diff --git a/instant-xml-macros/src/de.rs b/instant-xml-macros/src/de.rs
index 4906f71..3f1f115 100644
--- a/instant-xml-macros/src/de.rs
+++ b/instant-xml-macros/src/de.rs
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ fn deserialize_scalar_enum(
         };
 
         let serialize_as = meta.serialize_as;
-        variants.extend(quote!(Ok(#serialize_as) => Ok(#ident::#v_ident),));
+        variants.extend(quote!(Ok(#serialize_as) => #ident::#v_ident,));
     }
 
     let generics = meta.xml_generics();
@@ -52,12 +52,22 @@ fn deserialize_scalar_enum(
     quote!(
         impl #impl_generics FromXml<'xml> for #ident #ty_generics #where_clause {
             fn deserialize<'cx>(
-                deserializer: &'cx mut ::instant_xml::Deserializer<'cx, 'xml>
-            ) -> Result<Self, ::instant_xml::Error> {
-                match deserializer.take_str() {
-                    #variants
-                    _ => Err(::instant_xml::Error::UnexpectedValue)
+                deserializer: &'cx mut ::instant_xml::Deserializer<'cx, 'xml>,
+                into: &mut Option<Self>,
+            ) -> Result<(), ::instant_xml::Error> {
+                use ::instant_xml::Error;
+
+                if into.is_some() {
+                    return Err(Error::DuplicateValue);
                 }
+
+                let value = match deserializer.take_str() {
+                    #variants
+                    _ => return Err(Error::UnexpectedValue),
+                };
+
+                *into = Some(value);
+                Ok(())
             }
 
             const KIND: ::instant_xml::Kind<'static> = ::instant_xml::Kind::Scalar;
@@ -106,14 +116,14 @@ fn deserialize_wrapped_enum(
         }
 
         let v_ident = &variant.ident;
-        variants.extend(
-            quote!(if <#no_lifetime_type as FromXml>::KIND.matches(
-                id, ::instant_xml::Id { ns: "", name: "" }
-            ) {
-                let mut nested = deserializer.nested(data);
-                #ident::#v_ident(#no_lifetime_type::deserialize(&mut nested)?)
-            }),
-        );
+        variants.extend(quote!(if <#no_lifetime_type as FromXml>::KIND.matches(
+            id, ::instant_xml::Id { ns: "", name: "" }
+        ) {
+            let mut nested = deserializer.nested(data);
+            let mut value = None;
+            #no_lifetime_type::deserialize(&mut nested, &mut value)?;
+            *into = value.map(#ident::#v_ident);
+        }));
     }
 
     let name = meta.tag();
@@ -123,7 +133,10 @@ fn deserialize_wrapped_enum(
     let (_, ty_generics, where_clause) = input.generics.split_for_impl();
     quote!(
         impl #xml_impl_generics FromXml<'xml> for #ident #ty_generics #where_clause {
-            fn deserialize<'cx>(deserializer: &'cx mut ::instant_xml::Deserializer<'cx, 'xml>) -> Result<Self, ::instant_xml::Error> {
+            fn deserialize<'cx>(
+                deserializer: &'cx mut ::instant_xml::Deserializer<'cx, 'xml>,
+                into: &mut Option<Self>,
+            ) -> Result<(), ::instant_xml::Error> {
                 use ::instant_xml::de::Node;
                 use ::instant_xml::Error;
 
@@ -138,7 +151,7 @@ fn deserialize_wrapped_enum(
                 };
 
                 let id = deserializer.element_id(&data)?;
-                let value = #variants else {
+                #variants else {
                     return Err(Error::UnexpectedTag);
                 };
 
@@ -146,7 +159,7 @@ fn deserialize_wrapped_enum(
                     return Err(Error::UnexpectedState("unexpected node after wrapped enum variant"));
                 }
 
