September in Italy is a different kind of trip. The streets are quieter, the light is golden, and you're not fighting for a sunlounger. The only anxiety is the packing: how do you look great from the piazza to poolside without dragging a second suitcase through the airport?
The Edit by Lisa Snowdon is the answer. This collection was built for exactly this kind of holiday: swimwear that earns its place, cover-ups that carry real weight in your wardrobe, and dresses that go from morning market to terrace dinner without you lifting a finger. Here's a quick overview of everything you'll need, then scroll down for our full picks.
Read on for our full product picks from The Edit by Lisa Snowdon, everything you need for a stylish Italian September.
Reliably warm and mostly dry, though it varies by where you're going. Rome and the Amalfi Coast sit at around 24 to 28 degrees in early September, cooling gradually to the low-20s by late September. Northern Italy (Milan, Lake Como, the Dolomites) runs cooler, especially in the evenings. The good news: September is one of the best times to visit. Pack your summer pieces and add a lightweight layer or two for evenings. A kimono or linen trousers will earn their suitcase space every night.
The number one rule: flat sandals. Italian cobblestones are no place for a heel, and a full day of sightseeing will confirm this quickly. Beyond the shoes, go for outfits that handle hours of walking and still look good for an unplanned cafe stop or an aperitivo. Our shoes section and daytime outfits guide have exactly the right picks.
Yes, and it's worth planning for this before you get turned away at the door. Covered shoulders and knees are required at most churches in Italy. A kimono is the easiest solution: it packs completely flat, works over swimwear on the beach, and does the job when you need it. Keep one in your bag on sightseeing days and you'll never be caught out.
Pack at least two pieces, so one can dry while the other is on you. A swimsuit for pool days, and a bikini or tankini for the beach is the classic combination. The Lisa Snowdon Resort and Swimwear collection has all three covered.
Roughly five to seven, plus two swimwear pieces and two or three pairs of shoes. But the number matters less than the choices. One kimono that works on the beach and over a dress at dinner. Wide-leg trousers that take you from daytime to evening. Flat sandals that suit everything. Pack pieces that do more than one job and you won't need to overload your case. The Lisa Snowdon Edit is built around exactly this mix-and-match approach.
The swimwear edit starts with one rule: choose well, not many. The Lisa Snowdon collection covers every mood, and every piece is designed to fit exactly as it looks.
The Gold Trim Higher Leg Swimsuit is the star of this collection and the place to start. The higher leg cut gives a longer, leaner line, the gold trim elevates without trying, and the fit is what this style is known for. One of our customers had this to say: "As a 54 year old woman with 3 children and recent weight loss, it's taken me a long time to find a swimming costume that fits in all the right places. Very flattering. Lovely colour, good quality material. Looks very expensive." That's the gold trim effect: it looks like a lot more than it is.
For something with more of a print statement, the Tile Print Tie Detail Higher Leg Swimsuit is the fashion-forward choice. The geometric print has real bite, and the tie detail at the bust gives it a modern edge. If you want your swimsuit to do the talking, this one delivers.
If you'd rather keep things quieter, the Khaki and Ivory Swimsuit is the understated pick: neutral tones that pair with every cover-up in the collection and never compete with anything.
For two-piece lovers, the Gold Trim Printed Bikini Top and Floral Print Swim Briefs work as a set or separately. The top and briefs are made to go together, but both pieces mix and match with other styles across the range, so you're not just packing one look.
For the best of both, the Tile Print Tankini Top lands in the middle: more coverage than a bikini, more playful than a full swimsuit. The versatile option when you want to cover your options, not just yourself.
A good kimono doesn't just sit on top of your swimsuit. It does three jobs in Italy, all of them essential.
The Floral Cover Up is the lightweight option: a black-and-white floral print that works directly over swimwear on the beach, layers over a top and shorts for a bar stop, and packs completely flat. The print is strong enough that it's the look, not just a layer.
The Peacock Print Kimono is the statement. The rich, jewel-toned peacock print is bold enough to be the whole outfit: wear it open over a simple swimsuit and you're dressed. No overthinking required.
The Crochet Trim Kimono is the most versatile of the three. White and ivory with a crochet detail that gives it a luxurious, textured feel, it pairs with everything in the collection and works just as well as an evening layer over a dress when the temperature drops. The neutral that goes everywhere.
Styling note: wear all three open, not belted. Let them float.
