There’s always that rush of excitement when you’re planning for a trip —where you’re gonna frolic, the trinkets you’ll find, the local eats you will devour- it’s easy to get swept up in all the planning. Then once you’re close to taking off, you start to realize—what on earth am I going to pack? Don’t fret, my pet – we’ve got your bases covered. Along with The TIG’s Travel Guides, we’re introducing our packing guides to help you plan your swoon-worthy outfit choices for each and every destination. We’re kicking it off with one of the most magical cities in all of Europe—Budapest. It’s a place laden with duality— literally split into two sides by the Danube river. On one side, there’s “Buda,” the swankier of the two, where you’ll feel most comfortable in trend-driven, but classic pieces. On the other hand, there’s “Pest,” where you’ll want to break out some of that Saint Laurent-inspired grunge. And since the two sides are so distinctly different, we decided to help you with your outfit planning—for either side of the river —with not one, but two different guides (just scroll to see!). With this Packing Guide + Guide to Budapest, you’ll be dressed the part of all set for your globetrotting adventures. Jó utat kívánok!
SMOKE ‘EM
Build your base around a pair of tailored, yet sexy cigarette pants. They’re the perfect packing companion, since they go with nearly everything you’ll throw on top of them, plus, they give off that vibe of sophistication.
WRAP IT UP
We feel ya—when it’s freezing out (as it most certainly is in Budapest during the winter), sometimes you just want to wear your blanket as your coat. Since that’s probably not the best option, try a wool robe coat instead. It’s a win-win situation—you’ll be hitting on one of the best trends of the season while staying bundled up at the same time.
CALL ON THE CABLE KNIT
When you’re packing, it’s critical to bring versatile items, so that you can mix and match accordingly. And one of the most versatile of all the versatile items in everyone’s closet (we know you have one of these), is the fisherman’s sweater. It’s cool. It’s chunky. It’s pretty. It works with pants, skirts, and jeans. So yeah, you’ll need to bring one of these bad boys.
TOPPED OFF
There’s nothing that says “I’m on vacay” quite like a dapper hat. But remember, you’re not off to St. Barth’s, so skip the panama hat (or the color white) and bring along a fedora in a rich autumnal shade.
PROVIDE SOME STRUCTURE
Put down that duffel you’ve hauled through airport after airport—rather than cram your old bag with everything under the sun, why not try a ladylike tote? It doubles as a sleek carry-on (that fits all of your essentials and nothing more) and acts as a gorgeous everyday purse. The trick is to find one with a long shoulder strap, otherwise you’ll just be lugging around a heavy bag through the streets of Budapest.
ON POINT
It’s tough to decide which shoes to bring with you anywhere—they take up a ton of space, and it’s always tricky to figure out which ones you’ll actually be donning once you get there. Save yourself the trouble and bring along a pair of pointy flats. That way, you can wear them while walking along the cobblestoned roads and then out to your wine tasting at the Faust cellar afterwards.
DISTRESS YOUR DENIM
Casual (yet stylish) is the way to go in Budapest, but Pest isn’t the side to sport a pair of clean, polished skinnies. Instead, opt for a more rugged pair to fit in with the uber-hip locals.
TOUGHEN UP
It’s really, really cold in Budapest once winter hits, so you’ll definitely need to sport a cool topper (and not just to up your outfit game). A thick moto jacket works for sightseeing as well as for a faahncy dinner out where you’ll need to impress (and trust us, you will).
PLAY WITH PLAID
A t-shirt is boring, and it also provides zero warmth. A button-down, on the other hand, is comfy and shnazy at the same time, and a prep school-esque plaid version is even shnazier.
WALK THE WALK
If Pest doesn’t scream “combat boots,” then I don’t know what does. Show your love for the city’s rebellious history in a rugged, but still chic, pair. Plus, since you’ll be exploring all over the city, these are infinitely more comfortable than anything with the word “heel,” and dramatically cooler than those ubiquitous tennis shoes.
BACKPACK THROUGH EUROPE
Use one of the hottest (and most convenient) trends to your advantage and sport a cute backpack. Leave the super-luxe versions (cough, The Row, cough) for the runway, and go for one of the more affordable (and actually necessary) bags.
TIE IT UP
We’d be remiss to forget the best item you can pack on any vacation—the scarf. For this trip, you’ll want a cozy, oversized version that can double as an actual neck warmer and cute accessory (and who doesn’t love plaid-on-plaid while you’re at it?).
