Roman Holiday + Wardrobe Packing Tips

I think I was about 13 or 14 when I first saw Roman Holiday, and boy, did it leave a major impression.  I know many are bigger fans of Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s.  But for me, Roman Holiday, My Fair Lady and Sabrina are my top three.  Don’t get me wrong, I love me some Holly Golightly.  As a young teen Roman Holiday made me vow to: 1. Own a Vespa someday. and 2. Have my own Roman Holiday!

My bucket list has changed a bit since my teenage years.  I no longer want to own a Vespa…..but maybe I’ll ride on one some day.  😉   However, visiting Italy has remained near the top of my list.  Years ago I ordered that red umbrella canvas print of Amalfi (pictured below) to hang in my home as a visual bucket list reminder.  Seeing it every day has been such great motivation toward making this dream happen.  And the countdown is now officially on for our family trip to Italy!  We’ll start in Rome then travel down the Amalfi Coast, and I’m so giddy with excitement I can hardly believe after all these years this is really happening!

amalfi bound

(cold shoulder dot blouse, red shoes (similar) )

We’ve got most of our trip planned, but I would absolutely love for those of you who have been before to share your tips on places to see, shop and eat!   We’re bringing our almost 13 and almost 11 year old kids with us.  I’m so excited to share this adventure with them, and I hope they remember this trip for a lifetime!   Because I kind of feel like bringing them along means that Brad and I have both won parents of the year.  😉

All About The Wardrobe Collection

I’ve been keeping my eye on the weather, and it looks like while we’re visiting we’ll have temperatures in the high 60’s.  We might see some low 70’s, but the evenings will be a bit cooler.  Layers and easy changes from day to night will be key.  As I’ve been starting to plan my travel attire I’ve realized how convenient and easy my wardrobe collection method makes packing.  With travel season officially kicking off during spring break I thought now would be as good a time as any to re-share my “collection” method as it really does streamline my packing efforts on top of keeping my closet organized.

When there’s so much on your checklist before you leave for a trip, packing need not be stressful!  Collections help you to create a lot of different looks with just a few pieces.  So you can pack quickly and relatively lightly.

I’m planning to take 2 pairs of pants (1 of which I’m wearing on the plane over), 2 dresses, 2 skirts, 1 sweater, 1 cardi, 2 jackets, 6 tops……….for 8 days.  We’re staying in three different places while we’re there, and I don’t want to have to lug big, heavy bags around.

What Exactly is a “Wardrobe Collection”?

It’s basically like Garanimals for adults. 😉  In contrast to a capsule wardrobe, a collection isn’t about sticking within a certain number of pieces.  I’ve seen capsule wardrobes where the basic guideline is to only have between 30 to 40 pieces.  A collection is different in that it’s about creating a group of clothing that all coordinates together but it’s not necessarily limiting.  So as an example, I have three collections  – One is all neutrals, black and white  – the second is a mix of red and navy – and the third is blush and olive-green.   So, will I buy a yellow blouse?  Possibly.  Yellow looks great with both neutral shades as well as red and navy, so if it’s a yellow blouse I really love I may add it to my closet.

In short, the collection method just helps me to be much more intentional about what I buy.  It forces me to curate my wardrobe rather than adding in pieces all willy-nilly.  It really keeps my closet streamlined, makes it easier for me to get dressed and as an added benefit makes packing for a trip easy-breeze-y.  I probably wouldn’t add a lavender floral dress to my collection…….because it just doesn’t fit with my style or the palette of colors I’m most drawn to…….. Is this making sense?

What I’m Packing

What makes this method great for packing is that you can basically put a weeks worth of outfits together really simply just by pulling pieces from the same collection.  I pulled a few neutrals pieces and some pieces from my blush and olive collection.  And boom done.  No hemming and hawing…..no trying to put outfits together……just pull out a few bottoms and a few tops and you can mix and match it all as you want.  When the weather is going to be both warm and cool this method is just so much easier!

clothing collection - packing tip

I’ve just added this lightweight cargo-style jacket to my collection.  I think it’s going to be the perfect light-weight layer to go with everything!  The feminine peplum style and ruffle collar is so fun.

spring jacket

(blush crossbody, bell sleeve stripe, polka dot similar, hat similar, cold shoulder, clay sweater)

Hubs said he wasn’t sure if my favorite patent-leather bow sandals would be good idea for walking around all day……..

patent bow sandals

I told him I couldn’t handle that level of negativity in my life right now.  😉   I mean let’s get serious I’m trying to channel Audrey Hepburn here…….comfort isn’t exactly on the top of my priority list……..Hubs has apparently never seen Roman Holiday.  I mean can you even believe this blasphemy?!  We will correct this very soon!

Just to be safe though I ordered these.  You know, in case he’s right about my bow sandals not being a good choice for walking around.  😉  I really, really don’t want to hear him say, “I told you so.”

So do you “wardrobe collect”?  I swear to you it has literally changed my life!  I know I’m dramatic about little things pretty regularly, but seriously you all…..creating wardrobe collections is a real game changer.  If you haven’t done it yet there’s no better time to start than when you do your closet spring cleaning!  Say yes to less and goodbye to the never-ending battle of not being able to figure out what to wear!

