Packing for 2.5 weeks in Italy in August

[Anonymous]

you've got 8 bottoms/outfits (adding romper/dresses) but only 7 shirts. I'd plan to wear each thing at least twice, especially bottoms. I think you need more shirts - or change out some t shirts for button shirts you could throw over a sundress or use as a coverup at the pool, etc.

Do you expect any long walks, hiking? Athletic shorts or a skort that could double as a skirt?

I think you should also think about changing for dinner and hang up clothes after wearing to let them air out.

Underwear will take up a lot of room.

Seeking out a place to wash dry and fold clothes seems like a good idea.

[Anonymous]

Since you’ll be staying 10 days in hotels, I think what you have is fine. After your first or second day in Florence send everything out to be washed. Then you’ll be set for the rest of the trip.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You don't have enough tops.

I'd cut back on bottoms and a dress and take more tops. Do you really want to be handwashing tops in the sink while on vacation?

Depends on what you like to wear. I would take more dresses, less tops and shorts. I think dresses keep me much cooler and look more put together. Italians aren't big on shorts.

+1 Just returned from Italy and had more dresses than tops and shorts. I wore each dress twice for a 10 day trip. Wore sneakers with the dresses. Seemed to be the "uniform" I saw everywhere.

Do you have suggestions for good dresses for this? I feel like most of mine are either “work” dresses or going out dresses. I have one light crepe wrap dress that I was planning to take, and a couple of sundresses so I was going to add 1-2 of those. I’m not opposed to wearing dresses more than shorts but I don’t really have many that I feel would be appropriate.
I’m a late 30s mom with 3 kids, my style is pretty classic and I’m not at the Eileen Fisher/J Jill stage of life yet. 😉

[Anonymous]

This was 20 years ago so things may have changed- but we sent out clothes for daughter to be cleaned at a couple of hotels and they came back with a very powerful almost sickening scent that lingered throughout trip.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
This was 20 years ago so things may have changed- but we sent out clothes for daughter to be cleaned at a couple of hotels and they came back with a very powerful almost sickening scent that lingered throughout trip.

Ugh, that would be my nightmare as I’m sensitive to scents. I would hope by now there’s a “fragrance free” option. I also have detergent sheets that take up zero space so I can use those to hand launder things as well. I was thinking to do that for T-shirts and underwear so I can pack fewer. Kids I will take a bunch of quick-dry things so that those can be hand washed too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You don't have enough tops.

I'd cut back on bottoms and a dress and take more tops. Do you really want to be handwashing tops in the sink while on vacation?

Depends on what you like to wear. I would take more dresses, less tops and shorts. I think dresses keep me much cooler and look more put together. Italians aren't big on shorts.

+1 Just returned from Italy and had more dresses than tops and shorts. I wore each dress twice for a 10 day trip. Wore sneakers with the dresses. Seemed to be the "uniform" I saw everywhere.

Do you have suggestions for good dresses for this? I feel like most of mine are either “work” dresses or going out dresses. I have one light crepe wrap dress that I was planning to take, and a couple of sundresses so I was going to add 1-2 of those. I’m not opposed to wearing dresses more than shorts but I don’t really have many that I feel would be appropriate.
I’m a late 30s mom with 3 kids, my style is pretty classic and I’m not at the Eileen Fisher/J Jill stage of life yet. 😉

No pp, but I would look at Title Nine and Athleta for quick drying dresses. If your linen pants are new, know that they are not going to look the same after hand washed in sink- I would send them out for cleaning.
Also, wear them for a day and see how much they stretch out. I love the idea but find some linen pants look sloppy in a hurry. Nix the jean shorts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You don't have enough tops.

I'd cut back on bottoms and a dress and take more tops. Do you really want to be handwashing tops in the sink while on vacation?

Depends on what you like to wear. I would take more dresses, less tops and shorts. I think dresses keep me much cooler and look more put together. Italians aren't big on shorts.

+1 Just returned from Italy and had more dresses than tops and shorts. I wore each dress twice for a 10 day trip. Wore sneakers with the dresses. Seemed to be the "uniform" I saw everywhere.

