This story was created in partnership with: Trafalgar 

The trick to packing well for two weeks in Europe is to travel with a versatile capsule wardrobe that’s practical, stylish and comfortable — no matter what time of year it is! With Trafalgar’s European tours you’ll be on the the cobbled streets of Paris one minute and walking alongside the canals of Venice the next. Here’s your checklist for what to pack for two weeks in Europe!

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Visiting a new destination is always exciting but the hassle of getting there isn’t always fun. Airlines frequently update baggage rules and weight allowances, it’s part of the journey but it can make travel a little stressful at times. A capsule wardrobe will allow you to pack efficiently and lightly. You won’t need to worry about whether you’re taking too little or too much. Some capsule wardrobes will even fit into a carry-on, taking away the hassle of having to check-in luggage!

Top tips for creating a capsule wardrobe for Europe:

Clothing

Basic all-season capsule wardrobe for European city adventures

• T-shirts or tops in neutral colours: Perfect for sightseeing during the day and tucking into a pair of jeans at night with some nice accessories and smart jacket for a chic and casual look that’s perfect for a relaxed dinner or cocktail bars. Pack both short and long-sleeved options.
• A buttoned denim shirt or white shirt: Stick with clothes that are easy to mix and match! A simple shirt is super versatile, and you can pair it with jeans, shorts or nice trousers or tie it over a sundress for the perfect day outfit in Europe.
• Jeans and/or black slacks: Super comfortable and an essential piece of clothing to travel with – make some room in your suitcase for a several pairs of jeans and/or black slacks. If you’re travelling extra light, or trying to fit everything in to your carry on, just take one or the other. Check your tour to see the kind of activities you are doing, because some evening venues may have strict dress codes, in which case black slacks are the best comfortable option as you can dress them up or down depending on what you’re doing.
• Comfortable shoes: You’ll be on your feet most of the day, wandering through the charming streets and exploring famous historical attractions, packing a pair of comfortable walking shoes is vital! A nice pair of sneakers or soft-soled shoes may be the height of practically, but these days they are also a very stylish way to hit Europe’s cobbled lanes.
• A pair of smart-casual shoes: You only really need to travel with two pairs of shoes. The second pair you choose will depend upon the time of year, during the summer, a nice pair of sandals will suffice and during the colder months a pair of boots is ideal. For spring or fall, a pair of slip-on shoes or ballet pumps are a good choice.
• Something dressy: Pack something fabulous to wear if you end up on a fancy night out!
• Something colourful: Bring your favourite item that will be your signature piece for the trip! It could be a pair of colourful shorts or pants, a scarf or shirt, dress or handbag, but you need at least one thing that pops and adds a little sparkle to your European capsule wardrobe.
• A classic, long or waterfall blazer: Instantly upgrade any outfit day or night with a sophisticated blazer. It’s worth travelling with a blazer as they are ideal for a cool European summer evening or as a casual layer during the day in autumn.
• Moisture-wicking socks: Don’t underestimate the power of having cool, dry socks (especially during the summer)! You’ll be on your feet all day and there’s nothing worse than feeling uncomfortable in your socks. Pack a few extra pairs, they don’t take up much room and may come in handy!
• Other key things: PJs, underwear and travel-friendly toiletries.

Essential summer items

• Comfortable walking sandals: Just as cold feet can get in the way of enjoying sightseeing, hot feet can have a similar impact. Pack a pair of walking sandals for maximum comfort and style!
• Hat: From a classic baseball cap to a fabulous wide-brimmed hat, it’s the best way to protect your head and face from sun exposure while channelling some glamour.
• Sunglasses: Keep the rays at bay with some protective and chic sunglasses.

Essential autumn items

• Sweaters to layer with: The key to packing for autumn is to add some layers to your basic capsule wardrobe, a couple of sweaters is all you need.
• A pair of comfortable boots: Perfect to wear during the day and dressing smart a night. 
• A light waterproof jacket: Autumn weather can be unpredictable, so keeping a light waterproof jacket to wear on a top of a couple of layers will keep you warm and dry!

For much of the 19th century, for example, skilled artisan workers adopted their own work rhythms as they often hired workshop space and were responsible for producing items for their buyer on a weekly basis. This gave rise to the practice of “Saint Monday”. While Saint Monday mimicked the religious Saint Day holidays, it was in fact an entirely secular practice, instigated by workers to provide an extended break in the working week.

They worked intensively from Tuesday to finish products by Saturday night so they could then enjoy Sunday as a legitimate holiday but also took Mondays off to recover from Saturday night and the previous day’s excesses. By the mid-19th century, Saint Monday was a popular institution in British society. So much so that commercial leisure – like music halls, theatres and singing saloons – staged events on this unofficial holiday.

  

Workers in the early factory system also adopted the tradition of Saint Monday, despite manufacturers consistently opposing the practice, as it hurt productivity. But workers had a religious devotion to the unofficial holiday, which made it difficult for masters to break the habit. It continued to thrive into the 1870s and 1880s.

Nonetheless, religious bodies and trade unions were keen to instil a more formal holiday in the working week. Religious bodies argued that a break on Saturday would improve working class “mental and moral culture”. For example, in 1862 Reverend George Heaviside captured the optimistic tone of many religious leaders when, writing in the Coventry Herald newspaper, he claimed a weekend would allow for a refreshed workforce and greater attendance at church on Sundays.

Trade unions, meanwhile, wanted to secure a more formalised break in the working week that did not rely on custom. Indeed, the creation of the weekend is still cited as a proud achievement in trade union history.

In 1842 a campaign group called the Early Closing Association was formed. It lobbied government to keep Saturday afternoon free for worker leisure in return for a full day’s work on Monday. The association established branches in key manufacturing towns and its membership was drawn from local civic elites, manufacturers and the clergy. Employers were encouraged to establish half-day Saturdays as the Early Closing Association argued it would foster a sober and industrious workforce.

Trades unions and workers’ temperance groups also saw the half-day Saturday as a vehicle to advance working class respectability. It was hoped they would shun drunkenness and brutal sports like cock fighting, which had traditionally been associated with Saint Monday.

For these campaigners, Saturday afternoon was singled out as the day in which the working classes could enjoy “rational recreation”, a form of leisure designed to draw the worker from the public house and into elevating and educational pursuits. For example, in Birmingham during 1850s, the association wrote in the Daily News newspaper that Saturday afternoons would benefit men and women who could:

Across the country a burgeoning leisure industry saw the new half-day Saturday as a business opportunity. Train operators embraced the idea, charging reduced fares for day-trippers to the countryside on Saturday afternoons. With increasing numbers of employers adopting the half-day Saturday, theatres and music halls also switched their star entertainment from a Monday to Saturday afternoon.

Perhaps the most influential leisure activity to help forge the modern week was the decision to stage football matches on Saturday afternoon. The “Football Craze”, as it was called, took off in the 1890s, just as the new working week was beginning to take shape. So Saturday afternoons became a very attractive holiday for workers, as it facilitated cheap excursions and new exciting forms of leisure.