How I packed for two weeks in Italy
Plus, the antique items I always look for, how European women were dressed, and the one thing I won't forget on my next trip.
We just returned from two magical, sweaty weeks in Italy, where it never dipped below the mid-90s. I posted about a lot of our adventures on Instagram (you can see my Italy Highlight here) since I love nothing more than documenting our trips. Still, I'm excited to get into the nitty-gritty: the packing mistakes I made, the antiques I always seek out, what Europeans were wearing, what I'd bring with me next time, and answers to some of the questions you asked in Chat!
I'm a good packer in that I rarely forget things and rely heavily on a detailed list I edit for weeks before departing. It's organized by clothing, shoes, accessories, beauty, medicine, technology, and miscellaneous things (like airplane snacks, etc). It's nothing ground-breaking, but it helps provide a structure for where to start. I then plan outfits broken into two categories (versus looks for specific days): daytime and evening, as it leaves some flexibility if the weather isn’t conducive or if I’m no longer feeling a tight dress. I take pictures of outfits as I pack and jot them down in my Notes app.
Some of my looks from the trip:
I used to be a dress girl, through and through. They were unapologetically girly throughout my 20s and well into my 30s: short, romantic, preferably with a scalloped edge, pockets, and/or a lace trim. Often, all three at once. My style has evolved quite a bit since then, and instead of favoring ultra-feminine dresses, I now prefer tailored basics - crisp button-downs, wide-leg trousers, and coordinated sets. It wasn’t until this trip, however, that I realized how much I’ve missed the ease of throwing on a single piece, albeit one that feels less precious.
The European women whose outfits I loved most wore chic, understated dresses in neutral colors. They weren’t tight nor too billowy but seemed to gently form to their figures with an effortless, drapey effect. One woman I admired from a few tables away at breakfast had her hair swept back into a low ponytail with gold drop earrings, a beautiful watch, a black linen dress, flat, simple sandals, and a woven bag. She looked flawless and was a far cry from my blue, wrinkled top, which I’d sweat through as soon as I left the hotel. I convinced my friend to ask the woman where her dress was from, already mourning the fact that it was sure to be out of my price range. I was *shocked* when we found out it was from & Other Stories, reinforcing the idea that well-styled basics always work.
Given my propensity for separates, that’s what made up most of my suitcase(s). I packed button-downs, white t-shirts, tanks, linen tops, and several lightweight pants, shorts, and skirts. I tend to stick to one main palette (in this case, white/cream/black) so that everything should work together, in theory.
The one downside of having so many beige-adjacent looks is that they can start to feel a little one-note, which is why I go heavy on the accessories. I packed five pairs of sunglasses (aviators, classic black, and a few with colored lenses that always get a ton of compliments): excessive, I know - yet I wore every single one, often switching them out throughout the day. Jewelry also played a big role - I layered different-sized pearl necklaces to add dimension to a plain top, a touch of pink opal to my bracelet stack, and hoops to elevate my messy, air-dried hair.
Another note worth mentioning was that at the three hotels we stayed (two in Rome and one in Tuscany), none of them provided an iron in the room. Given how easily linen wrinkles, I was frustrated by how much work was required to keep everything looking halfway decent. Unclear if that’s the norm, but regardless, I immediately began researching the best compact steamer and bought this one (in white) that will most certainly accompany me on future trips.
I carry this monogrammed leather tote with a zipper top (essential for keeping everything from flopping out during turbulence) and multiple pouches inside.
Pouch #1: Hand sanitizer spray, wipes, tissues, masks, and plugs.
Pouch #2: Eye drops, hand lotion, face spray, lip balm, hair ties, eye mask, ear plugs.
Pouch #3: Medication, mint Mentos (I swear by them if you feel queasy), gum, bandaids.
Pouch #4: Snacks.
Pouch #5: A pen, passport, and other important printed documents.
Extras: iPad, noise-cancelling headphones.
