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I am not great about packing in advance of a trip – I’m such a moody dresser; I usually wait until the last minute (i.e., night before) to see how I’m feeling and what I’m gravitating towards – but sharing below what I’ve dog-eared for a trip to Tuscany and then Como. Temps are supposed to be in the 60-70s in the daytime and 50-60s in the evening, so layering will be key. The theme is fifty shades of brown.
I know I will need to whittle this down (traveling for seven days – will share full itinerary and notes when we return), but here’s what I have laid out on my floor:
01. This cashmere toggle coat. Love that it works as a cardigan, over a simple tee with jeans, or as an actual jacket, over a dress or blouse.
02. Trying desperately to only pack two pairs, but want all three of these: brown wide-legs, ecru barrels, and dark-wash-wear-with-anythings.
03. Dinner dresses: this and this.
04. White pointelle long-sleeve, white short-sleeve, white slim fit.
06. Leather maxi skirt.
07. Blazer – thinking this one because it goes well with the brown color theme.
08. Statement blouse — either (both?) this and this. I like the idea of pairing these with either casual jeans and a ballet flat for day exploring, or a heel and blazer for evening.
09. Dressy dress — we have one formal dinner planned. I love this or this.
10. Shoes: a) pointed toe suede or velvet pump (these are a really good buy at $150 – I have in a few colors; I have a camel suede that will probably be perfect, but also how good would a chocolate brown be?); b) comfortable and chic sneaks; c) ballet flats.
11. Athleisure: my Tuckernuck cashmere set for travel days; my Varley set (top, bottoms) to mix in on more casual days; chocolate brown leggings.
12. Striped tee – pair with leggings or jeans. Also cute as a top layer / sweatshirt situation.
13. Jewelry: fun heavy gold earrings to zhush up a daytime tee-and-jeans look; riviere for dinner; glitzy earrings to go with anything, from day to night.
14. Swimsuit — this is Mr. Magpie’s favorite on me. (There is a heated pool at one of the resorts!)
15. Pajamas and loungewear for post-exploring relaxation.
16. New lingerie – this and this, and these.
Already unclear what handbags to bring. Possibly something like this (I have in a brown color) or this (I have in brown leather) that will go day-to-night, but can be worn with a crossbody strap during the day. Definitely throwing this Celine phone sling in my bag — I found it so helpful the last time I was traveling, e.g., you just want to run down to the lobby / grab a drink at the hotel bar / need only phone, card, key.
For day-of travel, I’ll be revisiting all your tips here, but plan to bring my noise canceling headphones and external phone battery, wear my cashmere sweatsuit, and have my Kindle pre-loaded with light, diverting fare. I’m not a big eye mask person but am going to pack one because the flight is overnight. A lot of you recommended the Manta one. I’ll probably carry on this duffle, which is magical. It has a laptop sleeve (critical) plus a little flap you can slip on over your suitcase handle, and it’s very lightweight on its own. (Fits under seat!)
P.S. Magpies weigh in with tips on how to plan a great vacation.
P.P.S. How do you handle skincare while traveling?
P.P.P.S. Around this time last year, we had the most magical time in Napa.
I hope you have the best time! It’s been so fun reading these comments, I just got back from a two week “grand tour” and already want to go back, I hope this doesn’t end up applying to you but we got much more rain than we anticipated. The best things I brought were a good rain coat, travel umbrella, and I would have added waterproof but fashionable booties. I also hope you give balsamic from Modena a try after reading today’s icebreakers. It’s one of my favorite things I brought back 🙂
Hi Lisa! Now back and we also had a fair amount of rain and it led me to have to switch up what I packed a bit to be more practical. In the end, we lucked out a lot of days and had windows of rain-free time to explore and enjoy. But also, it was kind of romantic with all the mist and rain?!
xx
Gorgeous packing items! Wait and buy a gorgeous scarf (or two) over there. They always have the prettiest scarves in Italy.
Have a wonderful and fabulous trip.
Thank you so much!! Love the idea of a scarf as a memento! xx
Have fun! Looks fab based on outfits alone. One thing I always pack on any kind of trip is the “transitional comfy” outfit: a pair of leggings/joggers and a crewneck sweatshirt, to stay cozy/warm during the in-between times. Like after the day is done, but before it’s pajama time. Or during morning lounge time, before dressing for the day.
Love this – noted and packed!
It was so fun to review your packing list as we’re embarking on a 2-week honeymoon (also in Europe, but farther west) in a few days! I definitely have a lot of brown/neutrals (and black, too) in my scheme. The temps will be similar where we are (albeit probably 10 degrees warmer in some spots) and so I am taking liberal inspiration from your chic list 🙂
For packing tips: I am SUPER upvoting Anne’s rec to write out your packing list / daily outfits ahead of time, even (especially!) if you are repeating pieces so you can get a sense of what you’ll need. I do this for every single trip I take, beginning in an email draft where I can really noodle for weeks or sometimes even months (!), and then writing it out ahead of time so I can manually cross things off and make adjustments while packing. I usually travel around 20 times per year, both domestically and internationally, for work and for pleasure, and this system keeps me sane!
I also keep two perpetual lists in my Notes app: one for “autres” (meaning everything other than clothes, and I include special mini-lists for trips that are simple for work, vs. with my husband, trips which involve sporty/outdoor activities, etc.); and then another list including out all of my travel toiletries and makeup — I find this so, so helpful to have when replenishing items in the days before I pack. Also, for anyone who travels a lot — I keep my toiletry bag stocked with doubles so I never have to run around my home trying to pack my regular items. SUCH a lifesaver, not just for packing but also, no sweat if something is finished on the road or forgotten in a hotel room.
