• The Shop
    • Shop All
    • The Artists
  • The Blog
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Interiors
    • City Guides
    • Beauty
    • Life
  • The Edit
    • Fashion
    • Beauty
    • Interiors
    • Kids
  • About
0
6th May 2017

What I packed for Rome (for reals)

Frugal City Guides - By Alexandra Stedman

Rail: Morplan. Suitcase: Away. Initial (waterproof lined) washbag: £25, Alphabet Bags. Clothing (credits later on in the post). Photographs and video: Christopher O’Donnell. Filmed at the Artist Residence, London

Last weekend we spent a blissful weekend in Rome…but more of that later.

I’ve been meaning to make a packing video for ages, and have filmed them for other brands so many times. But I wanted it to be real, rather than creating a fake scenario.

Bag: £170, Rae Feather. Top: £40, Next. Stripe top: £80, Etre Cecile. Cashmere jumper: Gap (old but Boden do great cashmere here). Espadrilles: £120, Kurt Geiger. Top: Topshop (old but buy similar here). Clear cosmetic case: £5.25, Muji. Stripe trousers: £35.99, Mango.

So when we knew we were off to Rome, I decided to not only arrange a shoot (this actually took quite a bit of organisation as we couldn’t just shoot in our house, so had to pack the suitcase, drag to the Artist Residence hotel, unpack and then film, then take it all home again!) but also actually pack my suitcase. Killing two birds with one stone – it also means I could show you what actually got worn around the city.

Top: New Look (sold out buy similar here). Jeans: H&M (old). Bag: And Other Stories (old but buy similar from M&S here). Shoes: £59.99, Mango. Earrings: £70, Pandora

So there it is!

The video of packing for Rome – a more detailed account of what I pack and how I do it. Looking back at the video, I wish I hadn’t been in such a rush and stopped to brush my hair, and maybe I shouldn’t have said that every single item was my ‘favourite’ that ‘I loved’ but with this YouTube thing, you’ve gotta go with it and not analyse too much! I hope you find it somewhat useful…

And here’s me wearing a few items I actually packed:

Denim jacket: £40, Next. T-shirt: £40, Sezane. Trousers: Madewell (old). Bag: J Crew (old). Shoes: £59.99, Mango. Sunglasses: £70, Le Specs at Very Exclusive.

Top: £40, Next. Jeans: Gap (old). Sunglasses: Mango (old). Bag: J Crew (old).

Leather jacket: £299, Jigsaw (old but buy the new update version here). Top: Topshop (old but buy similar here). Clutch: Modern Society (old). Earrings: £12.99, Mango.

Denim jacket: £40, Next. T-shirt: £40, Sezane. Trousers: Madewell (old). Bag: J Crew (old). Shoes: Topshop (old). Sunglasses: £70, Le Specs at Very Exclusive.

For a step by step guide to packing your suitcase, click here.

By Alexandra Stedman

Fashion Editor, Blogger, Realist

Popular Posts

THE BEST (AND THE MOST STYLISH) AFFORDABLE KITCHENS

HOW TO ACHIEVE YOUR PERFECT STAIR RUNNER

WHY I FEEL WEIRD ANNOUNCING I’M PREGNANT (IN A POST WHERE I TALK ABOUT BEING PREGNANT)

Frugality Shops

You might also like

  • Frugal City Guide: Copenhagen
    Frugal City Guide: Copenhagen
  • How to juggle a day job and a blog
    How to juggle a day job and a blog
  • Frugal City Guide: Amsterdam
    Frugal City Guide: Amsterdam
  • 5 tips on keeping your blog authentic
    5 tips on keeping your blog authentic

You May Also Like...

  • A GREAT VALUE BREAK IN EASTBOURNE

  • Frugal Travel Guide Gracia Barcelona

    5 reasons to stay in Gracia, Barcelona

  • Frugal City Guide: Clerkenwell

« Get your red bret-on
Interiors Envy: Anna Williamson and her West London Flat »

Comments

  1. Bella says

    6th May 2017 at 8:16 am

    This is great. Honest, useful with genuinely nice outfits.
    Can you do a beach one next?

