Best walking shoes, purse type bag, clothes for a 30year old female

When will you be there and where are you going? Regardless of season, I wear all black. I don't pack more than a week's worth as there's no way anyone will know and black hides wear very well. As far as shoes go, I have a pair of Cole Haan boots with the Nike soles that I just keep having re-soled. I wear men's dress socks with them and walk 15 miles a day with no blisters. They have a somewhat high heel and a stack and look great with skirts and skinny jeans. I wear my other good ones on the plane so I don't have to pack them and wear them when I can suck it up for a night on the town. As far as a travel purse, I have a nylon Prada backpack that weighs nothing and holds everything and passes for a purse too so I don't always have to check it in museums. You can find both online. I don't do the money belt thing, but I might have just been lucky this past decade too.

Shoes - A lot of people here swear by Merrills and/or Keens. I got some Allegria's to prepare for my next trip - it's like walking on memory foam so I don't think they'll need much breaking in. My niece (Lives in Vienna) tells me leggings and boots, and sundresses with capri or regular length leggings (leggings prevent chafing - this can be very important) is a popular look for the younger set. Messenger bags are absolutely great - there is a great deal of security in something worn cross-body, especially when the opening is facing down, against the body. I sometimes use a money belt - depending on where I am. In Germany and Austria No. Leslie is spot on about black being a great color for travel. What you have to do is wear what is comfortable for YOU; what others here do is of no consequence if it isn't YOU or doesn't fit YOUR lifestyle and itinerary. By the way OLDER -is about age 80+, thank you very much ;-)

My wife isn't 30 anymore but most people guess she's that age. She works at Old Navy so she generally wears casual clothes in that style. Her shoes last trip were sketchers bicycle style shoes (with cords instead of laces). She loved them. They were comfortable and really took a lot of walking without showing wear and tear. She typically wears either shorts, a skirt or capris and matches them with tank tops, tees and a couple of light sweaters. She also packs a waterproof rain shell. Our last trip included a cruise so she also packed a black dress and pumps for dressing up. If it wasn't a cruise, she would have probably added a more colorful dress and shoes for dressing up when needed.

Hi Carmen. I just turned 30 a couple weeks ago (OMG!) so I'm qualified to answer your question. :) For shoes, I take 2 pairs of really well broken in athletic shoes - currently New Balance and Pumas. I do get blisters but after a few days they stop hurting. When are you going to Europe and where will you be? I'm a die-hard jeans person but on my trip to Germany last summer, when it was about 95 degrees every day for 2 weeks in July, I brought shorts (Mossimo, Target, $17 each) and was SO GLAD I did. I don't usually buy clothes just for traveling - except for last year, I bring jeans, shirts, shoes, jacket, etc. that I wear at home. Pay attention to the weather where you'll be (you can look up world cities on weather.com in advance of your trip) and pack accordingly. If you get hot easily like I do, or if you tend to get cold, pack for your comfort level. I have a travel purse that I bring on every trip. It's a cross-body purse that isn't too big but has lots of pockets for a map, water bottle, daily money, notebook and pen, camera, and other things I use every day during my trip.

Hi - I always check out the street fashion blogs on the web for the places I will be visiting to see what girls are wearing there. That gives me great ideas for what to bring. I like to bring Born sandals (in the summer), they are comfortable with cushioned, flexible soles and they look cute and not too much like "Hello, I am a sturdy, unattractive walking shoe" (LOL!). I bring a couple pairs to switch off and this will be my third trip this summer with them, very comfortable. I also bring a pair of flat gladiator sandals for going out at night and a pair of flip flops for the hotel room and beach. Like the other poster here, I also stick to black and toss in some gray and cream Ts and cotton/gauzy scarves to coordinate. Black capri tights are great under shorter skirts as they keep your legs warm since it can get chilly even in the summer in northern Europe. I noticed over my past two trips that a lot of girls wear dark skinny jeans and sometimes cuff the bottoms. Have fun packing!

