Simple Wardrobe | Tropics
We’re going to Hawaii.
We’re going to Hawaii?!
This is what happens when you’ve got a kid over there that you haven’t seen since July 2. In a moment of longing, you book the flights, book a just-right bungalow tucked into a bay on the north shore of Oahu, then you and your husband look at each other and speechlessly blink, blink, blink because you’ve never done anything like this and can’t quite believe it’s happening!
Running right on the heels of this delightful disbelief, then, is the thought/gasp, What’ll I wear?
Once I got past the initial impulse to run right out in a frenzy and buy all the summery things to pack for this tropical excursion, I decided to look at what I already have and love, then I made plans to fill in what was missing.
As you might guess, I like to pack light and assemble a simple travel wardrobe. Aside from a couple sets of shorts and tank tops for hiking, I plan to wear dresses (when I’m not in swimwear). For travel days, I’ll wear this one. It’s made of lightweight cotton and is as comfortable as a nightgown. I’ll bring my black pashmina for the enroute transition from Wyoming winter to Hawaii winter (I learned years ago that I really like having a pashmina to toss over myself in flight if the cabin is cool, and it rolls up and tucks easily into a carry on). Other dresses I plan to bring are a white strapless cotton sundress (seen in the black and white photo in this post- an eBay score a couple summers ago), a blue cotton gauze midi dress I bought from Outerknown several years ago, and a black ankle-length sleeveless Ralph Lauren dress I’ve had for 22 years.
It’s been quite a few years since I’ve had a swimsuit that I really liked, perhaps because finding one that fits me and covers the trouble spots has been no small task. (Thanks to carrying 8lb+ babies and producing an inordinate amount of amniotic fluid with our middle son, which rendered my belly the size it would have been with twins, I win the stretch mark prize.) So, I’ve ordered a mash-up of tops and bottoms from eBay (some pictured above) and will keep my fingers crossed that something works.
For accessories, I’ve ordered these sunnies, and this ridiculously wonderful sunhat (I’m v excited about this). On my feet, I’ll wear these and these (and running shoes, too). I’ll bring a tube of reef-safe Skinnies, and a bottle of Flamingo Euphoria body oil. For fingers and toes, this. For lips, this.
The last thing I have yet to line up is books to read (a must have!). I’ll need several. Any suggestions?