    Reply
    • Alexandra Stedman says

      6th May 2017 at 3:10 pm

      Glad you liked! Yes – beach would be good – and maybe a UK minibreak x

      Reply
    • AB says

      6th May 2017 at 3:46 pm

      Really love your blog….on your packing photo shoot where is the large initial ‘A’ make-up bag from? Xx

      Reply
      • Alexandra Stedman says

        6th May 2017 at 3:59 pm

        Sorry I’ve been terrible at adding links for this post! It’s Alphabet Bags https://www.alphabetbags.com/shopall/wash_bags/natural_initial_washbag.htm

        Reply
  2. Gwenllian says

    6th May 2017 at 8:26 am

    Love love love everything! Where is the POPULAR red and white stripe tshirt from please?
    Thanks x

    Reply
    • Alexandra Stedman says

      6th May 2017 at 3:10 pm

      it’s from Etre Cecile x

      Reply
  3. mediamarmalade says

    6th May 2017 at 10:25 am

    The Next blouse is a beaut and I love the khaki cropped trousers, they’re fab

    Mel x mediamarmalade.com

    Reply
    • Alexandra Stedman says

      6th May 2017 at 3:12 pm

      And everything can be mixed and matched (yes, those pieces are my faves) xx

      Reply
  4. H OR says

    6th May 2017 at 3:18 pm

    Do you have links to your t shirts and striped tops?

    Reply
    • Alexandra Stedman says

      6th May 2017 at 3:46 pm

      Sorry – I’ve just added!! On first image xx

      Reply
  5. Fiona says

    6th May 2017 at 3:38 pm

    Finally managed to order the Next blouse (it’s been out of stock in my size every time I’ve checked). Threw in the Pom Pom shoes from your last Instagram post too. I need to stop following your blog…

    Reply
    • Alexandra Stedman says

      6th May 2017 at 3:47 pm

      SORRY!!! Those shoes are good though…! x

      Reply
  6. Erica says

    6th May 2017 at 9:26 pm

    Lots of great ideas, thanks Alex! Love the pom pom bracelet for a bit of fun, where is it from?

    Reply
    • Alexandra Stedman says

      7th May 2017 at 4:03 pm

      They’re by Dana Levy! So good for summer http://bit.ly/2pnYGIM

      Reply
  7. maryeats says

    7th May 2017 at 8:14 pm

    Your travel wallet looks fantastic- I didn’t catch the name of the brand. Do you mind sharing a link? Thank you!

    Reply
    • Alexandra Stedman says

      8th May 2017 at 4:02 pm

      It’s Smythson! Pricey – but I love it, had for about 4 years now and looks good as new: http://bit.ly/2pY9aQf

      Reply
      • maryeats says

        10th May 2017 at 12:26 am

        Thank you! Love all those color coded zippers.

        Reply
  8. Shloka says

    8th May 2017 at 2:06 pm

    I love that you showed us what you packed but then you also showed us how you styled it and you did such a fabulous job! I love it all!

    x
    Shloka
    http://thesilksneaker.com

    Reply
    • Alexandra Stedman says

      8th May 2017 at 3:56 pm

      Oh thank you! xxxx

      Reply
  9. Tina says

    9th May 2017 at 7:29 am

    Fantastic dress. The red top looks great on you.

    Tina
    http://www.oleka.co.uk

    Reply
  10. Imgoog says

    9th May 2017 at 10:04 am

    Nice video to watch 😀 Love the suitcase, with USB plug >.< Thank you for sharing the post.

    Reply
  11. javascript obfuscator says

    10th May 2017 at 7:29 am

    This is so great! Nice outfits! Love the red skirts and bracelet!

    Reply
  12. Dragon ball super episode 107 says

    4th September 2017 at 9:04 am

    Love this outfit combination! It represents comfy-chic beautifullyt!

    Reply
  13. ankita says

    7th December 2017 at 8:24 am

    NICE DRESSES . LOOKING BEAUTIFULL

    Reply
  14. Deborah Price says

    16th April 2019 at 12:11 pm

    Great video. I bought the Caudelie spray for our next trip as its a big one – LA (cue all the eye rolling from partner). I treated myself to the carry on Away bag (this is why http://www.flywithme880171539.com) and now after eBay sales getting the medium one. I have to say that they are fantastic, great wheel action! I also use packing cubes, have you tried them?

    Reply
    • Alexandra Stedman says

      16th April 2019 at 3:28 pm

      Is this your site? It’s amazing!! Yes absolutely love the Away cases – the zips and wheels are superior to anything else…I have never tried packing cubes – but they do sound like an organisational dream x

      Reply
  15. Jas says

    17th April 2019 at 4:04 pm

    Love the next blouse but the link doesn’t seem to work. Is that because it’s sold out? x

    Reply
    • Alexandra Stedman says

      17th April 2019 at 4:53 pm

      Yes, sorry x

      Reply
  16. Pooja Aggarwal says

    11th March 2020 at 3:37 pm

    I love denim jacket! thank you for sharing

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • Fashion
  • Life
  • Frugal City Guides
  • Work
  • Beauty
  • Culture & Art
  • Food
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • TikTok

The Frugality Newsletter

Copyright © 2023 | All rights reserved | Design by Gatto

Sign up to The Frugality newsletter

For exclusive updates, musings and offers