Do you have suggestions for good dresses for this? I feel like most of mine are either “work” dresses or going out dresses. I have one light crepe wrap dress that I was planning to take, and a couple of sundresses so I was going to add 1-2 of those. I’m not opposed to wearing dresses more than shorts but I don’t really have many that I feel would be appropriate.
I’m a late 30s mom with 3 kids, my style is pretty classic and I’m not at the Eileen Fisher/J Jill stage of life yet. 😉

No pp, but I would look at Title Nine and Athleta for quick drying dresses. If your linen pants are new, know that they are not going to look the same after hand washed in sink- I would send them out for cleaning.
Also, wear them for a day and see how much they stretch out. I love the idea but find some linen pants look sloppy in a hurry. Nix the jean shorts.

I’ve worn the linen pants for the last month and washed them and they seem fine. I’ll look at those dresses but the Athleta ones I saw in the past were really not my style - too sporty I guess?

[Anonymous]

Madewell has cute, casual day dresses -- and everything is 30% off right now.

https://www.madewell.com/womens/clothing/dresses?intcmp=%27Homepage_header_dresses

[Anonymous]

Boden has some cute dresses that might work too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You don't have enough tops.

I'd cut back on bottoms and a dress and take more tops. Do you really want to be handwashing tops in the sink while on vacation?

Depends on what you like to wear. I would take more dresses, less tops and shorts. I think dresses keep me much cooler and look more put together. Italians aren't big on shorts.

+1 Just returned from Italy and had more dresses than tops and shorts. I wore each dress twice for a 10 day trip. Wore sneakers with the dresses. Seemed to be the "uniform" I saw everywhere.

Do you have suggestions for good dresses for this? I feel like most of mine are either “work” dresses or going out dresses. I have one light crepe wrap dress that I was planning to take, and a couple of sundresses so I was going to add 1-2 of those. I’m not opposed to wearing dresses more than shorts but I don’t really have many that I feel would be appropriate.
I’m a late 30s mom with 3 kids, my style is pretty classic and I’m not at the Eileen Fisher/J Jill stage of life yet. 😉

A PP posted about Madewell which I had brought a few dresses with me. I also like Juliet Dunn but they are a bit pricey.

https://www.mytheresa.com/en-us/designers/juliet-dunn.html

Nordstrom Rack has lots of causal styles in both long and short.

https://www.nordstromrack.com/shop/Women/Clothing/Dresses/Casual

I bought this Free People dress and it worked really well. I could also dress it up with high heeled sandals for a dinner out.

https://www.nordstromrack.com/s/free-people-bonnie-floral-print-minidress/6296298?origin=keywordsearch-personalizedsort&breadcrumb=Home%2FAll%20Results&color=700

[Anonymous]

I am the PP who wore sneakers with dresses in Italy.

here is the sneaker I wore.

https://www.dsw.com/en/us/product/jlo-jennifer-lopez-lolan-espadrille-platform-sneaker/527042?activeColor=101&cm_mmc=CSE-_-GPS-_-G_Shopping_JLo-_-JLo&cadevice=c&gclid=Cj0KCQjwhqaVBhCxARIsAHK1tiOrGaBcHGxSRVopeoT9AOiBhbf5W0efoOlAgUNlm6Brw046pFvA9zgaAl7uEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

The platform was great for me. Very comfortable and my feet never hurt. We did a lot of walking and I was worried about getting blisters from sandals.

[Anonymous]

Def dresses not shorts

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Def dresses not shorts

Really? No shorts at all? I have some cute “nicer” shorts with a paper bag sort of top that look very put together. Would a pair of those be ok to mix it up?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Def dresses not shorts

Really? No shorts at all? I have some cute “nicer” shorts with a paper bag sort of top that look very put together. Would a pair of those be ok to mix it up?

Italians really don't wear shorts.

[Anonymous]

Make sure you pack a light wrap, most churches require women's shoulders to be covered.