All dressed up with no place to go? Couldn't be me! Flight booked to Amsterdam, bungalows secured in Athens and Rome. I neatly folded a coveted list of best restaurants in Rome as detailed by my favorite Italian chef and placed it in my purse. (He works at Fiorella’s of South Philly.) The stage is set to showcase some new looks! I couldn’t be more ready to embody European Vacation Whit. Dress like a true Euro gal with these tips by city.
Day 1 Amsterdam: Canal River Cruise & Anne Frank House
Everyone knows Amsterdam for their tulips and that is why flying there while the tulips are MIA is one of the cheapest tickets to Europe. (I came to find, it could also be because the airport is trash but that’s besides the point.) My looks for my brief stint in Van Gogh country were meant to rep an ambiance I rarely go for: countryside vibes. Because what is vacation for if not trying new things? I brought my own flowers by wearing my floor-length floral pleated skirt that always feels *extra* for the states. I wore this in Amsterdam over the other countries I toured since Amsterdam has the coolest weather. I found a long skirt ideal for the canal river cruise I did because it swished in the breeze. Everyone in Europe wore pleated skirts ranging from floor length to right below the knee. This turned out to be a must pack!
Quick Note on Shoes
The last time I was in Europe was a trip to Paris and Versailles. One day I walked 14 miles out to Notre Dame. (With a few bakery stops mixed in.) So let me tell you comfortable sneakers were #1 on my pack list. I got this new Free People pair that mixes sporty and fashion and wore them a few times before the trip to make sure after 30k steps they were still comfortable.
Day 2 Amsterdam: Van Gogh Museum & Flight to Athens
To me the definition of countryside chic starts and ends with head accessories and sunnies. Sun hats take much more real estate in luggage than little scarves so I went for a little bandana look. I kept the rest of the outfit simple as this was also a travel day. I knew I’d be more comfy in the air in pants v. a skirt.
Day 3 Athens: First Olympic Stadium and Mount Lycabettus
My whole Athens vibe was to reflect the scenery and the beloved Greek colors, blue and white. Mamma Mia was obviously a major source of inspo. I got this 70s geo printed tank at Mango in Soho a few weeks prior to the trip. I also tried it on in hot pink and surprised myself that I went for the blue and green version. As soon as I put it on I knew I needed white shorts or a white mini skirt to go with it. These scallop edge white shorts are nicer than ripped denim that is very traditionally American.
Day 4 Athens: The Acropolis and Philopappos Hill
I again stayed on color trend with this white cotton tank dress with indigo piping. I wanted to wear something a little more active but still very cute to hike Phil Hill. My skin attracts the sun and I get hot quickly so a tank top dress that I can throw on and go was a better move over a t-shirt dress or a tight active top and shorts. I pulled both sides of my hair out of my face for functionality and nostalgia. The clips I selected are checkered to add some print to the look.
Day 5 Marathon Beach: Snorkeling
The Phil Hill dress would have been a cute cover up but, I was on a little speed boat and I didn’t want to wear all see through white. A tee and bathing suit it is! This is my newest bikini. I was planning to snorkel in printed black and white waterproof shorts so I wouldn’t have to worry about my bottoms holding on as I wiz through the water but they conveniently provided wetsuits to make us look hardcore.
Day 6 Flight from Athens to Rome: Shopping, Dinner, & Drinks
I couldn’t decide if the all-over animal jumpsuit was more Athens or Rome so I wore it on the travel day where I split my time between the two cities. Animal has truly become universal. I love this jumpsuit since it has a pearlized glow to it. I also knew I wanted to wear something bifurcated - more comfy on the plane than skirts and dresses which made up most of my trip’s wardrobe.
Day 7 Rome: Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Trevi Fountain
We stayed in the cutest, best decorated Roman Bungalow. Here’s the catch: there was no air conditioning and each day was about 90 degrees out so I had to dress for heat. For Rome I planned to wear more of my normal color palette - warm tones like tan neutrals and reds. Pasta was my muse. I accessorized with gold and wore a knee-length silky skirt. Italians are known for their leather however, they innately have a keen eye for all materials. I felt my sneakers matched this look the best.
Day 8 Rome: Vatican, Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Basilica, and Spanish Steps
I’ll admit that I’ve gotten kicked out of a European church before. No one hates shoulders and knees more. Knowing this, I anticipated the strict dress code at the Vatican. A minimum of short sleeves and knee length dresses or shorts were required for the Vatican and St. Peter’s Basilica. While adhering to the polished dress code, I wanted to wear something ornate, something unique, something fit for the Queen. This was the day Queen Elizabeth died. I also camouflaged to the wallpaper and lavish tile floors in the Vatican. I treated that place like a ballroom and twirled around each room. Look closely and you will see the best part of this dress is the beaded daisies along the neckline. I call this a “built in necklace.” Dry clean only garments can be worth the hassle.
Day 9 Rome: Lazio Football Game
I didn’t pick this look for a sporting event, I picked it for Rome. I live for tops where the front and back views are different. It adds a new dimension to dressing. A lot of designers don’t want to play in this space. The pattern of this woven top reminds me of a tapestry while sparkle tulle pays homage to ballet culture. Seems appropriate for art-appreciating Rome. I paired it with white shorts to really let the top stand out. I am the biggest liability in white pants but somehow, I can manage to keep white shorts clean.
Day 10 Flight: Rome to Amsterdam to Dublin to Home
For nearly 24 hours of travel you have to rock your comfiest. Only you know what that is. In true Trains, Planes, and Automobiles fashion, things did not go to plan so I had about 21 (Surprise!) hours in Dublin, Ireland. Dublin was about 50 degrees and overcast from the rain that just slept in. Like I previously mentioned, my place in Rome was about double that. Luckily I bought a new long sleeve cropped tabloid top (Yes, to go with my tabloid jacket of course.) in Plaka, Athens’ shopping district. Also, I never zip my luggage without including full-length denim no matter the time of year or destination.
Day 11 Dublin: Guinness Tour
Our final day came later than expected so we did what any American in Dublin would do and squeezed in some pre-flight beers at the Guinness Storehouse. I wore a soft knotted tee in the color of the black stuff and jeans mainly because this is what I had clean. It’s always a good call to pack some universal pieces because you never know when you might be stranded in another country with another climate.
I’m certainly not a renowned world traveler but I’d love to help design looks for your next trip! A tour like this makes you realize people across the world really aren’t that different.
Greece is the word! 😍👏😱👍