I Spent Two Weeks in Greece—Here's Everything I Packed and Wore

I will bravely admit it: Among my family and friends, I do not have a reputation for packing light. Just ask my long-suffering partner. As someone who is regularly guilty of going over my baggage allowance, I made the decision a while ago to make my next trip a well-planned one, and that would mean making sure that every item I packed would be entirely necessary and relatively light. Yes, I wanted to keep cool, but more importantly, I wanted to dodge the additional charge. 

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(Image credit: @remyfarrell)

It just so happened that my first vacation in three years would be a big one—15 days in fact—and before having a packing meltdown, I set about building a capsule wardrobe that would create as many outfits as possible with as few pieces as possible. (Although, you will have to allow me changes of shoes.) And for the first time ever, I perfected the formula for holiday dressing, and the secret is… swimwear. 

With a forecast of nearly 90 degrees every day, my main focus was pieces that would stay cool and look good, and it turned out that, with the exception of a couple of light and airy dresses, bikinis and one-piece swimsuits would form the basis of everything I wore. Whether paired with shorts, under skirts, or, of course, on their own, it turned out that all I would require in my case for a fortnight of island hopping would be a few changes of swimwear, cotton separates, a couple of cover-ups, and my favorite jewelry

Below are some of the looks I chose for my trip, with each piece able to mix and match with another. There's also a very handy scarf-styling tip for those extra low on space. So consider this a maximalist's guide on what to wear in Greece with minimal fuss.

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1. Exploring the City
(Image credit: WHO WHAT WEAR)

Style Notes: Is there anything more versatile than a light slip dress? I wear them throughout fall layered up under a chunky knit with knee-high boots, but summer is when they really come into their own. This bold-colored dress with ruching and tie details was the perfect option for an easy day-to-night outfit that kept me cool too. 

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2. A Day at the Beach
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Style Notes: It's official—the shirt-and-shorts coordinating set is the best thing to happen to our summer wardrobes since Birkenstocks. Not only does it make an easy cover-up straight off the beach, but it's also smart enough to wear back in the office. 

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(Image credit: @remyfarrell)

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3. The Ultimate Cover-Up
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Style Notes: Gone are the days of the basic caftan. Cover-ups are now so chic you'll want to wear them off the beach too. Amp up the drama in a billowy maxi that's light enough to keep you cool and looking good while doing it.

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(Image credit: @remyfarrell)

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4. Heading Out for Dinner
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Style Notes: If you also find dressing for muggy evenings difficult, allow me to suggest a one-shoulder dress. You can't beat this level of ventilation, and an asymmetric hem only makes it cooler (in every sense of the word). It's perfect for those special evenings when only dining al fresco will do. 

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(Image credit: @remyfarrell)

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5. Shopping in the Old Town
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Style Notes: You can save on space in your suitcase by getting creative with what you pack. One large silk scarf ended up being a headscarf, a top, and a neckerchief on this trip. The best part? It's light as a feather, so there's no need to worry about that baggage allowance. 

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(Image credit: @remyfarrell)

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6. At the Beach Bar
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Style Notes: The sun is setting, and whether I'm wrapping up my evening or just getting started, a breezy maxi dress is my vacation go-to. Wear with macramé accessories and beaded jewelry to channel a boho spirit with a polished edge. 

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(Image credit: @remyfarrell)

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Next: Zara Just Debuted a $70 Version of the $450 Shoes French Girls Love.

This post originally appeared on Who What Wear UK.

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Remy Farrell
Fashion Editor

Remy Farrell is a London-based shopping editor with nearly 10 years of editorial experience covering fashion, beauty and lifestyle. After graduating with a journalism degree and working on the editorial and fashion teams for titles such as Grazia, Elle, Cosmopolitan and British Vogue, she moved into the luxury e-commerce sector, working as fashion assistant at TheOutnet.com styling for the social media channels and helping to develop the collections for the in-house brand Iris & Ink. After expanding an assisting and styling portfolio that includes shooting talent such as Gigi Hadid, Victoria Beckham and Miquita Oliver, she also branched out into beauty, creating tried-and-tested reviews and diverse beauty content.In her role as shopping editor at Who What Wear, Remy is interested in discovering new and exciting brands to share with the Who What Wear readership and particularly loves uncovering hidden gems at affordable prices to make shopping accessible to everyone.Born and raised in Sheffield, Yorkshire, Remy moved to London in 2014 and lives in the Docklands with her partner and pug Billie.