Positano is the kind of place that rewards the woman who packs light. The town clings to a cliff on the Amalfi Coast, the lanes turn into staircases, and a long day moves from a morning swim to a slow lunch to an evening walk up and down more steps than you expected. Nobody wants to haul a heavy suitcase through that, and nobody wants to be overdressed on a stone staircase in midday heat. This is the Tuchuzy what to wear in Positano packing edit: a small, linen-led wardrobe built for sun, salt and stairs, put together by a Bondi Beach boutique that has been dressing women for coastal holidays since 1995.
Start With the Fabric, Not the Outfit
The best advice for any Mediterranean summer trip is to choose fabric first. Linen breathes in heat, relaxes as the day goes on and looks better slightly creased than stiffly pressed, which is exactly what you want when you are packing for a week. Our linen collection is the place to begin, and it is worth building the entire capsule around two or three linen pieces that can be mixed and matched.
If you are curious about caring for it, our guide to how to wash linen explains how to keep natural fabric looking its best between trips, which matters when you are rinsing things in a hotel sink.
The Seven-Day Capsule
A week in Positano does not need seven outfits. It needs about six pieces that talk to each other, plus swimwear. Here is how we would pack it.
The white trouser. The Chosen by Tuchuzy Deconstructed Linen Pant in White is the hardest-working item in this edit. It is cool, wide and easy, it works over a swimsuit as a cover-up, and it goes from a morning coffee to a dinner table with a change of top. The Chosen by Tuchuzy pants collection has more cuts if white is not your colour.
The easy linen top. The Chosen by Tuchuzy Asym Twist Linen Top in Butter is a soft, warm shade that looks like it belongs near a lemon grove. Wear it tucked into the white pant for lunch, or over a swimsuit with a sarong for the beach club. More options sit in the Chosen by Tuchuzy tops range.
The black halter. A black linen halter such as the Chosen by Tuchuzy Linen Resin Halter Top in Black is your evening anchor. With the white pant it feels crisp; with a skirt it feels like dinner.
The skirt. The Chosen by Tuchuzy Linen Wrap Mini Skirt in Black is a useful change of shape, because a wrap adjusts as the day goes on and a mini is cool on a hot evening. Browse more in the Chosen by Tuchuzy skirts edit.
The one dress. The Chosen by Tuchuzy Linen Resin Halter Mini Dress in White is the piece you will wear most. It works for a long lunch, a boat day or a late dinner, and it takes up almost no room in a bag. For other lengths, the resort wear dresses edit is the right place to look.
Swim and the Beach Day
Positano is as much about the water as the town, so swimwear needs real thought. Pack two swimsuits so one can dry while you wear the other, and choose styles that work as a top or bodysuit under your clothes for the transition from beach to lunch. Our swimwear collection covers one-pieces and bikinis, and a towelling robe or a beach bag from the beach bags edit keeps everything together for a day by the water.
A wide-brim hat is worth the space it takes up. Browse the hats collection, and add a pair of sunglasses with decent coverage, because the glare off the sea in midday is serious.
Shoes for Steps
This is where Positano catches people out. The town is a hillside of stairs, so heels are a bad idea and anything with a slippery sole is worse. A flat leather sandal with grip, a clean slide for the beach, and one dressier flat for dinner is all you need. Whatever you bring, wear it in before you travel.
Evenings: Keep It Simple
Dinner in a seaside town rarely demands more than a good dress or a pair of trousers with a nicer top. Gold hoops from the jewellery collection, a light layer for breezy terraces, and a small crossbody are enough. The same black halter and white pant combination that worked at lunch simply looks different with earrings and a swipe of lipstick.
A Day in Positano, Dressed
It helps to picture the day in order. Morning is coffee and a wander, so the white linen pant with a butter top and flat sandals is right. Late morning is the beach or a boat, which means swimwear underneath, a hat, and the pant or a wrap skirt over the top that can be pulled off in seconds. Lunch is long, so the linen halter mini dress works here, with sunglasses on until the shade arrives. The afternoon is for a rest, a cold shower and a change of top. Evening is the black halter with the white pant, gold earrings and a light layer in case the breeze picks up off the water.
Notice that almost nothing in that day required a new outfit. That is the whole idea behind a capsule: six pieces, rotated, restyled and repeated. It also means you will pack less, carry less and enjoy the stairs more.
Staying Cool and Protected
Summer on the coast is hot, and what you wear affects how you feel at three in the afternoon. Light colours reflect heat, loose cuts let air move, and natural fabric dries quickly after a swim. Apply sunscreen before you dress, and carry a light cover-up for time in churches or other places where covered shoulders are expected. A scarf or a loose shirt from the tanks and tees and Chosen by Tuchuzy ranges does the job without taking up much space.
Packing Notes From a Bondi Wardrobe
Roll linen rather than folding it, pack a small bag of laundry detergent for hotel-sink washes, and put your swimsuits and a spare top in your carry-on in case luggage is delayed. If you want a full summer wardrobe before you leave, remember that Tuchuzy ships worldwide, including to the United States, so you can order from anywhere in the world well before your departure date. If you are in Sydney, visit us in store and we will help you pull a capsule together.
For other trips in the same spirit, take a look at our packing edits for Greece and Santorini.
Your Questions Answered
What should I wear in Positano in summer? Lightweight linen, easy separates and swimwear. Choose breathable fabric, flat sandals for the stairs and a wide-brim hat for the sun.
Do I need dressy clothes for dinner? A good dress or a smart top with trousers is usually enough. Seaside dining tends to be relaxed, so keep it polished but comfortable.
Can I wear white linen in Positano? Yes. White linen is a natural fit for the setting, just pack a stain remover pen for lunch and expect a few creases, which only add to its charm.
How many outfits should I pack for a week? Six or seven mix-and-match pieces plus two swimsuits are plenty, as long as most of them work together.
What shoes are best for the stairs? Flat sandals with a grippy sole. Avoid heels and wedges entirely.