Packing and Pastries in Puglia, Provence and Paris
My Personal Carry-On-Only Rules and a Mini Europe Diary
If you are planning a trip to Puglia, Provence, or Paris, this is the newsletter for you. It includes delicious places to dine, breathtaking views I saw, outfits that tied the whole moment together, and my tips for packing for a carry-on-only vacation. I let my photos do a lot of the talking here, so let’s jump right in. Enjoy!
The carry-on-only-vacation 10 rules of packing I follow
Right after my recent vacation, I was off to a weekend wedding. Whether going on a two and a half day trip or a two and a half week trip, I only pack a carry-on suitcase. No matter the length, it is always a challenge. These are the rules I follow:
1. I pack items that I really love and that make me feel good. It makes the start of my day a little happier and leaves me better prepared to have the best day (functionality is important, but so is pleasure).
2. I almost exclusively pack clothes in black, white, and neutrals. I will add a few (statement) pieces as well, ones featuring fun colors that go with what I’ve packed and can easily make any outfit sparkle. I wore a lot of butter yellow this year. On my trip to Europe, I packed a pair of Alohas ballet flats, a Tory Burch sequined cardigan (which I got teased for, but I love it and it really did add some excitement to my outfits), and one of my great-grandmother's scarves. Additionally, I packed one pair of Adriatic blue leather shorts to match the water, and some fiery red Tory Burch pierced mule sandals (probably the shoe I wore the most this summer – they are sold out right now, but I am very tempted to purchase the silver ones as they are on sale and will go with just about everything). Please note: this rule does not apply to weddings!
From left to right:
My great-grandmother’s scarf as a top, a cardigan to cover my shoulders, and a Cecilie Bahnsen skirt
These Tory shoes in red + The RealReal Marni skirt and Courrèges top + Ferragamo Wanda purse
A full Sezane outfit: Lorenza blouse, Pierra skirt, and the Justine basket bag (which I have been carrying all summer)
3. I don't pack shoes I haven't worn before, and I only pack shoes I can be comfortable in for extended periods. I also always pack blister bandages just in case. *To be fully honest, I broke this rule this year, with this pair of Alohas, which arrived just before leaving. But, I didn’t get a single blister, and they ended up being one of the comfiest pairs I brought.
4. I pack a little bottle of detergent in my toiletries for sink-washing clothes, and a mini lint roller (though the regular-sized ones work better if you can fit them). You may not shed as much as I do, but I find that lint rolling makes your outfits look more crisp if you don’t have access to an iron.
5. I try to pack items for all the occasions I’ve planned (ie. hiking, nice dinners, a black tie wedding ceremony), but when space gets tight and I don’t have all the appropriate items, I try to think creatively about how to wear things in new ways. Case in point, swimwear:
I love turtlenecks and I love knits, they make me feel like I'm a baby being swaddled. So, when I find super light ones I can wear in the summer, I wear them as often as I can and as soon as it is cool enough to justify doing so. Here I paired my Charly Jumper knit with a swimsuit while eating my first (and probably only) lobster roll of the summer. It was a delicious one from Commander Cody’s fish shop. I also paired a this black linen blazer with a bikini, because why not?
6. Even if it’s hot, I always pack a no-wrinkle cardigan or thin sweater. Not only are they another top option, but it’s great to keep one in a tote and throw it on as needed (like cooling down while eating gelato).
7. (*Skip this one if you are going on a weekend trip.) I avoid packing dresses because as soon as they get a stain, you are out of both a top and a bottom (until you can clean it). If, like me, you are a messy eater and stain your pants getting pasta on your lap (ahem, image above and left), at least you can still re-wear the top.
8. I try on and take photos of all the items I want to bring before vacation. This way, I can decide which items are the most versatile (and I know what to pack and leave behind). Your camera roll also becomes an archive of possible outfits, so you don’t need to spend time figuring out what to wear each day.
