janisj...u're right...i could definitely trim that down. it always slips my mind that i can wash my clothing while i am there.

janisj...i forgot to mention...i ALWAYS wear tank tops under t-shirts...it is like my undershirt...but u are right...i can certainly tailor it down. exactly the reason why i needed your opinion.

Re your Clarks comment...

Sorry, but you probably didn't choose a nice pair of shoes. I am only 35, so I am definitely not old, and I love funky shoes. You probably have the advantage of having normal-sized feet (whereas I wear a women's 12). Clarks/Indigo/Privo are one of the only brands I have found that come in my size and are cool and comfortable.

I admit that Clarks has some "granny" styles, but please don't generalize. They've really come a long way in the last few years and are making some fabulous fashionable shoes now.

Your choices sound fine except for 2 things

1) A very traditional multi-star restaurant (some are more flexible, a few are not - check the web sites - to see which ones require jackets for men - then you may want a dress or silk pant suit (There are very few of these left.)

2)Monaco Casino late at night - if you want the inner (better) rooms it does in fact look like a scene from a James Bond movie (we saw more bling that you can possibly imagine - and I have seen tons at special charity events at the Met - and lots of tuxedos and evening dresses). I don;t believe a tuxedo was required (2 years ago) but a suit and tie definitely were - and for women at least a cocktail style outfit - if not a real evening dress (not ball gown) - black and slinky with stilettos should do it.

Hey, I like your pack list but there is no way on earth that will all fit in 1/2 of a 24" suitcase -lol!

One easy way I see to thin down is: any place you have 3 of the exact same item... make it 2 instead.

Then sort by color, I don't think you'll really need 8 top pieces all in black, for example.

Dear hckypris98,

What other stops are you making on your tour, e.g. in Italy?

Please take my advice in light of everyone has her own style and what makes her comfortable. You sound like me in many ways, but we diverge in others.

First: as many have said, the needed level of formality depends much on the restaurant or club you go to. But for the same reason that you'd probably feel underdressed at Le Bernadin in Manhattan in jeans, you might feel under-dressed inthe higest-end places in Europe. I get the sense that your tour doesn't include something THAT lofty.

My own preference is for a more polished top than the down vest. Yes, I know that the runways have showed them, but they've also shown trapper hats. Any puff jacket just don't have the polish of other options. Possibilities that will go nicely with your jeans, black pants, or skirt: A Chanel-like jacket (which can be very comfortable since, and goes nicely with jeans,) a short trench or trench jacket

Pardon me -- a glitch in my system posted my reply before it was done.

More alternatives to a down top: more of a sweater-cardigan that wraps at the waist? A well-structured black fleece jacket? If the latter seems too informal, I, too, love pashminas for evening.

I get the sense that you are well-attuned to the fit of your clothes, which goes a long way in seeming more polished than over-sized sloppy-casual or too-tight tackiness. 'Kind of like a good rich black always looks wonderful, but a worn-out faded one looks tired.

Personnally, I'm more of a skirt person, but as the weather cools, I also include more slacks when touring. That said, I always throw in a dress that makes me feel wonderful. I appreciate the change. Good options: a well-cut knit dress (I have them in silk, silk blecnd, wool, cotton & a bit of lycra,) or a well-structured "pleats" dress like from Issye Miyake, or a dress that might take a little more room but makes you feel great.

For the shoes: for evening, if space is an issue, I'd probably prefer some cute slides or a shoe with a small kitten heel, instead of the wedges. You can still walk to a restaurant, and it seems that they wouldn't take as much room as wedges. It's a quirk with me: I like to feel a little more dressed when I'm at dinner.

I live in ballet flats when traveling. Just be aware that if you are walking on stone floors, pavement, and cobblestones all day, you may want a cushioned insole. I have also worn the comfortable G Series (the joint brand ot Cole Haan and Nike), and have seen any number of other dress-sport brands. In cooler weather, I've also found the crepe-soled Ferragamos (or similar loafer style) a good and fashionable option.

Monaco is more formal, but you'll be fine during the day. Still, as another writer indicates, you might want to feel a little glitzier in the evening and in better rooms. (Among my knit dresses: a silk/cashmere with a little lurex -- packs like a dream.) Of course, the right jewelry or accessories go a long way, here.

Actually that's not a bad idea (from my post above)... at this point why don't you fold everything you have on your list and stack it into your suitcase to see how it works? If it really all fits, go with it, if not you'll at least have a better idea how much, if any, you need to thin out.

First of all I love your style hckypris98! I am a very fashionable person as well and I wear heels every day. So when I travel it pains me to give them up, but I know I will be walking a lot and my feet thank me!
I took a Contiki trip to Europe 5 years ago. A lot of fun, but I was rarely in my room. So comfortable shoes were number 1. I lost about 2.5kg (we go by kg in Canada..so about 5pounds) in 8 days b/c I was walking so much. And I ate pain au chocolat like crazy. So bring a belt! My jeans were falling off me by day 5.
I think if you cut out the amount of tops you are bringing (tank tops) you should be ok. Jeans will take up more space and mine got all stretched out after a few days. On my Contiki tour we did not have time for laundry. Or maybe I just didn't make time for laundry. I probably preferred to be in the Louis Vuitton store than in a laundromat...LOL
I'm right there with you sista....you are in Europe and although you want to be comfy, you want to look good as well.

