Clothing for Women Summer London, Paris, Stockholm

First off, go to this website, enter each city and start monitoring the weather. then you can decide what to pack. These places are not the same as southern California! Even if the temperature is the same, they will probably be much more humid.

http://www.weather.com/

As for what to wear, sounds like you will be in cities mostly. Don't dress super casual. No shorts, or sweats! Capris are OK, nice jeans, skirts, not too many tank tops. And good walking shoes. Europeans don't dress as casually as Americans. There are thousands of postings on this site about what to wear and whether to worry about looking like a tourist or not(search for them). I opt for blending in a bit more with my surroundings.

In general, I would expect the weather where you are going to be a bit cooler temperature-wise than where you are in California. That said, weather is erratic, you'll probably be walking a lot, and there could be a bit of humidity in the air as opposed to dry-heat California.

I would just pack in layers and be ready for anything. We just got back not that long ago from a trip to Italy, Germany, and Scandinavia. It was hot and humid in Italy and Germany and rainy and colder some days in Copenhagen and Stockholm. I carried on luggage only and this is what I brought: 1 pair dark-wash jeans, 1 pair capris, 1 black wrinkle-free skirt, and 1 pair of black stretchy but nice-looking pants for the plane and train. I brought about 9 or 10 tops (more than some will recommend, but worked for me)-a mix of tank-tops, short-sleeved, and 1 long-sleeved shirt, 1 long-sleeved black sweater, 1 gray zip-up sweatshirt that I took on the plane, and 1 black zip up windbreaker. That gave me a good mix of casual and dressier for any kind of weather. For the coldest days, I just layered the long sleeved shirt, sweatshirt, and Helly Hansen windbreaker. The windbreaker was perfect because it was so tiny that it could fit in my day bag. I'd definitely recommend that to you take something similar if you're going to London and Stockholm.

For London, Amsterdam and Stockholm (haven't done Paris or Brussels) I do the following: Wear 1 pair and pack 2 cotton blend pants (make 1 capris if you like) in black or khaki. Wear 1 and take 3 or 4 solid Ts in red, black, cobalt or purple. Take 1 or 2 over-large ("big shirt") button-up to layer over Ts as a "dressy" jacket or for cooler days and/ or take 1 or 2 scarfs to dress up Ts. 1 windbreaker/rain shell. Underwear and comfortable socks. I wear black leather walking shoes and don't find the need for sandles/ect. The only change in winter is the Ts are long sleeved and/or turtle neck, add 1 sweater and make the windbreaker a heavier coat. I find jeans too heavy and hard to wash/dry. I don't do shorts here or there. Pick colors that are flattering to you. If everything "goes with" everything else, it is easy to layer.

Mindy, I was there 3 weeks ago, and the Paris humidity is not like ours in So Cal (I live in Fullerton). Even though the weather said 75 degrees, it felt 80.

I wore jean capri's which was fine in the AM, but once the sun came out by 11, I was very warm until 7 when it got cooler and not as hot. Mind you, the sun doesn't go down til 10:30. I also packed a skirt and light weight pants, but wished I did pack shorts. During the hot days, people wore shorts.

I don't know the weather in Amsterdam or Stockholm, but instead of a sweater, pack a lightweight windbreaker. Eddie Bauer at the Main Place mall had some great ones.

Right now Paris is having their sales until the end of July. You may be able to catch what's left. Also remember that if you do need something, just buy it there.

PM me if you want more info compared to our OC weather.

I wanted to post what my cousin, who lives in Brussels but is from US wrote to me, for others worried about the same issue:

Paris weather is much like here (not quite as much rain, but as far as the temp goes it's the same), which is 75 on a really nice day, rarely above that. Nights are chilly, especially for you, when you are used to such warm weather! Nights are usually 58-62 degrees and I never leave w/out a jacket or sweater at night, and use it 99% of the time. I think a pashmina would be perfect -- easy to pack, cozy but not too warm.

London is a few degrees cooler all around. Low 70s on the nicest of days and mid to upper 50s at night.

So, I never wear shorts. It was supposed to be about 76 today but it ended up only being 68 -- not uncommon as the cloud cover comes in and freezes us! Similar happenings in Paris and practically always in London.

We wear capris a lot, but even then I find my thong/flip flop sandal thingys that I am wearing make my feet cold a lot! (today that happened) I wore capris and a cami w/ a short-sleeved tunic over it and I was cold.

I think your split skirt is a great idea - my guess is that it's that wonderful, impossible to wrinkle, ribbed fabric, Bring that for sure, you won't regret it. You can dress them up, or make them really casual. Their perfect for your trip.

I also wear jeans a lot, and other full-length pants with closed-toe shoes (since oftentimes it's too cold for sandals).

I would bring both long and short-sleeved t's -- I know you are probably trying to scale back so you aren't hauling so much, but the bottom line is that layering is best here, and in London and Paris. The weather changes a lot even in one day and you could easily be sorry if you only have short sleeves.
I cannot stress GO LIGHT enough. you'll be miserable on and off trains and in and out of cabs with lots of heavy luggage. I promise you.