wear this there: what to pack for amsterdam in the fall and early winter
~
i’ve been to amsterdam twice. most recently in late october and before that in early january. i don’t think there’s ever a bad time to experience this beautiful city, you just need to be prepared for the weather, so i’ve put together a style guide on what to pack for a trip to amsterdam in the fall or early winter. if you’re going later in the winter, check out my full winter style guide for amsterdam, paris, and london here.
amsterdam style is really interesting. it’s definitely got a street style minimalist, chic/hipster vibe. generally, it’s not too colorful, at least in the fall and winter. people wear a lot of black and neutrals and it’s a little more casual than some other major european cities like paris and london. of course the dutch city is full of diverse styles and looks, but the two most common themes are hipster/grunge 90’s vibe and classic, minimalist chic.
most of the looks i packed for my trip to amsterdam leaned more toward the latter and i felt like i fit right in, but i do regret not bringing another grunge/90’s look, just to change things up a bit.
here’s my complete guide for what to pack for amsterdam in the fall and early winter.
my wardrobe color palette for amsterdam was all neutrals, consisting of black, camel, grey, and white. i love packing this type of color palette because you can mix and match things so easily. i made sure my outfits didn’t get too boring by mixing in different textures and patterns, like leather, of the moment fuzzy sherpa, and leopard.
you should definitely be prepared for rain anytime of year when you visit amsterdam. i already had cute non-rain coats planned in my head for each outfit, so instead i just brought a small umbrella and had it with me at all times and made sure to have at least one pair of waterproof boots/shoes. luckily, both times we were there it barely rained!
ok, so here is everything that i packed for amsterdam in the fall
black leather paperbag shorts
these shorts are one of my favorite purchases for fall/winter 2019. the leather skirt is out in 2019/2020 and has been replaced by leather shorts. they look super chic paired with tights or knee high boots for colder weather and are perfect for amsterdam.
for my first look, i paired the leather shorts with with a black sweater, and black tights. to add a little flair i swapped out the belt that came with the shorts for the gucci gg belt, threw on a leopard beret, but kept the look a little more street style/tough by wearing it with combat boots. i topped it off with a cozy camel teddy bomber for warmth and to add another textural dimension to the look.
black leather shorts: part two
for my second look with the shorts, i paired them with a chunky grey turtleneck sweater and black knee high boots with a heel. i had just gotten these boots before my trip and desperately wanted to wear them even though i knew they really weren’t very practical for amsterdam. i only wore them out to dinner and not for walking around much because 1) it’s hard to walk on the wet cobblestone in heels and 2) you feel a little out of place wearing heels in general in amsterdam. instead of heeled boots, i recommend still wearing a pair of knee high boots, but sans the heel or opt for a small heel like many of the trendy western styles. to make sure i stayed warm in this outfit, i wore it with my long wool, camel coat and felt perfectly fine temperature wise in this look.
leather joggers
another one of my favorite pieces for fall/winter this year is a pair of leather joggers. i am wearing them on repeat and they are perfect to wear in amsterdam in the fall and for winter too, because they keep you super warm! they’re also comfortable but still look chic and stylish. plus they’re super versatile. i wore them twice on the trip (but accidentally only captured one outfit). you can keep it casual with a black sweatshirt and sneakers or dress them up a little with a feminine blouse and booties or combat boots. definitely a must need piece to add to your wardrobe for this season!
monochrome
monochrome dressing is super on trend right now and i personally love the look in camel, especially for fall. plus camel is one of those colors you can mix different shades and it still looks good. unfortunately, i forgot to pack my camel sweater, so threw on a white top under this look instead. i still love how it turned out, but think it would be super chic with a camel top as well. i decided to wear this outfit with my white sneakers instead of leopard loafers to make the look a little more casual for amsterdam, but either would look cute!
leather leggings
a basic staple that everyone should have in their fall/winter wardrobe is a cute pair of leather leggings. i seriously wear mine more than any other pair of pants in the fall and winter. they look edgy and cool but are still effortless. this time i paired them with combat boots, a leopard sweater, and suede moto jacket for that streetstyle, cool vibe and threw on a black beret to add a touch of feminine.
destroyed, high rise denim
one other look that i recommend for amsterdam in the fall/ early winter but didn’t get a chance to photograph (because i actually ended up getting super sick at the end of the trip) would be an outfit with destroyed high rise denim. the outfit i had planned, was my levi’s 501 jeans with a graphic tee, black sweatshirt, olive green suede moto jacket, and my croc embossed combat boots. this look leaned more towards the 90’s grunge vibe that was pretty popular in amsterdam and would have been great for hopping around the city and even going out in.
shoes
here are the specific shoes i recommend for wearing in amsterdam in the fall and winter.
combat boots
combat boots are the shoe of the year. if you don’t have a pair, you need to get one asap. there are tons of different styles out there, from the classic dr. martens to the chunky prada boot. i ended up choosing a croc embossed pair with a buckle and LOVE them. i might end up getting another pair that’s just regular leather because i already know i’ll be wearing combat boots all the time. (tip: before my trip i sprayed my boots with waterproofing spray, so didn’t have to worry about the rain).
white sneakers
white sneakers are still going strong and they’re perfect for all the walking you’ll be doing in amsterdam. (tip: you can also use waterproof spray on leather tennis shoes!). here are some of my favorite white sneakers.
knee high boots
as noted above, i don’t recommend a pair with heels for amsterdam per se, but still recommend this just below the knee style for a cool, chic look in the city and they will help keep you warmer than other lower boots. you could also wear them with leggings or trousers or tights when it’s colder out. i’m still linking pairs with heels below just because i’m obsessed with them and you can wear them in your home city for date night or girls night or even during the holidays! basically you need a pair.
optional: loafers or mules
i love a good pair of mules and wear mine all the time. they are also great travel shoes as they take up very little space. only note that they might not be best for winter (more for fall). here are some of my top picks in leopard print.
jackets
i brought three jackets (and ps: fit all of this in a carry on!). anytime i travel in cooler temps i love bringing a variety of coats because you’re wearing them so much and it helps make your looks more diversified.
long wool coat
a long wool coat is another fall wardrobe staple that you should not be without. it’s warm but also chic and goes with a variety of looks. here are the best camel wool coats:
cute teddy coat
this year, i think the bomber teddy has replaced the longer teddy, at least for fall and early winter. (i’m sure i’ll bring out my longer teddy coat again when it gets really cold). anyway, the bomber teddy is super on trend right now and looks great with a variety of outfits. i love these camel teddy coat options:
moto jacket
a moto jacket is a must for amsterdam. it is the perfect vibe for this hip, casual city and also provides a good amount of warmth for the fall and early winter. if you’re going later in the winter or the temps look pretty cold, i would recommend a shearling lined moto jacket instead.
these are the accessories i brought:
also don’t forgot to bring a scarf, hat, and gloves for cold nights! and if you’re going more in the winter (late november/december), i recommend a down parka and mostly long pants. you might be able to wear the shorts with tights on some warmer winter days and swap out the shorter teddy coat for the long wool coat. you can also check out my full winter style guide for london, paris, and amsterdam here! that guide is specifically for winter and was done when we went to amsterdam in january. it also has recs on where to stay, eat and drink at the end of it. or check out my story highlights on instagram to see all the most instagrammable restaurants in amsterdam! @wear_this_there
and that’s a wrap on my fall / early winter style guide for amsterdam! as always leave a comment below or message me on instagram @wear_this_there if you have any questions!