From left to right:
Another full Sezane outfit: a knit jumper which is a new favorite (it’s very comfortable and fits so nicely), black linen shorts that have a matching blazer (see bikini styling above), this tote that has been my go-to summer bag, and leather ballet flats
This outfit was for the wedding: dress from Grover Rad (love the print!), an old Helmut Lang purse that has gotten so much wear and was a great sample sale purchase, and these super comfy Tory heels that I was able to dance in all night (considering the height)
An all second-hand and vintage outfit featuring my great-grandmother’s scarf, and pieces from The RealReal
9. I try not to pack anything too bulky or weighty because my suitcase space is limited, and some airlines will weigh your luggage.
10. And finally, outside of socks and intimates, I only pack 1-2 (maybe 3) of each item. For example:
For the wedding weekend: 1 outfit for the cocktail evening (1 skirt + 1 cardigan + 1 pair of heels + 1 purse), 1 outfit for the ceremony (1 dress + 1 pair of heels + 1 purse), 1 beach outfit (1 swimsuit + 1 turtleneck + 1 book + 1 tote), 1 jacket for cool mornings and evenings (also functions as a swimsuit cover), 1 t-shirt, 1 pair of jeans, 1 pair of ballet flats, 1 workout outfit, and 2 pairs of sunglasses.
For the two and a half week trip: 2 pairs of pants (1 jeans + 1 loose pair that doesn’t wrinkle), 1 pair of (leather) shorts, 3 long skirts + 1 mini skirt, 2 casual tops (1 t-shirt + 1 tank top), 2 button downs, 2 cardigans, 2 heels, 1 pair of sneakers, 2 flats, 2 sets of workout gear, 2 purses, 1 tote, 3 pairs of sunglasses, and 2 of my great grandmother’s scarves
*Please note that some of the above links are affiliate links!
A note on my great-grandmother’s scarves
When my great-grandmother passed (she was close to 100 years old, I was 5) she left me a few items: perfume, lipstick, gloves, aprons, and scarves.
I feel incredibly lucky that I was able to inherit these gifts from her; all of them were quite impactful on me. The perfumes sat on the mirrored tray they came with on my dresser for years, and I’d open the antique bottles nearly every day to feel a little more adult. The aprons inspired my former fashion brand, and my Semaine apron collaboration as well. And I wore the gloves and scarves all the time, playing dress up or celebrating special events like birthdays.
There is one scarf in particular that I have been wearing for years. I love wearing it for two reasons: 1. I get to take my great-grandmother with me, and 2. it reminds me of a bumble bee, all yellow, black, and white, with stripes going in all directions.
Every summer, I am shocked by how well it pairs with everything (you can see it in three of the images in the section above) and how many ways I can wear it. Because the yellow is offset by black and white, it goes well with most of what I bring on vacation. And it can be incorporated into outfits in so many ways: I wore it as a hair accessory on a bad hair day, wrapped it around jeans as an accessory, and wore it as a top (over a single shoulder or folded over itself a few times and tied at the back). There are tons of great tutorials online on how to tie scarves and wear them depending on their length.
All of this to say, I highly suggest looking out for some vintage silk scarves for yourself, either at vintage shops or on the internet. And maybe keep an eye out for abstract prints in colors that go well with what you already have in your closet. They make a great travel companion, only taking up a small amount of space in your carry-on luggage.
Happy memories from Naples & Puglia
This was the best six days, six absolutely phenomenal days. I will bullet point the highlights below. I do not need to over-explain, the photos will do a better job here.
Naples:
A painting of different kinds of pears ripening in August (I love their tear-drop shape and how they catch the light), numbered and named at the Capodimonte Museum.
A fantastic dinner at Persika. Order as much as you have room for (and do not skip the grilled tomato and marrow appetizer – if I had closed my eyes, it could have been a bun-less burger). You should also go for a glass of wine and a snack at JUS across the street beforehand.
All the footwear inspiration at the archaeology museum (be sure to not miss the incredible mosaics there too).
