub it on my feet to prevent blisters!), and the best of all — BUST DUST! It totally eliminates boob sweat, which as we know, is one of the worst parts of traveling to a hot climate.
7 Outfit ideas for Barcelona + Mallorca:
#1: For the plane:
Leggings: Lululemon Align leggings (they are SUPER stretchy–I’m typically a size 25/0 and I’m a size 4 in Lulu leggings, for reference, but these have a lot more give than other pairs!), Sneakers: Tretorn (run TTS), Tote: Madewell zip-top transport tote, Suitcase: Delsey Chatlet 21″ suitcase (from Amazon), Cardigan: old, but similar at Nordstrom
My go-to outfit combination for international flights! ALWAYS Lulu leggings, a striped tee, a cardigan and sneakers. ?Comfy but still polished — it never fails! And yes, I am packing solely in this suitcase for 10 days.
#2: Day to Dinner
Jumpsuit: Amazon (wearing small! Runs TTS!), Sandals: KANAAS sandals from Shopbop, Belt Bag: Madewell (available at Madewell, Nordstrom and Shopbop!)
This is the Amazon jumpsuit I listed above. I am obsessed! It is SO comfy, cute, beautiful, and you will never believe the price! Also, a belt bag is a must-have for sightseeing days! (Because I’m going to need both hands eating my way through the Barcelona fruit markets, obviously.) Swipe on red lipstick (here I’m wearing Beautycounter’s Girls Night!) for a pop of color! Plus, it’s still really moisturizing, which is key during travel! This is the perfect outfit to wear for a day where you don’t want to be bothered to go back to the hotel to change for dinner!
#3: Feminine and cool!
Maxi: Amazon maxi dress, Shoes: Nisolo Huarache sandals, Bag: Amazon
The best easy breezy maxi dress! A great option to throw on over your suit if you plan to set out and explore but want to do some swimming as well! There is a tie in the back across the shoulders that you can adjust as well, which is key! Note: The arm holes are pretty big so if you’re worried about a side boob situation, you can wear a bralette–or I just stitched the side up slightly with a needle and thread! Worth the extra effort, promise! It looks so much more expensive than it is!
#4: Mumu-tastic!
Dress: Amazon MUMU duh (wearing small, TTS, but size up if you have a larger ribcage or chest), Backpack: Madewell Somserset backpack (now only available in canvas, but it’s the best backpack ever! The perfect size!) Shoes: Nisolo Huarache sandals (the reviews say to size up, but they were too big and I exchanged for my normal size!)
AHHH THE MUMU! The dress that took over the world this summer! There was never a more perfect dress for a European vacation, let me tell you. It’s so comfortable to travel in, too! I have worn it on many a flight!
#5: For the beach:
Bathing suit: Amazon (wearing small, TTS), Sandals: KAANAS via Shopbop (on major sale! TTS), Linen button-up: Lolë (HALF OFF! Wearing small), Hat: Amazon (it’s packable!), Raffia tote: Nordstrom
Okay I’m now noticing that like everything in this post is from Amazon, even though that wasn’t intentional! ? So yes, this bathing suit is also from Amazon! I love love it in black, but it comes in other colors too! It’s very comfortable, which is key! The star of the show though really is my favorite linen button-up! Tuck it into shorts and jeans or wear it as a cover-up. It’s the perfect length and so soft — not scratchy like some linen can be!
#6: Sightseeing Day
Silk cami: Everlane (TTS wearing small), Shorts: Everlane (TTS wearing 0), Shoes: KAANAS via Shopbop (TTS), Belt Bag: Madewell (wearing small) More colors available at Nordstrom!
I will likely be wearing this outfit on a day of exploring! (We’re renting Vespas in Mallorca and shorts are much more conducive to Vespa riding than dresses, you know what I mean?) I love these easy shorts and this silk cami is one of the most versatile, barely-there layers! It’s easy to wear around during the day or dress up at night for dinner!
#7: For a day trip
Linen button-up: Lolë (HALF OFF! Wearing small), Linen shorts: Nordstrom (TTS), Shoes: Tretorn, Scarf: Old from Mango, but love this one! (See my hair scarf tying tutorial!)
Another ideal “exploring day” outfit! Here I’m wearing my suit underneath (again, you always want to be ready for a great swimming opportunity–especially if you’re taking a day trip somewhere!) but you can totally wear it *not* as a cover-up as well. I love these shorts, they are SO comfortable, and this is the same linen button-down you saw me wearing over my suit above! I love tying a scarf in my hair for super hot days. It keeps the hair out of your face and adds so much personality to your outfit!
