Spring Break Packing List
Sun protecting hats, wear-everywhere dresses, totes that double as beach bags, beach shoes, chilly night sweaters, and me moaning about not planning a trip.
As usual, I completely spaced on everything and didn’t plan anything for this spring break. My kids have two weeks off…and…I just….don’t know what I’m going to do. Meanwhile, a lot of my friends are going away and are asking me for sun-specific, or travel-specific recommendations. Sun hats are the #1 most common request I’m getting now, which makes me SUPER HAPPY because sun damage is the devil.
So rather than use this time to do something productive, like say - enroll my kids in a class or camp for next week - I’m shopping for a vacation I’m not even going on. In recent weeks I’ve done roundups of sunglasses, swimsuits, and shorts, so I’m just re-linking to them here rather than repeating them. I still stand by all that stuff.
The point of all these things, however, is stuff you’ll buy for a trip, and then integrate into the rest of your life. I hate the idea of getting something just for five days and then never using or wearing it again. Anywhere, here’s what I’d like to buy if I were going somewhere.
Wear Everywhere Dresses
There’s something about a special new dress that you buy for a trip and then it becomes part of you, and every time you wear it you feel sexy and cool but also reminded of your trip. I always like getting something that’s a little more something than I usually wear, just slightly out of my comfort zone, and then discovering that I love it and pushing myself just a bit. Just a bit! These are all dresses you could wear all day exploring, or to the beach, and then also to a fun sexy dinner that night. Multitasking, people!
1. Ok, I hate the styling here, but I LOVE THIS DRESS. The shape is so classic, it’s short (honestly I’d probably get it shortened) and it reminds me a bit of Pretty Woman in its classic 90s way. So great with a tan and some gold hoops and minimalist sandals - or Birkenstocks. I also love the idea of it with a cotton sweater tied around the waist. I love everything about it - AND IT ALSO COMES IN NAVY! J.Crew, $55
2. A truly perfect black slip dress. I love that the straps are slightly thicker so that you can actually wear a bra with it. J.Crew, $128
3. Button front…scoop neck….lace detail….poplin….dream. I feel like the picture of this speaks for itself - I want it. The perfect little white dress from the headquarters of beautiful summer dresses. Doen, $228
4. This one is an excellent, swingy, loose jersey dress. Great for the beach, but then with the right jewelry it’s also key for night. Super minimalist and chic for someone who doesn’t like to suddenly start wearing neons or prints on vacation (me). Norma Kamali, $139
5. This is outside my comfort zone, but I love it. I love patchwork stuff, I like that it’s loose, I love the detail around the bust, I love that it’s pretty and colorful but doesn’t scream AMERICAN ON VACATION. I can also see myself wearing it with a buttoned longline blazer and something like riding boots in the fall. I love, love, love it. Sea, $480
6. Then! If you don’t want to show your arms (which I understand) here’s a cutie pie sustainable option from Mara Hoffman. Very vacation, and available in up to 3XL. I also LOVE this long sleeve shirtdress from J.Crew. And this one, in nylon & spandex from Athleta (quick dry!) which also comes in sizes up to 3XL and is CHIC AS HELL. But this one is just a little more fun. Mara Hoffman, $340
Sun Hats
Sun hats! Yay! Protect your beautiful little face and tender angelic skin! These should all be easy to pack. I HATE the idea of a big stupid hat that you can’t pack and so you have to take it on the plane and be all precious and stupid with.
1. Ok, LOL re: this model, BUT! Man, talk about sun protection. This hat is BIG BIG and has equivalent of SPF 50. This is what I’m going to be bringing to the beach all summer and fuck anyone who wants to make fun of me. Amazon, $20
2. Here’s your chic little Succession-inspired no-logo baseball cap, only this one also has sun protection built in. It also comes in tan. Uniqlo, $30
3. If super SUPER wide brim isn’t your thing, here’s a more discrete version. Uniqlo, $30
4. Somewhere between #1 and #3, this one ticks most boxes for a great beach hat. It has a detachable strap underneath to keep it on, minimal branding, quick-dry, and the black is actually quite cute! Plus, UPF 50+, and it isn’t so huge that the average person would feel self-conscious about wearing it. Coolibar, $50
Beach Etc Sandals
Another packing pet-peeve of mine is having to bring a million pairs of shoes. I want one pair that I can wear walking, on the beach, to the pool, and then out to dinner. I want a carry on, I want ease! These all do those things, except for the flip flops, but I still stand by them.
