Last month, I went on the trip of a lifetime with my husband to Italy! Of all the places we’ve wanted to travel, Italy has been at the top of our bucket list since we first started traveling together nearly 7 years ago. We initially planned to honeymoon in Italy, but we decided the Maldives would be a better choice for a December honeymoon. Then the pandemic started, which halted travel for quite some time. Nevertheless, we knew Italy had to be the destination of choice to celebrate our fourth wedding anniversary after patiently waiting many years to visit.
We knew if we wanted to do Italy right, we had to start with the major cities. In 10 days, we visited Venice, Florence/Tuscany, Milan, and Rome. Talk about a packed itinerary! I am thankful we were able to see and do so much, but this required packing lighter than normal due to traveling between so many cities with luggage. Thus, I knew I had to be very mindful with what I packed during this trip. When packing for your upcoming trip, consider packing lighter to reduce the amount of luggage you will need to haul around. If you are packing light, you need to be thoughtful and intentional with everything you pack. Below are my 6 essentials that you can mix and match for a capsule-like wardrobe for a spring trip to Italy!
- Versatile pants.
As you may know, Italy is considered one of the fashion capitals of Europe. Therefor, I wanted to dress up a bit more than jeans and a tee-shirt. A nice alternative to casual jeans are some high-waist pants. I selected these for our trip, and I received so many compliments! You can pair these pants with anything including a striped shirt, light sweater, or feminine blouse. I opted for a pair of pants in white as this was a nice choice for spring. However, you can select another color such as navy, black or beige if white is not your preference. Regardless, these style pants offer the versatility of jeans while looking slightly more fashion-forward, which is a win in my book. Bonus, they go with so many things that they can be mixed and matched further helping the “pack light” mentality.
- Neutral sweater.
I was hesitant about packing a sweater for a trip to Italy in May. I thought it would be a little too warm, but I am so thankful I ended up bringing this sweater with me in the heather-taupe color. While in northern Italy, we experienced a lot of rain and more brisk temperatures. A sweater was perfect for this weather as it provided more warmth than something such as a tee-shirt, yet I didn’t overheat which is exactly what would have happened if I would have worn a light coat instead. Consider a neutral color, so you can pair the sweater with several outfits.
- Cross body purse.
Italy is one of the most visited countries in the world with millions of tourists visiting each year. While Italy is very safe, there are still petty crimes such as pickpocketing that occur in high-traffic areas including tourist attractions. To protect yourself and your belongings, pack a crossbody purse. When in packed areas, I always pull my purse in front of my body and keep my hand over the zipper to avoid pickpockets. I find it easier to watch my purse when it is directly in front of me, and this isn’t the easiest with other purse options such as shoulder bags.
Additionally, you will be doing a lot of walking. Crossbody purses tend to distribute the weight of the purse and your belongings across your entire body compared to a shoulder or handle bag. I find them to be much more practical for the amount of walking you will be doing for this reason. I packed my favorite crossbody that pairs well with everything. By selecting a purse that is on the minimal side, you will not need to pack many other bags thus reducing the amount you need to haul around in your luggage.
- Day-to-night dress.
Consider packing a “day-to-night dress” for your upcoming vacation to Italy. On our anniversary, we went on a wine tour in Tuscany, and I wore this stunning navy dress. I paired the dress with a small crossbody and casual sandals for a cute day look. Once we returned to our hotel, I used the same dress and changed out my accessories and shoes for formal alternatives. Having a dress this versatile was very convenient, and I appreciated being able to have a “2 for 1” type of outfit so to speak. This type of mindset really helped me pack only the necessary items.
- Light rain coat.
It rained a lot. Nearly every day we were in Italy it rained. This is fairly common during the spring months, so plan accordingly. I decided to pack a versatile trench coat, and I am very thankful I did as I used it nearly every other day. I would suggest a trench coat as it can either be dressed up or down depending on your plans for the day. Consider packing something in a neutral color, so you can pair it with more outfits. I packed my beloved Burberry trench. This is a wonderful alternatives I’ve heard great things about.
- Comfortable flats.
As mentioned above, you are going to be walking a lot. In fact, I cannot recall another vacation where I walked as much as I did in Italy (which was a benefit given all the pasta I had). Pack comfortable shoes! If you are considering packing more stylish shoes, ask yourself if you could comfortably walk 5-6 hours in them. If the answer is no, find an alternative. In Europe, I noticed many people were wearing white sneakers. These are a wonderful option, however, they are not my first choice. I much prefer a comfortable flat over a sneaker as I feel the look is more elegant, but this is simply personal preference. If you feel similarly, find a comfortable flat. I packed my Birdies, and they were absolutely perfect. I walked for hours in what felt like slippers. I purchased them in the latte-suede. While I did enjoy the neutral color for easy pairings, I would not recommend brining suede shoes with all the rain. If Birdies are not your style preference, I’ve also had great luck with these flats while traveling.
I hope this above list helps you plan for your upcoming trip to Italy! As a reminder, this list is just a starting point for building your vacation wardrobe. And remember, pack light. You must save room in your luggage for all the shopping Italy has to offer, ciao!
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