What I Packed (and Actually Wore) for Two Weeks in France: Paris, Burgundy & Provence in Late April–May

Those of you who know me know I am a bit of an obsessive travel planner ,spreadsheets, approximately forty browser tabs open at any given time. This time was different. I did not have the time to over obsess. So when Steve and I finally landed in Paris for the first leg of our two-week France road trip through Burgundy and Provence, I felt something close to a mild sense of panic. I planned this trip on a whim.I had packed one checked bag for two weeks across three very different regions in late April and May when the weather can be anything from a chilly Parisian drizzle to a sun-drenched Provençal afternoon with the “Mistral” doing its best to ruin your scarf situation. Did I get it exactly right? Mostly. Here’s everything I packed, what I actually wore, what earned its place in the bag, and the one thing I almost left home that I wore constantly. Let’s chat about What I Packed (and Actually Wore) for Two Weeks in France: Paris, Burgundy & Provence in Late April–May.

What I Packed (and Actually Wore) for Two Weeks in France: Paris, Burgundy & Provence in Late April–May

Why Packing for France in Late April and May Is Trickier Than You Think

Let me say something that every France packing list conveniently skips: late April into May is not one kind of weather. It’s three.

And while we’re being honest — I am not a fashion blogger in the traditional sense. I’m not hauling clothes to France that exist solely for Instagram. I am 71, I have foot issues, and I have long since graduated from dressing for a photo and then suffering for the rest of the day. What you see is what I actually wore. If you came here for glamour shots in cobblestone-friendly heel, I’m afraid you’ve got the wrong blog.

In Paris, you are looking at highs in the low 60s, overcast skies more often than not, and the kind of rain that arrives without warning and disappears just as quickly. In Burgundy, mornings can be genuinely cold, we’re talking sweater-and-jacket cold, even when the afternoons warm up beautifully. And Provence? Provence is sunshine and market mornings and lunches on terraces, but the Mistral wind is not a joke. It will arrive out of nowhere, knock your wine glass off the table, and make you very grateful you packed that extra layer.

Why One Checked Bag (and Not a Carry-On) Made Sense for This Trip

For two weeks across three regions, and a road trip where we were moving our bags in and out of rental cars and hotels, a carry-on would have been an exercise in misery. I wanted the real estate. I wanted options. And frankly, when you’re 70-something and traveling for two weeks through some of the most beautiful countryside in the world with unpredictable weather, I am glad I took the medium sized bag.

That said, a checked bag is only as smart as the edit you make. I packed with intention (mostly). The misses are coming up!

My France Packing List: What Actually Made the Bag

Bottoms

This is where I felt most confident, and looking back, I’d change almost nothing.

Twill Painter Pants-I wore these with my Zara blazer jacket as a set, with the purple sweater and the black sweater and more.

White denim jeans were my single most-worn item. I know , white jeans in France for two weeks sounds like a recipe for disaster. I am careful, any spots are easy to touch up, and there is something about a white jean in Paris that just works. I wore them with everything: sweaters, my blazer, various tops. They went from morning museum visits to evening dinners without complaint.

Dark jeans were the workhorse. Cooler days in Burgundy, rainy Paris afternoons, evenings where I wanted to feel pulled-together without trying too hard. If I had to pick one bottom to bring to France in spring, it would be dark jeans. Every time, without hesitation.

My Lily skirt was the romantic in the bag.the dress I packed for Provence and was right to. There is something about a great skirt that can be worn with a tee, sweater or a shirt that works.i I wore it less than the jeans, but I wore it twice out to dinner and could have worn it more.

Ruti travel pants were the sleeper hit. Lightweight, wrinkle-resistant, stylish enough to not look like travel pants, and comfortable enough to wear on a long driving day through Burgundy. If you don’t know Ruti, you need to. These pants are designed for exactly this kind of trip.

Tops and Layers

Three cotton pullover sweaters — one in a neutral and two in a slightly more interesting color did a lot of heavy lifting. They worked over my leopard dress on a cool evening in Paris, over a blouse on a cool morning, and on their own during warmer Provence afternoons. Easy, packable, endlessly useful.

My Zara blazer was, without question, the MVP of the trip. I wore it over everything, with a pair of utility pants as a set, with jeans, the Lily skirt, and the travel pants. It made casual outfits look intentional and dressier outfits feel relaxed. If you are packing for France and you do not have a blazer in the bag, reconsider. The French wear them constantly and with good reason.

I also brought a handful of tops, a denim, and two cotton versions of the same shirt from BR, — a couple of blouses, a black Michael Stars tee, and an interesting blouse for interest. A few basic layers that rotated through depending on the day. The key was that everything worked with everything else. No orphans.

My scarves were the hero element.

They don’t take up much real estate and worked wonders on transforming the outfits.

A trench coat was my outer layer for plane travel and rainy days Light enough not to be a burden, polished enough to feel appropriate everywhere. Worth every inch of luggage space.

