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a few successful purchases for my trip

Mochi

Veteran

Hi. May be posting and running for now, but really am appreciative of any comments or suggestions. I'm not completely there yet, but have many of the things I will want to take with me to Italy.

1. New Gap shirt and black skinnies (I am thinking will keep pants? Definitely keeping shirt)

2. Also from Gap, a slouchy sweater that I am not sure would be Angie-approved for its shapelessness, but I love sweaters like these and particularly like the color and texture here. For casually walking around, why not.

3. Put all together with the turquoise barges--er, I mean large shoes.

4. Here are the Romikas Parsley had recommended. They are actually much more attractive than they appear on the website. But I felt they didn't fit my feet right, and would be trouble. So unfortunately, I think they're going back. I need some sort of alternative to the sneakers, so I'm considering two pairs of boots I already own that are usually extremely comfortable. I may buy some inserts for them, but am crossing my fingers that I can at least wear them a little without their killing my feet.

5. Black goes with more of the things I'll be bringing (darker hues). But is it "off" to be wearing black boots in Italy in mid- to late-April?

6. Grey Miz Mooz boots. The color doesn't feel like it will be as versatile, but maybe I'm overthinking it.

Still need or at least want before I go:

A cross-body bag in a light color (have one for winter)

One or two more button-downs

A pair of nice shoes? (Instead of the boots)

Would be nice to find a nice-casual jacket

Grazie!

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Shopping

15 replies

Latest reply was from rae

Glory

Veteran

Great haul Mochi. I love the shirt you picked. The only thing I am unsure on is the sweater in terms of warmth. I think it may be too warm and heavy but maybe not. In terms of a casual jacket- agreed that could be a good addition. Would you consider adding a fabric moto style jacket? That could be a fun item for the trip.

Isabel

Veteran

Oh my...you have just taken off on the style quotient. It has all just clicked it seems. I love everything. I especially love the shirt in 1, the entire outfit in 5 and the boots. You know how I feel about the trench - a 10. Those sneakers look really good with the outfit. I laughed about your feet, mine just keep getting bigger as I shrink. The other day I was actually worried that I may size out of women's shoes by the time I am 60. But I am hoping for some scientific breakthrough by them to help...either in shoes or toes. LOL

Anonymous

You HAVE to keep the black skinnys they look amazing on you.
Too bad about the brown low boots they would have been perfect.

I was in Italy 2 summers ago and saw a lot of short flat scrunchy boots. Some short cowboy style boots. I also saw a lot of sneakers on not just tourists but Italians too.
I think you could wear a tall boot if it were a tall loose boot, I saw a lot of europeans wear that kind of boot in of all places Sint. Marten.

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Suz

(website)

Veteran

Keep the pants! Those are great, and I guarantee they will be brilliant for travel! Comfy, forgiving, yet good-looking.

Love the new top on you, too!

I am not sure about the sweater in terms of the temps. It's so hard to say, with the weather being so changeable. But if you like it anyway, it won't hurt to hang onto it.

Boots: I don't think it would be wrong to wear black. The question is, will you need tall boots? Or are these perhaps the most comfy things you have, outside the sneakers? I just wonder if they would be too warm. Your feet and calves could swell and you would feel awful. However, I think you look brilliant in both the black and the grey, so if you think it's your best option, take one pair for sure.

Anonymous

Things are really coming together for your trip. I've never felt out of place wearing black in Europe no matter what the season. You are going to northern Italy? I suspect it will be chilly and boots will feel good.

Gaylene

Veteran

Definite thumbs up for the shirt, trench, and a casual jacket. I'm not a fan of the sweater in the picture, but maybe it looks better in real life?

A couple of ideas for the "barges"--I also have a large foot and I find that, if I'm wearing a clunky walking shoe, skinnies really seem to accentuate the size of my shoe. A boot-cut, or straight-leg, seems to hide more of the shoe and, to my eye, looks a bit better. I also find that matching the pant color to the shoe tends to lessen the contrast. For example, a pair of dark-grey or navy bootcuts with your citron trench might keep the focus away from the shoe and towards your face.

Mochi

Veteran

Suz, I had exactly that same concern--that tall boots will be overkill. I am rethinking the Romikas. Here's a pic of me wearing them. I like the way they look. The thing is, the ball of my foot feels almost as if it's directly in contact with the floor. They would need some thick inserts to work, but the rest of my foot feels supported (at least as much as I can tell wearing them around the house--don't want to commit yet).

Glory, the sweater is in fact very lightweight. It would probably substitute (not in terms of packing, but on certain days out and about) for a jacket layered under the trench. It's nice and lounge-y.

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Mochi

Veteran

Here's the sweater in close-up:

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K. Period.

Veteran

Oh, you have such great style, Mochi! I love the shirt and the black skinnies. Both should be great players in your wardrobe.

