la dolce vita
what i packed and wore in italy, and some reflections between the lines
8 nights. carry on only (packing how-to below).
Florence. A wedding. hiking in the dolomites. Tuscany. And lots of la dolce vita.
Travel is such a big part of what fuels me creatively. I feed off inspiration. It energizes me. I was already feeling this way (maybe in my mental preparation for italy) but italy pulled me towards more color, more boldness. Wearing what feels me, regardless of where I am. Mixing prints. Just wearing MORE. Wearing pieces that might lean... tacky even!?
I’m caring less and less if something I wear is “in” or universally liked.
I’m caring more about me.
How I feel in something.
Dressing more for myself.
I think that shift comes with age. I’m learning how much personal style evolves, and how okay that is. Style is always about expression. The tools I use stay the same, but the outcomes shift. Just because I loved a white tee a few years ago and now wear a black tee every day doesn’t mean my style has changed. It’s the same tool, It’s the same reason behind why I’m choosing it…I’m just making a different choice. But using the same logic.
It reminds me of horoscopes. I’m a gemini. Every time I read mine, I’m like: this is so me!?!?! And yet, I know another gemini could read the exact same thing, feel totally seen, and still be nothing like me.
That’s personal style. When you trust your taste, the way you engage with the world, your lens, stays the same. steady. but what you're drawn to can shift. It can evolve. It can even contradict itself! And that’s not confusion…that’s growth. That’s knowing what you like. Trusting your taste. And not being scared.
Does that make sense? I have no idea lol.
Anyway… here goes.
This is how we packed: a carry-on suitcase and these garment duffles. As it turned out, our tickets allowed two carry-ons, so it was smooth sailing…but when I bought the duffles 24 hours before our flight, I didn’t even know that. My original plan was to casually carry the garment duffle on my shoulder like a tote and hope for the best. Worst case, I figured they’d make me gate-check it.
Funny enough, the store associate (maybe as a sales tactic…but hey, it worked) told me about a woman who came in convinced she could pass it off as a personal item by slinging it over her shoulder. That gave me confidence.
The only con is that compared to my usual garment bag, this one didn’t keep things wrinkle-free quite as well. But every hotel we stayed at had a steamer, and honestly, I just needed a few minutes with a few of the items to freshen things up. It still was amazing and the only way we were able to not check a bag.
this isn’t a full list but this is the gist of what I packed, and how I pack: