When packing for my recent trip, I assumed I might eventually write a post about “What I Wore In Paris.” But then I really just wore one thing.

A couple of months ago, I bought a silk-wool blend blazer at a charity thrift shop for $13. I brought it to Paris and Italy with me, and I admit that I almost needn’t have brought anything else.

It’s a little oversized and gracefully straddles the line between casual and dressy. It is greige, which means it lends itself easily to browns, black, or color. It’s spacious enough to layer for warmth. Alors, is perfect.

I’ll walk you through 5 iterations of exactly how and where this BFF of mine appeared in my travels. (It’s worth noting that these are merely the times I photographed my blazer…but if I’m being honest, I think I wore it at least 10 out of my 17 days traveling).

LOOK 1: SHOULDER PADS²

I had to pack for 17 days of varying weather, and on this Sunday in Paris, it was a little chilly. My friend Breana and I set out to wander the Marché Saint-Ouen, looking for none other than MORE VINTAGE, so I wanted to look cute but be comfortable.

The pink St. John sweater I “thrifted” from my grandmother’s closet. She has a little habit of apologizing for her sassy quips by giving me her clothes. She had really been *on one* the day before, so I brought two “new” sweaters along on my trip. Winning!

OVERSIZE JEANS: $10 Levi’s from L-Train Vintage

LOOK 2: HOT TODI

Let’s travel in time and space to Todi, Italy. We’ll bring the same blazer, these jeans from Old Navy ($22.49), a pink men’s button-down from Goodwill ($7.99) and my new – but beloved – Rothy’s.

I’ve never really been a flats girl, despite being very tall, but I knew I’d need walking shoes in my life that were not Birkenstocks or athletic sneakers. I was able to try these on at the store in Soho and thought the shape was perfectly on-trend and flattering, but timeless. (BONUS: they’re made from recycled water bottles and are machine washable.)

LOOK 3: CHAMPAGNE MAMAN

It was right chilly down there in those champagne cellars; I wasn’t quite prepared. But I quickly warmed up by sampling 6 different champagnes. I mean, I just never would have indulged so much if it weren’t for my desire to warm myself in the sun…

Ecru jeans (also from Old Navy!) a simple black Everlane tee, and Le Specs sunnies kept this look easy breezy (literally).

LOOK 4: CREME DE LA CREAM

This look deserved a better photo. I’m sorry, Look. I’m sorry, Reader.

Ecru jeans made another appearance, this time with a vintage silk blouse I’d gotten just before the trip at one of my usual spots in my neighborhood, Vintage Thrift.

LOOK 5: SHEER DRIP

Rainy night? Nothing a sheer Parade bodysuit, an iridescent Rains trench and a red lip can’t fix. OH AND, of course, my trusty greige blazer, seen here peeking out from underneath said trench coat. I wore the sheer, long-sleeved bodysuit underneath with a lacy black bralette for a touch of evening-appropriate, sophisticated sexiness.

Same Old Navy dark wash jeans, a secondhand Brooks Brothers black leather belt, and the tried-and-true-by-that-point Rothy’s – accessorized with a book and a loaf of bread.

I wish I had a better photo of this version too, but I really was so busy eating and having a nice time. Desolée!

And, all right, fine: here are a handful of examples of some other clothes I did wear. (The photo on the right features the other freebie I snagged from Nana.)

This is just to say: if you’re thinking hard about what to pack for a trip, think less. Wear what you feel good in. Don’t freeze, or sweat to death. Live Free and Repeat Outfits! I like to ensure I have space for things I’ll collect along the way, plus I like to be agile when hauling bags up and down flights of stairs and around train platforms.

(And if you really want to plan out every look and need help, hit up my friend Robyn Davies for a styling session to get your looks ready from things you already own and might just need a new viewpoint on!)

Happy packing,

Rosalee