Instead of Smocked Dresses, You'll See Gwyneth Paltrow's Fave Vacation Trend at the Chicest Resorts in Italy
Where are the chicest people in the world vacationing this summer? Well, if I had to venture a guess, I'd say one destination is at the top of the list: Villa San Michele near Florence, Italy. Its grand reopening was only a couple of weeks ago, but Gwyneth Paltrow, Alexa Chung, Marisa Abela, and Tamu McPherson have already descended upon the exceptionally stylish resort.
Paltrow, in particular, wore my favorite dress trend for Italian vacations: a white poplin midi shirtdress. In my mind, it's foolproof because it's comfortable and easy to style, yet elevated enough to fit in at the most posh hotels and resorts in the world. Now that's what I call a win-win. While I'll never get rid of my smocked dresses, I predict poplin shirtdresses will overtake them in popularity this summer.
Now that you know what to wear, you might be interested in following in Paltrow's footsteps and booking a room at the hotel. I don't blame you. "Perched high in the Fiesole hills, overlooking Florence in all its splendor, Villa San Michele, a Belmond Hotel, reopened on April 28 following a meticulous 18-month renovation," a press release explains. "Once a Renaissance convent, the legendary retreat—renowned for its awe-inspiring Michelangelo-inspired façade, terraced gardens, and one-of-a-kind sweeping views—begins a new chapter as a destination for wellbeing and reconnection. The renewed Villa introduces 39 reimagined rooms and suites, a Spa by Guerlain, revitalised gardens and woodlands, a new gastronomic offering, and a curated program of energy-raising experiences in collaboration with La DoubleJ."
Scroll down to shop Gwyneth Paltrow's favorite Italian vacation dress trend.
How Gwyneth Paltrow Styles a White Poplin Midi Shirtdress in Italy
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Erin got her start as a Who What Wear intern in 2011—back when the site only published a single story per day. (We have since increased that number twentyfold.) She graduated magna cum laude from USC and lives in Los Angeles. In college, she also interned at Refinery29, where she was promoted to editorial assistant and then assistant editor. After nearly three years at R29, she came back to WWW in 2015, where she is now the Associate Director of Fashion News. From the Oscars to the Met Gala, she leads the site's entire red carpet coverage strategy. She specializes in celebrity and fashion news but also enjoys writing travel features and runway reports. She frequently contributes to WWW's social accounts and has a sizable following on her personal TikTok.