Federica, we are so fascinated by your gorgeous style and obvious passion for life. Would you please tell us a little about yourself?

I am 56, born in Brescia, a hundred kilometers north east of Milan where I lived for thirty years working as a special correspondent and anchorwoman for Italian public television, RAI. At 47 I left that career behind to reinvent myself (I had always dreamed of living two very different lives in one, stepping out of my comfort zone and shedding a strong identity). Three and a half years ago my husband and I moved to the United States to start from scratch. From my lifelong passion for travel I created my brand, Dress More With Less: a line of clothing and accessories designed by myself in Italy and ethically made in collaboration with women’s cooperatives and artisans across the world. The name of my brand reflects my philosophy (less fast fashion, more one-of-a-kind fashion) . Today my company is based in both Italy and the U.S., with an e-commerce platform and seasonal trunk shows in Palm Beach, the Hamptons, New York, and Miami, where I’m now based.

Favorite luggage?

My favorite luggage has always been carry-on. I come from the world of journalism.

I was a special correspondent for RAI, the Italian public television, for over 23 years. I spent more than 200 days a year on assignments, and that’s when I learned to travel with only carry-on: small, light, fast, allowing me to move quickly from one story to the next. Since then, it has become the metaphor of my life. It means moving faster, freer, and holding on only to what truly matters, that mirrors my brand philosophy: less, but better”.

Do you have a travel uniform?

For me, traveling is all about comfort with a touch of quiet luxury. I don’t have a strict “travel uniform” but I always simply choose soft, easy pieces from my Dress more with Less collections like my 16 micron pashminas, incredibly light yet warm, embroidered exclusively for us. A dream, a cloud, a cocoon of softness that wraps me in comfort and luxury as I travel on the plane.

Are there any essentials you are never without?

I never travel without my books. For years I used to carry far too many heavy volumes in my suitcase and hand luggage, but recently I switched to a super practical Kindle.

Do you have any pro travel tips?

Embrace flexibility: delays and changes can turn into the best memories.The key is to stay calm and transform it into part of the journey,

Live local: I like to skip the landmarks at first and head straight to a neighborhood café or a market. It’s the quickest way to sense the rhythm of everyday life and to feel truly connected to the place I’ve just arrived in.
Go boutique : I always avoid luxury hotel chains and “places to be”. For me, true luxury is intimacy and exclusivity: local boutique accommodations or luxury home exchanges, where you can live locally instead of feeling globalized.
Read before you go: I always prepare for a journey through books, whether it’s a novel set in that city, a memoir, or the story of someone who once lived there. It makes my whole experience feel deeper.
Discover local craftsmanship: every country is steeped in culture, and culture lives in its artisans.

Along sacred Ganges in Varanasi (the belly of India).

What is your favorite destination?

Asia, above all, is my favorite destination. I’m endlessly fascinated by its cultures, traditions, and philosophies of life that are so different from my own. More broadly, I’m drawn to any country that takes me far out of my comfort zone. Over the years I’ve traveled to more than 60 different countries, and the ones that left the strongest mark on me have always been those that challenged and surprised me.

Where are you dreaming of going that you haven’t yet been to?

On my bucket list, without question, is China, the one major Asian destination I haven’t yet explored. I know it will take more than a single trip to even begin to grasp its vastness, its layers of history and culture. That’s exactly what both fascinates and intimidates me at the same time. But it’s a journey I’m hoping to make soon.

With my artisans in a remote village in La Guajira, Colombia.

What has been your most memorable trip so far?

The most unforgettable journey for me was Bhutan, which I visited more than twenty years ago. At the time the country admitted only a limited number of travelers, there were no luxury chains, and we stayed in homestays with Bhutanese families. I was there during the Buddhist festivals, surrounded by colors, rituals, and spirituality that felt almost timeless.

Is there something you collect on your travels?

I like to think I collect experiences, but in truth I also collect Asian art. Over the years I’ve gathered a small collection in my home in Italy from India, Cambodia, Nepal, and Bhutan. I’m especially fascinated by Buddhist seals, and among my treasures is even an 18th-century Thai spirit house. Each piece is a memory of a journey, a fragment of culture and spirit that I carry home with me.

MEET FEDERICA BALESTRIERI: Founder of Dress More With Less