Ever wonder why women the world over often dream of French men? Because they have an air about them. From the tops of their heads to their well-cut pants to their polished, non-sneaker shoes, they’re confident, put together, ready for anything. In other words: they have a sense of style, and they wear it with confidence.

The essence of men’s French style: sleek lines, good quality clothing, good grooming. Even an unshaven look has a style about it on French men.

If there’s one situation that many men lack confidence in, it’s packing for a European trip; otherwise, why would there be so many suggested packing lists available on the internet? My travel experience has taught me would-be travelers concentrate too much on following someone else’s packing list instead of formulating their own. You have to pack for you — your habits, your needs, and what you plan to do while in Paris: in other words, you should pack from the inside out — while taking in consideration you’ll be in a foreign country where men are, for the most part, well-groomed and well-dressed.

What do I mean by packing from the inside out? Let’s focus first on your toiletries and personal items. What do you use every day? Write down which personal items you use from the time you wake up until you go out the door: brush/comb, shampoo, body soap, washcloth or similar item in the shower, razor, shave cream, after shave, cologne, toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, deodorant, blow dryer (with a 2-round-pin adapter for France). Occasionally you cut yourself shaving, so add band-aids and Neosporin to your list. Do you get a sore on your foot from time to time? Add whatever you use for that. Do you use any other products on an occasional basis that you wouldn’t want to live without? Add them to the list. While many grocery and large-chain drug stores have a travel section for personal products, here are two resources for products:  AllTravelSizes.com and Sephora Sets for Men.

Let’s assume you’re going to Paris for a week in the fall with a friend. Talk about what the two of you plan to do together before you pack: You’ll want your wardrobe to be in-sync with your friend’s. (Okay, guys, I’m not suggesting you tell your friend why you’re asking. Just find out nonchalantly.) After all, if your friend wants to take a dinner cruise on the Seine River (or eat at any nice restaurant), you’ll want to be properly dressed: most fine cuisine restaurants in Paris still require men to wear a jacket and tie. Say you’re planning to sight-see (think: lots of walking), visit the Eiffel Tower and other attractions, a dinner cruise, a trip to Versailles. You’ll need a good pair of walking shoes but not tennis shoes: GQ recommends rubber sole shoes by John Lobb, but since they can cost as much as air fare (or more), check out the rubber sole loafers available at Zappos. 

To help you understand what clothes to bring, I recommend tracking trending weather conditions there for 2 weeks prior to your trip. For the record, temperatures in Paris average 61 degrees Fahrenheit (16 degrees Celsius) in September, and 54 degrees Fahrenheit (12 degrees Celsius) in October: cool but not cold. Layering is your best strategy in case it gets significantly warmer or colder than average. This means take 2-3 short-sleeved shirts, 2-3 long-sleeved shirts, 2-3 V-neck sweaters, 1-2 dress shirts (even better: shirts made to order by Proper Cloth), a wind-breaker, a heavier jacket (take this with you on the plane), a scarf. For evening, you’ll need a pair of dress pants (you’re on your own; they should fit well and be wrinkle-resistant). For sightseeing, I recommend pickpocket-proof pants from Clothing Arts or Bluff Works (being mindful the color you order works with your shirts and sweaters). Add to this list accessories: dress belt, underwear, socks, and cuff links if you plan to be really dressy. (You’ll fit right in.)

Don’t forget your technological needs, such as your smartphone charger and ear buds. Think twice before taking your laptop: unless you absolutely have to have it for work, leave it at home.

The best packing list for men traveling to Europe I’ve seen is this one from Ken’s Travel Tips. In case you like lists. Also, see GQ’s 8 Best Items for Traveling Light.

Hartmann Expandable Spinner in Olive.

For a suitcase, I will always love Hartmann luggage because of how well the luggage is made and their lifetime guarantee; my favorite is the Hartmann Expandable Spinner in Olive. Whatever you purchase, do yourself a favor and buy anything except black luggage. Why? Because everyone buys black luggage. When I came back from Kazakhstan some time ago, two of my four bags went missing (the tags were ripped off); Delta Airlines told me the only reason I got them back was because they stood out in their warehouse. The Delta employee told me: “You should see our warehouse…it’s nothing but a sea of black luggage.” Sure, black is sophisticated and under-stated; but if it goes missing, you might not see it again. Purchasing luggage in a color that will stand out from everyone else’s black luggage is almost as good as buying travel insurance.

Vacuuming out air of a travel bag sounds good, but where will you find a vacuum for your return trip?

If you pack right, you’ll be able to get more in your suitcase than you think. I use travel-size Ziploc bags to conserve on space. I don’t like the “envelopes” that you put several items in because I don’t find they conserve space, and I don’t recommend the bags that you vacuum air out of because…where will you find a vacuum for your return trip? Ziploc bags also protect your clothes in case your bags are searched: TSA agents can shake them to their hearts’ content, and your socks and underwear won’t fall to the ground and mop up the floor. Put items you will wear together in one bag, zip the bag three-quarters of the way, then roll the bag to extinguish the air.

You’ll want to be your best self in Paris. With a little help from experts, you’ll do just that.

Bon voyage!

All images except Hartmann Spinner from CanStockPhoto. Hartmann Spinner from Hartmann.com, CCBY 2.0.

Author’s note: The model pictured is of Indian descent and exhibits a Frenchman’s style perfectly.

Packing from the inside out is adapted from “Organizing From the Inside Out,” by Julie Morganstern.