As summer approaches, Italy beckons with its sun-soaked beaches, vibrant culture and picturesque landscapes. Whether you’re planning to explore the Amalfi Coast, lounge in the luxury of Lake Como or stroll through the historic streets of Rome, having the right travel essentials can make all the difference. To ensure you have an unforgettable Italian summer, here are our Top 5 must-have vacation picks that we brought on a dream trip to Sicily, Sardinia and Rome. Andiamo.

La Vie en Rose Swimwear

La Vie en Rose was our favourite choice for swimwear, as their designs are the epitome of stylish with supportive and versatile options for all body types. Whether lounging on the Amalfi Coast or exploring the vibrant streets of Rome, these swimsuits and cover-ups are perfect companions for any Italian adventure. The stunning colour options make them ideal for beautiful destinations, ensuring you look and feel your best wherever you go for those Instagram Moments. 

Outfit #1: Classic and sexy in all black

The TEXTURED Balconette Bikini Top is a dream come true for anyone seeking a blend of elegance and support. The wide-set straps and demi cups create a straight, open neckline that is incredibly flattering. The underwire and sewn-in pads provide excellent lift and shape, while the adjustable straps and back hook closure ensure a perfect fit. Paired with the matching TEXTURED Side Tie V-cut Brazilian Bikini Bottom, which features a form-flattering V-cut design and functional side ties, this outfit exudes sexiness and confidence. Bellissima!

Outfit #2: Barbie-core in neon pink

The PINK PUNCH Textured Plunge Bikini Top is a vibrant addition to any swimwear collection. Its large, adjustable straps and underwires offer a well-defined shape and personalized fit. The plunge style adds a touch of allure, making it perfect for those sunny Italian beaches. The matching PINK PUNCH Textured Thong Bikini Bottom is a bold choice, ideal for sun worshippers or just those who are feeling a little cheeky (pun intended). Its low-rise V-cut and high leg cut ensure minimal tan lines and maximum confidence. We paired this with the Short Mesh Pareo cover up skirt for the ultimate feminine, bella, Barbie-core look. 

Outfit #3: Sporty, comfy and cute in bold red

For a minimalist yet versatile option, the FIERY RED Bralette Bikini Top is a standout piece. Its adjustable thin straps and back hook closure offer comfort and flexibility, while the shirring effect at the front adds a stylish touch. Paired with the FIERY RED Side Tie Brazilian Bikini Bottom, which accentuates curves with its low-rise design and adjustable side ties, this outfit is perfect for beach yoga or a casual swim and somehow offers fantastic support with minimal coverage for a no-wire top.

Outfit #4: Ultra femme and ocean-ready in aqua and Aztec prints

Sustainability meets style with the SKY BLUE Recycled Fibers Plunge Bikini Top. The underwires and adjustable straps provide unmatched comfort and a flattering fit, while the front tie adds a very feminine and pretty touch. The matching SKY BLUE Recycled Fibers Side Tie Brazilian Bikini Bottom features side ties for easy adjustment and a high leg cut that highlights curves beautifully. This outfit is a must-have for eco-conscious travelers who still want to look chic. Top this ocean aqua blue set with the Long Mesh Pareo in blue tile for a really beautiful and tropical look.

Outfit #5: Easy and breezy beach dress

Versatility is key when traveling, and the black Convertible Strapless Dress is a perfect example. This piece can be worn as a beach dress or a skirt, offering effortless style and comfort. The smocked band and adjustable drawstring allow for a customized fit, making it ideal for various occasions. Its length and design make it a great addition to any travel wardrobe, ensuring you stay fashionable from day to night, wearing this piece either as a bathing suit cover up or a standalone dress.

Gold Spray Tan Bar

Every summer or tropical travel prep should include a sunless tan. Our favourite results in Toronto are from a luxurious, golden spray tan at Gold Spray Tan Bar. This mobile service brings the perfect sun-kissed glow right to your door, offering unparalleled convenience and quality. Appointments are only 30 minutes long, and everything needed for a flawless tan is provided. No need to worry about finding a babysitter or making a trip to the salon – simply relax at home while your tan develops.