-                Ok(value)
+                Ok(())
             }
 
             const KIND: ::instant_xml::Kind<'static> = ::instant_xml::Kind::Element(::instant_xml::Id {
@@ -236,10 +249,12 @@ fn deserialize_struct(
 
     quote!(
         impl #xml_impl_generics FromXml<'xml> for #ident #ty_generics #where_clause {
-            fn deserialize<'cx>(deserializer: &'cx mut ::instant_xml::Deserializer<'cx, 'xml>) -> Result<Self, ::instant_xml::Error> {
+            fn deserialize<'cx>(
+                deserializer: &'cx mut ::instant_xml::Deserializer<'cx, 'xml>,
+                into: &mut Option<Self>,
+            ) -> Result<(), ::instant_xml::Error> {
                 use ::instant_xml::de::Node;
                 use ::instant_xml::{Error, Id};
-                use ::core::marker::PhantomData;
 
                 enum __Elements {
                     #elements_enum
@@ -284,7 +299,8 @@ fn deserialize_struct(
                     }
                 }
 
-                Ok(Self { #return_val })
+                *into = Some(Self { #return_val });
+                Ok(())
             }
 
             const KIND: ::instant_xml::Kind<'static> = ::instant_xml::Kind::Element(::instant_xml::Id {
@@ -343,23 +359,15 @@ fn process_field(
     if !field_meta.attribute {
         tokens.r#match.extend(quote!(
             __Elements::#enum_name => {
-                if #enum_name.is_some() {
-                    return Err(Error::DuplicateValue);
-                }
-
                 let mut nested = deserializer.nested(data);
-                #enum_name = Some(<#no_lifetime_type>::deserialize(&mut nested)?);
+                <#no_lifetime_type>::deserialize(&mut nested, &mut #enum_name)?;
             },
         ));
     } else {
         tokens.r#match.extend(quote!(
             __Attributes::#enum_name => {
-                if #enum_name.is_some() {
-                    return Err(Error::DuplicateValue);
-                }
-
                 let mut nested = deserializer.for_attr(attr);
-                #enum_name = Some(<#no_lifetime_type>::deserialize(&mut nested)?);
+                let new = <#no_lifetime_type>::deserialize(&mut nested, &mut #enum_name)?;
             },
         ));
     }
diff --git a/instant-xml-macros/src/ser.rs b/instant-xml-macros/src/ser.rs
index 7f9567d..7c76578 100644
--- a/instant-xml-macros/src/ser.rs
+++ b/instant-xml-macros/src/ser.rs
@@ -319,10 +319,10 @@ fn process_named_field(
     discard_lifetimes(&mut no_lifetime_type);
     body.extend(quote!(
         match <#no_lifetime_type as ToXml>::KIND {
-            ::instant_xml::Kind::Element(_) => {
+            ::instant_xml::Kind::Element(_) | ::instant_xml::Kind::Vec(_) => {
                 self.#field_name.serialize(serializer)?;
             }
-            ::instant_xml::Kind::Scalar | ::instant_xml::Kind::Vec => {
+            ::instant_xml::Kind::Scalar => {
                 let prefix = serializer.write_start(#tag, #ns, true)?;
                 serializer.end_start()?;
                 self.#field_name.serialize(serializer)?;
diff --git a/instant-xml/src/impls.rs b/instant-xml/src/impls.rs
index 6aedae7..ec4db89 100644
--- a/instant-xml/src/impls.rs
+++ b/instant-xml/src/impls.rs
@@ -5,16 +5,26 @@ use std::str::FromStr;
 #[cfg(feature = "chrono")]
 use chrono::{DateTime, Utc};
 
-use crate::{de::Node, Deserializer, Error, FromXml, Kind, Serializer, ToXml};
+use crate::{Deserializer, Error, FromXml, Kind, Serializer, ToXml};
 
 // Deserializer
-struct FromXmlStr<T: FromStr>(Option<T>);
+struct FromXmlStr<T: FromStr>(T);
 
 impl<'xml, T: FromStr> FromXml<'xml> for FromXmlStr<T> {
-    fn deserialize(deserializer: &mut Deserializer<'_, 'xml>) -> Result<Self, Error> {
+    fn deserialize(
+        deserializer: &mut Deserializer<'_, 'xml>,
+        into: &mut Option<Self>,
+    ) -> Result<(), Error> {
+        if into.is_some() {
+            return Err(Error::DuplicateValue);
+        }
+
         let value = deserializer.take_str()?;
         match T::from_str(value) {
-            Ok(value) => Ok(Self(Some(value))),
+            Ok(value) => {
+                *into = Some(FromXmlStr(value));
+                Ok(())
+            }
             Err(_) => Err(Error::UnexpectedValue),
         }
     }
@@ -23,10 +33,23 @@ impl<'xml, T: FromStr> FromXml<'xml> for FromXmlStr<T> {
 }
 