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  • Sounds like a lovely experience never to be forgotten! Not to mention you will be looking fabulous while there! Enjoy!!

  • Love evetything you have put together for you trip, so exciting and classy!!! I have been to Italy and it was a dream. You will have a great time with your family and I will be following you along, so post a lot of pics! 😉

  • We went to Rome in early November and were surprised at how humid it was that time of year. Dress in light layers and definitely find some great walking shoes -we walked 5-7 miles every day.
    Have a great time!! Excited for you❤

  • We are going in June for my daughters graduation gift- in lieu of a graduation party :)) We are kind of doing the same itinerary Rome then south to the Amalfi coast. When in Rome did you order tickets ahead of time for anything or do any passes? Also, are you doing private shuttle to the Amalfi coast or are you taking the train. If train are you going to get your tickets before you go or get them there?
    Great idea for packing! I want to go as light as I can.

  • You definitely need comfortable shoes. The old stones streets are a killer for the feet and there is a lot of standing too. the first thing I bought in Rome was a new pai of Geox snickers!

  • A lot of the streets are cobblestone, uneven & old – Rome & Milan have more concrete sidewalks- so definitely have a pair of good walking shoes.

    We only did a couple of (spur of the moment) guided tours and I regretted not doing more. You learn a lot more history and detail that way.

    We had a private driving tour in Tuscany. It was amazing. If you are interested, I’ll try to find the contact.

  • Oh another thing is if you are taking the train, consider buying first class tickets. Otherwise you might end up sitting between train cars if the train is crowded. We thought it was worth it.

    Something to keep in mind, there are not a lot of (handicap) ramps and lots of stairs so pack light or you will be hauling giant suitcases up & down stairs between destinations.

    Will you be visiting Cinque Terra?

  • Take the sandals but don’t wear them for even a half day of walking. They will be ruined and so will your feet. And how much time do you want to spend scrubbing the grime off your feet before going out to dinner. I would add a lace-up for most of your walking and walking is the main mode of transportation in Rome.

    In Rome be very secretive about where your valuables are. They should be hidden under your clothing in a money belt. I could elaborate about the time I reached in my pocket and found someone else’s hand in my pocket.

    Enough negativity for now but I hope this prevents a lot of negativity later and a ruined vacation.

  • I love Audrey, Roman Holiday is my favorite. Would you be able to share where the blue and white stripe dress is from?

  • OMG my Roman Holiday countdown is less than three weeks away! We are traveling for 2 weeks to 3 locations and I am trying to get it all in a carry-on! I have pinned a bunch of recommendations to try and make this happen. This is always so stressful for me and my hubs just shakes hit head. Well I am going to shock him because you set me up, girl! I did give up my pretty little bow sandals for 3 pair of comfort shoes 🙁 If I can’t stand it, I guess I’ll just have to buy a pair there! Ciao Bella!

  • My daughter has been living in Rome for the past two years, in Trastevere, going to college. She has traveled all over Italy, and could give you some great advice, if you would like. Let me know. She knows great pizza and Gelato places!!
    I was there this past summer. I LOVED it. I am going back in May. You can buy tickets ahead of time to The Vatican and other big attractions, to avoid the long lines.

  • My neutrals are black & khaki and most of the other colors in my wardrobe are cobalt, turquoise or red. So neither capsule nor collections, but VERY easy to dress for work in the morning and to pack for a trip….

    Italy sounds great – have been a couple times but not since 2011. I know you & your family will love it! I’m so appreciative my parents took me with them on trips when I was little because I grew up LOVING to travel!

  • If you’re in Florence, go have a glass of wine on the patio at sunset at Belmond Villa San Michele. The views are incredible! Amalfi Coast is my absolute favorite part of Italy (even over Tuscany…gasp!). Have a wonderful trip!!

  • Thanks Barbara! We’ll only be in Rome for a short amount of time, but I appreciate the warning. I’m not taking anything of value – well, other than my wedding ring. 😉

  • We did a trip through Amalfi, Rome, Florence, Siena, and Venice October, 2015 over 15 days with our boys aged 10, 12, and 15. It was magical. One thing I can’t recommend enough was the Pristine Sistine tour with Walks of Italy. We got to go into the Sistine Chapel an hour before it opened to the general public. When the Sistine Chapel is crowded, you can’t appreciate all of the detail, especially the floors. It was also a very efficient way to see the Vatican without boring our kids to death. The two favorite places in Italy for our kids were Venice and Amalfi. In Amalfi, their favorite day was the day we took a boat ride to Capri. The tour went all around the island through the Blue Grotto, the Green Grotto, and the White Grotto. Stunning water! We landed on Capri and took the chair lift up to the top of Anacapri. The view was unbelievable. We did our trip with one roll aboard and my husband and boys carried backpacks. I carried a large tote. With that said, I think you only need one skirt and one dress. Many religious sites require shoulders and knees covered. I truly wore pants most days. As far as shoes, I took some cute Mary Janes, one pair of cute hybrid sneakers, and some leopard wedges. I wore the wedges a couple of times for dinner out. Those Mary Janes locked lots of miles. I wouldn’t consider heels at all on those cobblestones. If I can answer any questions for you, please let me know. We travel abroad with our kids quite often!

