Monday, November 13, 2023

Style Inspiration: What I Packed & Wore in Italy

Having just returned from a few weeks in Italy, I thought I would share some outfit inspiration and show how I outfit plan for a trip like this. So if you're planning for a trip, especially if you're headed to Italy, read on!

I find planning out my outfits fully in advance, for each activity (daytime and nighttime) just makes my life so much easier while travelling, because I'm not having to worry about figuring out what to wear, and I know I have all the accessories and pieces required for each outfit. I drafted a word doc of my outfits with the city and activity, along with inspiration photos and photos/list of all items required for each outfit. That way, I can take a quick glance on my phone and know exactly what look I'm going to wear and what I need to find in my suitcase. Of course, plans can change, and so of course sometimes I'll shuffle outfits around, but it's a good starting point.

Below is a peek at what my outfit planning word doc looked like, and then keep scrolling below to see each of the outfits I planned, along with actual photos from my trip!



What to Wear to: Vatican Museum in Rome
I was probably more excited about this outfit than any other outfit on the trip. It was the first one I pieced together, and the inspiration was Dolce & Gabbana. It's all about the opulent gold accents. I'm so obsessed with these big gold cross earrings. It was the perfect outfit to visit the Vatican museum - especially since the dress gave ample chest/shoulder/leg coverage to meet the Vatican's dress code.



What to Wear to: Colosseum in Rome / Sightseeing in Lucca
This was my favourite 'touristing' outfit, given the 30-degree heat we were experiencing in Italy, especially Rome. The fabric of this Chicwish dress is so light and airy so it's a super comfortable and cute dress for a day of sightseeing. I styled this dress with my LV BB bandeau tied as a bow around my neck for a day trip to Lucca, and in Rome, I switched up with this vintage Karl Lagerfeld scarf and just tied it loosely around my shoulders.



What to Wear to: Dinner Out in Rome
This baroque-style painting dress was so great for a night out in Rome! And being in Rome, a big cross necklace felt like the right accessory.



What to Wear to: Borghese Gardens in Rome

Blue/white seersucker dress - Brown Hermes-style sandals Straw boater hat - Large brown sunglasses - Brown bow purse

We spent the day walking around the Borghese Gardens in Rome, and took a row boat around an idyllic little pond complete with Roman ruins. A flowy seersucker dress and sandals was ideal for walking around the park while still looking fancy enough for our lunch at the rooftop Terrazza Borghese. Unfortunately this dress is many years old so I don't have a link...sorry!



What to Wear to: Sightseeing in Venice
Another one of my favourite outfits of the trip. Felt like I was living my best rich aunt in Italy life. The key is the tied silk scarf and cat-eye sunglasses. All I'm missing is the cute Italian car with the roof down!



What to Wear to: Venice - Night Out for Dinner/Drinks
This ended up being the perfect outfit for a boujee night out at Harry's Bar at Cipriani's and the Riva Lounge at Gritti Palace. The lace blouse has these amazing oversized sleeves, but wearing it with a black blazer over top give it a more understated but chic look. If you're getting a drink at the Riva Lounge by the way, the James Bond martini is a must.



What to Wear to: Sightseeing in Venice & Murano / Gondola Ride


I had dreamed of wearing a pretty polka dot dress while wandering the canals of Venice, and it was just as I'd hoped! I had this dress tailored to fit me a bit better - cinching the waist and shortening the sleeves. The thin fabric and high slit help to keep me cool in the summer-like heat. 



What to Wear to: Dinner Out in Venice


I'm sad I didn't get a full outfit photo of this one, but just trust that it was a good one! We did end up getting some squid ink on the blouse (oops!), but luckily it came out no problem. The voluminous, flowy sleeves on this blouse made it a stand-out. 



What to Wear to: Sorrento - Boat Day Tour to Capri
Nothing says Amalfi Coast like the quintessential 'majolica' print, used on pottery in the Italian Renaissance. I wore this set with bikini underneath on our boat tour to Capri, since we were given the opportunity to take a swim off the boat. Then it was easy enough to button up and walk around Capri without feeling like I was too 'beachy' looking.



What to Wear to: Lunch in Sorrento
This was my outfit for lunch at O'Parrucchiano la Favorita in Sorrento (also known as the 'Lemon Grove' restaurant). The citrus print on this Chicwish skirt was perfect for enjoying lunch amongst the lemons!



What to Wear to: Dinner Out in Sorrento


Another citrus skirt from Chicwish that I was so excited to wear for a dinner out in Sorrento! We had dinner at the Hotel Bellevue Syrene, which has a gorgeous terrace right on the water, high up on the cliff. Luckily Sorrento (unlike Positano) doesn't have too many steps, but the cobblestones made wearing my espadrille wedges a good idea, versus regular heels.



What to Wear to: Beach Club in Sorrento
Two words: beach club. We had a fabulous time at the Marameo Beach Club in Sorrento, sipping Aperol spritzes and espresso martinis and relaxing in the sun. I wanted something lemon-print for this, so I brought along my H&M button-up lemon dress, and wore it over top of this blue & white striped swimsuit. This swimsuit is SO flattering! Lots of great support, and the belt cinches the waist so nicely.



What to Wear to: Dinner Out in Sorrento
I picked up this dress from H&M a couple months before our trip, and knew I'd want to wear it for a dinner in Sorrento. After all, can't get enough of that majorlica print! I ended up wearing this for our dinner out at Vesuvius Panoramic Restaurant in Sorrento (and wow, what an incredible dinner that was!).