 impl<'xml> FromXml<'xml> for bool {
-    fn deserialize<'cx>(deserializer: &'cx mut Deserializer<'cx, 'xml>) -> Result<Self, Error> {
-        FromXmlStr::<Self>::deserialize(deserializer)?
-            .0
-            .ok_or(Error::MissingValue(&Kind::Scalar))
+    fn deserialize<'cx>(
+        deserializer: &'cx mut Deserializer<'cx, 'xml>,
+        into: &mut Option<Self>,
+    ) -> Result<(), Error> {
+        if into.is_some() {
+            return Err(Error::DuplicateValue);
+        }
+
+        let mut value = None;
+        FromXmlStr::<Self>::deserialize(deserializer, &mut value)?;
+        match value {
+            Some(value) => {
+                *into = Some(value.0);
+                Ok(())
+            }
+            None => Err(Error::MissingValue(&Kind::Scalar)),
+        }
     }
 
     const KIND: Kind<'static> = Kind::Scalar;
@@ -69,10 +92,21 @@ macro_rules! from_xml_for_number {
         impl<'xml> FromXml<'xml> for $typ {
             fn deserialize<'cx>(
                 deserializer: &'cx mut Deserializer<'cx, 'xml>,
-            ) -> Result<Self, Error> {
-                FromXmlStr::<Self>::deserialize(deserializer)?
-                    .0
-                    .ok_or(Error::MissingValue(&Kind::Scalar))
+                into: &mut Option<Self>,
+            ) -> Result<(), Error> {
+                if into.is_some() {
+                    return Err(Error::DuplicateValue);
+                }
+
+                let mut value = None;
+                FromXmlStr::<Self>::deserialize(deserializer, &mut value)?;
+                match value {
+                    Some(value) => {
+                        *into = Some(value.0);
+                        Ok(())
+                    }
+                    None => Err(Error::MissingValue(&Kind::Scalar)),
+                }
             }
 
             const KIND: Kind<'static> = Kind::Scalar;
@@ -94,53 +128,109 @@ from_xml_for_number!(f32);
 from_xml_for_number!(f64);
 
 impl<'xml> FromXml<'xml> for char {
-    fn deserialize<'cx>(deserializer: &'cx mut Deserializer<'cx, 'xml>) -> Result<Self, Error> {
-        FromXmlStr::<Self>::deserialize(deserializer)?
-            .0
-            .ok_or(Error::MissingValue(&Kind::Scalar))
+    fn deserialize<'cx>(
+        deserializer: &'cx mut Deserializer<'cx, 'xml>,
+        into: &mut Option<Self>,
+    ) -> Result<(), Error> {
+        if into.is_some() {
+            return Err(Error::DuplicateValue);
+        }
+
+        let mut value = None;
+        FromXmlStr::<Self>::deserialize(deserializer, &mut value)?;
+        match value {
+            Some(value) => {
+                *into = Some(value.0);
+                Ok(())
+            }
+            None => Err(Error::MissingValue(&Kind::Scalar)),
+        }
     }
 
     const KIND: Kind<'static> = Kind::Scalar;
 }
 
 impl<'xml> FromXml<'xml> for String {
-    fn deserialize<'cx>(deserializer: &'cx mut Deserializer<'cx, 'xml>) -> Result<Self, Error> {
-        Ok(<Cow<'xml, str> as FromXml<'xml>>::deserialize(deserializer)?.into_owned())
+    fn deserialize<'cx>(
+        deserializer: &'cx mut Deserializer<'cx, 'xml>,
+        into: &mut Option<Self>,
+    ) -> Result<(), Error> {
+        if into.is_some() {
+            return Err(Error::DuplicateValue);
+        }
+
+        let mut value = None;
+        <Cow<'xml, str> as FromXml<'xml>>::deserialize(deserializer, &mut value)?;
+        match value {
+            Some(value) => {
+                *into = Some(value.into_owned());
+                Ok(())
+            }
+            None => Err(Error::MissingValue(&Kind::Scalar)),
+        }
     }
 