I started traveling in my 30s - in my 40s now but my travel dress hasn't changed too much - always have the money belt but have a nice larger black leather purse that can be worn cross body to carry all my other stuff. Black is your friend but pack some bright scarves for some color pop - they are great when the wind kicks up, can be used in a variety of ways (belt, headband, neck, purse strap) and are good cover ups for bare shoulders when visiting churches. I have worn Born shoes, Pikalino shoes and sandals, and Merrills (more for hiking) and comfortable clogs/mules - but they have to be comfortable with no "breaking in" period before I'll take them since I walk 10 - 13 miles/day. No tennis shoes for me - don't like the look and they get hot. I don't wear shorts traveling in Europe - had some bad experiences with them drawing unwanted attention from men in Europe. Bring some Body Glide if wearing sandals to avoid blisters. I try to bring some bright wrinkle free blouses (love the look of wrinkle free white blouses) & t-shirts and lightweight jewelry. A skirt can be a nice option. Jeans take too long to dry so I like chino type pants (4 pair of pants). A longer blazer, riding coat, longer thin sweater can provide warmth and dress things up in an instance. Anything packed must be worn four times minimum whether I'm gone for two weeks or a month. Layering is key for weather. Have a great time!

Thanks ladies! I am going this summer mid June to July. And by older I meant those dated walking shoes. I really want sandals. I am going to get a few pairs to try and break in. I am hoping to fit everything in a carry on. Do you think this is possible? I also am going to take an empty tote that I can put things in on the way back and check one bag.

Sandals are fine, as long as you are sure you can walk a lot in them. I take 2 pair for summer travel, as even broken in ones can rub your feet wrong in the heat. My favorites, from trips to Italy and Sapin last summer and this spring, as the Dansko Capri series sandals. They are not clogs, but have a good base for walking combined with a stripy sandal top. Look for the ones starting with a C, like Carmen, Caroline, Ceres, Colette, Calliope, or Calypso.

Some crucial questions that would affect the answers: Where are you going, when are you going, and what do you plan to do? Visiting an Alpine resort in the winter would imply a completely different wardrobe than, lets say, exploring churches and museums in Paris in the summer.

I always bring two pairs of sandals for summer trips. I like brands like Ecco & Naot. Surely you already have a pair of sandals that you can walk around in living in Houston. My daughter wore athletic flip flops (i.e. Merrell) but I like a strap on the back. And a lightweight purse that can be worn cross body is a great choice - don't start out with a leather one with lots of "hardware" - with water bottle, guidebook and camera/phone it will get heavier faster. For clothes - think summer skirts - they are lightweight so you can pack more of them. I usually bring 4 bottoms (maybe 1 pair of capris) and up to 7-8 tops. Again, summer clothes are lighter so while this may sound like a lot it is still what I can pack in a carryon and carry by myself (the true test). You don't say where you are going or what you are doing but know that Italian churches require covered shoulders & knees (bring a light sweater to throw over any tank tops) and only bring one pair of jeans if you can't live without them and you'll be somewhere cool enough (NOT Spain or Italy) to wear them. No, I'm not 30 but I've been packing this way since my first trip at 19 and my daughter (mid 20's) does the same.

So we're gearing up to leave TOMORROW for Paris! Can't wait! I'm with you on wanting something comfortable that doesn't date you. I got some really cute gladiator sandals from Ugg (Mayla Sandals I believe in chocolate). Super cute, but has good foot support and are comfortable. I also got walking shoes from Merrill (the charm shoes in saddle). They're simple enough to wear with pants but can dress up nicely. Either way, make sure you try them on beforehand so you know they fit your well and wear them around as much as possible before you take off so they're borken in and any spots that rub your feet get worked out. For clothes, I shopped REI (for some good outdoor pants) and Old Navy. I opted for lots of color (because I like color and all black, especially in the summer does not sound like my idea of fun). I went for solid colored tank tops, t shirts and cardigans that I could easily mix and match. For bottoms I got a pair of khaki colored pants, capris and shorts, and a super cute but comfy chocolate colored jersey skirt. All my tops easily pair up with the bottoms and I brought along some cute accessories (colorful scarves, long beaded necklaces, earrings) to easily dress things up. I know a lot of gals also pack in leggings and tunics which are super cute too. I got a simple purse (because frankly I don't want to draw any more attention to my purse). It's from pacsafe (city safe 200 travel purse). Not as cute as the bag I carry around at home, but beyond functional with some safety features that add peace of mind. I got the grape color which is more of a really pretty eggplant in person.