Hope you have a fantastic trip to Italy! Excited to hear your wisdom once you return 🙂
xx
LOVE these tips, especially the name “autres” (stealing this one immediately) and the idea of buying duplicates of beauty/skincare items you’ll pack. I have increasingly been doing the same kind of thing: buying the mini/travel sized version of products I love and permanently keeping them in a travel toiletry bag so I’m not decanting / left without something at the last minute.
xx
Hi! We just returned from a lovely trip to Italy in September. I think people in Italy tend to dress very well. I didn’t see anyone wearing blue jeans. You may want to reconsider the pumps since the ancient streets and sidewalks have large gaps that will ruin your heels. Maybe a block heel platform or boots? I saw many women wearing gorgeous silk scarves.I tucked a small crossbody into my large travel tote. Bring your passport with you for shopping excursions so you can get the taxes refunded via Global Blue. Have the best time! xx
Oh I didn’t end up wearing the leggings or athleisure attire i brought with me. But we weren’t hiking or doing anything sporty. LOL
HAHA! I also intend to do nothing sporty BUT there is a truffle hunt that is supposed to be in rainy/drizzly/muddy weather so may need to pack something besides pants/skirts for that excursion — haha. I’m having a flashback to my honeymoon, where we went on a “jungle walk” which I anticipated would be a very sanitized affair. It was not. I was trudging through thick mud in a dense jungle wearing Jack Rogers and a Lilly Pulitzer dress. The guides had a good laugh about it I’m sure.
xx
Good point on the heels! Maybe just a flat then. Thanks for that edit…
Thanks so much!
xx
Hi Jen! Love all of the fall outfit inspiration in this post. For the brown leggings specifically, I wanted to get your thoughts on lululemon align vs. vuori as I saw you linked the latter. Debating which to purchase myself.
Hi! I have not yet tried these exact Vuori leggings – I just love the color! My brown leggings are actually an old Amazon pair. Personally I’d vote for Align because I can personally attest that the fit / feel are PERFECT.
xx
Como and Tuscany, two of my all time favorite places! Have a wonderful time!
Yay! Thanks so much!
Very excited for you!!! I will say, I hope those Agolde jeans make the cut. I was looking for a new pair IRL (never happens!) because at every party my chic European friends are wearing crisp white button downs or black turtlenecks, jeans, and statement jewelry, and imagine my surprise…I think I bought nearly that same pair in a lighter wash! I think that leather skirt is absolutely dynamite, and I love your eye for handbags. That APC is likely perfect. I do think you can wear that rivière anywhere in Como at any time of day! (Leaving all my exclamation points, but I’m also charmed when people laugh at their own jokes).
Today I rolled down to get croissants in my vintage gray sweatsuit from my grandad with my husband’s red Crocs-ish mules, and there was the most elegant older lady. Silver hair in a perfect curly pompadour, cobalt blue longline boucle jacket and matching mini skirt, navy pumps and ladylike handbag, red lipstick, drinking her espresso right at the counter standing up as the Italians do. Perfection.
That woman sounds SO chic. And thanks for the upvotes/feedback on my wardrobe picks!! I am so excited!
xx
My husband and I just returned from Switzerland and Lake Como. We stayed at both the Mandarin Oriental and Passalacqua in Lake Como. If you have a chance to visit or have dinner at Passalacqua, I HIGHLY recommend it. The dinner is in the top 5 of all meals we have ever had and the hotel is beyond gorgeous. Everywhere you looked, there was something stunning to see! Enjoy your trip!
Oo your trip sounds fabulous! Thank you so much!!! Cannot wait! xx
Highly recommend town of Lucca in Tuscany…magical.
Thank you! xx
Hi Jen! Excited to hear about your trip and itinerary afterward! Throwing in my 2 cents from a few years practice of international vacations here! First, I know you mentioned you are changing locations so I’d pack on the lighter side if you can. Any sort of travel days is so much easier when you have less stuff to lug. My tip to do that is to make a list in notes of what you will wear for each day, down to shoes and bag. You can check the weather and your plans for that day and then write it out. I find that packing and trips go SO much more smoothly when I do this and it avoids the “but I have nothing!” panic when you are there and also the frustration of hauling around 3 sweaters that you never get around to wearing (not that I have done that…..). I like to use the checklist bullets in notes and then check each item off as it goes in my suitcase, very reassuring to help you feel like you remembered everything.
Great ideas – thank you so much!! Agree, I’ll need a lot of whittling down… xx
Oooh sounds lovely! Just came back from Italia too. Two things for your consideration that I always bring on fall trips no matter the northern hemisphere destination the last few years… a packable raincoat and and small lightweight Totes brand umbrella, as well as a light thermal long sleeve top in a “technical” (synthetic) fabric that can be worn as a top or under layer (I go for gray so it doesn’t show lint as much). Both unfortunately to weather out wetter and/or colder weather than forecasted even if I rejigger my packing the night before. Have a lovely time!
These are great tips – thanks so much! Hadn’t thought about the rain coat or umbrella!! TY!
xx
It’s fun to travel vicariously with you! Did you plan the trip yourselves or work with a travel agent? Can’t wait to hear more after you return…
Hi! We worked with an agent — I’ll share details after we’re back so I can give a full and honest response!
xx