Full disclosure: did not expect to be doing any kind of fashion travel advice but since my post on what to wear as a girl travelling to North Macedonia is now one of my top posts, I thought I’d give it a go and dive deeper into the packing/fashion side of travel.
First of all: my two requirements for any clothes are either practical or pretty and preferably both. However, especially when travelling more out of a touristy area or into foreign countries, there is always the need to be respectful of local customs – which often means not wearing the mamma-mia inspired bikini-top and flowy trousers outfits. But they can always be saved for the Greek beaches.
In terms of travelling the Balkans, it DOES vary by country and place on what you can wear without drawing attention but still looking good. For example, I think I kept my shoulders and knees permanently covered in Serbia but in the more touristy towns of Montenegro I was happily in shorts with bare shoulders. For that reason, I’ll do a post on each country to put in a bit more depth however this should give you an overview of some outfit styles me and my friends found perfect for the Balkans – and summer travel in general.
Top and Long Skirt
You cannot underestimate how many times I’ve worn this skirt and how many different pairings of tops I’ve used. What’s perfect is that it suits the weather and you can put on black and white tops of varying styles to suit the vibe of the day and the country – whether you want to cover your shoulders with a cover up or long sleeve or simply put on a crop top. This skirt was worn at least twice/three times a week and I think I only repeated full outfits a few times over six weeks away.
This is an absolute staple outfit for me and one that I think I will keep wearing in every continent I can – so easy, so light and packs so small.
Long, Loose Trousers and Tops
Again – grab the trousers and vary the tops! I tend to go with coloured trousers and then have a mix of black and white (and some blue) tops to rotate. Trousers are great again as they’re loose, stops you from getting sunburnt and works in a bit more conservative areas too – very easy to just tie a pashmina round your shoulders but a bit harder to cover your knees if you’re in shorts.
Shorts and a Microfibre/Sports Top
If you’re hiking while you’re in the Balkans (and if you’re in Albania and miss the Albanian Alps what are you even doing?) a sports top and shorts is a great idea. Your top half is covered but you can also walk in shorts if that’s your preference. Photo below for reference. And yes – go to Albania and hike. Genuinely some of the best travel advice I could give you.
So I’ll try to start getting updated with some for each country so you’ve got a bit more specific info before you go. If you’re going to North Macedonia – you’re in luck, that one’s written. As I write more I’ll link them here too! The Balkans is one of my favourite places to travel to and I’m aware it’s a little bit less travelled than say Italy or Spain so there are a few more things to keep in mind. However, it’s stunning, plenty of adventure, such nice people I would encourage everyone who can to take a trip there.
