PACKED + WORE: Tuscan Minibreak
Sunnies, silk scarf and a giant pair of pants, Jones.
It’s easy to obsess over what to pack on a short-but-sweet *romantic* weekend minibreak you’ve been looking forward to. Especially in a glamorous and/or exotic location that’s been overwhelming your mind’s eye for weeks, transforming your normal self into some sort of Fellini heroine in your fashion fantasies.
However. The reality of such a trip is you are in fact there to spend time with your person, not to obsess over outfits and accessories, and it is quite boring for him/her if you dilly dally too much over fashion. Especially at cocktail hour. I know this is not technically a relationship-advice column but there’s mine.
My solution is to thoroughly check the weather in advance then pack two “pre-made, one-shot” looks per day. One for daytime (over swimsuit if it’s that kind of holiday), one for evening. Then a pair of shoes that go with every single outfit. Tutto qui.
Last weekend Marc and I were lucky enough to spend three nights at the heavenly Il Salvatino hotel in Fiesole, about twenty minutes from Florence up in the rolling Tuscan hills. The imposing hilltop property looks rather smugly down at the city, and the views are amazing. I’d stayed at Il Salviatino once before on a work trip and vowed to come back. Originally built in the 15th Century on the site of a Roman fortress, it was a villa for a fancy old Florentine family before playing host to an impressive list of occupants, then getting a respectful refurb in 2016 and becoming a heavenly hotel. The pool, too, is something else.
I particularly love this place because it at once provides a relaxing country poolside getaway and the opportunity to pop into Florence and drink in some culture, (or cocktails), at the drop of a hat. This town and country element can, however, complicate the dress code. Urban or ethereal?
My solution was When in Rome. Italy, to me, means a little more colour and glamour than I’d normally lean towards in Paris. So, before you fall off the edge of your seat, here’s what I packed and wore, where. Plus a tourist’s tip or two.
The Carry-All/Carry-On/Pool Bag
Prada has done it again with the ultimate no-fuss summer carryall that functions as all of the above. It looks like raffia but it’s waterproof(!) Prada were kind enough to give this to me as a gift, complete with the detachable pouch bag inside, which is pretty genius, as I get very worried about losing keys, cards etc in a big beach bag or baskets without compartments. Plus the little green guy, when detached, functions as quite a fun evening sac of sorts.
First Dinner on Arrival: The Basic Dress
For dinner on the hotel’s delightful terrace.
This is probably the most basic dress I own in every sense of the word. I bought it in an emergency at Zara on a trip a few summers ago when my baby threw up on me and we were going straight to dinner. However, I’ve attempted to counterbalance its fast-fashion urgency-driven provenance by wearing it a zillion times henceforth. Which has been no great obligation tbh: it’s crisp, easy and has a flattering fit, you don’t need to wear a bra, and it has built in minishorts in case it’s too damn hot out to cross your legs. Also, I find it’s very easily dressed up with a great piece of statement jewellery. The Hermes sandals (linked in caption) are the wear-with-everythings I was mentioning earlier by the way. Yes. A lot of people annoyingly have them and they’re hella expensive. No, that doesn’t take away from their impressive versatility and comfort. I rest my case.
Saturday Morning @ One’s Palazzo
This very light cotton dress is from a recent collab between French swimwear and lingerie brand Ysé and folkie retro print-experts Lucas du Tertre. Sorry about the quality of this photo but I was more focused on the impressive greenhouse situation behind me. Summer in a dress though, do we not think? Check out the cute back detail here.
Saturday Afternoon AND Evening in Florence
After brunch and a pool chill we decided to go into Florence and be tourists, plus have an aperativo at La Terrazza Rooftop and insane pasta at Osteria del Cinghiale Bianco. I wore another of my summer classics, Matteau’s fitted stretch bodice dress with a crisp cotton poplin skirt. Felt very romantic and did a little tribute to Dante’s Beatrice on the Ponte Santa Trinita (Fanfare listeners, IYKYK).
Pitti Palace
Marc’s grandmother is an art historian full of great tips and she told us that if we saw one art collection in Florence it should the the Palais Pitti’s. Renaissance masterpieces abound. The place literally overflows with an embarrassment of Raphaels and Titians.
Sunday Pool Times
As I mentioned I am obsessed with the atmosphere at Il Salviatino’s pool. The Cypriot trees! The views of sloping Tuscan hills! The crickets! The bar furniture! But I already went on about this on Instagram the other day so I’ll shut up and get to the fashion.
Sunday Dinner Il Salviatino
Look, it turns out I do have a dress like this in my wardrobe and I break it out once in a blue moon. I only talk to my husband about modern-day feminist issues while wearing it though, I assure you.
Monday Morning
It was a little cloudy the last morning which allowed for long sleeves, a mercy given the earlier heat and also given that this Farm Rio x Sezane look was all I had left.
All’s well that ends well on one’s big fat Italian fantasy dream trip.
Ciao for now!
With special thanks to Small Luxury Hotels, Il Salviatino, and Marc’s granny.
I loved this and funnily enough Moni I’ve been there for a drink with my cuz who lives in Fiesole! It’s beaut
This is my favorite kind of post and my favorite way to pack! Thank you for the inspo!