It’s that time of year again. The long winter is winding down and our restless hearts are aching with wanderlust. We were doing OK here in Easy Parenthood HQ until Giada De Laurentiis’s new cookbook Giada’s Italy hit our desks, and before we knew it we were lost in the delectable food, the stunning scenery, and her flawless warm-weather style. 

We mustered some self-control, in that we didn’t immediately book family vacations (or solo vacations for that matter) to Rome. But we did fall in love with her whimsical, laid back, classy-but-comfortable wardrobe. In a nutshell, she singlehandedly dismantles the idea that Mom-Frump is a thing you have to bring with you on your adventures with your family, and she does it using three key tools: Sundresses, Sneakers, and Sunglasses. 

Sundresses: Your Low-Maintenance Vacation Secret Weapon

Sneakers: Stylish Vacation Must-Have

Sunglasses: The Bolder, The Better

The thing we love most about this look? It’s functional. We can chase our toddlers, thanks to the practical footwear. We aren’t uncomfortable, thanks to the forgiving nature of the sundress. Nobody can tell we haven’t slept for weeks in preparation for vacation, because oversized sunglasses keep all our secrets. It’s a look that fits our lifestyle: mothers who love their kids and want to look halfway decent when we spend time making memories with them, not worrying about what we’re wearing. Because snuggles and laughter look good on all of us.

Get Recipes from Giada’s Italy and bring la dolce vita into your own home.

Reprinted from Giada’s Italy. Copyright © 2018 by GDL Foods Inc. Photographs by Aubrie Pick. Published by Clarkson Potter/Publishers, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC.