A few months ago, my sister found a great deal on a flight to Ireland and decided I would be joining her and a friend on the trip. Despite the rain and wind in the forecast, I’m really looking forward to exploring a new place. I’ve never been to Ireland before and I do enjoy traveling with this crew so it should be a great time.
I got really positive feedback on my Portugal packing guide post from earlier this summer so I thought I’d prep one for Ireland, too. Our itinerary includes a couple day excursions for sightseeing, exploring Dublin, and a few beer and whiskey tastings. My approach to packing really centers around staying warm and dry. According to my sister-in-law, who lived in Ireland for a couple years, the wind can be particularly nasty in winter. Turning into a popsicle while trying to tourist is not a good look.
However, because Iceland Air has firm sizing restrictions for baggage and I hate checking luggage, I‘m keying in on a few quality items that I know will be perfect for this weather. That way, I can use my smallest carry-on to pack extra light.
This is my thinking – I’ll need smart base layers, cozy sweaters and sweatshirts, some trusty rain gear, and comfy shoes. I’m sticking to a simple color palette of basically just black and plan to use pops of bold lip color and a couple bright accessories to keep things fun. I think this approach would work pretty well for all chilly, wet climates.
So here’s a rundown of items I’ll be packing for my trip. As an added Thanksgiving bonus, a ton of these item are on deep discount this weekend!! Happy shopping!
All the Essentials
Rebecca Minkoff Rain Boots – When I took the photos for this blog post, these were an obvious choice for footwear. As we’ll be sightseeing and touring on rainy days, the fleece-lined rain boots seemed perfect. In reality, I’m swapping these out for the Cole Haan Waterproof Rain Boots (featured below) that I just picked up.
Spanx Camo Faux Leather Leggings – After my trip to Portugal this summer, these leggings became part of my travel uniform. Super comfy, chic, and very flattering, these are worth a try. This weekend, Nordstrom is price-matching 20% off.
Patagonia Better Sweater – I initially wanted to take my Patagonia Re-tool Snap Fleece (which I LOVE!), but with my raincoat over the top, the fit is just a bit too snug. Instead, I picked up a Better Sweater – still warm, but with a better fit under my coat. Scope out Backcountry for 30% off-regular priced items.
Patagonia Baselayer – My sister has been worrying about the weather in Ireland for weeks now and finally convinced me to pick up a long-sleeve base layer for warmth. This one is simple and easy, plus I picked it up on sale! 30% off at Backcountry this weekend.
Everlane Mock Cashmere Sweater – In the future, my winter wardrobe will consist of nothing but these delightful cashmere sweaters. I love them. And while this sweater isn’t on sale, Everlane is donating $13 from every order placed to beach cleanups, so that’s pretty awesome.
BP Side Slit Long-sleeve Tee – Perfect for layering and a bargain on sale for $15.
American Eagle High-waist Jeggings – AE seriously makes some of my favorite jeans, these are so flatting and comfortable. Snap some of these up ASAP because everything at AE is 40% off this weekend.
Fjallraven ‘Kanken’ 16L Backpack – This backpack was a must have for me on because it’s water resistant and super durable. It’ll pull double duty as my personal item on the plane as well as my day bag during tours and excursions.
Athleta Funnel Sweatshirt – My absolute favorite piece of loungewear, this sweatshirt is so good, I’m packing two for the trip. This exact version isn’t available anymore, but there’s a sherpa one that I might have to pick up immediately!
Zella Live-in High Waist Leggings – I feel like it’s smart to always travel with a pair of basic black leggings because they’re so versatile – wear on the plane, wear to bed, whatever you need. And you can’t go wrong with these Zella leggings. With more than five thousand reviews and almost a perfect 5-star rating, they’re clearly a good buy and a great value (under $60!).
Nordstrom Cashmere Pashmina – My favorite pashminas are the in-house Nordstrom brand. They last forever and are so freaking soft.
Amazon Kindle Paperwhite – My favorite way to pass time on a long flight is to get lost in a great book so my Kindle is already loaded with Becoming by Michelle Obama; I can’t wait to get started. Kindles are on sale this weekend for $80.
Fuzzy Socks – These cozies are a must for overnight flight and for chilly nights in the hotel room.
Travel Beauty Must Haves
Drunk Elephant Rise + Glow and NightBright duos – These are the best travel companions because nothing wrecks my skin like changing up my routine. Plus, even with every day use, they last a surprising long time.
Glossier Priming Moisturizer – I choose these samples every time I place a Glossier order so now, I can save a bit of space in my liquids bag!
Glossier Invisible Shield Sunscreen – even if I go a day without makeup, I NEVER go a day without sunscreen. This is my favorite SPF on the market and I buy this in multiples. Get my fave moisturizer and SPF for 20% off this weekend!
Laura Mercier Oil-Free Tinted Moisturizer – I’ve written so much about this so you know I can’t travel without this. Perfect for evening out skin tone without feeling heavy.
NARS Lippies – matte lip crayons in Cruella and Dragon Girl, and lipstick in Shrinagar – as I mentioned above, these beauties will be pretty pops of color against my nearly all-block wardrobe.
Last-Minute Additions
Cole Haan GrandExpløre Shearling Waterproof Hiker Boots – Okay I’m not gonna lie, these boots were kinda, sorta an impulse purchase. I’d had my eye on them for a while and happened by the Cole Haan store on an impromptu mall run. I walked into the store not planning to buy them, but after trying them on, I was done. They are so light, so warm, and it legit feels like you’re walking on air. These are a bargain at 30% off this weekend. Available at Cole Haan with Nordstrom price-matching.
Amazon Fleece Leggings – I read an article about the best-rated leggings available on Amazon, which led me to these. Soft and oh so warm, at only $12, they’re a steal!
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