While I travel a lot for work, I rarely get to take an entire month off in one hit. I’m usually somewhere for a few weeks, then I’m back home to repack for the next adventure. I’m pretty extravagant with my packing, as I like to wear an array of outfits and accessories on my travels. My last trip was to Sri Lanka and the Maldives… I packed eight pairs of sunglasses, four hats and 19 bikinis. Did I mention it was a two-week vacay?
This time around I needed to be more sensible. Our month long itinerary included Beijing, Paris, London, the Ionian Islands in Greece, Milan, Verona, Venice, Sardinia, Naples, Pompeii, the Amalfi Coast and Rome. And a quick dumpling pit stop in Beijing on our way back home. We were road tripping in Greece and Italy in teeny tiny European cars, so I needed to confine my fashion to one large suitcase. My carry-on was reserved for camera gear, which included the drone, and underwater housing.
I was going to have to wear the same thing twice – heck, probably way more than twice. I was also going to have to cut right back on the amount of accessories I was bringing, so I needed pieces that could go with literally everything in my suitcase. But not just any pieces. I needed accessories that could add an extra edge to my outfits – especially when I had the same dress on repeat.
So to help you prepare for your next European adventure, here are the four accessories you need for summer in Europe:
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THE CROSSBODY BAG
My pick: A.P.C ‘Luna’ leather shoulder bag
The crossbody bag is the only bag you need for travelling – it allows you to keep your hands free and your belongings safe while still looking stylish. I always look for standout features when choosing accessories – A.P.C are known for their simple cool girl style, so I love that this bag is a little bit out there for them with the Cuban link gold chain. I could be wearing the same denim cut-offs for the third day in a row, but with buy imitrex cheap this bag I always felt a million dollars.
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THE POLARISED SUNGLASSES
My pick: OLIVER PEOPLES X KITSUNÉ ‘Gregory Peck’ sunglasses
If you’re spending a decent amount of time on the water, I highly recommend investing in a good pair of polarised lenses. With the majority of our time spent island hopping in Greece and Italy, I needed a pair of sunnies that combined fashion and function. These Oliver Peoples sunglasses are in collaboration with French brand Maison Kitsuné – the clear frames with contrasting tortoise arms and subtle gold-mirrored lens were the ultimate combination.
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THE COLOURFUL SILK SCARF
My pick: DOLCE & GABBANA ‘Hydrangea’ print scarf
Nothing elevates an outfit quite like an eye-catching silk scarf. I’m not usually drawn to overly girly prints, but I am OBSESSED with this hydrangea design – it was the perfect accessory to freshen up my travel wardrobe. I tied it around my ponytail and bun, I tied it to my bag, and I wore it around my neck in a million different ways. It also made me feel super Italiano and I swear more locals tried to converse with me in Italian when I was wearing it.
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THE GLADIATOR SANDALS
My pick: SENSO ‘Freya’ sandals
The only way to navigate Europe’s cobblestone streets is in a pair of flats and there are none more appropriate than the gladiator sandal. No longer a trend, the gladiator sandal has become a summer staple. These black suede babies from Senso were incredible soft and added the perfect amount of edge to my outfits. I wore them sightseeing during the day, and then to wine bars at night.
We shot these images just before sunset after a hot day exploring the canals of Venice. While gondola rides are quite touristy, it was my first time in Venice so I wanted to shoot this accessory story onboard one. What I didn’t realise was that gondola rides were AUD$200 for 30 minutes. We had only one ride to get the shots – no pressure! Luckily, we found a canal that still had sunshine and managed to get our shots in before the sun disappeared behind the historic buildings.
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