The last time I went on a “real” vacation—the type where you completely unplug and don’t look at a screen even once—was about two years ago, so it was a long time coming. Hence why as soon as I caught a decently priced flight to Italy I jumped on it before I even had time to second guess myself. Through some finessing, I was also able to fit in a mini getaway to Santorini and Copenhagen while in Italy. Before I knew it a two-week vacation was born. 

This was my most extended vacation to date, and while great, a two-week trip also means a whole lot of outfits. You have to pack strategically. Thankfully I live for a vacation prep, so I carefully charted out my outfits weeks in advance. Keeping in line with the romantic Italian landscape and architecture, I knew I wanted pieces that evoked that La Dolce Vita feel, but with a slight edge. Bright colors and statement prints also were on my mood board, so several shades of orange, blue and green eventually made my suitcase. Ultimately I was able to fit roughly 16 outfits, five swimsuits, and five pairs of shoes in my Tumi suitcase (I highly recommend it for fashion people who love clothes), so it was a success in my book. To see all of the best outfits of my European trip and where to shop each piece, keep scrolling below.