Well, here I am in Italy again, and I have to say, no matter how many times I visit, I never get tired of this beautiful country. Italy really is a feast for the senses. The colours, the smells, the noise, the people, the beautiful old buildings and, of course, the fashion! There's always something interesting to look at, and I find myself constantly stopping to admire things.

Even the colours of the buildings are wonderful, with their faded pinks, warm yellows and beautiful earthy tones. The Italians certainly aren't afraid of colour, and I love the way they put things together. Sometimes I wonder how they get away with it, but they always seem to!!

I've been busy visiting our manufacturers, catching up with some familiar faces and looking at all the lovely new collections for Donna Donna. This is definitely one of my favourite parts of the business, although I must admit, choosing is not always easy!

I arrive with my lists, my notes and a fairly good idea of what I'm looking for, but then I walk into a showroom full of gorgeous linen, fabulous colours and beautiful new styles, and suddenly my list doesn't seem quite so important.

After a few days in the thick of it, a little inside tip for you — keep an eye out for Lemon and Plum this season. I've fallen in love with these two colours, and you might just be seeing quite a bit of them soon!

Of course, it's not all about choosing beautiful colours. I spend a lot of time checking the fabrics, looking at the quality of the stitching, trying things on and making sure everything is just right. I know how important it is for our clothes to be comfortable and flattering, and I always have our customers in mind when I'm choosing. 

I'm always thinking about what you'll love, what will be comfortable, what will flatter different shapes and, most importantly, what you'll actually want to wear.

Because there's no point looking fabulous if you can't sit down and enjoy your lunch!

One of the nicest things about coming back to Italy is seeing the people I've worked with over the years. We've built some lovely relationships, and it's always good to catch up, see what they've been creating and talk about what's coming next.

There's a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes before our beautiful Italian clothing makes its way into the shop, and I really enjoy being involved in it all.

And when the working day is finished, I do get to enjoy a little of Italy too. I love wandering through the streets, looking in shop windows and finding somewhere lovely to sit with a glass of wine and watch the world go by. The Italians are such characters. Everyone seems to be talking at once, usually with their hands, and there's always plenty happening around you. I love the atmosphere, the wonderful food and the way they seem to make even the simplest things enjoyable.

I've been taking lots of photos while I'm here, and looking back through them, I can see just how much the colours and styles around me influence what I choose. I might see a beautiful green on an old doorway or an interesting combination of colours in a window display, and the next thing I know I'm looking for something similar in a collection. It's funny where you find inspiration.

Anyway, I've still got a few manufacturers to visit and some decisions to make before I head home. I've found some absolutely gorgeous pieces, and there are a few colours I'm having trouble choosing between. I suspect I'll end up ordering all, but we'll see!

I can't wait to show you what I've been finding. There are some lovely things coming!

Ciao for now!

Donna xx