7 open tabs
The things I’m buying, packing, and wearing for every trip this month — plus some discount codes for you...
Introducing 7 open tabs, a series I’ll do every once in a while featuring the stuff I’m packing for upcoming trips, the pieces I’ve been wearing on repeat, and the items making their way into my suitcase next.
Obviously, I have approximately 2,000 tabs open at all times because I am, after all, just a girl. But for the sake of your inbox (and your wallet), I’m limiting myself to sharing just seven at a time.
This edition includes some basic travel essentials for everyone (yes, the guys too), plus a few fashion deep cuts. Someone from my former fashion life recently pointed out that artisanal, heritage-driven brands were always kind of my thing when I was a fashion editor, so I figured I’d lean into that a bit here as well.
And because enabling is more fun with a discount, I managed to snag a couple of discount codes for you guys ;)
Water shoes: the unsung hero of a Euro summer
I’m packing and unpacking my suitcase more times than I care to count during the summer months, but the one permanent fixture in my suitcase is my water shoes, which you can find here (along with some of my other basic travel essentials). I found the clear ones pictured above at a tiny beach shop in Salento years ago, and haven’t done a summer on the Med without them. They’ve been my best companion for walking across hot sand and concrete, pebbly beaches, and cliffside swims ever since. If I didn’t love mine so much, I’d definitely consider buying these mesh ones that are essentially Alaïa dupes (also in black), but I’m partial to the beige.
The jacket I own in every color and material
This is the jacket I instinctively reach for whenever I’m rushing out the door for a trip. It’s my go-to layer for the plane, the train, and everyday exploring, and it has accompanied me on every single trip I’ve taken over the past year. I lived in the suede version all spring. It layers well without adding bulk, plus the leather quality is genuinely impressive for the price. As it got warmer, I switched to the denim version. I’m currently tempted by the green suede for fall… thoughts?
Now, for the boys. I love the navy, but taking a slight detour from the original style, I wouldn’t mind being hit on by a guy wearing this suede bomber… just saying. It would be a great cop for fall.
Not your grandmother’s cashmere
While we’re on the topic of layering, another piece I always have with me on a trip is a LERET LERET sweater. I love this brand for its high-quality Mongolian cashmere and playful designs, like my most-worn sweater, which I’ve owned for seven years and only recently learned is actually popcorn, not flowers. LOL, what do you see???
Suffice to say, every piece from the brand is a conversation starter. It’s luxurious cashmere with a little wink! The brand also offers monogramming, which makes it feel even more luxe.
They’re having an epic archive sale right now, featuring some of my favorite styles at major discounts, like the aforementioned popcorn/flower sweater and my horse sweater (it’s Year of the Horse!). I just got this one on sale, perfectly timed for my trip to the US this month, but also kind of want this one or maybe this one?
Nightgowns made for adventures… and HOT days in the city
You may have seen the brand featured in YOLO Journal last month. If you haven’t read it yet, you must. It’s full of great Switzerland intel and packing inspiration from my friends Sam and Clarisa, the sisters behind Nuisette.
Nuisette is a line of pretty nightgowns designed to be worn outside, and they’ve become the ultimate wardrobe essential for this HOT HOTTTT summer. Made from airy cotton, they’re incredibly lightweight, which makes them easy to pack, and you’ll be grateful for that same lightness when you throw one on during a 100-degree day.
They’re also super versatile. I love their classic style, as well as the short black version, both of which are ideal for hot summer days in the city or frolicking through the countryside. I also like the sheer short dress to wear over a swimsuit. Each one comes packaged in the cutest cotton pouch, making them even more travel-friendly. You can also monogram!
Here’s a discount code: Type MONICA10 and get 10% off anything on the site.
A Milanese brand making jewelry using Ferragamo’s leather scraps
One thing about the way I pack (and honestly, the way I get dressed in general) is that I love a uniform. Which probably goes without saying after I just admitted to owning the same jacket in approximately 300 colors. Where I really like to have fun is with accessories, especially jewelry. It’s one of my favorite packing tricks, too, because it takes up virtually no space but can completely transform an outfit when you’re trying to pack light. Plus, it’ll make your travel companion forget that you’ve been wearing essentially the same outfit for three days straight :)
My latest obsession is SO-LE STUDIO, a Milanese brand founded by Maria Sole Ferragamo. Inspired by her family’s deep leather heritage, Maria began creating pieces using leather scraps from Ferragamo and several other Tuscan manufacturers that would otherwise go to waste. Leather is one of the brand’s two core materials; the other is brass shavings, called trucioli, a by-product of industrial milling. By transforming these discarded materials into jewelry and accessories, the brand combines sustainability with craftsmanship.
