You booked your flight, planned your travel itinerary, and have a hit list of things to do in Mexico City. Now, all you need to plan is what to pack for Mexico City!
ICYMI, our founder, Aida, has been spending much time south of the border researching for our Mexico travel clients. Between hosting group trips to Mexican wine country and hanging in Mexico City, she’s clocked in a lot of time south of the border and has learned what to pack.
While you can be resort chic in Tulum or Los Cabos, boho babe in the Valle De Guadalupe, or artsy auntie in Oaxaca, Mexico City is distinct. The capital is more like New York in that jeans and a tee is a norm for most ladies (and dressing up for a nice meal or a social event is not out of the question).
Add to it that Mexico City is at a high elevation (so the weather is cooler and more temperate than other tourist spots in Mexico), and well, you’ll want to dress more like you’re in San Francisco than San Miguel de Allende.
What To Pack For Mexico City
From what to wear to the markets to a high-end restaurant, here’s our advice on packing for Mexico City.
Straw Woven Hat
Honestly, this isn’t so much a Mexico City packing tip, as a general one: always bring a hat to protect your skin from the sun! Yes, we sunscreen like it’s the end of days, but you need extra protection in a place as high elevation as Mexico City. And, if we bring a hat, it might as well be Instagram-able, like this woven hat from Gigi Pip.
Classic Trouser Pants
Most ladies wear pants when walking around Mexico City—yes, it’s partly because it’s practical in a big metro area, but also because, like some of our other favorite cities, wearing something more revealing could result in unwanted attention.
Our solution is to pack a pair of classic high-waisted trouser-cut pants from Imogene + Willie (or a pair from Mollusk or Rag + Bone) so we can be fashionable while on the go.
Pull-On Pants
Chichi events notwithstanding, you can get away with wearing something relatively casual (so long as it’s put together) anywhere in Mexico City. But for nicer dinners or nights out, we like to bring a little extra something, something like these Madewell velvet pants, which, of course, have an elastic waist so you can eat your heart out and still be comfortable chic.
Day-To-Night Top
For those days when you head out mid-morning and stay out all day, you’ll want a top that can go seamlessly from a visit to Bellas Artes to cocktail hour. That’s when we opt for this form-fitting scooped number by our fellow Angeleno friends, Reformation.
Statement Top
It reasons that a place as colorful and vibrant as Mexico City warrants a bright and vibrant wardrobe. The key is to do it without being cliché, say, being the non-local girl in the embroidered Mexican folk dress. That’s when we opt for a colorful top like this red number by Sea, which goes as well over a mini as it would be tucked into a pair of wide-leg trousers.
Graphic Tee
You’re right; wearing this bonita (i.e., Spanish for “lovely”) top might be a tad too meta in a Spanish-speaking country. But whether it’s this by Sol Angeles or another, be sure to pack a tee that works as well over jeans as tucked into a skirt.
Midi Skirt
During Mexico City’s hotter months (especially May), we pretty much live in skirts and dresses. A flouncy, longer skirt like this Anthropologie pleated skirt works perfectly!
Long Wrap Dress
It’s hard for us to pick just one Christy Dawn dress we’d want to pack because they almost all work for a place like Mexico City. If we had to choose, this rust wrap number would be our number one option as it’s packable and chic
Knit Top
Like our hometown of Los Angeles, Mexico City tends to have cooler nights. So, do not even think of packing for Mexico City without including at least one long-sleeve top. We like the idea of this knit top from Anthropologie, which would look as good as layered.
Lightweight Jacket
Along those lines, you’ll want one jacket for your trip to Mexico City. You’ll also enjoy an umbrella and a rain slicker during the rainy season. For the rest of the year, you can get away with a jacket like this Free People perforated leather piece, which can be thrown over a dress or layered with scarves and sweaters in the winter.
Unique Bucket Bag
One thing we’ve noticed on our travels is that women from the USA are always easy to spot because they tend to have the most enormous bags. When you travel, opt for something smaller that’s less showy and, ideally, can be worn crossbody for extra protection. This woven bucket bag from Mar Y Sol is from Mexico, so it’s perfect for traveling there (we also love the options at Noonday Collection, FYI).
Walkable Flats
One of our never-ending shopping missions is to find a fashionable, walkable, affordable, and cute flat. Enter this slingback from Everlane, which comes in various colors and works well for day and night. Another great option would be these pony-print mule flats from Able.
Leather Sneaker
We always pack a pair of sneakers, and while we love cute slip-on sneakers, we like something a little more interesting and less trendy. Say something in canvas (that’s washable) if you’re going into fields or anywhere else kind of dirty, and something like these stylish leather sneakers by Soludos for a fashionable shoe you can wear with skirts, dresses, or pants.
Classic Mexican Recipes
Want to cook up some of Mexico at home? Here are five of our readers’ favorite Mexican recipes:
Mexico Travel Guide
Are you heading to Mexico soon? Check out our Mexico travel guide, where we share travel tips, where to stay, what to pack, and more across the country.
Have Us Plan Your Mexico Trip
Did you know we’re also a boutique travel agency specializing in Mexico travel planning? If you’re looking to plan one of the best trips to Mexico, our Mexico trip planner services are here to help you plan your perfect itinerary.