     const KIND: Kind<'static> = Kind::Scalar;
 }
 
 impl<'xml> FromXml<'xml> for &'xml str {
-    fn deserialize<'cx>(deserializer: &'cx mut Deserializer<'cx, 'xml>) -> Result<Self, Error> {
-        Ok(
-            match <Cow<'xml, str> as FromXml<'xml>>::deserialize(deserializer)? {
-                Cow::Borrowed(s) => s,
-                Cow::Owned(_) => return Err(Error::UnexpectedValue),
-            },
-        )
+    fn deserialize<'cx>(
+        deserializer: &'cx mut Deserializer<'cx, 'xml>,
+        into: &mut Option<Self>,
+    ) -> Result<(), Error> {
+        if into.is_some() {
+            return Err(Error::DuplicateValue);
+        }
+
+        let mut value = None;
+        <Cow<'xml, str> as FromXml<'xml>>::deserialize(deserializer, &mut value)?;
+        match value {
+            Some(Cow::Borrowed(s)) => {
+                *into = Some(s);
+                Ok(())
+            }
+            Some(Cow::Owned(_)) => Err(Error::UnexpectedValue),
+            None => Err(Error::MissingValue(&Kind::Scalar)),
+        }
     }
 
     const KIND: Kind<'static> = Kind::Scalar;
 }
 
 impl<'xml> FromXml<'xml> for Cow<'xml, str> {
-    fn deserialize(deserializer: &mut Deserializer<'_, 'xml>) -> Result<Self, Error> {
+    fn deserialize(
+        deserializer: &mut Deserializer<'_, 'xml>,
+        into: &mut Option<Self>,
+    ) -> Result<(), Error> {
+        if into.is_some() {
+            return Err(Error::DuplicateValue);
+        }
+
         let value = deserializer.take_str()?;
-        Ok(decode(value))
+        *into = Some(decode(value));
+        Ok(())
     }
 
     const KIND: Kind<'static> = Kind::Scalar;
 }
 
-impl<'xml, T> FromXml<'xml> for Option<T>
-where
-    T: FromXml<'xml>,
-{
-    fn deserialize<'cx>(deserializer: &'cx mut Deserializer<'cx, 'xml>) -> Result<Self, Error> {
-        match <T>::deserialize(deserializer) {
-            Ok(v) => Ok(Some(v)),
-            Err(e) => Err(e),
+impl<'xml, T: FromXml<'xml>> FromXml<'xml> for Option<T> {
+    fn deserialize<'cx>(
+        deserializer: &'cx mut Deserializer<'cx, 'xml>,
+        into: &mut Option<Self>,
+    ) -> Result<(), Error> {
+        if into.is_some() {
+            return Err(Error::DuplicateValue);
+        }
+
+        let mut value = None;
+        <T>::deserialize(deserializer, &mut value)?;
+        match value {
+            Some(v) => {
+                *into = Some(Some(v));
+                Ok(())
+            }
+            None => Err(Error::MissingValue(&Kind::Scalar)),
         }
     }
 
@@ -320,39 +410,26 @@ fn decode(input: &str) -> Cow<'_, str> {
     Cow::Owned(result)
 }
 
