What I Wore: Venice

walking near Rialto Venice

The weather in Venice so far has been cool and intermittently rainy, and there’s more rain in the forecast.

Above: scarf (similar ) | sweater (similar) | jacket (similar) | pants |  shoes

I always wear a silk tank or camisole underneath my sweaters or tops. (Plus size.) Not only do they provide another layer for warmth, but I think they also help keep my tops clean longer. They can be hand washed and will line dry overnight.

In case you’re getting tired of seeing that green jacket…

what I wore out to dinner in Venice

Above: earrings | jacket | necklace | bracelets (similar here and here) | pants | boots (similar)

It was raining steadily when we set out for dinner so I took a quick mirror selfie before putting on my outerwear and scarf. I’m wearing the same pants and sweater as earlier in the day above, just added the silk jacket, boots, and jewelry. I have to confess, after a few days of eating more bread and pasta than I usually do, my jeans were feeling rather snug. I was happy to have these pants along as they comfortably accommodated a little bit of carb bloat, while still looking polished.

I’m really glad I included the weatherproof boots (similar style HERE)! We’ve had more rain and cooler temperatures than normal here for this time of year, and I’ve been wearing them often.

Trends

As I mentioned in a prior post What I Wore In Rome, even the Italians are dressing more casually these days. Aside from ubiquitous short puffer jackets, it’s been tough to discern any major style trends, but I’ve observed a couple of “micro trends.” I’ve spotted a few very stylish women wearing wide-legged pants, either cropped or ankle-length in very fluid fabrics. They’re usually worn with low-heeled shoes like brogues or with ankle boots.

The other more discernible trend I’ve noticed on European women is sneakers with metallic trims or finishes. Usually they’re lace-ups, sometimes slip-ons. I’ve seen these on women of all ages, from the Twenty-Something in a pair of bright gold Chuck Taylors, to women in their 60’s with more substantial sneakers with glitter accents. (My Paul Green’s have been working well…supportive enough for all-day walking!)

In tomorrow’s post, I’ll share some of what we’ve been doing and seeing here in La Serenissima

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32 Comments

  1. Good morning Susan! Having just returned from Italy, I agree on all counts. Metallic tennis shoes were everywhere. Some were very dramatic. My silver/gray ones like yours (thank you very much for the tip) really were on pointe. Also, those puffer jackets were everywhere, and I noticed that the Italians wore them on days that I thought were quite warm. We were in Assisi, Orvieto and Rome. Thanks so much for your blog. I enjoy it very much.~~Dee

  2. Metallic sports shoes are big here, too. The shine seems to distinguish them as being leisure wear vs. sports wear. Although I see plenty of impeccably white Stan Smiths, too.
    More photos!!!!

  3. Glad to hear about the puffers! I just sent husband off to Munich for a conference and he had to choose between his horrid green sweater and a fleece that I have seen for months, and a new stuff up jacket. I sold him on the stuff jacket I said, “Germans have very stylish sportswear.” Fingers crossed that he won’t come home saying, “everybody had fleeceand all I had was that puffy jacket. “

  4. Good Morning-I was in Venice last May and your photos brought back some fun memories. Heading to Provence on Wed….on an escorted tour, will be in Avignon and Aix-en-Provence. Only my 2nd time abroad (Italy first time last year). Any travel tips much appreciated. Some specific questions for now or hopefully my next trip:
    1. I need to have wide width shoes with removable insoles to accommodate orthotics for long term walking…so so SO hard to find other than unattractive athletic shoes by New Balance or Munro…are there some out there I just have not discovered?

    2. I just got a new haircut and a Brazilian Blowout and need to take along something for volume at the roots of my hair but know aerosols are not allowed on planes…any suggestions from you or more traveled readers?

    3. Will be in Provence for a week. Have an IPhone and know I can I message other IPhone users but thinking I might need a short term international plan for data in case of emergency (or to use waze or google maps if I would get lost, etc,) ? My carrier is Verizon.

    Than you in advance for all suggestions/recommendations

    1. I am doing almost exactly what Nancy is! Ditto on the phone question! I am taking some black slip on sneakers and metallic Ecco sandals. If I need anything, I can usually stop in at Monoprix, on the Cours. I lived there as a student and can’t wait to go back.

