Pack For...Venice

Venice the city of Romance

When I got off the train at Venice I saw the beauty that the town had. It is not like any other town in Italy with water taxis, water buses, gondolas, and outdoor seating over-looking the river. The cobble-stoned streets and bridges to get from one street to the other are magnificent but can hurt your ankles at the same time. Even though this town is full of tourists you can still dress to impress!

My five essentials:

day dress- day dresses are the perfect Venice essential because they can easily transform from day to night

cardigan- being right on the water the weather in Venice can be wet, windy, and cold. a cardigan will keep you warm and covered

boots- the cobble-stoned streets and bridges can hurt your ankles. boots will give your ankles the support they need while still looking fashionable

tights- tights are the perfect accessory and keep you looking cute but comfortable

headband- while in Venice I chose to throw my hair up in a bun to keep it under control from the wind but a headband can also do the trick and add a cute touch to your day dress.

My favorite place:

Harry's Bar

Harry's Bar is not only a bar but a restaurant  as well that claims to be the first to create the bellini (a cocktail with peach juice and prosecco) and once you try one you will know why! The restaurant can be expensive but the downstairs bar is the perfect place to try to peach cocktail and catch up on your daily adventures with friends. I spent my Easter here and it was a perfect way to spend the holiday.

...Likes a Jazz Man

lemon chicken with hand-made french fries

Remember in the Sex and the City series when Big teases Carrie because she "likes a jazz man"? That was all I could think about when I stopped at the Jazz Cafe during my spring break stop in Milan after shopping, shopping, shopping. On our hectic day of non-stop store-seeing (no sight-seeing for me) I stopped at the cute outdoor restaurant for lunch, The Jazz Cafe. Bread was served in a white paper bag which reminded me on my days in elementary and middle school. The day was beautiful and I sat outside to enjoy my cafe latte and salad. My boyfriend order the lemon-chicken which was brought out on a wooden cutting board that was bigger than my whole body! The food was delicious and the outdoor seating was full of younger Italian. Next time I am in Milan I will make sure to come back here!

shirt, topshop; cardigan j.crew; sunglasses, tom ford

Pack for..Florence

Mangia, Mangia, Mangia and some sight seeing. A couple of weeks ago for spring break I traveled throughout the most carb-filled country in the world; Italy. I made stops in the major cities; Rome, Florence, Pisa, Venice, & Milan and picked up on the tourists and residences style at each one. I previously blogged about how to pack for Rome so next up is the college-city of Florence. For the month of March it rained a little more than I expected but the experience was still the same. The cobble-stone streets were full of small shops, designers, cafes, restaurants, and little holes in the wall. I have to admit Florence was simply the best place to eat no matter if it was a sandwich to take away (aka to go), coffee, or pasta. YUM

raviolis with truffle oil .. heaven

Gillis petite cookies

Gillis

Sandwich to take away at I Due Fratellini

My packing essentials:

Jeans- jeans are always my go-to, they are so comfortable and can be dressed up at night with heels
Boots- the cobblestone streets can hurt your feet in flats & the most stylish item in Italy are tall boots.
Scarf- the weather can change drastically from warm and sunny to cold and rainy so a scarf is perfect for those changes in weather and light to carry
Rain Jacket- it surprisingly rained a lot for the month of March
Tee-shirt & Light sweater- Florence is a college town full of college students (obviously) and tourists so no need to dress up everyone you see will be in tourist or college attire.


My favorite place:
Gillis - i managed to go here three times while in Florence. They had amazing morning pastries & cookies followed with delicious lattes and iced cappuccinos. They're outdoor seating is in the center on a gorgeous plaza where you can spot Hugo Boss & Zara. But be careful, for a cheaper coffee take it standing at the bar service can be quite expensive!


P.S- thank you again Vince for featuring me on Look 10 !! Please check it out :)

Store Must: Luisavia Roma

Yesterday while walking in the shopping district of Florence I was mesmerized by two enormous flat screen televisions playing Kate Moss designing her bags for Longchamp. Curious, because I love anything and everything Kate Moss, I looked under the TVs to find Luisavia Roma; a beautiful boutique that carries all designer names from Juicy Couture to Jimmy Choo. As I entered the store my eyes widened with the three floors of wall to wall designer clothes, accessories, bags, and shoes. After an hour of trying on almost everything the store had, my boyfriend was ready to drag me out until he found the small men's section. The online store is almost as fun as being in the actual store and they even ship worldwide! Which will be perfect when I head back home. (dont worry that wont be for months- thank g-d)   

Arrivederchi Tourists

 

When traveling to London I was gifted with the Louis Vuitton London city guide. The outside is adorable and is full of amazing places to see, shop, and indulge. The book gives tips on what to wear and who you can hopefully get a glimpse of. No more looking like an unfashionable tourist! There are currently 8 books total (New York, Los Angeles, Mumbai, Rome, Paris, Miami, Tokyo and London) and one European collection that you can collect. I cannot wait to get my hands on them all! Next city guide: Rome! I'll be traveling Barcelona & Italy for the next week and a half so check back to see my fashion forward adventures! I look forward to a shopping spree on Via Borgognona, open markets, gondola rides, the list is a mile long. Who knows I may even run into the Beckham family in Milan!

Arrivederchi!