The leather pieces are especially appealing to me because they’re light and soft, and not overly precious, so I don’t worry about them getting banged up in my bag. I own these hoops and my next order will be a pair of their ear cuffs. In the fall, I can see myself wearing this necklace over a chunky sweater or silk top. Also, this incredible sculptural piece would be a fab way to dress up a dinner look (plus, it packs flat!). I’d wear it as pictured, tucked under a crisp white button-down.
Here’s a discount code: Type MONICA10 and get 10% off anything on the site.
If you’re visiting Milan and want to shop their stuff in person, you can visit their boutique at Portrait Milano on Via Sant'Andrea 10.
***The brand recently featured me on their newsletter, where we talked about the trip that changed the trajectory of my life (never told that story before!), as well as some of my favorite art stays and summer destinations.
A Colombian jewelry brand inspired by Pre-Columbian artifacts
I have worn so much Cano this summer that I’m starting to feel like the brand’s unofficial spokesperson. Naturally, I’m a little biased when it comes to my Colombians.
My family’s Colombian roots have always been a source of pride for me. There is such extraordinary artisanal heritage woven into the country’s history, and one of my greatest joys is sharing these traditions and the makers who keep them alive.
One of my favorite Colombian jewelry brands, Cano, draws inspiration from the country’s Pre-Columbian goldsmithing traditions, reinterpreting ancient artifacts and ancestral techniques into pieces that feel both deeply rooted and entirely modern.
The chokers are certified head-turners that elevate everything from a formal look to a simple tee, a swimsuit, and everything in between. I’ve been wearing this one on repeat all summer, but this one gets me the most compliments. I’ve never been a silver jewelry person, but the silver version of this pendant (that also comes in gold) may make me a convert. I love it for its versatility as it can be worn on a choker, a chain, a leather chord, or as a brooch pinned to a sweater. Speaking of, I also love this brooch.
Here’s a discount code: Type MONICA10 and get 10% off anything on the site.
Cano also has a few boutiques where you can shop in person if you find yourself in any of these cities:
Madrid: Calle de Lagasca, 30, Salamanca
Bogotá: Centro Comercial Andino, Loc 210, Chapinero (and at the Gold Museum!)
Cartagena: Calle Santo Domingo con, Cl. de la Iglesia #3-65, El Centro
Medellín: Carrera 43A, Cl. 7 Sur #170 Local 2222
The textile studio transforming Colombia’s traditional woven bags into modern heirlooms
Continuing my celebration of Colombian design, my Verdi bags are pieces I’ve had for years and continue to reach for every summer (though I recently realized, after seeing my very chic friend style hers over a wool coat last winter, that they’re not only summer bags, which definitely helps justify the investment).
Verdi started as a Colombian textile and design studio creating woven interior pieces such as rugs, cushions, and other home objects. The brand’s signature Mochila bags are handcrafted by Colombian artisans using natural fibers such as baby alpaca and organic silk, fused with metallic threads including silver-plated and copper accents. Each piece embodies an exceptional level of craftsmanship, reflecting countless hours of meticulous work, heritage, and skill.
What I love most about Verdi is that they’ve taken a bag that has always been part of everyday Colombian life and reinterpreted it as something more elevated, without losing its casual appeal. These woven bags, in their more traditional, relaxed forms, are worn by men and women all over Colombia (my mom used to carry hers as a school bag!), so it’s cool to see a luxury interpretation using the same artisanal weaving techniques, but elevated with high-end materials.
Am I going to try to convince you that these structured silhouettes, crafted from substantial metallic materials, are easy to pack and won’t add the extra weight you’re trying to avoid? No, because I’d be lying. But if that doesn’t bother you (or if you’re a serial over-packer), these are some of the most beautiful bags to bring along on your travels (and to own, in general!). One thing I will say: they also make clutches, which are much easier to pack since they lay completely flat :)
If you’re hoping to shop the bags in person, Verdi has showrooms in both Bogotá and Mexico City where you can book an appointment to shop the collections. If you’re in Bogotá, you can also visit the atelier and see how everything gets made. To schedule a shopping appointment or arrange a visit to the atelier, just email info@verdi.com.co.
Suggested reading if you liked this one:
My Essential Packing List: The Basics
Fashion Spotlight: Old Stone Trade
The Traveler’s Gift Guide (Gifts Under $250)
Travel Field Notes 04 (featuring the brand i’m wearing on every flight)
Fashion Spotlight: Beck Jewels
If this newsletter got you daydreaming about your next trip or texting someone “we have to go here”— tap the heart or share it with your favorite travel partner.