I’ve been living in Italy for just over a month now and have since been on four different trips. I’ve been sharing all kinds of travel guides with my restaurant, stays, and transportation recommendations but I haven’t had the chance to sit down and share any of my outfits. That is until today!
I went to Venice, Italy for three days and it was a dream. Minus the thousands and thousands of steps, it was truly a magical trip. So much beauty packed into the small city! We visited in mid-September and the weather was beautiful—sunny and seventy-five every day. Warm enough for a dress and sandals but not hot enough to be sweating. Of course, I had to shoot some outfit photos while out and about. Rounding up my favorite looks today including links to shop and locations so that you can recreate some of these photo ops. Enjoy!
SOMETHING SIMPLE
On our first day in Venice we were scheduled to be on our exploring + visiting different museums all day long. We were told to dress accrodingly and wear comfortable shoes. Naturally, I figured a lightweight, linen dress would be my best bet. Not only are they most comfortable, but I find that these keep me the coolest throughout the day.
This maxi dress is one of my favorites that I brought to Italy. It’s from a small Southern California boutique called Saltwaterluxe that I discovered while living out there this summer. The quality is absolutely insane and the fit is perfect. Plus, you can never go wrong with a dress that has pockets. So good!
As for shoes, I knew I needed to be in something comfortable. I’ve never been much of a sneaker girl; I don’t love the way I look in them + my feet tend to get super hot and sweaty in them. I have a very flat foot so sandals with minimal support have honestly never given me a hard time. I’ve had these gold lace-ups in my closet for almost four years now and they have consistently been my go-to—which is shocking because they are literally a $30 impulse buy from Express, lol.
I wear these all the time and while they are long gone from being in stock, I’ve linked a similar version. I personally like lace-ups because they don’t rub, giving me no blisters. Honestly, this is the closest thing to being barefoot which I love, haha.
dress // sandals // purse // scarf
photo location ✈ Fondaco Dei Tedeschi
FRILLY FLORALS
On our second day in Venice we wanted to ride a gondola so I opted for a “sitting” dress which I literally call a dress that looks good while sitting, lol. I personally recommend something that has a babydoll silhouette to it, as these dresses tend to have a fuller skirt that billows while you sit. This will make for some flattering photos!
I’ve had this floral one hanging in my closet, waiting to be worn. I figured this was the perfect time to pull it out. It was super cute for Venice but I didn’t realize that most of the gondolas have patterned seats to them so if you are looking for an iconic photo op and don’t want to clash, I’d opt for something solid.
I only brought one pair of shoes so I’m wearing the same sandals again. As for my purse, I ended up carrying this small Polene crossbody the entire week and loved it. It was large enough for my keys, phone, wallet, and vlog camera… so all the essentials!
photo location ✈ Canal Grande
JUST KEEP SPINNING
You just really cannot go wrong with a floral dress here. This long sleeve one is from Showpo and another favorite that I brought with me. It’s got the most adorable bishop sleeves and sweet cutouts along the sides. Perfect if you’re going to be spending the evening spinning around.
This is one of those styles that could easily transition from day to night, swapping sneakers for heels. If you’re pressed for space, go for lace-up sandals and you’ll get a little bit of the best from both worlds!
photo location ✈ San Marco, Venice
SILKY CHIC
On our last day in Venice we ferried over to the gorgeous little island of Burano! We spent the morning exploring, popping in and out of small shops. I went for a neutral outfit so that I could stand out amidst all of the colorful buildings. I was so shocked how many of you bought this set after sharing it on Instagram last week.
It’s from a small, sustainable woman-owned brand called EBY. The top and shorts are sold separate so you can mix and match and I have a code STYLEDBYMCKENZ for 10% off. Such a chic piece and incredibly easy to mix and match.
At this point, my hair was so greasy from walking around for three days without washing it that it desperately needed to be worn up. I tied a hair scarf through it and ended up loving the way this looked! In fact, I’ve since placed an order for a few more scarves because I loved this so much. Perfect for Italy!
top // shorts // sandals // purse // scarf
photo location ✈ Burano, Italy
As much as I love sharing my travels with you, nothing feels more like “me” or brings me as much joy as getting to incorporate this fashion element into things. If my worlds could collide like this for many, many years to come, I would be one happy girl.
Currently en route to the Amalfi Coast so I will have another one of these travel outfit guides coming your way very soon. In the meantime, stay tuned for my Venice travel guide coming your way later this week.
With love, McKenz
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