When in Rome (and Puglia)

with Nikki Kule

This month, Nikki traveled to Rome and Puglia to visit friends, see art, shop, gather inspiration, and cook some really, really good food. We’re getting a first-class ticket to follow along on her trip.

Because the itinerary was varied — going from Rome, an urban city, to Puglia, which is vastly farmland on the Mediterranean coastline — packing was a challenge that Nikki took on like the expert traveler she is:

• 4 pairs of shoes, all of which had to be walkable: Boat shoes (very Nikki), mesh flats (super packable), comfortable sandals, and sneakers (not shown)

• 2 cashmere sweaters for layering and nighttime chill, including our Pip cardigan

• 5 tees: Nikki’s favorite for summer is the airy Brynn v-neck, but she also loves the Wynn baby tee (she says to size up for a looser fit!), the Modern tee, the most classic style and great for wearing under a sweater on the plane, and the Farley polo, which isn’t actually a tee (it’s a lightweight cotton/silk blend), but is versatile and wears like one for a more stylized look

• 1 easy silk dress (from our summer collection)

• 5 pairs of pants: including her favorite travel-appropriate pants, KULE’s City Pants, and some easy-to-pack silk pull-on pants

• 3 shirts: all of which were the packable, featherweight Blanca button-down shirt, perfect for walking around the hot Roman streets

• Exercise and loungewear: our new ribbed styles for summer — especially the Jan pants — are her favorite easy pieces to hang out in

• 1 tote for the day and 1 small bag to go out in: This Hervé Chapelier bag is her favorite for the daytime, as it’s easy, durable for travel, and very classic

• A few pieces of easy-to-wear jewelry: a silver Jennifer Alfano chain necklace and a Studio Dévé pendant

She flew into Rome, where she stayed at the adorably quaint Casa Monti hotel and saw friends, visited amazing restaurants and fun art exhibits, shopped, and explored the little streets and details that make Rome what it is.

Some shopping highlights were Schostal Originals, Lisa Corti (always a stop for Nikki, top left), and Giuliva Heritage (where she met the founders, Margherita and Gerardo, who made the experience so much more personal), Chez Dédé (a chic little shop for home design trinkets). She also saw the inaugural exhibit of the Fondazione Valentino Garavani e Giancarlo Giammetti, which celebrates the color red alongside incredible, never-before-seen works of art. There was amazing food and drinks to be had, with highlights from Pierluigi, Ristorante Nino, and her new favorite, La Taverna dei Fori Imperiali. And fruit-shaped sorbet was ordered with every meal.

After a few days in Rome, she left for Puglia, a region with a completely different pace.

She took a cooking class with Melissa Norton of Cucina Melissa, and let’s just say a new chef, barista, and beekeeper is amongst us. And you don’t know fresh pasta until you know fresh pasta (and make it yourself!).

Besides cooking and eating in Puglia, it was also fun to visit TulsiShop and meet Deborah Nolan, a very good follow on Instagram (@tuslishop), shown in the collage above with Nikki (who’s wearing a KULE Blanca shirt).

And the pièce de résistance… what she brought back 😉

Starting from the top: Giuliva Heritage navy linen tailored blazer that is incredibly made + linen wide-leg pants in the most beautiful shade of ochre (oh, so Roman!); TulsiShop striped caftan (there’s always a stripe coming back with Nikki) + two handmade fish charms (perfect to hang from her canvas KULE Uma bag); Bottega Veneta pouch (an airport purchase at a significantly less price tag than in NYC — good travel tip: shop luxury at the airport); honey and apricot jam made at the Masseria Nikki stayed at in Puglia; Schostal Originals striped cotton pajama shorts; Sabego’s twist on a docksider in a fisherman sandal style (Nikki’s been wearing them ever since she’s been back); teeny little box and brush from Chez Dédé; “Pane” pouch from Emporio Centrale (a waxed cotton bag to keep your pane fresh).

Sign me up for the next trip! (Or subscribe to our Substack… there’s more where that came from). I can already taste the orecchiette. See you soon 🙂