-const VEC_LIST_TAG: &str = "list";
-const VEC_ELEMENT_TAG: &str = "element";
-
 impl<'xml, T: FromXml<'xml>> FromXml<'xml> for Vec<T> {
-    fn deserialize<'cx>(deserializer: &'cx mut Deserializer<'cx, 'xml>) -> Result<Self, Error> {
-        let mut result = Self::new();
-        let kind = <T as FromXml<'xml>>::KIND;
-
-        while let Some(Ok(node)) = deserializer.next() {
-            match (&kind, node) {
-                (Kind::Scalar, Node::Open(data)) => {
-                    let id = deserializer.element_id(&data)?;
-
-                    match id.name {
-                        VEC_ELEMENT_TAG => {
-                            let mut nested = deserializer.nested(data);
-                            result.push(<T as FromXml<'xml>>::deserialize(&mut nested)?)
-                        }
-                        _ => return Err(Error::UnexpectedState("unexpected list element name")),
-                    }
-                }
-                (Kind::Vec | Kind::Element(_), Node::Open(data)) => {
-                    let mut nested = deserializer.nested(data);
-                    result.push(<T as FromXml<'xml>>::deserialize(&mut nested)?)
-                }
-                _ => return Err(Error::UnexpectedState("unexpected node for list")),
-            }
+    fn deserialize<'cx>(
+        deserializer: &'cx mut Deserializer<'cx, 'xml>,
+        into: &mut Option<Self>,
+    ) -> Result<(), Error> {
+        let mut value = None;
+        T::deserialize(deserializer, &mut value)?;
+        let dst = into.get_or_insert(Vec::new());
+        if let Some(value) = value {
+            dst.push(value);
         }
 
-        Ok(result)
+        Ok(())
     }
 
-    const KIND: Kind<'static> = Kind::Vec;
+    fn missing_value() -> Result<Self, Error> {
+        Ok(Vec::new())
+    }
+
+    const KIND: Kind<'static> = Kind::Vec(T::KIND.element());
 }
 
 impl<T: ToXml> ToXml for Vec<T> {
@@ -360,35 +437,19 @@ impl<T: ToXml> ToXml for Vec<T> {
         &self,
         serializer: &mut Serializer<W>,
     ) -> Result<(), Error> {
-        match <T as ToXml>::KIND {
-            Kind::Element(_) => {
-                for i in self {
-                    i.serialize(serializer)?;
-                }
-            }
-            Kind::Scalar => {
-                for i in self {
-                    let prefix = serializer.write_start(VEC_ELEMENT_TAG, "", false)?;
-                    serializer.end_start()?;
-                    i.serialize(serializer)?;
-                    serializer.write_close(prefix, VEC_ELEMENT_TAG)?;
-                }
-            }
-            // this would be a Vec<Vec<T>>, where the internal field is unnamed
-            Kind::Vec => {
-                for i in self {
-                    let prefix = serializer.write_start(VEC_LIST_TAG, "", false)?;
-                    serializer.end_start()?;
-                    i.serialize(serializer)?;
-                    serializer.write_close(prefix, VEC_LIST_TAG)?;
-                }
-            }
+        match T::KIND {
+            Kind::Element(_) => {}
+            _ => return Err(Error::UnexpectedState("only elements allowed in `Vec`")),
+        }
+
+        for i in self {
+            i.serialize(serializer)?;
         }
 
         Ok(())
     }
 
-    const KIND: Kind<'static> = Kind::Vec;
+    const KIND: Kind<'static> = Kind::Vec(T::KIND.element());
 }
 
 #[cfg(feature = "chrono")]
@@ -405,10 +466,20 @@ impl ToXml for DateTime<Utc> {
 
 #[cfg(feature = "chrono")]
 impl<'xml> FromXml<'xml> for DateTime<Utc> {
-    fn deserialize<'cx>(deserializer: &'cx mut Deserializer<'cx, 'xml>) -> Result<Self, Error> {
+    fn deserialize<'cx>(
+        deserializer: &'cx mut Deserializer<'cx, 'xml>,
+        into: &mut Option<Self>,
+    ) -> Result<(), Error> {
+        if into.is_some() {
+            return Err(Error::DuplicateValue);
+        }
+
         let data = deserializer.take_str()?;
         match DateTime::parse_from_rfc3339(data) {
-            Ok(dt) if dt.timezone().utc_minus_local() == 0 => Ok(dt.with_timezone(&Utc)),
+            Ok(dt) if dt.timezone().utc_minus_local() == 0 => {
+                *into = Some(dt.with_timezone(&Utc));
+                Ok(())
+            }
             _ => Err(Error::Other("invalid date/time".into())),
         }
     }
diff --git a/instant-xml/src/lib.rs b/instant-xml/src/lib.rs
index ddba774..d2b5ac9 100644
--- a/instant-xml/src/lib.rs
+++ b/instant-xml/src/lib.rs
@@ -34,7 +34,10 @@ impl<'a, T: ToXml + ?Sized> ToXml for &'a T {
 }
 
 pub trait FromXml<'xml>: Sized {
-    fn deserialize<'cx>(deserializer: &'cx mut Deserializer<'cx, 'xml>) -> Result<Self, Error>;
+    fn deserialize<'cx>(
+        deserializer: &'cx mut Deserializer<'cx, 'xml>,
+        into: &mut Option<Self>,
+    ) -> Result<(), Error>;
 
