True confession: For me, vacation outfits are part of the joy of vacation.  Planning it all and wearing it all. I actually take a list with me of everything I plan to wear for days and evenings, organized with accessory options and actually quite efficient.  Insanity you say?  Hmm, must have inherited it from Ginger.  I prefer to call it a passion.  So, pour yourself a glass of wine and get comfortable (it’s my longest post to date) as I share some of my favorites from our recent trip to ‘Provo’…

This is what I wore on the plane: cashmere scarf is a must for warmth, comfy Splendid black cotton top, with white jeans to look ‘vacation ready’. But!  This is not how I arrived at the hotel. While Peter was doing the paperwork for our Jeep rental, I changed in the Hertz ladies room as we planned to head straight to our favorite beach bar before checking in to hotel.  It was fun – and a first – to arrive at our hotel in a swimsuit ensemble!

Arrived at The Gansevoort all in white!  Checking out the view from our deck…

Here is my second one piece which was shared in a pre-vacation post; now that I have worn it, I can say with conviction that I really love it (you never know till you wear it) – it felt glamorous, sophisticated, and not one bit frumpy. A simple sarong was the perfect coverup, a floppy black hat added drama…One piece suits are elegant, but bikinis are still fun!  This one I bought for its great purple color and gold hardware details; it was fun to wear with green Michael Kors aviators and big gold hoop earrings.

The gold knit coverup was a great find from Banana Republic many moons ago…it also looks great over a black or leopard swimsuit.

This pink linen blouse has been a vacation favorite for a few years now. Not a bargain but worth every penny. Found it at Portobello Road in Chestnut Hill which is a must for pre-vacation shopping.  This brand also makes gorgeous linen dresses, handmade in Italy, which would be perfect for summer weddings.

After wearing a long dress one night (not shown), then white jeans, it was fun to change it up with a polished cotton romper, found last year at a boutique in Chatham. While it is certainly short, because it is loose fitting and shows no cleavage it’s a ‘classy/cute’ kind of sexy.

You noticed the Louis Vuitton handbag? Its called ‘the favorite’ and it is sure going to be a favorite of mine. It can be worn with the short gold shoulder strap, as a clutch, or with a leather strap as a cross body bag. Three bags in one!  Though it comes in one size smaller, I went with the bigger size to accommodate glasses, phone, lipstick, and keys…why struggle to squeeze things into a tiny bag?

Here again I wore off the shoulder, a white cotton blouse with navy ruffled shorts.  Off the shoulder styles were quite popular with many ladies in the evening, dressed up or casual, and always with a bare neck.  The multicolored earrings from Westcott Mercantile added a tropical touch to the basic neutrals. Close up they actually look like mini bananas!  Other neutrals: Jack Rogers wedges, JCrew metallic clutch, and Louis Vuitton wrap (which I had thrown in my suitcase ‘just in case’).

This white dress was perfect for the tropics – it is James Perce, a super soft cotton, found months ago at TJMax for about $50! Wore it with a chunky high heeled tan shoe and took along a cropped white denim jacket for dining outdoors…Pick of the trip! Here is a Derek Lam dress in navy ribbed cotton, that was a last minute purchase at Intermix in Chestnut Hill.  The saleswoman insisted I try it on. “But I don’t need a dress, no really I don’t.” You know how it went from there…;-)

While the laced up front is provocative, it didn’t feel ‘trashy’, especially with the midi length.  Saleswoman said it would even look cute with sneakers – I tried it with red sneakers, but not for me – maybe if I was taller. These sand suede sandals with cork block heels are understated and just enough height.

Our last sunset on the beach, wearing my good ol’ Banana Republic white gauze pajama pants and top. When something is a favorite I will enjoy it for years. Not insanity. Passion.