Packing for Greece with Marcela Palek

Marcela Palek, the Zürich-based style director of Konfekt Magazine, likes to think of travel as a “cultivated act”—i.e., no sweatpants! She shares the pieces that work for both Athens and the islands, and the genius hack we’ve never thought of for making sure she actually wears everything that makes it into her suitcase. 

What’s your go-to luggage and why? 

A large, check-in suitcase works well for me on any trips longer than four days, as I always find trouvailles when travelling and then need the extra space. Then I have a spacious travelling bag from the Parisian label Rue de Verneuil, which I take on board. Different pouches keep everything organised and can be transferred to another bag.

How do you approach the basics?  

I plan two or three outfits in advance, depending on my travel programme, but of course, the fewer, the better. When I go to Greece, I take chic urban looks that are a bit more dressed up with a blazer and accessories, suitable for Athens’ museums, restaurants, etc. For the islands, it’s more beachy: tank tops, shirts (I love the shirts or shirt/trousers combos by Christa Seya) that can be worn over a tank top or on their own, and light trousers (each year different labels—it’s all about quality and cut) that you can also cycle or hike in. I love floor-length shirt dresses and kaftans (some I’ve bought at the Souk in Tangier, and some are bespoke, made in Zurich from my designs), which are perfect for an evening in a taverna or for an aperitif by the harbour. I always have a merino jumper from Trunk and an old Prada windproof jacket with me, as I prefer to sit outside on the ferries if possible.

Are you a roller or a folder?

To be honest, I’ve never thought about it, but I do fold my clothes. I find it more important to have lightweight nylon garment bags from Muji in various sizes. All tops piled together in one, lingerie and swimwear together in another, etc.

Any other packing tricks or hacks? 

When I travel somewhere I’ve already been, I look back at my photos to remember exactly which looks worked and what I didn’t touch.

What’s your shoe strategy?

I do an above-average amount of walking when travelling—even a walk back to the hotel after dinner can turn into an hour-plus city tour when I’m in Athens—so I choose reasonably comfortable shoes. For Greece, I pack all-white or navy boat shoes by Paraboot, white leather Arizona Birkenstocks for the beach, flat dark espadrilles by Celine, leather loafers from YSL for the evening, and lightweight trainers from Asics or the Salomon XT6 for trekking. 

How do you think about accessories?

Accessories are magic! My large Chanel necklace, inspired by the brass fittings of classic yachts, my two identical Collier de Chien bracelets by Hermès, or a fine cream-coloured Indian scarf with a gold edge can work wonders to dress up an evening look. A light clutch for the evening is a must—for Greece, I opt for the striped linen clutch by Zurich-based En Soie or a handmade one by Ikou Tschüss, also in Zurich.

Do you have a great travel hat?

I always have a foldable bucket hat with me—usually this yellow terry cloth one from Kangol (sadly, they don’t make it in yellow anymore). But I also love buying a hat locally. In the harbour of Hydra, I found this sympa coarsely woven straw hat.

What’s always in your Dopp kit/toiletry bag/pharmacy kit? 

I bring practically everything with me, but like to buy a few nice local products as well. In Athens, The Naxos Apothecary has wonderful hand creams and teas. I always buy insect repellent locally, as it usually works better against the local mosquito species. For sunny destinations like Greece, I always bring plenty of SPF 50+ sun cream from Anthelios by La Roche-Posay, the intensely moisturising Hydra Beauty Micro Sérum, and the UV Essentiel SPF 50 face cream from Chanel, which smells so good.

On a plane, what essentials does your carry-on bag always contain?

I take all my sunglasses–usually about three pairs–in my carry-on. Then my optical glasses, travel-size contact lens solution and an Eres swimsuit in midnight blue. On a recent trip to Puglia my suitcase didn’t arrive, and it made me realise how difficult it can be to find replacements for these essentials.

Any wisdom on traveling with electronics? 

After nearly running out of battery while pulling up my boarding pass on my phone in Bucharest, I now always travel with a portable power bank.

Do you have a travel uniform?

In times of mass tourism, overcrowded flights, and a dominance of practical travel clothing, I advocate for a dressed-up travel look. In view of all the functional tourist clothing, I would like travelling itself to become a cultivated act again. If it’s chilly on departure, I wear a turtleneck (then I don’t need a scarf) or an Oxford shirt, a solid pair of dark blue or white jeans, gold earrings, sunglasses, a navy jacket with gold buttons, and leather loafers. It’s great for flying and checking into a hotel.