Ciao Florence

L’Academie blouse (c/o REVOLVE) (similar)
Paige jeans (c/o Shopbop)
Jonak mules (similar)
Aritzia hat (similar)
RayBan sunglasses
Wolf Circus necklace (similar)
& Other Stories necklace (similar)
Madewell rings
Urban Outfitters earrings (similar)
Location: Lungarno Amerigo Vespucci – Florence, Italy

It seems hard to believe that these are our last photos from Florence. But then again, considering the fact that we came back to Canada at the end of September, it’s surprising that I’ve been able to keep Florence posts going on for so long. But I never wanted our time in Italy last fall, or the memories of it, to end.

The summer of 2018 was beautifully hot and sunny here in Winnipeg, but the months felt interminable to me. I was absolutely burnt out at work. I got behind when we went to Vancouver in April and, for more reasons than I can begin to explain, I could not get caught up, no matter how many hours I put in. Month after month, worked stacked up. And the higher the pile of tasks undone climbed, the more insurmountable every single task felt. I felt perpetually discouraged, and like nothing I did could possibly be enough. Florence was what I had to look forward to, the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel. And the city proved to be exactly what I needed.

I was happy in Florence. I remember when our tiny plane from Amsterdam landed at the Firenze-Peretola airport. We walked down the rolling metal staircase onto the tarmac – the plane was that small. It was ten in the morning, the sun shone overhead and I looked up at the old Aeroporto Firenze sign on the building we were about to enter with a smile. Florence was a new city for us, but we were home. The weight I’d been carrying lifted and for nine days, I lived under blue skies, wandering narrow streets whose history is longer than my imagination, drinking Chianti and pouring copious amounts of the most flavourful olive oil over everything I ate. I spoke French and English and absolutely dreadful Italian, but everyone I met made the effort to understand. Nothing went wrong. The only bad thing that happened to me was a few mosquito bites.

This was the first outfit I planned for our trip after we booked our plane tickets. All of the pieces were already in my closet, and they all get regular wear, but rarely together. Somehow, it seemed like this look had been hiding in plain sight in my closet, as if it was just waiting for its Tuscan moment. I loved everything I wore in Italy this year, but this outfit remains my favourite.

It’s hardly a wonder that I don’t want to let Florence go, but the time to do exactly that has officially come. My Florence city guide is coming later this week, and after that, we’ll be back to photos taken in the same old places in Winnipeg. Which is okay, too, I suppose. After all, Paris isn’t so far away…