I take advantage of any time I can track down a flea market or visit an antique store in Europe. One of my favorite ways to spend a morning is meandering down aisles filled with old treasures, conversing with locals, and bringing home meaningful souvenirs. Here are some of the things I always look for:
Kitchen items: things for entertaining (I scored the below Mother of Pearl serving forks, which will make such a pretty addition to a big charcuterie board), miniature ice buckets, dishes (even a one-off looks great hung on a wall!), glasses (ditto if you just buy one, as it can be used to hold pens), trays, and salt and pepper shakers.
Knickknacks: Little objects that add personality to your home. Things like the below snail (that I’ll set on top of a stack of books), trays, ceramic figurines, or anything monogrammed - my friend scored a silver matchbox with his initials.
Jewelry: There’s no better place to source bracelets, charms, necklaces, rings, earrings, and pins.
Linens: Napkins, placemats, tablecloths, scarves, pocket squares, etc. A friend of mine found a vintage Hermes scarf that she had framed and now hangs in her entryway.
Art: Most of the art in our home was found at flea markets and antique shops in Europe or estate sales in LA. Not only do you find the most exquisite, unique pieces, but they’re also priced remarkably well (most of mine were $150 and less) and serve as daily reminders of past travels.
Worth noting:
Bring cash. Even if a seller is initially reluctant to give you a lower price, if you have the exact amount you’re willing to pay in hand, they’ll often make the deal.
Bargain. Don’t be intimidated, even if there’s a language barrier. Use Google Translate, or in a few shops, we just typed the price in our calculator, handed it to the seller, and they wrote back the price they would accept. It was clunky, but it worked! If I’m interested in purchasing multiple items, I’ll calculate the price, then make a discounted offer if I buy them all (this also works if you bundle purchases with your friends).
Keep track of dimensions before you leave. I have a list of things I’m looking for and the space measurements, so if I fall in love with a piece, I know it will work in our home.
Questions from the Chat:
Do you bring an extra suitcase or are you super diligent with packing for the trip there knowing that you’re going to be bringing items home?
Super diligent, I am not! We all checked one big suitcase each, which we only filled about halfway to leave room for things we picked up along the way and individual carry-ons. Sloan’s carry-on is her backpack, which has things to keep her entertained on the plane, and mine is a small suitcase with several days’ worth of clothes and necessities should the rest of our luggage not arrive. It’s not streamlined, and in fact, we often joke that it looks like we’ve moved to Europe, but it gives me peace of mind to have lots of options and the bandwidth to pack a mobile pharmacy. We also stayed in four different places throughout the two weeks, and unpacking and packing can be a chore when all your belongings have to fit *just so* to zip up your suitcase, so I like to have extra wiggle room.
Would love to hear about your beach days and how you chose where to go, what towns to visit. And of course restaurant and shopping recs!
This was my first time visiting a beach in Italy, and it exceeded all of my lofty, Pinterest-worthy expectations. My friend Ben did a ton of research ahead of time before deciding on Isolotto Beach Club in Porto Ercole, about an hour’s drive from where we were staying. It was slightly off the beaten path, with gorgeous views, a restaurant (where we had my favorite meal of the trip), easy access to the water, and the ability to reserve chairs ahead of time.
DOP:Â A curated shop with beautiful knits, bags, jewelry, and shoes.
Schostal:Â *The* place for the best cotton basics. I swear by their pajamas, button-downs and, on this past trip, bought a pair of pink and red boxers to wear with loafers.
Velasca: Originally a handmade men’s shoe store, Velasca now also carries options for women. PS They offer free shipping and returns and currently have a 20% off sale.
Vintage 55: A mixture of vintage and vintage-inspired pieces that cater mainly to men (I found a great pair of jeans) and feels like a curated flea market.
Essenzialmente Laura: A fragrance shop filled with stunning scents (it’s where the late Queen Elizabeth II had a bespoke collection made). I bought a bath gel for my mom and several of their shell-shaped room diffusers for friends.
Lesley Luxury Vintage: I scored at both of their small but stocked locations - with a vintage Bottega and a durable canvas Gucci tote - each priced remarkably well.
Love the first look with the white tank and brown shorts! So simple and chic. Do you have a link to the shorts?
Thank you for the travel steamer tip xx