Everything I Packed For Italy + 5 Packing Tips
Today I’m sharing about what I packed for Italy! Full disclaimer: I really did not shop very much specifically for this trip, and I mostly relied on what was already in my closet. The two items I purchased for this trip were this block print Sea dress and this new swimsuit (top and bottom)! Otherwise, everything else I had already purchased (some of it, quite a while ago!) but I still wanted to share to give you all an idea of what I brought and share some packing tips!
About our Trip
Our trip was 12 days including travel time. We spent the first week or so around the Amalfi Coast and then the last 3 days we spent in Rome! As you can see, I lived almost entirely in dresses! I love how easy and simple they are to throw on, and I love that I didn’t have to put much effort into what I was going to wear each day in terms of putting an outfit together.
Tip #1:
Pick a color scheme! I brought mostly white, blue and neutral pieces with me, which was inspired by the locations we were traveling to! I think that it’s so important to pack within a given color scheme, that way, all your pieces will flow together, accessories and shoes included!
Tip #2:
Pack a variety of day and night options! I felt like the majority of these pieces worked for both day and night with a couple of exceptions - some dresses only felt appropriate for dinners out. However, most options I felt could work for both. I planned to be able to shower and change before dinner each night which mostly worked out, but in the case that it didn’t, I knew I’d want to wear something that felt comfortable for both day and night.
Tip #3:
Use a carry on! I am a big believer in carry ons, especially when traveling to Europe. When you are already dealing with long overnight flights, I dont want to spend any more time at the airport than necessary. Waiting for a bag (that could get lost!) is not something I want to risk. Also since you are usually running to catch a train, a ferry, or another plane, or just walking to your hotel, you really dont want to have to carry something larger than what is necessary.
Tip #4:
Packing cubes! I was so skeptical these would do anything, but with the amount of clothing I wanted to bring in a carry on, I decided there was no better time to give it a go. Let me tell you - these packing cubes saved the day! I have had the Away carryon for a couple years now, and bought the coordinating packing cubes before our trip. They did an excellent job of compressing all my clothes down to the point that I was able to bring everything below (that’s 13 dresses), two tops, a pair of shorts, two swimsuits, as well as pajamas, tee shirts, socks, etc. I also packed each cube by location, which brings me to my next tip…
Tip #5:
Plan your outfits in advance. As much as possible, plan out what you want to wear when. If you have a basic idea what you’ll be doing each day, try to assign an outfit just to that day, and then pack your packing cubes by location. When you arrive at your next stop, you’ll only need to unpack one cube, which really helped me stay organized throughout our trip!