  • Thank you, thank you! I’ve been looking for a striped dress for my sisters to wear as bridesmaid dresses for my summer wedding and think this could be a contender!

  • Hey! I know you didn’t ask me specifically, but I thought I’d share our experience of train vs. driver between Rome and Amalfi. It was recommended to us to do a driver. Our Amalfi hotel set it up since we started south and moved north. The train to get to Amalfi will require a few train changes and we didn’t want to attempt that with three kids in tow. It didn’t cost much more to have a driver vs. taking the train. As far as the places you want to see in Rome, absolutely buy your passes ahead of time. We were there in October, which is considered off-season, and when we came out of the Vatican, the line to get in was 3-4 hours long. The Colosseum didn’t have quite as long a line, but it was an hour long. Also, you can’t take backbacks or large bags in most of these sites so plan to have a small cross body for anything you want to take in. We did tours of both places with Walks of Italy- I have no affiliation with them- and they were excellent. We learned so much and got to go into some restricted areas as well as go into some places early. If you book a tour, you usually don’t need the pass.

  • This is great Thank you! I will contact the place we are staying in Rome and maybe can suggest someone or if you don’t mind do you remember who you used.
    I wonder if a camera bag is ok to bring?

  • We went from Amalfi to Rome so we used the driver from our hotel in Amalfi. Your hotel in Rome probably has someone they routinely use to head south. That particular route between Rome and Amalfi is just harder because there isn’t a direct train to the Amalfi coast. They go to Naples and then you have to get on another train.

    A camera bag was considered too big. They may have changed the rules by now. When we were there, someone had tried to steal a stone from the Colosseum so they wouldn’t let you take a big bag in. I just carried my big camera out and took a small cross body. Have a wonderful time! It’s amazing!

  • Thanks again! Yes can’t wait to go. Carmen I can’t wait to hear about your adventures there.
    Sharon where along the Amalfi coast did you stay? Right now I have reserved a place in Positano and in Maiori not sure which one to commit to.

  • Concur with all the sensible shoe comments. After a day on cobblestones … and everything is up two HUGE flights of stairs (and never an elevator) and standing and walking on marble floors … your feet are going to be screaming, possibly bleeding and blisters galore.
    I’ve worn Sketchers go walk all over Europe. Our last trip to Vienna, Prague and Germany, I packed two pair of Sketchers and one pair of pretty sandals that barely came out of the suitcase. Remember, Audrey had a trailer on set to retire to between scenes (and no doubt, a golf cart to travel back and forth). Roman Holiday is not reality.
    Otherwise, thumbs up on the clothing choices. I use packing cubes when traveling to multiple locations and I don’t really need to unpack. Do take a small umbrella and scotchguard your shoes and light colored clothing. Laundromats are impossible to find. Tide to go for spots.

  • So with these collections, what about sweats and work out gear,tees? How many pieces in each collection? I want to try collections when I begin to purge. I have interesting vintage pieces that I don’t want to part with. Sounds fun like preparing for a runway. Enjoy your trip! Glad your taking your kids.

  • We lived overseas for 5 years & traveled extensively….so I’d suggest close-toed shoes with great support rather than sandals. Also, I only wore my wedding band and left my diamond at home. Rick Steves has great packing tips, too, that might give you an idea or two. Have a blast!

  • I don’t include workout wear or lounge wear in my collections in that since they’re sort of a category of their own I allow for them to be outside of my usual color collections. My workout wear does include a lot of black and grey though, but I like to bring in bright colored tops.

    I think the collection thing definitely makes shopping more fun! I search for good quality and have a lot of fun with accessories!

  • We’ve got a friend that hooked us up with a tour guide who has basically organized everything for us including travel back and forth from Rome to Amalfi. After tons of research we also decided to skip the train and go by driver. With kids in tow it just didn’t make sense to have to train then bus or taxi – the driver seems like a much easier and not too much more expensive route. I plan to blog about our trip and share details when we get back!

  • Have the best trip! Highly recommend a food tour from this company (http://www.eatingitalyfoodtours.com/rome/tours/). Especially in Trastevere. We took our family/bridal party and it was nearly everyone’s highlight on the trip. THE BEST food and it’s an awesome secret gem of a neighborhood in Rome. Also an underground tour of the Colosseum is sure to score some more Parent of the Year points ; )

    Although I am NOT flats girl at all, the hubs is right on this one. Pack comfy/cute sneakers and sandals for the trip. The fun of Italy is walking EVERYWHERE and exploring the city on your feet…heels, even wedges won’t last long.

    Oh and eat EVERYTHING!!! Gelato and pizza every day is totally acceptable = )

  • Rick Steves has by far the best tour books for all of a Europe. He’s a bit cheesy but his sight seeing, restraint, and hotel recommendations are always on point. Also not to miss- his walking tours. Since you love to read, you should definitely check them out before you leave.

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