Italy Packing List for Women in Any Season
When we went our European honeymoon, I overpacked. (As one does). It wasn’t a terrible thing, but I grossly overestimated how many clothes I needed for three weeks. I wanted to be prepared for every possible day, dinner, and event. Now that I’m a little more seasoned, I have a better idea of what needs to be on my Italy packing list. Turns out, you can do that by packing a few of the right items.
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Italy Packing List for Women
While your favorites might vary a little bit depending on the season or where you are going, this basic list is what I start with for every trip. I’ve tried to include a few tried-and-true favorites for every season. As always, I’ve included recommendations that work for me, but you should always try before you buy! I’ve tried to include why I include certain materials so that if something isn’t in your budget, you can find a reasonable alternative, too.
☑Walking Shoes
I very rarely pack a pair of high heels when I’m traveling to Italy. Unless we are going to see a performance or having portraits taken, I’ve learned to leave my high heels at home. Cobblestones aren’t kind to high heels. Tom calls them ankle breakers (or suitcase breakers) for a reason. However, I also don’t exclusively pack tennis shoes… because you can’t spend your birthday at Il Palagio in tennis shoes!
What do shoes do I bring to Italy instead?
☑ Stuart Weitzman 50/50 Boots or Sarah Flint Perfect Stretch Boots– The 50/50s come in suede or leather. I have the suede version and I had my local cobbler waterproof them. They have traveled many miles with me. I love these in the fall and winter, especially. I bought the Sarah Flint boots to replace them after 6 years, and I have not been disappointed. You can use my Sarah Flint discount code (SF-SARA-15) to save 15% year-round!
☑ Sarah Flint Zip Booties – I bought these because knee-high boots don’t always go with the pants I pack in winter. These Sarah Flint booties come in leather (perfect for rainy days) or suede. Both are great. They are super comfortable for walking long distances. I sized up so I can wear heavier socks with them in winter!
☑ Ecco Sensata Sandals – I haven’t seen the original version of these since 2015, but I wore mine for four years. I scour eBay and Poshmark for them from time to time. These are extremely comfortable and are perfect for spring and summer travel. (I wore out both navy and black pairs.) I have a friend who swears by all the shoes Ecco makes. If you live in the south, it’s worth a trip to Dillard’s to try on Ecco shoes to see if they work for you. I found that different shoes require different sizes. (Their sneakers might be a good alternative to a tennis shoe. They have great padding!)
☑ Sarah Flint block sandals – Yep. I’m a Sarah Flint stan. The block sandals are perfect for cobblestones in Italy. They come in in a variety of heel heights. I almost always bring the 30 and 60. I really want to buy the new crossover sandal, but my size is almost always sold out! You can save $100 on sandals by using Sarah Flint discount code PERFECTSANDAL, too!
☑ Another flat sandal I love is the Kate Spade Tessa sandal. I’ve been snapping these up on the secondhand market whenever I can find them. I have them in navy and brown. I’ve lost track of how old my original pair is, but they have lasted a long time. They are great for packing because they are flat and don’t take up any room.
☑ Chloe Scalloped Ballet Flats – I’ve tried a lot of flats, but none of them conform to my feet as well as these do. These shoes do not have a lot of support (comparatively), but they work for me. I bought my first pair in 2013 and finally wore them out in 2017. I’ve purchased several more pairs since then. I wear them to the bone. I had a pair of TB leather flats on our honeymoon in Venice and they didn’t survive a rainstorm. (They also dyed my feet purple for a few days. Yikes.) The Chloe flats come up on sale through Rue La La from time to time. If you can grab a pair, they are worth the investment.
☑ Andre Assous Wedge Sandals – I bought these wedges because I wanted an extra pair of shoes for summer travel. I love the way they elevate shorts and sundresses. The wedge is definitely better than heels for cobblestones in Italy. And, the stretch is actually really nice in the summer when your feet might be a little swollen from the heat or traveling!
☑Sweaters, Cardigans, Blazers, and Capes
☑Cashmere sweaters – After a lot of trial and error, I have realized that the cashmere is the best option for shoulder season travel. I tend to shop the cashmere sales at Neiman Marcus. I like their styles best and they last longer than some cashmere at other department stores. (I had a sweater that was completely stretched and pilled after one trip.) Cashmere keeps me warm in the winter, especially when layered properly. That said, it is not too warm in the spring either. I also love that it’s easy to dress it up with jewelry, scarf, or with a skirt or pants.
