I'm heading to Italy for two weeks in September, which means I've started mentally packing my suitcase about 47 times before actually putting anything into it.
And I've already established one rule:
I am not going to Italy to do laundry.
Yes, we'll have laundry access. And yes, I'm sure I'll wash a few things along the way.
But spending my vacation doing loads of laundry? No thank you.
So I've been thinking about what to pack for Italy in September and how to build a travel wardrobe that gives me plenty of outfits without taking my entire closet along for the ride.
Start With a Travel Color Palette
Instead of packing individual outfits, I'm starting with a color story.
For this trip, I'm building around avocado, olive, dark denim and easy neutrals.
My avocado knit vest and olive wide-leg pants are already on the list. They work together, but they also work separately with several other things I'm packing.
That's becoming my suitcase rule:
If something only makes one outfit, it probably doesn't get to go.
This is also one of my favorite tips for women trying to build a smaller, more versatile wardrobe at home. You don't necessarily need more clothing. Sometimes you need more pieces that work with what you already own.
One Dress Just Earned Its Ticket to Italy
Of course, while I was planning all of this, a new chocolate brown and blue floral dress arrived at Her Happy Place.
It's going.
A dress is an entire outfit in one piece, which makes it pretty valuable when suitcase space is limited.
I can wear it to dinner, add a shrug when it gets cooler, switch my jewelry and change my shoes to make it feel different.
That's a lot of work from one piece of clothing.
Dark Denim Can Do Double Duty
I'm also bringing my Britney Low Rise Wide Leg Jeans.
The dark wash is important. I can wear them casually during the day and dress them up for dinner.
Change the top, add a belt, switch the jewelry and suddenly the same jeans don't feel like the same outfit.
Nobody in Italy is going to know how many times I've worn them.
At least that's the plan.
Pack Layers That Earn Their Space
September weather in Italy means I need to be prepared for warm days and cooler evenings without packing bulky layers.
I'm planning a Peachy Soft Tank, classic cotton button-up, knit vest and shrug.
The tank works alone. The button-up works alone or open over the tank. The vest creates another look, and a lightweight shrug takes up very little suitcase space while giving me coverage over tanks and dresses.
I'll add a few skorts and another dress or two.
I'm trying very hard to avoid the dangerous packing phrase:
“But what if I need this?”
That's how a 14-day vacation suddenly requires 37 outfits.
Comfortable Travel Shoes Come First
If you've followed me for a while, you know I've dealt with significant back pain. Because Italy will involve a lot of walking, I'm building my wardrobe around the shoes my body needs rather than choosing my shoes last.
I'm bringing HOKA running shoes for serious walking days and supportive Taos in black and cognac.
Then I use a simple trick:
Black shoes = black belt.
Cognac shoes = cognac belt.
Belts take almost no suitcase space and make repeated outfits look much more intentional.
Jewelry Is My Secret Weapon
I'm limiting myself to two lengths of stainless-steel necklaces, four pairs of earrings and two bracelets.
Jewelry is one of the easiest ways to make a small travel wardrobe feel bigger without filling the suitcase.
I'm also leaving my real wedding ring at home and wearing a moissanite ring instead. I get the beautiful sparkle without spending my vacation worrying about something sentimental.
A small jewelry pouch and a hands-free sling bag are coming, too.
Now Let's Talk About Boob Sweat and Thigh Rub
Apparently nobody includes boob sweat and thigh rub in those beautiful “What to Pack for Italy” photos. 😂
But let's be realistic.
Warm weather + lots of walking + skin rubbing together can mean underboob sweat, thigh chafing and body odor.
That's why body powder is absolutely coming with me.
If you've ever searched how to stop boob sweat, how to prevent thigh chafing, body powder for women, thigh rub solutions or how to stay fresh while traveling, you know exactly what I'm talking about.
Keeping skin drier helps me stay comfortable. I'm also hoping it helps keep my clothes fresher because I plan to rewear pieces throughout the trip.
Remember the rule:
I am not going to Italy to do laundry.
My Summer Tan Needs Help, Too
My July tan and my September tan are apparently two different things.
I've got fading color, uneven areas and a few tan lines that need some attention.
I'm not looking to get dramatically darker before Italy. I want to even out my summer tan and make fading color look more natural.
That's why BeetTan is part of my pre-Italy plan.
If you're trying to figure out how to fix an uneven summer tan, how to fix tan lines, how to make a summer tan last longer or how to use gradual self tanner without looking streaky, you're dealing with the same end-of-summer problem I am.
I'll let you know how mine turns out.
The Real Test Comes After Italy
This is my plan today.
We'll see what actually makes the final suitcase.
I'll share more of my Italy travel outfits as I get closer to leaving. And when I return, I'll tell you what I actually wore, what I wore over and over, and which “I absolutely need this” item traveled thousands of miles just to sit untouched in my suitcase.
Whether you're planning a European vacation, fall getaway or simply trying to create a wardrobe that works harder, that's something we can help with at Her Happy Place.
We don't just want to help you find one great outfit.
We want to help you build a wardrobe that works together.
Visit Her Happy Place in downtown St. Peter, Minnesota, or shop our women's clothing, denim, travel-friendly fashion, jewelry, belts, body care and accessories online.
