What I'd Pack Again for the South of France

Written By Manon Clerc

After spending a month in France, including two weeks back home in the South of France, I came home with an even greater appreciation for the pieces that made packing feel simple. These are the wardrobe staples I'd happily pack again, along with a few beautiful discoveries that found their way into my suitcase before I returned to California.

How I Build My Travel Wardrobe

Whenever I'm packing for France, I start with the same question.

Will everything in my suitcase work together?

Rather than planning individual outfits, I build my wardrobe around a cohesive color palette and pieces I already know I love wearing. For this trip, that meant soft shades of cream, white, light denim, chocolate brown, natural linen, and warm tan leather, making it easy to mix and match everything I packed.

When I arrived in the South of France, the first few days were cool enough for jeans, a lightweight sweater, and my trench coat. Before long, warmer afternoons had me reaching for dresses, linen, and lighter layers instead.

Because everything in my suitcase worked together from the beginning, I never felt like I had packed for the wrong weather or wished I'd brought different pieces. Getting dressed each morning felt simple, whether I was heading into Pézenas, meeting family for lunch, or spending the afternoon exploring.

The Wardrobe That Worked

Lightweight dresses became the foundation of my wardrobe throughout the trip. Comfortable on warm afternoons and easy to dress up or down with a simple change of shoes or handbag, they carried me from family lunches to afternoons wandering through Pézenas and evenings spent outside.

On the days I wasn't wearing a dress, I almost always reached for linen. A pair of linen trousers with a lightweight shirt or simple top became my favorite combination for warmer afternoons, giving me a comfortable alternative while fitting seamlessly into the rest of my wardrobe.

Together, those pieces carried me effortlessly from the cooler spring days at the beginning of my trip into the warmer weeks that followed. If I were packing for the South of France again tomorrow, every one of them would find their way back into my suitcase.

I've linked some of the pieces I packed below, along with a few similar options in case any of my favorites are currently sold out.

The Shoes That Earned Their Spot

One of my favorite things about the South of France is that you're almost always walking somewhere.

Most days started with one plan before naturally turning into another. Coffee became shopping, shopping became lunch, and lunch usually ended with taking the long way home through the village. Comfortable shoes are one of the most important things you'll pack for the South of France.

For this trip, I packed a small rotation of shoes I already knew I loved wearing, and together they covered just about everything. My Margaux Demi ballet flats became my favorite choice for wandering through Pézenas, lunches with family, and days when I wanted something polished yet comfortable. If you're curious about my experience with the Margaux Demi ballet flats, I also shared a dedicated review covering the fit, comfort, and how they performed after weeks of walking throughout France.

My Veja sneakers came with me on longer walks and travel days, while my Freda Salvador Sera fisherman sandals became my favorite choice for family lunches, grabbing drinks, and afternoons when I wanted something a little more elevated.

I also packed my Les Tropeziennes brown leather slides, which have been a staple in my wardrobe since I brought them home from France several years ago. They were another easy pair to reach for on relaxed afternoons and casual outings. My Tkees flip-flops were the pair I reached for around the house, quick errands, and slower mornings.

One of my favorite discoveries from the trip was a simple pair of gold sandals by Les Petites Bombes, which I found while shopping in Pézenas. They've become one of my favorite souvenirs from the trip, and every time I wear them, I'm reminded of that afternoon. While the brand doesn't currently ship internationally, they're exactly the kind of local discovery I love bringing home from France.

I wouldn't change a single pair I packed. Each one had its own purpose, and together they made getting dressed feel effortless, no matter where the day happened to lead. I’ve linked them here and below along with some similar options I’m currently loving.

The European Handbags I Packed

Packing handbags is always one of my favorite parts of preparing for France.

Since discovering European handbag brands is one of my favorite parts of what I do, I packed a handful of favorites that I already knew would work beautifully with the cohesive wardrobe I'd planned before leaving California.

My Basket Bag Find in the South of France

I also came home with a basket bag from the French brand Sovani, which I discovered in a local boutique in Pézenas. While I haven't been able to find this exact style online, I've shared some of my favorite European basket bags below, along with my guide to 17 Woven Totes & Baskets if you're looking for something similar.

Leaving Room for Local Discoveries

One of the best packing decisions I made before leaving California wasn't something I packed at all. It was leaving a little extra room in my suitcase.

No matter how carefully I plan my wardrobe before a trip home, I always know I'll discover something along the way. This time, many of my favorite finds came from the boutiques in Pézenas.

One afternoon, a butter yellow backless top hanging outside a boutique stopped me in my tracks. I walked in planning to try on just the top, but it didn't take long before the matching trousers came with me too. While I was there, I also discovered a long pink linen dress, a beautifully tailored black set, and a short flowy black dress from Grace & Mila that I couldn't leave behind.

A few days later, I was walking through Pézenas with my little brother on our way to grab a drink when another boutique caught my eye. A soft yellow linen dress displayed on the mannequin was too beautiful to leave behind.

I tried it on, loved it instantly, and walked out wearing it instead of the outfit I'd arrived in. I also found the perfect pair of cream denim from Oraije, a timeless staple that has already become one of my favorite additions to my wardrobe.

Moments like those are exactly why I never pack my suitcase to the brim before a trip home.

Because I had built my wardrobe around a cohesive color palette before leaving California, every new piece fit effortlessly with what I'd already packed. Instead of feeling like separate purchases, they immediately became part of the wardrobe I'd been wearing throughout the trip.

While not every boutique ships internationally, I've linked the brands and pieces I was able to find below if you'd like to discover them for yourself! You can also discover more about my hometown shopping here.

Packing Tips for the South of France

After unpacking from this trip, these are the packing decisions I'd happily make again.

  • Start with a cohesive color palette. Choosing pieces that naturally work together gives you far more outfit combinations without packing more.

  • Pack for changing temperatures. Spring in the South of France often begins with cool mornings before giving way to warm, sunny afternoons, so a lightweight layer like a trench coat or sweater is always worth bringing.

  • Choose breathable fabrics. Lightweight dresses, linen, and cotton made getting dressed feel effortless from late spring into summer.

  • Bring shoes you already know are comfortable. The South of France is best explored on foot, whether you're wandering through village streets, browsing local boutiques, or lingering over lunch on a sunny terrace.

  • Pack the handbags you genuinely love carrying. If they already work beautifully with your wardrobe at home, they'll work just as effortlessly throughout your trip.

  • Plan ahead if shopping is part of your trip. If discovering French brands and local boutiques is on your itinerary, think about how you'll bring everything home before you leave. Whether that means leaving extra room in your suitcase or planning to check a second bag for your return flight, a little planning makes bringing home your favorite finds much easier.

Final Thoughts

One of my favorite things about returning home to the South of France is that every trip leaves me with something new.

Sometimes it's a beautiful piece discovered in a local boutique. Other times, it's simply a greater appreciation for the wardrobe I already own.

This trip reminded me that thoughtful packing isn't about bringing more. It's about choosing pieces you'll genuinely enjoy wearing, building a wardrobe that works together effortlessly, and leaving just enough room for the unexpected.

That's exactly what this wardrobe did. It carried me from cool spring mornings to warm afternoons, from family lunches to afternoons wandering through Pézenas, while making it easy to welcome a few beautiful new discoveries along the way.

Looking for more finds? You might also be interested in:

With Amour,

M.

Manon Clerc
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