Last year when I went to Europe on my solo trip I had certain “goals” that I needed to complete before I headed home. Shopping goals, food goals, photography goals – you get the point!

One goal in particular was buying a pair of shoes while I was in Italy (and it almost didn’t happen!). When I first packed my bags to head to Europe I wanted to pack as little as possible – I mean, my shopping goals were bound to have my suitcase filled up by the end of my trip. And they definitely did.

But after a few days in Rome and getting ready to head to Pisa & Florence, I realized that I hadn’t yet bought a pair of shoes! I tried to fit so much into the few days I was in Rome by myself, checking out the Colosseum, the Pantheon, Piazza Navona, and trying Italian food! The food was perfetto! But by this time my feet started to hurt, I was tired and I didn’t really want to shop. And because I am more of a bag girl than a shoe girl (I bought two bags while in Europe, one in Florence, one in Paris), buying a pair of shoes wasn’t a total must. But when I saw this pair of espadrilles I knew that I couldn’t leave the country without them!

They are the perfect summer style essential! I love them and they extremely comfortable too. I’m not crazy about peep-toe or open-toe shoes, so this is a nice way for me to still wear a summer-style shoe.