Pack whatever you want for the weather you expect. You do not need a special wardrobe to travel in Europe. Go look in your closet.

Yes, definitely pack for the weather you expect; the activities you'll do; and always start with what is in the closet. The latter is what you know you'll be comfortable in. That said, I'm sure you have more than enough choices, and wanted to hear Fodorite thoughts from their experiences in deciding on what goes in the suitcase.

Gosh everyone...thank you so much for all of your comments...they are truly truly helpful.

What do you all know about the weather from mid sept to the first week of oct? Will i really need to have my down vest all the time or will i be able to get away without it for most of the time? Honestly...i would love to get a more polished jacket but here is my dilema. I have tried many many many different coats...from the burberry quilts to the their trenches (all too boxy)to a really cute max mara short trench(oh soooooo cute but only comes in cream...i would end destroying it and crying my eyes out over it...plus it would never stuff well in my daypack). Here is my problem...i have really small shoulders so if i buy a jacket that fits my shoulders...i can't wear anything under it but a thin t-shirt...otherwise i can't move my arms. if i buy bigger for my back and fit bigger in the shoulders...then i look like i should have shoulder pads in my jacket(eeewww!) If i really had my way...i would ditch any kind of jacket all together but then i would hate to get caught without and hate life. So help me with other options...fleece vest is out of the question...i only wear mine when i am totally desperate for more layers in blizzard type conditions in mammoth. Does a polished feminine form fitting jacket that will not get ruined in a daypack exist?

TravelBug13...when u did you contiki tour...did u ever have time to go change for a nice dinner? Or are the majority of the Contiki travelors the casual dinner kind of person? Did anyone really get all that dressed up to go out to a club or did they hang out in cafes or restaurants talking all night? Did you even have enough energy to hang out that late? Like you...i am having trouble letting go of my higher shoes...i think i can substitute with the ballet flats for going out at night but I am a short gal(5'2")...i tend to look squatty in flats and capris/skirts. I think i have my sensible day shoes squared away...i am just really worried about being stylish at night.

MadameX, may I ask what brand of ballet flats you buy. I love ballet flats but I find due to having a high arch that they do not work well for extended walking as all the ballet flats I have had or seen do not seem to have the proper arch support that I need. Thank you.

And hckypris, I have a midthigh black lightweight trenchcoat style coat that I have taken to Italy that has worked well as well as a long trench coat (such a deep grey it is almost black) that I have used for travelling also. Both are cut so that I can wear them over a sweater or jacket if it is chilly. Whichever one I take with me I bring it on the plane.

MadameX...here are my stops throughout my tour...

London, Amsterdam, Rhine Valley(Germany), Engelbergy(Lucerne Switzerland), Innesbruck(Austria), Venice, Florence, Italy, Nice, Lyon and Paris.

Here is the link to the tour

http://www.contiki.com/en-US/Tours/E.../Itinerary.htm

Your advice has been really good...i really appreciate it.

You don't understand how bad jeans are when they are wet.

Try washing a pair & wear them without drying them. Then put them in a sealed plastic bag overnight, then take them out again (do this outdoors.)

As for the rest of your list - well you can see where the stereotype comes from. Just because you have a luggage allowance doesn't mean you've got to use all of it.

Besides where are you going to put all that French & British fashion you are going to buy

I like the down vest idea fine. Because it packs small, and actually would serve to keep you warm and be comfortable (like on the plane for starters). Also because I don't think packing for a trip is any time to start buying new stuff, I have much better luck taking tried & true favorites from my closet. The ones that make you feel good when you wear them.

While I don't wear jeans myself (at home or traveling) I don't understand the getting strong comments about getting wet. Sheez, I mean how wet can a person possibly get touring cities in Europe in early fall on a tour bus?

If by chance it happens, she's got 2 other pair of jeans. Dry the wet ones out on the hotel radiator an overnight or two.

cashmere sweaters

They were my staple while in Paris in May a couple of years ago.

They won't be bulky under your jacket.
You can dress them up at night with scarf or pin.
They are very light and don't take up much room in your suitcase
They breathe and so are comfortable
They are a great layer under a jacket

I took one in black (mostly worn in evenings) and one in fushia (worn mostly during the day)

I have cashmere sweaters from several price points but took the least expensive ones I own. I bought these at Kohl's for almost nothing. They are thinner than the ones from the specialty stores - but that was perfect for layering in Paris during shoulder seasons. I bought several more when I got home and now wear them three seasons a year.

I wouldn't take ballet flats because I need arch support - ESPECIALLY after long days of walking - and Paris is made for walking.

It will probably be too cool for capri pants in Sept-Oct. I'd take comfortable black slacks or stretch black jeans instead.

I was wondering the same thing myself...how is she going to get her jeans wet? My neice lived in London for six months and was in Copenhagen all last year, and all she wore was jeans and when I visited her right after Christmas there were jeans everywhere and on just about everyone, MOST expecially if they looked 30 or under.