Your Vacation Wardrobe

Hello friends!

I've recently started writing for a local women's magazine called YOU and the March travel issue came out yesterday, so I thought I'd share it here too as many of you, dear readers, are from far, far away (in Neverland?). So enjoy!

Cheer up sun lovers, it’s vacation time! 

Many of you are preparing to jet-set to a “fun in the sun” getaway (while the rest of us are dreaming about it). Perhaps you hope to be whisked away for a little lazy beach lounging or maybe your dream destination boasts some big city cruising. Whatever the case may be, you’ll want to look and feel fabulous without too much hassle. I’m here to make some suggestions to help you pack for your spring adventures, providing you with a foolproof wardrobe that will keep you stylish on whichever coast you roam. Well, let’s get to it!

The resort collections that walked the runway for 2012‘s getaway season provide so much inspiration for vacation wear. A few of my personal favorites seen floating down the catwalk included tropical floral prints (Jill Stuart), romantic white lace (Valentino), 70‘s inspired denim (Louis Vuitton), playful citron yellow (Stella McCartney), and nautical sailor stripes (Salvatore Ferragamo). Best of all, bright colors were embraced! If you’re not quite ready to don saturated hues from head to toe, try adding a pop of color to your look - a bright bauble around your neck or take it a step further with a neon skirt mixed into an otherwise neutral ensemble. Basically, if we draw one inspiration from the resort trends, let’s focus on adding some bold color to our suitcases for our spring 2012 getaways. 

So, my friends, after taking a cue from the professionals, I have come up with a list of my personal favorite picks for spring break, pieces I’ll be bringing along. 

* Basic t’s and tanks in black, white and nautical stripes (the base to so many great outfits and easy to accessorize)

* Favorite denim cut offs (for long walks on the beach)

* A sun dress (or three!) in a pretty spring floral or a vibrant red (a floor sweeping maxi dress is also gorgeous with it’s flatteringly feminine silhouette)

* A linen blazer for chilly evenings 

* A bohemian cross body bag (perfect for flea market hopping) 

* A cute straw hat (double duty - style and shade!)

* Flats or heels with pretty cut out detailing 

* Simple gold bangles (for layering)

* Coral lipstick (Maybelline’s Coral Crush)

* Finally, that dreaded bikini!

"Runway to Everyday" inspiration provided by Jill Stuart Resort 2012

 {My outfit: shrug - Anthropologie, dress & flats - Gap, belt - Target, bangles - heirloom}

{My outfit: hat - moms from H&M, vest - Aerie, dress - South Africa, heels - Dillards}

{runway photos from style.com}