Mimì alla Ferrovia: a lovely old school restaurant with incredibly kind service and delicious pastas. If you love garlic and clams as much as I do, it is an excellent choice. The genovese is packed with caramel-y onions, and the zucchini gnocchi was a sleeper hit. The fish of the day was perfectly cooked as well. While we did not order the spongy-yellow bundt cake pictured above, we did order the tiramisu and it was deliciously refreshing and kept me awake long enough for the taxi back to the hotel (the jet-lag was catching up on me).
Frescoes of bread at the archeology museum and in Pompeii (and eating focaccia barese in Pompeii as a midday snack).
Puglia:
The wonderful shape of Pane di Altamura, and the bread oven at Antico Forno Santa Chiara, which has been baking it since 1380.
Mosaics of sea life during the day, and a raw bar by the sea at night.
More mosaics of food, this time peaches and pears. I’m loving all the pear art. Thinking it might be a big pear fall on here…
Pig-shaped cheese at Caseificio Dicecca (their whipped cream blue cheese is heavenly).
Some church art: a literal interpretation of revelation 12:15 in fresco form in Galatina, and a 900 year old floor mosaic at the cathedral in Otranto. I loved this little figure that reminded me of Puss in Boots.
Fave e cicoria matching the tablecloth in their stripes and colors at Le Zie Trattoria. A dish I will be making all winter long. Do not miss their pasta with chickpeas if you go. The soft pasta is served with crispy chickpea strips in an unctuous and olive-oil-laden chickpea sauce with more chickpeas for texture.
My newest obsession, pasticciotto: a crumbly tart shell filled with so much gooey pastry cream its top domes. Enjoyed warm from the place that invented them nearly 300 years ago. Many other gorgeous pastries that will be inspiring me this fall, and the Cecilie Bahnsen skirt I got last summer. I wore the skirt to the bakery and then went to the beach afterwards – it goes with everything, from button-downs to bathing suits.
Faraglioni di Sant'Andrea. Jumping into the cool salty water, baking dry on the sun-warmed rocks, and feasting on a hearty-creamy sandwich filled with mortadella, tomatoes, buratta, and lots of olive oil.
Over 2000 years ago, someone had the fantastic idea to take a perfect shell and transform it into a makeup box. Shells also make great motifs on buildings.
Happy memories from Provence and Paris:
Provence:
A painting of oysters and these pearl-adorned candied peaches (I guess shells are great motifs for more than just buildings).
Two delicious and refreshing sorbet combos to cool down on warm afternoons: peach and strawberry, and apricot and cassis (this one was especially excellent, and from Glacier Le Tinel). Sorbet in cones is new to me – cheers to more in the future.
SCAD hosted me at their Lacoste campus, where I had the lovely opportunity to meet with students and do a Q&A. I was so inspired by the projects they’re working on. This photo of the sun rising over the town will always remind me of this amazing experience and how happy it made me. I was also very inspired by the Louise Bourgeois church in the next town over.
Callisons and cobblestones + almond croquants, coffee, and a polka-dot skirt.
Avignon Cathedral and Gordes. I love how the stone buildings and the stone of the landscape blend into one.
Paris:
David Hockney and Wolfgang Tillmans inspiring my next floral arrangement. One kind of flower, long stems, and many vessels.
Barthélémy cheeses dressed up in lacy cheese-cloth and perched on paper liners. While I did not purchase any of these cheeses, we did get a whole bunch of soft and gooey ones (my personal favorites).
Swirled viennoiseries (above left from Pleincoeur, which were excellent), and ripples created with cream and a St. Honore piping tip.
I saw this bowl of cherries at the Cezanne show in Provence, and then stopped in my tracks on a run upon seeing this bowl of cherry candies. Art and life imitate each other.
A little jumpscare to finish the newsletter hehe. More life imitating art: my Starface pimple patch matching the frescoed ceiling at Notre Dame.
This newsletter is far too long already, so my best bites in Paris will probably be in my end-of-month newsletter (but I’m not sure). If you want those now, or want to be sure to see them at all, you can find them on the AMIGO app (use my code PARISGO to skip the wait)! Thank you for reading!