     // If the missing field is of type `Option<T>` then treat is as `None`,
     // otherwise it is an error.
@@ -50,7 +53,7 @@ pub fn from_str<'xml, T: FromXml<'xml>>(input: &'xml str) -> Result<T, Error> {
     let id = context.element_id(&root)?;
     let expected = match T::KIND {
         Kind::Scalar => return Err(Error::UnexpectedState("found scalar as root")),
-        Kind::Vec => return Err(Error::UnexpectedState("found list as root")),
+        Kind::Vec(_) => return Err(Error::UnexpectedState("found list as root")),
         Kind::Element(expected) => expected,
     };
 
@@ -58,7 +61,12 @@ pub fn from_str<'xml, T: FromXml<'xml>>(input: &'xml str) -> Result<T, Error> {
         return Err(Error::UnexpectedValue);
     }
 
-    T::deserialize(&mut Deserializer::new(root, &mut context))
+    let mut value = None;
+    T::deserialize(&mut Deserializer::new(root, &mut context), &mut value)?;
+    match value {
+        Some(value) => Ok(value),
+        None => T::missing_value(),
+    }
 }
 
 pub fn to_string(value: &(impl ToXml + ?Sized)) -> Result<String, Error> {
@@ -116,15 +124,22 @@ pub enum Error {
 pub enum Kind<'a> {
     Scalar,
     Element(Id<'a>),
-    Vec,
+    Vec(Id<'a>),
 }
 
 impl<'a> Kind<'a> {
+    pub const fn element(&self) -> Id<'a> {
+        match self {
+            Kind::Element(id) => *id,
+            _ => panic!("expected element kind"),
+        }
+    }
+
     pub const fn name(&self, field: Id<'a>) -> Id<'a> {
         match self {
             Kind::Scalar => field,
             Kind::Element(name) => *name,
-            Kind::Vec => field,
+            Kind::Vec(inner) => *inner,
         }
     }
 
@@ -133,7 +148,7 @@ impl<'a> Kind<'a> {
         match self {
             Kind::Scalar => id == field,
             Kind::Element(name) => id == *name,
-            Kind::Vec => id == field,
+            Kind::Vec(inner) => id == *inner,
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/instant-xml/tests/vec.rs b/instant-xml/tests/vec.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ea9ca3e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/instant-xml/tests/vec.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+use instant_xml::{from_str, to_string, FromXml, ToXml};
+
+#[derive(Debug, Eq, FromXml, PartialEq, ToXml)]
+struct Foo {
+    bar: usize,
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug, Eq, FromXml, PartialEq, ToXml)]
+struct Bar {
+    foo: Vec<Foo>,
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn vec() {
+    let val = Bar { foo: vec![] };
+    let xml = "<Bar></Bar>";
+    assert_eq!(xml, to_string(&val).unwrap());
+    assert_eq!(val, from_str(xml).unwrap());
+
+    let val = Bar {
+        foo: vec![Foo { bar: 42 }],
+    };
+    let xml = "<Bar><Foo><bar>42</bar></Foo></Bar>";
+    assert_eq!(xml, to_string(&val).unwrap());
+    assert_eq!(val, from_str(xml).unwrap());
+
+    let val = Bar {
+        foo: vec![Foo { bar: 42 }, Foo { bar: 73 }],
+    };
+    let xml = "<Bar><Foo><bar>42</bar></Foo><Foo><bar>73</bar></Foo></Bar>";
+    assert_eq!(xml, to_string(&val).unwrap());
+    assert_eq!(val, from_str(xml).unwrap());
+}