    2. We changed our phone plans to International option with Verizon when we left for France, then cancelled and changed them back the day we got home. It worked really well and we were able to use our phones as we do at home. You can investigate this on the Verizon website and do it there…it was painless. Got this tip from Rick Steves’ forum. Good luck and enjoy your trip!

      1. Agree with you, Laurel, for a short trip if you have enough data from your home package. Otherwise it gets expensive if you are burning through data. W bought a SIM card for a longer trip and just used the Verizon international package the day we arrived until we got a local SIM card.

        1. Agree about the local simcard. If you come from Australia global roam is terribly expensive. Heard from one woman who said she hardly used her phone over a month but returned home to find a bill for thousands. It turned out it was mostly from the Facebook updates.
          So when in France we always get a local pre-paid simcard (if you use up all you’ve paid a local phone shop can re-load more) – the concierge at our first hotel always organises the initial set-up for us because in France you have to satisfy lots of security questions on the phone as part of the installation process. For us, it’s much cheaper than using our home simcard – but then we always stay much longer than a week. Have a great trip! We’ll be arriving in Provence ourselves next week. Best wishes, Pamela

          1. Just as a reminder, if you plan to use a local SIM card, your phone must be unlocked. Do this before you leave. In the US, you can also buy a cheap phone that will do minimal things and put a SIM card in it from wherever you are.

    3. Nancy, I agree with those who mentioned the international plan on Verizon – we were in Provence last year at this time and signed up for the plan before we left. I think it was around $40 for a set amount of data/minutes, and they explain how to reset your data counter to zero on your phone once the int’l plan starts. That way you can easily keep track of how much data you are using, to check maps and the like. It worked great and I didn’t get close to the data limit. Just remember to check in with your carrier when you get back and turn the plan off – I was told they would turn it off automatically on my return date, and of course they didn’t (but they did refund the incorrect charge for me after a phone call). As for shoes, check out Teva, Naot and Fitflop – not sure about the removable soles but they are all very comfortable for my wide feet and have cute styles. Regarding aerosols, you can bring them if you check a bag – I couldn’t go anywhere without my hairspray! Enjoy Provence, it will be beautiful right now!

      1. Hi Carri-Thank you so much for your helpful information and thank you to everyone who replied to my many questions. I ended up getting the $10.00 per day international card through Verizon…if I need its I have it…if I do not, then I am not charged. Not sure how the wi-fi will be in our hotels in Provence? Is it as prevalent as it is in the states? As for shoes…I think I have the fussiest feet in the entire world…my mom warned me about wearing cheap high heels 24/7 and of course I rolled my eyes and now here I am in the pricey ugliest shoes imaginable..

        1. Nancy, we stayed in an apartment in Apt and the wi-fi was fine. It may vary depending on your hotel, just like it can here in the States. Since you’re in fairly big cities (for Provence) I think you’ll be fine. If you do have a poor signal at your hotel, I’m sure you can find a charming cafe or coffee spot that has free wi-fi if you really need your fix. It’s also wonderful to just unplug and enjoy – Provence in May is incredible. Have a fantastic trip!

          1. Thanks. We are at nice hotels it appears from the tour’s star rating and when I looked at them online. You are correct tho…I waste too much time at home on line so when in Provence I plan to eat good food/drink good wine and do as much people watching as possible.

    4. Verizon will use your data from your package at home for international calls once you switch over to the international package. Since we share 15 gigs, we never ran out of data during a two week trip. For a longer trip, we bought local SIM cards which saved us some money. As far as shoes that take orthotics, I am a devotee of New Balance’s line called Aravon. Lots of stylish but comfortable options available.

    5. Nancy, I can answer #1. I use (and love) the following hair powders. Oribe –http://www.oribe.com/swept-up-volume-powder.html and Bumble & Bumble Pret-A-Powder: http://www.bumbleandbumble.com/product/11720/27810/Products/Hair-Powders/index.tmpl Both take some experimentation to determine the right amount for your hair texture, length, and moisture level but once you solve that, it is a great solution. I use this exclusive when I travel to humid locales as my heavy, pin straight hair needs a little grit to do anything in the damp. Hope this helps!