Bonus: Cashmere sweaters are lighter or easier to pack than bulky cable-knit or wool sweaters
☑Cardigan sweater – No Italy packing list is complete without a cardigan. If you’re going to wear sleeveless tops or dresses (and I do!), you’ll want a cardigan to throw on before visiting a church. It’s also nice on a balmy evening when you don’t want a coat. I tend to pack a cardigan that goes with the bulk of my outfits – think cream or navy, but I’ve been known to mix it up with brighter colors, too. It just depends what is in my suitcase. I love the older Kate Spade basic cardigans. I’ve have had mine for 7 years now!
☑ Blazers and cropped jackets – Thanks to my amazing personal shopper (Susan), I love throwing a fun blazer over a Wolford bodysuit or short sleeve sweater. The Wolford bodysuits come in a variety of colors, necklines, and sleeves, so it’s easy to mix and match. It’s also really nice because they don’t take up a lot of space. I love the mock turtleneck for layering in fall and winter.
☑ Marta Scarampi capes – I’m sad that Marta is taking a hiatus from design. She’s created some beautiful capes and found sourced some incredible fabrics over the years. However, if you can find her Rachel Mondrian cape on the secondhand market, I always have one in my suitcase. She does have a few pieces left on her site, so you might be able to snag a couple things while she reimagines her work.
☑Slim Cut Pants
☑ Skinny jeans – I refused to pack pants on our trips until 2016. In late 2015, I discovered the J Brand Maria jeans (the same ones that Duchess Catherine wears) and I never looked back. They have been a welcome addition to my wardrobe on rainy or cold days. A dark wash looks great with my boots and a cashmere sweater. Again, you can dress it up or down as much as you like, but as far as being cute and comfortable on rainy days (especially in Tuscany), this is a good look. These are always on sale, so shop around for them.
☑ Lafayette 148 Gramercy Pant – My personal shopper introduced me to these pants… and I own them in several colors now. I LOVE how they fit. The flat front and side zipper is probably the most flattering pair of pants I could find. My staples are ink and black, but I have collected a few other fun colors, too. You can usually find a random assortment of last season’s colors on RueLaLa and Gilt.
☑J Crew Pixie Pants – I generally reserve these for travel days. These stretch leggings are a great way to feel put together but not look like you are wearing athleisure. I couple them with a long silk top or a longer cashmere sweater.
☑ If you want a more elevated legging, I highly recommend the Wolford Augusta leggings, but again, hard to find. These faux suede leggings are one of my favorite pieces that I purchased in 2018. I have them in Almond as well, but the charcoal ones are by far my favorite.
☑Ready to Wear Dresses
I travel a lot for work and I travel a lot for fun. When I purchase dresses, I tend to purchase higher quality materials that travel better and require less care upon arrival. Further, I tend to purchase dresses with longer hemlines, modest cuts, and things that can be accessorized with a cardigan or a blazer. In most cases, it’s not worth having two separate wardrobes.
Once I find a style I like, I might buy it in multiple colors, like in the case of the Emilia Wickstead Sheila and Marlen dresses. I might buy more than one, especially if I can find it on the secondhand market. (I’m picky.) This is particularly true for my basic black wool pleated dress by Alexander McQueen. The reason is simple: better and heavier materials travel better and classic styles are always in style. The Lela Rose dress I wore in our honeymoon photos in Paris is still very much a part of my wardrobe. I wore it a few years later in our anniversary photos in Venice. You can’t tell that the photos were taken several years apart.
I like to pack a range of lengths, including a long dress or two. (You never know when you want to do something a little special and need to dress up!) I usually never include any dresses that hit above the knee when packing for Italy. You never know when you’re going to find yourself in a church, and you don’t want to disrespect the local custom.
Pro Tip: Shop sales and secondhand sites. I have paid less for Emilia Wickstead and Alexander McQueen than I have for lesser quality, mass-produced brands. One of my favorite brands started to go cheap on the materials but higher on the prices. I can find Emilia and Alexander for less than what I would pay for their stuff at full price. These brands last a lot longer, too. You do get what you pay for when it comes to clothes.
☑Rachel Pally Dresses – I love traveling on red-eye flights in the Rachel Pally stretch cotton or jersey dresses. They are extremely comfortable for long-haul flights. (Fun fact: I purchased mine prior to a trip to China in 2016. I still wear it for flights.) I also like them for train travel days, especially if you’re going to be on a longer train ride. The solid colors and simple lines of most of her designs make these dresses easy to pack and wear for multiple occasions.
