Fashionista's Guide to Packing for Italy

One of the biggest problems for me before I left the States for Italy, was what on earth to pack for a 2 month excursion studying fashion in a city I've never been to.  Every fashion student knows that one must have the feel of the city to understand what to pack for it, so I was going into this journey completely blind.  After my lovely stay in Florence, I have a few words of wisdom for future fashionista's on their way to Europe, and more specifically Italy in the summer.

1.) A large, light-weight scarf.  This came in handy every time I wanted to visit an old cathedral, friar, or Duomo.  The Italians (and some places in France I found as well) are very serious about maintaining proper dress, so shoulders must always be covered.  Instead of wearing long sleeves while you are hiking through different cities, wear what you'd like and cover your shoulders with a scarf when entering sacred places.  When you aren't using your scarf, tie it around your bag as a colorful accessory.  Just remember, that often times (particularly St. Peter's Basilica) your shorts and dresses need to be at least knee length -- guys, too!

2.) One maxi-dress.  They were quite the rage when I was in Italy, plus they are nice if it happens to be a chilly night.

3.) One good pair of sunglasses. Seriously, you won't regret them.  It rained only twice the entire time I lived in Florence.

4.) A pair of wedges.  The Italian women, and actually most European women I found, frequently wear heels.  I hail from Indiana, where this is very much the opposite of the norm.  Now, remind yourself that many of the roads in Italy and Europe are cobblestone, so if you have not been wearing heels since you were 5 years old, you most likely will roll your ankle attempting to navigate the alleyways, and in the very least you will find you are staring at the road rather than taking in the beautiful sites.  So here is a great compromise: wear wedges! The footing is more stable than a thin heel, but will give you the same stylish feel.

5.) One trusty black dress for going out at night.  The Italians are all about night life, as much as they are about getting dressed up.  Looks are very important to their culture, but instead of bringing 10 different dresses, bring a few trusty ones, and bring (or buy at the markets!) jewelry to switch up your looks instead.

 For any of you lucky enough to be heading abroad I hope this helps.  Maybe a post on what NOT to pack is in the works... because you are going to need all the suitcase you can spare to bring home your treasures from your travels.

Rome in 24 Hours

Unfortunately, my visit to Rome was particularly shorter than I would have liked, but I did manage to see the major sites on my list.  We started our first day at the Vatican and then ended up separating from the group at St. Peter's Basilica.  Must see's included the Sistine Chapel, St. Peter's Basilica itself, and Michelangelo's Pieta. When then headed towards the Pantheon, passing through a market along the river and stopping for lunch at a sidewalk cafe.  For dinner our group had planned this ridiculously long 5 course meal.  A few girls and I stayed for the first three courses and then decided to high-tail it to the Spanish Steps on recommendation from a friend.  Knowing we had limited time in Rome, we decided it was better spent exploring the city rather than sitting in the basement of a restaurant waiting for the next course.  There is a time and place for a relaxing Italian dinner, but my first visit to Rome was not it!

The next day we headed to the Coliseum only to find workers on strike, so our reservation would have to wait until after noon when the workers were expected to return. Instead we made a trip to the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps area to see the designer shops and take in some Roman culture. Luckily when we headed back to the Coliseum we were able to enter and look around.  Shortly thereafter it was time to head home.