    6. Since you’ve already resolved #3, I thought I’d give my suggestions for #1 and #2.

      1 – Check out the website for Barking Dog Shoes, which specifically reviews shoes for various foot conditions. It’s searchable and the editors really aim for attractive footwear. Website: https://www.barkingdogshoes.com

      2 – According to current TSA rules, you can take aerosol hairsprays or mousses on planes (but no other aerosol products). They are just subject to the same rules as other liquids (meaning 3 ounces or less in carry-on luggage): https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/liquids-rule. However, if you want another option, dry shampoo is great at adding volume at the roots and can cut down on other shampoo if you want to skip a few hair-washings while on the road. And it’s not liquid!

      Sounds like a great trip. Bon voyage!

  5. Have a souvenir umbrella I had to buy in Venice…it does give the city a dramatic moody feeling at night. Can remember a man coming out of the mist on the street singing opera…love reading your travel blogs. Enjoy every second!!

  6. Love your all-black Eileen Fisher outfit — very timeless and flattering in any part of the world. I also found your comment interesting, re the wide-legged pants, especially cropped pants. I love wider crops, especially with an elegant “flow” to them, in the summer months. They feel cooler and much more comfortable than skinnies. I will always love skinnies with boots, especially in fall and winter, but truthfully, I am getting a bit weary of seeing them and look forward to changing over to flowing, wide-legged crops this summer!

  7. Hi Susan,

    I’m not tired of your green jacket – In fact, I bought myself one when in Ireland two years ago. Those cold Atlantic winds which nearly blew me over, were too much for this Aussie girl.

    I have a love /hate relationship with Venice. On my last trip I stayed just behind St Marks and everything was in walking distance – hence the love part.

    If you don’t get to stay in Venice ( like in Mestre) – it’s a sort of hate relationship.

  8. Hi Susan – I too have not tired of your classic green jacket. Would you be able to provide purchase details for that exact same jacket? Thanks Maureen

    1. Hi Maureen, thanks! This particular jacket is from Sandro, but it’s a few years old and no longer available.

  9. I bought that green jacket through a link from your blog when you first got it, and it’s a great travel companion – it’s been all over the world with me, sometimes with lots of layers underneath for warmth, other times just as lightweight wind or rain protection. So I’m happy to see that you’re still using it as well!

  10. How I long to write that headline: “What I wore: Venice”. Hahaha. You look fabulous. I’m glad you have your carb emergency pants along, and they still look great. Feeling comfortable is the last thing you need to worry about. I like the trends you are spotting, especially the metallic shoes.

  11. Susan, was so glad to see the recent link to your crossbody bag because I’ve been looking for one for my long trip to Japan coming up this fall. The L&S looks nearly perfect. I would love to know how it held up for you on this trip & if you chose the Saffiano or the Napa leather (+ any negatives?). Thanks

  12. I’m looking forward to writing that headline “What I wore: Venice” in September this year. Good to know that my metallic shoes and puffer jackets will be “on trend”, especially as I will have just turned 70! Seeing your photos is making me so excited – looking forward to hearing more!

  13. Susan, love both outfits but that all black is fantastic! Is it wrong that I practically camp out here waiting for you to post Rooms with a View and What I Wore posts? =)

  14. Hi, Susan. Love your blog and I am inspired by your outfits. A little observation: Puffer coat must be a West Coast thing because here in New York, we just call them down coats or parkas. We live in them almost half the year but I never hear anyone call them puffer coats. Keep telling us about what you’re wearing on your fabulous trip!

  15. Your room looks beautiful and you do too (as always). I’m also a huge fan of the Sandro jacket and stalk eBay, Poshmark, Tradesy, etc. trying to find one. 🙂 I bought my first metallic sneakers after seeing the suggestion last year (or so) on your blog. Never cease to get compliments. You’ve always pointed me to items that I might not have thought of and they’ve become my best friends. Thanks so much and keep posting. Beautiful photos of Italia. Enjoy the rest of the trip.