I can see why you are tempted with the Romikas. They are gorgeous. The key to me is this: Are they something that you would wear as part of your wardrobe when your foot is feeling better? If they are, then you can take a risk with them, right? They won't be a special purpose shoe that didn't work out. To my eye, I think they seem very you, but I'm not always the best predictor of these things. I'll leave that to the experts.

I'm inclined to think that tall boots are going to feel too heavy for you when you are in Italy. They are luggage space hogs. If you don't get a lot of wear from them, are you going to feel very frustrated? If so, I would take them only if nothing else presents itself to you. Of course, I'm in the "buy while traveling" camp, so my impulse would be to leave them and look for something great when I was in Italy.

Mia

Veteran

I just got back from Italy, a few days in Rome and then a cruise. I really didn't understand how you need the right shoes to cope with the cobblestones despite travelling in other parts of Europe in the past but after looking at street style photos I packed fairly well for the variable weather and a variety of activities.

The local ladies of all ages were wearing low leather boots (like your Romikas) with thick rubber soles or "dressy sneakers" almost always Hogans in black or dark brown. The third type of shoe I saw was a loafer with a thick sole (those cobblestones again).
Very little colour worn, tons of black and the coat I saw was the puffy even though it was too warm for it by my standards. Gaylene is right on it when she says straight legged pants. This is what I saw everywhere on all ages. Dark denim or dark fabric. No boyfriend jeans anywhere but a few trouser or skinny boot cuts. Scarves are a must and I took a pile and used them all.
All the men have scarves too!

I took a leather jacket (black) and layered it. Also light raincoat (trench style) which I was so glad to have one day it poured and was windy. For shoes I had a pair of loafers, low heel brown suede bootie and a thick soled leather sneaker that I paid a fortune for but were lifesavers while touring the tourist sites and ruins.

The weather was variable while we were there but the sun is warm already when it comes out so watch the weather reports right up till you leave.

Final tip from the fussy footed: put blister bandaids on before you venture out. I also took moleskin and I never got a blister despite miles of walking.

So, the stuff you posted is great but I would leave the tall boots and look for an alternative that is more versatile if the weather warms or even buy a pair of shoes there once you see what the weather is like. There are shoe shops everywhere at all price points.

Can I help with anything else? You will have a blast.

rachylou

Veteran

The shirt is stylin', as are the skinnies. The slouchy sweater is perfect if you ask me. Love the trench and *barges* (lively!). Prefer the grey boots. My neighbor has a pair of grey boots like that and she wears them all sorts of stylish ways.

Eliza

Veteran

Those pants look great, as does the shirt. I love the bright trench. The feet have to be all about comfort if you are to enjoy your days. I am traveling to 2 different climates (Europe) in late April myself, and I am planning to keep a close eye on the weather in the cities of interest.

I will be making some clothing decisions closer to the time, once I see what has been going on and is predicted. I think it will be all about layers and being prepared for occasional rain. I also plan to bring some items (scarves, pop of color in a small bag to take to dinner) that suggest spring, even though for pragmatic reasons my wardrobe will be mostly gray and black, with cream and ink accents.

Boots make sense if it is chilly and wet, but as others have noted they could be too warm and hard to pack (I wouldn't want to wear heavy boots on a plane myself, but booties wouldn't mind booties). If your comfy sneakers feel too "eye catching", try them with bootleg pants or wider straight legs sometimes. I really wouldn't sweat it for sight-seeing, as people do wear what works for them and they are not the solid white ones that scream "gym shoes" in major Euro cities. I am a big shoe insert fan. I suggest you try your inserts in all the shoes you are bringing now, to see what works best in each shoe. Spend as much time wearing each pair as possible. Then you will know where potential problem spots are and can put blister band-aids on or add moleskin to the offending part of the shoe. I have been blindsided by shoes that were comfortable enough at home, but not up to my usual 10 miles a day on cobblestones. I also take lambswool that is a miracle worker to reduce friction points in shoes, especially around toes.

Have a great trip. Thanks for sharing your ideas.

Anonymous

Wow, you've gotten some great advice here. I love the pants, shirt and sweater. The turquoise kicks and citron trench are amazing together. I'm no help on the boots, but I hope you find something you love that loves your tooties back. Your trip sounds so exciting!

TraceyLiz65

(website)

Veteran

Such an exciting trip... Love the shirt and that trench!!!! The pants fit so well and the entire outfit in both 5 & 6 are fabulous! For me personally if temps are in the lower 60's or below I would rock my boots!

rae

(website)

Veteran

Love the top, pants, trench, and even don't mind the sneaks! The tall boots might indeed be too hot, though I think the weather can be unpredictable. If you have a shorter boot that would do in case of rain, I think dark/black would be fine.