What to Wear to: Dinner Out in Sorrento
For our final dinner out, I wore this cute puff sleeve top (again in blue and white of course!) and white wide leg pants. This dinner was a little less fancy than the others, so the pants were a good option. Can't go without a little lemon detail though, so I added my lemon scarf tied around the handle of my purse (not shown here because unfortunately I had my purse facing the wrong way!).



What to Wear to: Wine Tour in Tuscany

Finding the perfect fall wine tour dress wasn't easy, but I finally found this number! I love the dark yellow/black pattern, and the long sleeves. Nice and flowy and romantic. I wore the dress with a straw hat and espadrilles for the wine tour, and then I wore the same dress with my bow mules for aperitivo in Florence (and visiting one of the wine windows in Florence!). So this was definitely my 'wine dress'.



What to Wear to: Gucci Museum in Florence
I knew I wanted my outfit to be something fancy and chic to wear for a trip to the Gucci Museum in Florence. This dress has a gorgeous sheer, textured fabric on top, and a cute cut-out on the back with two ties. We were doing a lot of walking, so these cute but comfortable bow mules were a good go-to.



What to Wear to: Night Out for Drinks in Florence
We visited the birthplace of the Negroni cocktail in Florence, at a bar called Giacosa which has just recently re-opened so I styled an outfit that was chic and modern. The earrings were really the centrepiece, and I just love this black corset with a mesh sheer overlap and pointed corners.



What to Wear to: Sightseeing in Florence / Pasta Making Class in Rome
This sweet outfit was exactly what I wanted to wear for more casual days in places like Florence to do some sightseeing. Here, I'm chowing down on the best panini in Florence at All'Antico Vinaio. I also ended up wearing this same outfit for our pasta making class in Rome, but I paired it with my low sandal heels instead.



What to Wear to: Sightseeing & Pizza Dinner in Naples
In the seaside town of Naples, a nautical look felt most appropriate. The wide leg pants and white sneakers were also a good choice for all the walking we did. You can't see the front of my sweater in this photo, but it actually says 'Ciao!' across the front (I thifted it a few years back) - couldn't pass up an opportunity to wear that on the trip!



What to Wear to: Tipsy Tour in Rome
Sorry, I wish I had photos of me wearing this outfit, but we were just having way too much fun on our Tipsy Tour in Rome (and it was a nighttime activity, so lighting was dark anyway). I just love the renaissance painting print on this bustier, and I styled it with a big chunky cross necklace.



What to Wear to: Dinner/Drinks in Rome
I actually didn't get a chance to wear this outfit, but I'm still including it because I love it and think someone else should definitely rock it in Rome! The oversized cross earrings and square neckline bodysuit are really the focus point here.



What to Wear to: The Airport
The key to a good travel outfit is looking chic but comfortable, and should be layered in case of temperature changes. I literally did not own a pair of Lululemons until this year, and I will say they are actually pretty great. And a fanny pack was the best option for a purse to avoid any potential pickpockets!



If you have sizing questions about anything above, just DM me on Instagram.




Happy Styling! xo

~ Britta



















Sunday, November 13, 2022

Fall/Winter 2022 Fashion Must-Haves

It was time to update my closet for the Fall/Winter 2022 season, and I thought you might want to see what I picked. I've always found Chicwish's fall and winter pieces to be made of nice, thick materials that are particularly good for staying cozy (and chic) this time of year. Below is a breakdown of the top 6 pieces that I've already been wearing non-stop this season:



The Statement Bow Sweater

I've been eying this statement sweater since last fall! The bow detail is such a stand-out. And I love the slightly trumpet sleeves too. This sweater is thick and warm, making it a perfect way to cozy up your outfits for fall/winter. For reference, I'm wearing a size Small/Medium here.

The Rustic Plaid Skirt

This is the perfect skirt for fall/winter, due to its thickness. It's got a really nice weight to the fabric, and is super soft too. The A-line cut of this skirt is so flattering, not to mention it has pockets!! This skirt looks great with heels, but also with a pair of tall boots for colder, rainy days. I originally ordered a size Large based on the sizing chart, but ended up re-ordering in a size Medium to get the waist to fit perfectly.

The Spooky Sweater

Halloween might be over, but it's still spooky season! I had been seeing this sweater all over Instagram for years, and finally got my hands on one. Isn't it the cutest? It comes in dark green and black as well, but I think the orange is the perfect shade for fall. I'm wearing a size Medium/Large here.

The Sweater/Skirt Dress

This sweater dress is in the perfect shade of camel, and is nice and cozy for the fall/winter season. The pleated skirt underneath is such a unique touch, and is actually fully attached to the rest of the sweater dress! Same as the rustic plaid skirt, this dress would also look great with some tall boots. I ordered a size Large in this dress, but I could have gone with a Medium, as it's quite stretchy.

The Cape Sweater

I have been wearing this sweater non-stop since I got it! I am obsessed with the open style of this cape sweater, because it keeps me from getting sweaty and overheated if I'm running from store to store. Because it's open on the sides, I do wear a tank top underneath. Easily style it with some leggings for a chic and cozy fall/winter look that's great for running errands or cozying up on the couch. This sweater is a size Small/Medium, and it's a perfect fit.

The Off-Shoulder Sweater

This off-shoulder sweater is the perfect sexy but cozy top for the fall/winter season. It criss-crosses in the front and folds over around the back. It's easy to adjust to show more or less of the shoulders. Pair it with a pair of jeans for a more casual look, or with a pair of faux leather pants or a skirt for a night out. This one is a size Small/Medium, and it fits great. Sizing would be flexible, as it's very stretchy.


Which of these pieces would you rock this fall/winter?


Thanks to Chicwish for providing the items featured here for review! I've been a customer of theirs for so many years, and it's always a pleasure to collaborate with brands that I already shop.


Happy Styling! xo

~ Britta


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