I Just Got Back From Italy—Here’s Everything I Packed for My Elegant Winter Getaway

Several weeks ago, I traveled to Rome and Venice, creating a photo diary of vacation outfits along the way. Ahead, discover the polished looks that carried me through every occasion, from spontaneous shopping days to evenings at the opera—and everything in between.

My Travel MVPs

On any trip, there are always a handful of pieces you find yourself wearing on repeat. These were the true MVPs in my suitcase:

Scarves

I packed one silk scarf and one cashmere scarf, for comfort and style. I wore Ruadh’s red silk scarf around my neck, as a belt, and in my hair. Meanwhile, J Crew’s cashmere scarf became a shawl, a pillow, and even a blanket on long travel days.

Compression Socks

I can confidently say that Ricari’s socks are the only compression socks you’ll ever need to buy. They are ideal for travel, recovery, and long days spent sitting or standing.

Vanity Case

It’s one of those pieces that immediately becomes indispensable. I use Saie Beauty's full-size option for skincare and makeup, and the small size lives under my seat with in-flight essentials: lip balm, hand sanitizer, vitamins, chargers, and eye masks.

A Trip to Palazzo Fortuny

We began our trip at one of my favorite places in Venice, Museo Fortuny. I’ve long been inspired by Mariano Fortuny, a true Renaissance polymath who moved effortlessly between light, fabric, and form. Here, within this palazzo, he built both a life and an atelier alongside Henriette Nigrin, his muse and creative partner. Together, they transformed the space into a living factory of beauty. Each floor holds their intertwined passions for painting, photography, textiles, and design.

On this day, I leaned fully into the romance of Fortuny, wearing a vintage velvet duster styled as a dress, Aflalo silk pants, vintage gold bangles, heeled boots, a Porto pouch, and a Giorgio Armani hat. I layered my outfit with a vintage fur coat and Uniqlo Heattech tights for added warmth.

An Opera House Outing

This year, we chose to ring in the New Year with a return to Venice for the city’s special NYE concert at Teatro La Fenice. I had the rare honor of wearing my late grandmother’s archival Lanvin dress, its metallic embellishments set against inky black velvet, feeling especially whimsical amid the gilded details of the historic opera house. It was a deeply meaningful evening, one I know I’ll carry with me always.

I’ve been especially inspired by the renewed presence of velvet, embroidery, handmade details and feathers in eveningwear.

A Shopping Excursion

For the last few years, we’ve spent the first week of January in Rome. By now, we have our favorite local places for shopping and lingering over long meals. There’s always one day we dedicate to making our rounds through the city, stopping into all of our go-to shops. On this day I layered up with a long black trench styled over a cashmere sweater and button-up. I completed the look with black slacks worn over wool tights, a silk scarf, a smattering of pins and brooches, and a velvet Giorgio Armani hat.

A Rainy Day at the Museum

We hit a pocket of rain in Rome, and I found myself especially grateful for having packed capes this trip. Throwing a cape over an outfit feels like wearing “secret pajamas”—a phrase I like to use for sleepwear that’s sophisticated and intentional. For this rainy museum day, I chose a black Valentino cape (which I had previously picked up at a vintage market), and slipped into polished pajamas and boots.

For Travel Days

When packing, I can’t help but slip into work mode, especially on trips that span planes, trains, boats, and cars. Thus, my travel outfits need to feel as streamlined as possible. Before leaving any destination, I do a full pre-trip styling and fitting, which I keep saved in a photo album on my phone for reference throughout the vacation.

On travel days, I wear my heaviest items, keep bags to a minimum, and layer thoughtfully to account for shifting temperatures. A cashmere sweater, a scarf, and compression socks are non-negotiables. Lately, I’ve also been traveling with tinted glasses through airports and on planes to counterbalance the harsh lighting that can take a toll on my nervous system.