Shoes: The Honest Truth

I brought four pairs of shoes, and this is where the mixed verdict comes in.

Sneakers were the right call and I wore them constantly. Cobblestones are relentless. Paris is a walking city. Burgundy involves uneven terrain around wine caves and village streets. Comfortable, stylish sneakers are non-negotiable, and I will not apologize for mine.

Low-heeled boots were the rainy day shoe and earned their spot completely. Paris was chilly and Provence had rain . The boots were waterproof enough, comfortable enough to walk in, and polished enough to wear to dinner. Good investment.

Loafers barely came out of the bag. I thought I would wear them constantly but between the sneakers, flip flops and the boots, I never really needed them. They were the polite houseguest who never quite relaxed. Next time I would swap them for a second, more versatile sandal or leave them home entirely.

Flip flops are a necessity for me as my right heel blisters easily. They were not the stylish sandal I could have packed, but they were leather and backless (a necessity for my skin grafted skin)By the time we hit the warmer days in the Luberon, I was wishing for something a bit more stylish.

If I’m being honest: three pairs would have been enough. Sneakers, boots, and one good sandal. The loafers were the lesson (that’s me dealing with my foot issues).

Accessories-the scarves saved me from boredom!

You can’t take too many scarves they transform every outfit and take up no space. Jewelry I kept to a minimum, machete tortoise earrings & bracelet, and a pair silver hoops. Handbags-one travel friendly from Lo & Sons, and a tote for the plane.

Travel Days

This photo is not exactly flattering. We walked to the Louvre fresh off our 14 hour plane ride before we were able to check in to our hotel.

I always wear the same outfit going and coming. This trip was no different.

What I Wore in Paris

Paris in late April is a city in the best possible mood, flowers on every corner, café terraces filling up, that particular golden light in the late afternoon that makes everything look like a painting. What it is not is warm. I dressed in layers every single day.

My uniform for Paris was largely: dark jeans or white jeans, a blouse or sweater, the Zara blazer, the Natalie Martin dress, and the trench when rain threatened. Sneakers for daytime museum-hopping and walking the Marais; boots for evenings. A scarf always.

The casual Zara blazer was the piece that made everything feel Parisian. I am convinced it is the single most important item you can pack for a Paris trip in any season.

What I Wore in Burgundy

The Ruti travel pants were made for Burgundy. We were navigating uneven village streets, sitting at long leisurely lunches in small restaurants where no one was in any hurry and neither were we. Comfortable, stylish, not a wrinkle in sight. The white jeans also worked hard here , they were just the right weight for the cooler mornings and evenings.

What I Wore in Provence

Provence is where the bag finally made sense in its entirety. It rained in Bonnieux, and the weather was beautiful in L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, as well as Chataneuf du Pop. The Lily skirt came out for a visit. The sneakers stayed, but the flip flops got their moment in the sun,antiquing, literally.

Provence in May is not hot, exactly, but it is warm and it calls for lighter things. Market mornings in L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, lunch terraces in Bonnieux, long golden evenings with a glass of local rosé, this is the context for which the more romantic pieces in the bag were packed, and they delivered.

Dinner at the wonderful Campelongue resort.

The Mistral, however, did show up. And when it did, I was back in the sweater or blazer. Pack the layers even for Provence. You will need them. I am sure if we were two weeks later the sweaters would have been a moot point.

Rainy day at Campelongue

The Honest Edit: Wins, Misses, and What I’d Do Differently

The wins: White denim jeans, dark jeans, Ruti travel pants, the Zara blazer, the two cotton sweaters, the trench, the low-heeled boots, the sneakers. Every single one of these earned its place.

The misses: The loafers, which barely saw daylight. The flip flops, which were too casual (even though I wore them a lot) I would replace both with one really good sandal ,something backless with a little more style that still works for walking.

What I wished I’d packed: Not much. And perhaps one more shirt or blouse. Towards the end I felt like I was rotating through the same tops, which is fine, but a little more variety would have been nice.

What I’d leave home: Loafers and the quilted jacket that took up too much space that I never wore.

A Few Final Thoughts on Packing for Two Weeks in France

Two weeks across three French regions in one checked bag is absolutely doable, and I would do it the same way again, with a few edits. The key is building a wardrobe that travels in all directions: from cool Paris mornings to warm Provence afternoons, rainy days, from wine cave visits in Burgundy to evening dinners wherever the road takes you.

France in late April and May is one of the great travel experiences. Pack for the France you are actually going to, varied, layered, occasionally unpredictable and you will be fine. If I were travelling a few weeks later I could have packed a carry on.

Now tell me: are you planning a France trip? I want to hear about it in the comments. And if you want to know where we stayed across all three regions, that post is coming soon.

Further Reading:

What to Pack and Wear in Paris in Late April – La vie on Grand

What French Women Over 60 Actually Wear-I Just Spent Two Weeks in France

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