You know the internet saying, “the trip made it out of the group chat”? Well, that’s exactly what happened to me this summer. After talking about a Euro trip with my friends for the past few years, it finally happened—we went to Spain. We originally considered Antibes or the coast of Italy, but ultimately decided on Spain because we were eager to see what the hyper around Ibiza was all about (spoiler alert: it lives up to the hype). Before we went there, though, we spent two nights in Madrid and two in Barcelona.
As a “fashion with a capital F” girl, I was especially excited about planning my outfits for the seven days and seven nights. I started by scouring Pinterest for inspiration and browsing my favorite fashion sites to see what new arrivals caught my eye. While I did pick up a few new pieces specifically for the trip, I also wanted to shop my own closet—something I was very proud of myself for actually sticking to. A good amount of my outfits came together from pieces I already owned, proving that the best vacation wardrobe doesn’t always have to be brand new. Each look was carefully chosen to be comfortable, lightweight, versatile, and polished—four key terms when packing for any summer trip to Europe.
From maxi skirts and elevated flip-flops to bikini sets and straw bags, these are the items I packed for my Spain trip. Whether you have a warm-weather trip coming up or are looking for chic last-minute end-of-summer buys trust that these pieces ahead will serve you well.
Madrid
(Image credit: @nikki.chwatt)
I had never been to Madrid before, but since I follow many Madrid-based fashion people on Instagram, I knew the key to looking chic in the city was all about balancing personality, comfort, and sophistication. For days spent touring the Royal Palace, Plaza Mayor, and the Prado Museum, I stuck to lightweight dresses and top-and-shorts outfits. As I love to do, I added juxtaposition with edgier, dark, oversized sunglasses and unexpected shoes, such as Reformation’s Inez Pumps, which I can easily walk 10K steps in. At night, with late dinners followed by cocktail bar hopping, I stuck to easy separates, such as a flowy maxi skirt paired with a silk scarf I tied into a top, and Bermuda shorts styled with a laced halterneck top.
Shop the pieces I packed:
Rumored
Willow Mini Dress | Black
Marc Fisher Footwear
Antonia Leather Thong Sandals
Barcelona
(Image credit: @nikki.chwatt)
Having studied in Barcelona during my junior year of college, the city has always felt like a second home to me. That said, I haven’t been back since, so I was excited to return, revisit old favorites, and explore new spots. However, because my previous stay ran from January through late April, I had never experienced a summer there. While I anticipated the heat, I wasn’t prepared for how intense it would actually be. Luckily, I had packed several lightweight, breathable pieces like long silk shorts paired with a sheer long-sleeve blouse for a chic look, as well as easy cotton dresses. During one of my many shopping excursions, I also picked up a soft-as-butter layered maxi skirt from Massimo Dutti, which I ended up wearing on the trip. Instead of a skirt-over-shorts look I planned but was too warm for the heat, I styled the skirt with a basic black tank top, flip-flops, and a straw hat—to stay as cool and comfortable as possible.
Shop the pieces I packed:
zara
Zw Collection Solid Shirt
Reformation
Sandy Satin Short
Hunting Season
The Medium Zip Clutch in Handwoven Fique
Massimo Dutti
Double-Layered Midi Skirt With Seam Detail
Anemos
Gisele Bias-Cut Midi Dress
Ibiza
(Image credit: @nikki.chwatt)
Even if it’s “basic,” spending part of the summer in Ibiza completely lives up to the hype. The island has two distinct vibes—a focus on health and wellness versus a lively party scene—and my friends and I chose the latter. Our nights were filled with DJ sets, while our days revolved around relaxing beach clubs (think Cala Gracioneta and Duo), late lunches, and plenty of paella. While this portion of our trip to Spain was different in terms of activities, my wardrobe maintained its usual polish, simply shifting toward resortwear. During the day, I stuck to triangle bikinis paired with long sarongs or layered under maxi dresses. For evening outings, I put together two key looks: a sheer lace-trimmed midi dress accessorized with a beaded belt and kitten heels, and a lace top paired with a vintage, ruffled-hem Roberto Cavalli animal-print maxi skirt—which I rented from Isle of Monday, a rental platform specializing in rare, designer, and archival vintage pieces.
Shop the pieces I packed:
Monday Swimwear
Bari Bottom – Espresso – Espresso / Pp
Heaven Mayhem
Sloane Sunglasses
vix paula hermanny
Cloe Long Cover Up
vix paula hermanny
Firenze Harper T Back Tri Top
vix paula hermanny
Firenze Harper Bottom
The Row
Raffia Emilie Bag
Isle of Monday
Roberto Cavalli Ss 2002 Animal Print Skirt Set