Dresses are the smartest packing decision you can make for a hot holiday. One piece, no coordination required, and in Italy's heat, the easier the better. The Lisa Snowdon Edit delivers two picks that each handle the day-to-dinner shift without you having to change.
For actual evenings, the Embroidered Detail Maxi Dress is the pick. The white-on-white embroidery lifts it above a basic maxi in all the right ways, and in Italy, where white linen is practically the national outfit, it looks completely at home. Pack one and your dinner occasions are sorted.
For easier days, the Tropical Boarder Print Dress is the throw-on choice for wandering a market, a long piazza lunch, or a slow boat trip around the Amalfi coast. Customer Nan nan Sue: "Lovely dress for hot weather. Cool and comfortable. Flattering even though expanding waist from recent surgery. Had nice compliments too."
Not every day calls for a dress. Sometimes you want pockets or a smarter look for a museum or a market. The Lisa Snowdon Edit gives you three complete daytime outfits, each one ready to go.
The Embroidered Jersey Top worn loose over the Embroidered Jersey Shorts. The embroidery on both pieces gives them a coordinated feel without being a matching set, which reads more stylish and less resort-catalogue. Relaxed enough for a beach-town stroll, pulled-together enough for a good lunch.
The Embroidered Lace Hem Blouse is the going-out top of this collection. It travels beautifully and has the kind of subtle print energy and neckline that makes an outfit without you doing anything else. Customer ClareLT: "Great, airy cotton smock top with nice embroidery and cotton lace trim.”
Pair with the Pleated Wide Leg Trousers. Customer Sparklemoo: "They fit very well, and quite cooling in the heat despite not being cotton. Very happy with my purchase." Wide-leg trousers that feel as good as they look, and take you straight from a long lunch into the evening.
The Palm Embroidered Stud T-Shirt with the Chambray Denim Shorts. The embroidery and stud detail around the neckline lift the tee above a basic; the chambray shorts give you the look of denim without the weight. Customer PGinge: "Just bought these shorts, not usually a shorts wearer but love them. Look like denim without the weight/thickness."
Mix-and-match option: the Floral Embroidered Top works with both the Pleated Wide Leg Trousers and the Chambray Shorts, giving you a third combination from pieces you've already packed.
Leave the heels at home. Italian cobblestones will settle that decision within about twenty minutes, and flat sandals are entirely appropriate for dinner, the opera, and everywhere in between. Bonmarche's flat sandal edit is smart enough that you won't feel underdressed anywhere.
The Band Buckle Strap Flat Sandals are the everyday option. Customer Louby: "I couldn't resist buying these sandals ready for my holidays. They are true to size, really comfortable and a good price." They go with everything in the collection, which is exactly what you need from a holiday sandal.
For evenings, the Gold Detail Flat Sandals are the dressier pick. The gold hardware finishes a simple dress or maxi and makes the whole outfit feel polished, without sacrificing the ability to actually walk home in them.
For relaxed days, the Weave Front Flat Sandals are the easy, textured choice. The woven detail adds interest and they work with shorts, trousers and dresses equally.
Packing tip: wear your heaviest sandals on the plane. Save the suitcase space.
One bag, a pair of earrings, a bracelet. That's the accessories edit for Italy, and you don't need to overcomplicate it.
Start with the Straw Shoulder Bag. Customer Arwin: "Perfect little bag for my holidays. Not too big, not too small just the right size." Straw is the eternally Italian accessory, and this one works with every outfit in the collection.
For a statement earring, the Five Strand Twist Hoop Earrings are the day-to-evening choice. Customer Titch63: "Ideal for every day or evening wear and very good value for money." Bigger than expected, in the best possible way.
For something more subtle, the Pearly Starfish Stud Earrings are the all-day option. Customer Wilkerson: "Love the earrings just right for holidays and will go with everything." Pair them with the Starfish Charm Bracelet for a cohesive holiday jewellery edit. Customer Garbo1: "Lovely pretty little bracelet perfect if you like subtle jewelry." Wear alone or stack with the studs.
Packing for Italy doesn't have to be stressful. With the right pieces in your suitcase, you can pack less, enjoy more, and look great doing it.
The Edit by Lisa Snowdon was built for exactly this kind of trip: smart, stylish pieces that work harder across multiple outfits and occasions, mix and match with each other, and still look brilliant when you pull them out on day four. Italy sorted.