1. Ok I wouldn’t say you can wear these anywhere. You also don’t want to walk too much in them on hard city streets - I got a stress fracture in my foot once that way. And depending on the restaurant they might not be nice enough. But as far as rubber flip flops go these are super chic, very cool, and look just as good with jeans as they do with a swimsuit. Havianas, $26
2. I love these all-foam Birks - the solid black looks great, you can get them wet, wear them with a dress, they have arch support, they’re vegan, they’re all around winners. They also look great with thick ribbed socks. Birkenstock, $50
3. And the original leather pair! Great for walking, great for everything, I get mine wet, but you do you. Birkenstock, $140
4. A slightly more dressed-up version of a Birk, I’ve always loved these from Isabel Marant. They also have the arch support and the wear-anywhere-ness, just are a tiny bit fancier. Isabel Marant, $580
5. And then even fancier! I love these from Gabriela Hearst. The cork sandal is the nicest throwback, and the contoured footbed looks so comfortable. I’d wear these on the plane, and let them be the only shoe I pack. Gabriela Hearst, $690
6. Finally….the fanciest, most beautiful flip flop of all time. Of course, courtesy of The Row. I want them so much. They look so comfortable. The Row, $925
Carry-On Totes That Are Also Beach Bags
Just bring one bag! Maybe a cute little clutch for night, but bring your laptop and all your random shit on the plane in one of these and then let it also be your beach bag. Who wants to bring more than one ludicrously capacious bag?
1. My favorite, of all time. Ever. If I had to just have one bag in my life I honestly think it might be this one, because you can beat the hell out of it, use it as a weekender, use it as a work bag, whatever. The ultimate not precious bag. LL Bean, $49 for extra large
2. A slightly sillier one, in cotton twill, so still knock-aroundable. APC, $166
3. I know this is very close to the original Boat & Tote, bu I like it better because it’s not so ubiquitous. Very classic and cool and preppy and great. And on sale! J Crew, $168
4. Also on sale! But a little bit more polished. I love this Raffia version of Mansur Gavriel’s excellent classic tote. Mansur Gavriel, $595
5. The! Ultimate! Silly! Bag! A GIANT (truly giant) rubber Bottega tote. The dream. Bottega Veneta, $1,550
6. And then an S&M raffia tote bag and I just don’t know what I’m going to do if I can’t have it. I fucking love this bag. Imagine it in the fall too with a big peacoat and gray sweater and denim….It’s just the right amount of stupid. Saint Laurent, $2,150
Chilly Night Sweater
Or just a sweater to wear all spring over cutoffs. OR! Over your bikini at the beach because that is a fucking hot look.
1. A very classic sweater in a viscose/poly blend. I love the green stripes (more unusual than nautical blue) and the half zip. Very preppy summer in New England! Mango, $60
2. The ultimate cotton roll neck! I’m sure you’ve seen all over social media, J.Crew brought back their iconic 90s cotton roll neck sweater. This in a size too big over cutoffs with little white canvas sneakers is as good as it gets in preppy 90s land. And! It’s 40% off with the code “spring.” J.Crew, $98
3. Another really great cotton sweater - this one is super boxy, but not ribbed, so it’s a little more fluid/slinky. It’s also made with organic cotton and comes in a few different colors. Everlane, $98
4. The most gorgeous funnel neck cashmere sweater for early spring/cold nights. I love this undyed color, how boxy it is, and the fact that its under $400. Cos, $350
5. A hooded nautical sweater with a kangaroo pocket. YES YES YES. How cute over string bikini bottoms and Birkenstocks for a beach bonfire? Heaven. Goop, $695
And there! We are.
And hopefully, there! You go. Safe travels. I love you.
Your friend,
Laurel
Okay, I finally have a SOURCING REQUEST for earl earl! A SHORT-SLEEVED black SILK or silk-like button-down blouse-type dress - preferably calf/ankle-length. Like grown woman rich-bitch but also comfy and easy-breezy california. Think Naomi Pierce on Succession. Help!!! I can't find one with all these parameters anywhereeee.
Really dig this newsletter! Have two requests apropos of this roundup and incoming nicer months, if you are still taking them!
- The perfect summer blazer. Thinking something not wool, and also not linen (too wrinkly)?
- Airplane pants. Something you can sit on an 8+ hour plane ride in and feel comfy but not schlubby...I imagine the Row scuba pants will be at least one of the suggestions, which are on my wishlist (haha)!