What I’m Packing for a Warm-Weather Vacation After Winter

This is a letter to anyone who just lived through that Polar Vortex here in Ottawa. To anyone who spent hours shoveling snow, closing their eyes, willing their car to turn over, and wearing socks to bed. I’m sure we can all agree it’s time to book a ticket to Mexico.

Or the beach of your choice, but I think Mexico would be nice. I’m picturing a margarita I didn’t have to make. Delicious food I don’t have to do dishes for, and someone else making my bed in the morning.

All I have to do is sit on my beach chair in my new Orange Fashion Village linen set, talking to all the ladies who come over to say how fabulous I look.

“You look so put together.” — why, thank you!

“So chic! I love the colour!” — Oh yes! They sold out of the size I wanted in another set, but this one is quite nice.

“Where did you get it?” — In my shop, in Westboro.

You know, it’s not just the young ones that need a nice outfit to wear on vacation!

I’m sure you can tell from my little daydream here that when I go on holiday, I love taking the time to totally unplug. Days where I don’t have to cook or clean are totally up my alley. The same goes for what I wear. I’m not fussed to bring about a dozen or so outfits for a seven-day trip. Yes, I know that we’re supposed to get dressed up for dinner, but let me show you some little travel tricks that I use to keep my luggage light and my outfits fresh.

Bring one set and break it up. You can really posh something up by wearing a set together with a cute, elevated sandal, like this new Charlie B (Canadian!) set we just received. Great together, very classy, but also you can wear the top with the Escape Double Layer Pant. I’m breaking up my brands now, but that’s why I spend so much time curating the collections I bring in. They really should all go together to make life easier.

Now, don’t you mind if someone says to you, “Oh, aren’t you bringing a lot of blue?”

Yes, yes, I am, thank you for asking. You’re the only one seeing the inside of your suitcase. Anytime after that, all these people are going to see is you looking fantastic, sitting by the pool or at the cute little café, reading your book.

It’s much more important to build a cohesive vacation capsule that makes sense to mix and match. Having them all in the same colour story is a very easy way to do that.

Now, remember, it doesn’t have to be blue. That’s just my favourite, but you pick whatever colour you want.

Think about ways to reimagine your clothes, too. Another great way to get more wear for your trip. Like this great new Charlie B dress with the buttons. I love it because you can wear it as a dress, you can layer a little sweater over top if it gets cooler and have the collar poke out the top. You can wear it totally unbuttoned to have more of a vest look.

And bring a few fun accessories. These are great fun and weigh a whole lot less than mountains of clothes. They finish off the look so well and make anything you’re wearing feel very intentional, which is what’s going to get you all those lovely compliments about how fabulous you look.

The only thing left is that margarita.

Now, I have to go see if Skippy was able to find us a Bingo cruise with pottery, napping, margaritas — oh, I think she said something else ridiculous, but it sounded absolutely lovely. I think we called it the “cruise for old ladies.” Doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue, but I’ll take it!

Here’s your packing list for a 7 day vacation. I know, the business people out there are screaming for me to get you to join my email list for this list but I wouldn’t do that. So here’s the list and if you want to join the email list HERE is the link.