Packing question: dressing for dinner in upscale hotel

[RingofBrodgar]

DH and I are going to a lovely 5 star Italian hotel to celebrate a big anniversary. In the past , I’ve always had a different outfit for dinner every evening. This year I only have 3 dresses which make me feel great. So my favourite dress would be worn 3 times across the week and the others twice.

I am interested in how others pack for a similar sort of break. Do you repeat favourite outfits or do you have something different for every evening?

It's a long time since I went on that length of trip and had the luxury of the suitcase to myself! I would have reworn a favourite at least once or twice in the week because it was a favourite- why not get the pleasure of it.

I would also (this is dating me to the era of statement jewellry) have mixed and matched clutch bag /statement earrings or necklace.)

I rewear clothes all the time. But from experience, across a week I absolutely would not want to wear any dress more than twice. So I’d either take some dressy separates, or buy another dress.

I haven’t been on the sort of break where you dress for dinner in a hotel every night. However, I think I’d be totally happy rewearing dresses at least once each, and would probably shop for another one or wear something else that isn’t a dress.

Generally for a week, I’d Take a skirt and trousers and different tops, I like options, so a pair of lovely wide leg trousers, a maxi skirt, with different tops I could pair them with,

you absolutely can repeat, but personally I’d not be up for basically wearing rhe same dress every second night,

Are these the sort of dresses you would only be wearing in the evening for dinner? So a few hours per day while sitting down? In that case I would rewear.

if needed, 5 star hotels usually have laundry service.

My problem in Italy is messy food. So I would try to keep a couple of clean tops and bottoms for the end of the week!

Oh but statement jewellery is such fun!!! I'm tall (& now on the large side as well!) with lots of long hair - so little delicate studs, chains etc are lost on me.

I really love huge earrings, cocktail rings, chunky bangles, long pendants etc, & have quite a collection - a large part of it being vintage pieces that I've collected over the years. And some that I've had long enough to now be vintage in its own right!

I have several light summery evening dresses that roll down very small as they are lightweight silky material or light chiffon. Maybe an excuse for shopping?

I know it’s not what you asked but are you planning to eat in the hotel restaurant every day? It might be excellent but it would be a shame not to explore other local eateries, while wearing your fabulous dresses.

Secondly, many premium Italian hotels don’t allow irons in the rooms because they are in historical buildings and consider it a fire risk. So if your dresses need pressing I would recommend bringing a portable steamer.

I tend to wear half my evening outfits once and the other half twice. For the daytime though, I tend to live in just a couple of outfits/swimwear throughout the week.

I go on cruising with dress code and wouldn't repeat my evening outfits. I usually do a mix of dresses and jumpsuits so i don't need to faff with which tope goes with which skirt or trousers etc xx

I don't pack dresses. I pack trousers and skirts and a selection of tops that will all mix and match.
(I speak from experience. Im the woman who regularly treats my tops and t shirts to whatever I'm eating).

I wouldn't plan to eat in the hotel restaurant everyday, so it won't matter if you rewear things.

Also, IME, when it's hot, although you might imagine dressing up every evening, the reality is that I don't.

Plus, can you remember what some random woman was wearing on the first night of your last holiday? Who'll notice or care?

The less you take, the less unpacking and laundry you have to do when you get back!

Seriously?
Who would notice or care that you are rewearing an outfit!

Do it.

I always rewear evening clothes, but I’d also ensure you have options because expensive doesn’t necessarily mean people dressed up I have found

I have worn a favourite outfit 3 times on a week long 5 * cruise.
No one will notice, how often do you remember what strangers have worn?
And even if someone does notice does it really matter - very unlikely you will ever see them again.
Other nights I tend to take palazzo type trousers and a few nice tops that can be used with a T-shirt on sightseeing days.
Also I agree with a previous poster, however nice the hotel restaurant might be it’s still nice to get out and try a local restaurant at least once.

I would pack a base layer ie cream linen trousers and camisole, or the same in black and wear 2-3 different tops with them - sparky jacket, pretty cardigan, silk throw. That way you get more variety in your main outfit "look" if that makes sense.

So for me I pack a different outfit for every evening. So if I’m doing 2 week holiday I would pack 5 bikinis, 5 cover ups, 3 pjs, 3/4 pair of shoes depending on the evening outfits, 1 pair of trainers and then some shorts and t shirts for the day if I’m out.

I tend to wear evening dresses twice on holiday if its a week, probably 3 times if it was a fortnight. We don't really mix with others on holiday where possible (holiday people are so tedious!) so I doubt anyone would remember my face from one night to the next.

I do try and mix up accessories and my hairstyle to hopefully confuse any eagle eyed people 😆.

Would you be eating in the hotel every day? You’re likely to find better quality restaurants in the local area, just away from the tourist streets and you probably wouldn’t need to dress up.

Struggling to understand these comments …

I dress for myself. It’s not about whether other people would care, or not care, about my choice of outfits - I care.

I would find it unsatisfactory to have to wear any dress more than twice within a week, so I would arrange to travel with enough clothes to avoid that.

(FWIW I actually find very simple, lightweight non-crumpling dresses much easier to travel with than separates, which generally need ironing and thinking about.)

I love shopping when abroad. Particularly in Italy! So I'd probably get a dress or two there. Maybe some nice shoes...

On a family holiday I generally account for each "evening worthy" dress being worn twice. But tbh if I was going somewhere special with just DH, had the luxury of an entire suitcase to myself with no stuffed toys, or nappies, or every possible edition of "what the ladybird heard" in there, I might go right ahead and treat myself to a dress for every night.

You struggle to understand that people are different? It’s not hard.

I don’t care what others think about my outfits either. But I would be happy to wear my favourite dress twice in a week because it makes me feel good. OP has three dresses that she wants to wear because they make her feel better than her other outfits. It’s pretty simple really.

I wear all black in the evening. I'll bring a few pieces and wear them in different combinations each night.

Ditto during the day with beige/cream/white.

It makes dressing and accessorising super easy.