On Sunday I’ll be leaving for my twelve-month stint as an au pair in Switzerland. This isn’t the first time I’ve had to pack a year’s worth of clothes in two suitcases, but it never seems to get easier!
One of the main things that I know I’ll have to cut back on is dresses. I have more than thirty dresses (I just chose a few for this post), and I know that a lot of days as an au pair I’ll just wear jeans and a t-shirt. As I’m caring for a ten-year-old girl, not an infant or toddler, my job shouldn’t be too messy or physically active, so I feel justified in bringing some dresses, but not my whole collection. 🙁
Please offer any input or opinions you have! I’ve never lived in Europe before (other than a few months in Spain), and I don’t know if my dresses match with the Swiss style or normal level of modesty. Â Also, keep in mind that these dresses are for wearing in my everyday life, not just my time as an au pair.
After seeing the picture I think I’ve already decided against this dress. Â I always liked the unique cut and the colors, but I think my breasts look droopy and it was difficult to keep my strapless bra from showing.
I think that this one will be comfortable and appropriate. My bra straps did show unless I was careful though. (Thankfully I wore the lovely Fiona bra so the straps were pretty 🙂
Yikes! So short! Seeing pictures of myself like this really gives me a better perspective of my clothes . . . I never felt like this dress was as short as it is. It’s too bad because I really like the neck line and fit.
This dress is another one I’m thinking I’ll leave. It’s lost a lot of the elasticity in the top, and I hate that I feel like I have to constantly pull it up.
One of my sisters got this dress on a trip to India, but she gave it to me because she  doesn’t have the courage to wear it in the States. I’ve worn it a few times here in New York and I love the way it feels. I don’t love it in this picture, though, so I might have to rethink bringing it!
It’s hard to see the halter strap on this dress, but I feel like it is straining to hold me up! I appreciate the extra support of straps that I can tie around my neck, but my neck can end up feeling the strain after a while. I actually like this dress a lot though.
This dress is cute, comfy, and hopefully not too short or low cut. I don’t like how the sheer the white part is, but I may wear it in Switzerland with a camisole.
Seeing myself in these dresses in pictures, rather than looking in the mirror (where I generally look at small details, not the big picture) is really interesting! I hope I get some feedback from readers with opinions on what I should take and what goes into storage.
Sidenote: Looking at these pictures also makes me feel like my arms and legs are extremely bony! I wish I could choose where my ‘fluff’ goes. 😉
Hi Shana! Bummer about having to leave dresses behind 🙁 I’ve been to Switzerland once, so I’m not a big expert – all I remember is that it is beautiful, expensive, and everyone seems very polite!
My favourite of all the dresses you’ve shown above is the black patterned one which you think the elastic is going in. I think it’s very flattering on you. Now I’m just guessing here… but I think that’s because you are either short waisted (like me) or because your bust makes you look short waisted (me also). I find that dresses that provide a sort of continuous column with the colour, flaring out only gently past the waist are much more flattering on me than dresses which sit obviously on my waist, either because lots of gathers and pleats from the natural waist, or obvious colour changes between the bodice of the dress and the skirt of the dress.
In that way, it doesn’t draw attention to exactly where my short waist is, which makes me look extra short, dumpy and saggy. So sad, because I love the look of a fit and flare dress, but c’est la vie.
I hope that makes sense and is in some way helpful. Good luck in Switzerland!
Thanks Cordelia! That definitely makes sense. Maybe I will find a way to pack the dress you suggested after all. I do agree that that style lengthens my waistline 🙂
Thanks again for the comment!
Hi Shana,
well europe is a bit different than the states. I’m german and can tell you that you should pack at least a pair of black and skin coloured tights for the shorter dresses! At least we in germany wear short dresses only with tights even if we go out! Personally i like the blue dress, the longer black dress with the lost elasticity and the dress from India – great for summmer times! The short black one is great for part partying, you own the legs to pull it off. Otherwise you might want to pack a little more formal dress like a little black black dress (nothing too short and revealing)- Switzerland has a great cultural background and you never know where you will end up in your free time. Otherwise there I don’t know where you live in the states I just can say shorts in europe a shorts and not hotpants where you can see the bum even if you can wear it! You can wear hotpans on your holidays on the way to the beach but please nowhere else! Maybe you should google schweiz fashion or schweiz mode before you pack and if you are like the most au pair girls I know – you will buy everything new but beware switzerland is very very very expensive! And of course spain, france, poland and the UK(etc.) definitely dress different than the german, austrian and swiss girls
Thanks so much Julia! I appreciate your advice a lot. I am definitely bringing some tights and leggings to go under any shorter dresses. I’m originally from Florida, but I definitely don’t wear hot pants 🙂 Googling Swiss fashion is a good idea! Hopefully, for my budget’s sake, I don’t buy too many clothes while I’m there! 🙂
Hi,
All the dresses are really pretty! I particularly like the black one with lost elasticity, the Indian one and the first one, with the green flowers; I like the unequal seam and how it fits on the waist.
One remark about Swiss weather – it is a bit cold. Last summer, there have been at most two months when you could wear just a summer dress, and even then in the evening you might be better off with a cardigan or some tights.
If I take a look at the date when you wrote this, I think my advice might be kind of late…apologies for that! 🙁 However, the good part about packing for an entire year is that it’s easy to take out of the suitcase your warmer jacket and boots. Have a great time in Switzerland!
Hi Adela!
Thanks for your comment! I am already in Switzerland, but I definitely appreciate your advice! It has been way colder than I anticipated these past few weeks, though thankfully the weather is just lovely now!
Thanks again!