I forgot to mention: I used the RS packing list, but d the attire to stuff I would actually wear. Following those guidelines, plus an extra cardigan, and a few extra tops, I was able to easily fit everything into my carryone with plenty of room to spare. I think you'll do fine!

Though I'm a bit over 30, I didn't want to wear tennis shoes or something else fugly when we go to England, Scotland and Wales next month. I've purchased two pairs of Clarks Un.Glare (http://www.6pm.com/clarks-un-glare-black-croc-print) one in the black patent croc print shown here and one in Navy. Which I've been breaking in over the last two months. Last weekend, I gave them the "acid test" during a 4 day conference that I was organizer of, and standing/walking/running over hard concrete and tile floors for 12 hours a day. They worked beautifully! Great support, non-skid soles, and the straps are adjustable so that I could loosen if my feet swelled up. They looked great with pants and skirts, and I got a lot of compliments on the patent croc print ones. As far as clothes, I'm going to follow Rick's guidelines, but am going to focus more on color as others have noted here: a denim skirt, khaki skirt, and floral skirt; 5 tshirts in various colors; leggings; bike shorts to wear under skirts for extra layer & prevent chafing; sweater and a short rain jacket. For a purse I'm likely to use Rick's Civita Shoulder Bag we bought for our teenager last year, which she used all over England and France. The pic's on Rick's webstore show it as all puffy...but that's fully packed! I plan to use it for everything--Camera, guidebooks, daily cash purse, etc.. Plus a money belt to keep credit cards, passport, etc.

Carmen,
A 3 week trip - what fun! By mid week 2 you'll be thinking Europe is home and Houston was just a dream. You can easily do 3 weeks with a carry-on (22" roll-aboard is my choice) plus a generous sized second bag that my purse (whatever kind you like that won't make your shoulder ache by the end of the day) fits inside of along with toiletries and computer/electronic/camera gear. Take minimum toiletries, you can get more over there. If there is any medical or non-medical product you can't live without, take some of it since there is a chance you might not find it there. You've had lots of good advice on shoes but I take 2 pairs of sandals that I know I can walk all day in, one closed pair of comfy shoes in case of rainy days (worn on the plane to save packing space), and one strappy/dressy pair (they don't take much space tucked along the inside of the suitcase) in case we go to a club or I want to dress up for dinner. I used to stick to basic black with some colored tees, but now I take what I want and make sure I can wash & dry it easily & it can be worn several ways. In the summer you will see people from everywhere in every sort of clothing. The key is layers. France, Germany, northern Italy, etc. can get pretty cool even in June. If you will be in any big cities you will probably be happier in more urban/polished silhouettes. Leave a little room in your bag to pick up a couple of cute things while you are there. Also, in one of those little zippered pockets that I don't use inside my suitcase I stick a lightweight nylon duffle bag (the kind that folds down to a 3 or 4" flat square but opens up big).I fill it up with my dirty clothes the last part of the trip to make room for souvenirs in my carry-on. The duffle can be checked for the flight home and my treasures are safe with me.

Carmen,
Definitely bring a pair of athletic shoes and socks (especially if your other shoes give you blisters, and for rainy days). I usually travel in the summer with a pair of Fit Flops. They're not the cutest flip flops, but they are absolutely the most comfortable - good arch support and completely fine to walk in for miles and miles (though i'd break them in for about a week first). For a bag, I'd suggest one with a cross-body strap and a zip closure, and also a flap over the sipper closure if possible...those are the most difficult to steal/pickpocket from. i never had a problem with that when i was in italy last year, but i have friends that did encounter theifs. Also, leggings were all the rage when i was there, so when i head back out in two weeks (YAY) i'm bringing plenty of leggings and tunic/t-shirt dresses that can be worn with or without the leggings, depending on the weather, as well as a couple of pairs of jeans. i'll also be throwing in a few cardigans and a light jacket in the event of chilly nights. Have fun!

Spent 28 days last fall traveling in Europe, used one carry on and it worked out perfectly. We sent laundry out from our hotel a great big batch of clothes was picked up, washed , ironed (even the socks!), and brought back the next morning for $17 US--cant beat that.

I spent 2 months in Italy with just a pair of Keen sandals for footware. It worked out fine. A couple of pair of capris, 4 light blouses and a jacket and you're good to go. It's easy to either wash a few things in the sink or send out your laundry every few days. It's worth it to travel light.