Founded and operated by Roubina, a Master Certified Spray Tan Artist trained by Spray Tan Class, the only internationally accredited spray tan training program, Gold Spray Tan Bar ensures professional and exceptional results. Roubina’s expertise, combined with top-notch equipment like the Fujispray Sunless spray tan gun and stunning developer products from the Nuda Professional range, guarantees a beautiful, natural-looking tan. The service prioritizes your health and comfort, using clean, high-quality products with natural ingredients and premium DHA. Roubina ensures a safe and respectful environment, catering to all body shapes, sizes and skin types. The spray tan tent provides a private space where you can feel completely at ease. Gold Spray Tan Bar offers both gradual (8-12 hour rinse) and rapid (2-6 hour rinse) options, with tans lasting 7-10 days with proper care. Whether preparing for a wedding, special event or just looking to achieve that vacation glow, Gold Spray Tan Bar delivers impeccable results – che bella!

Clé de Peau Beauté Sun Protection

The power of the sun in Italy never ceases to amaze us. Your best bet to protect yourself from the hours of deceptively beautiful rays of sunlight is a good quality SPF, and Clé de Peau Beauté‘s new UV care range is definitely the answer we were looking for. 

The UV Protective Cream SPF 50+ is an exquisite SPF product that stands out for its gorgeous silky texture, making it incredibly spreadable and unlike many chalky or overly oily SPFs. This luxurious cream also doubles as a superb makeup primer, providing a smooth base for flawless application. Its fresh scent adds to the delightful experience of using it. What sets this SPF apart is its ability to offer broad-spectrum protection without leaving any white cast, a common issue with many sunscreens. Infused with botanical skincare ingredients, it not only shields your skin from harmful UVA and UVB rays but also visibly improves skin texture by delivering 10-hour moisture for a 2-in-1 benefit. 

Another thing we tend to neglect is lip protection against the sun, but your pout can get burned, badly, if not tended to properly. Enter the clé de peau Protective Lip Treatment SPF 25, a luxurious, creamy balm that provides broad-spectrum UV protection while nourishing and priming the lips. This lip treatment offers 24-hour dewy moisture, instantly improving dullness and dryness, and shielding lips from environmental aggressors. This luxurious balm, scented with natural rose oil, is a perfect daily essential for radiant, well-protected lips. Formulated to comply with 2021 Hawaii sunscreen regulations, it ensures your lips remain beautiful and healthy.

Shiseido Carry-On Friendly Skincare

Packing travel friendly skincare for beauty enthusiasts can be a nightmare if you insist on traveling with carry-on luggage only. Ensuring your favourites are in <100 mL containers or less can be a pain, scooping samples into unlabeled bottles over and over. The Shiseido Radiance Serum Set addresses these travel woes as a must-have travel essential for all of your skincare needs when jetsetting.

This limited edition set features the highly acclaimed Vital Perfection LiftDefine Radiance Serum along with deluxe mini-sizes from the Vital Perfection collection, designed to hydrate, treat and correct. As the fastest-selling SHISEIDO collection for lifting, firming and brightening, it’s no wonder this set is a top pick. It set includes: Vital Perfection LiftDefine Radiance Serum (40mL), Vital Perfection Uplift and Firming Cream Enriched (15mL), Clarifying Cleansing Foam (50mL) and the Treatment Softener Enriched (30mL). This travel-friendly set ensures your skin stays radiant and youthful, no matter where your adventures take you – but for your sake, we hope it is in Italy!

Specsavers Sunglasses

Specsavers sunglasses were our go-to accessories for both style and protection under the Mediterranean sun. We had the pleasure of wearing two chic styles from Marc Jacobs: the Marc Jacobs Sun RX 69 in brown tortoiseshell and the Marc Jacobs Sun RX 10 in black.

The Marc Jacobs Sun RX 69 exudes understated elegance. With an extra-large size, these sunglasses feature a lens diameter of 58 mm and a height of 40 mm. The rich tortoiseshell acetate plastic frame is complemented beautifully by gold metal accents on the temples and tips, adding a touch of luxury to the design. The second pair, the Marc Jacobs Sun RX 10 in black, offered a classic yet modern look. These sunglasses, also in an extra-large size, boast a lens diameter of 57 mm and a height of 48 mm, with a slightly larger bridge and arm length for a more secure fit. The glossy black acetate plastic frame, paired with gold metal accents, created an effortlessly stylish combination. The deep square shape and subtly curved brow line added a feminine touch, making these sunglasses perfect for a stroll through Venice or a day at the beach in Capri.

Photography by Amy Pigeon and Unsplash.