As I’m writing this my little fingers are buzzing with excitement as I’m getting ready to leave for an island getaway for the Christmas holidays (hope Santa can find me amongst the palm trees!). I haven’t started packing yet but I already know exactly what I’m bringing in my suitcase (I’ve been planning it in my head for weeks now…I take my packing duties very seriously!).
Besides a zillion bathing suits, I’m packing dresses, dresses…and more dresses. I mean, a dress is seriously the easiest thing to just ‘throw on and go’ (add a pair of sandals and a cute bag, and you look like a vacation goddess). One of my favorite designers is Lisa Marie Fernandez (I think she’s so cool!). I just got this dress and I think the rick-rack trim is fantastic. I’m planning on wearing it with a pair of simple, black, Celine sandals. This smocked dress is great too. I wore this striped off-the-shoulder dress in Bermuda this past summer—it was such a huge hit (strangers literally stopped me on the street, at the hotel, and on the beach to ask me about it) so I’m packing it again. I’m also packing a TON of Pippa Holt kaftans. I’m obsessed with them. I know I’m going to have to change my clothes 5 times a day in order to wear them all but I don’t care—these kaftans are so fabulous I just can’t get enough of them!
I’m bringing this striped dress from Mara Hoffman—the pastel lavender and butter-yellow color-combo is sublime. I’ll pair it with white sandals from K.Jacques, and this straw basket bag (which I bought months ago and have been dying to use)—I’ll wear it to lunch in the afternoon and on another night for cocktails with friends.
One of my favorite things about an island vacation is that I never bring heels. That being said I still want to look sexy at night and this ruffly dress from Zimmermann will do just the trick. It’s fun and flirty but will still look chic with a pair of flats. I’ll dress it up a bit with with these delicate diamond flower stud earrings from Jennifer Meyer (I wear her jewelry every day)—I like a bit of sparkle. This printed linen jumpsuit, also from Zimmermann, is so sweet—I’ll slip it on, throw my hair in a ponytail, add a dash of pink lipstick and head out the door into the balmy night!
I’m also bringing some kaftans from March11 which I’ll wear for both day (over my bathing suit) and night…the boho-hippie look is perfect for my trip. LoveshackFancy is another brand that I’m bringing along on this trip. I think this white lace-trimmed cotton dress is wonderfully romantic—and it will be perfect to lounge around in after I’ve showered off from the beach. This one is cute too. And I’ll definitely wear this one-shoulder dress to dinner one night (with a great pair of statement earrings!). Oh, and this dress from Figure has such gorgeous details and will look divine with a bit of tanned skin and some peach-colored lipgloss.
I like to bring a LOT of swimsuits with me—they don’t take up too much room in my suitcase and they just make me happy, so my motto is the-more-the-merrier! I love striped swimsuits so I’m packing this classic one-piece from Solid & Striped (I’m really into navy-blue lately) and this color-combo is fun too. I’m bringing a crochet bikini from She Made Me and a few of my favorite bikinis from Kiini swimwear. This pink zig-zag bikini from Missoni is also going to look great in the turquoise water (plus, it’s reversible so it’s a 2-in-1)! I am packing a ton of Lisa Marie Fernandez swimmer like this striped bikini, this one-shoulder bikini and this zippered neoprene suit will be great for snorkeling (it’s so Bond Girl!)
I’ll list some of the beauty items I’m bringing in a few days but one thing I am definitely including in my toiletry bag is this bronzer from Guerlain. I learned about it years ago from some of my European friends who swear by it. They put it on their legs (and arms) at night for a kissed-by-the-sun glow. Of course I’m bringing lots of sunscreen to slather on during the day…I love La Roche-Posay for my body and this Kiehl’s with SPF50 for my face.
For more of my suitcase edit click here.
