One of my first experiences with fashion faux pas was in Rome. I had just arrived jet lagged starving. I grabbed a quick show and hit the streets in my star wars t-shirt and leggings, not a care in the world about what I looked like. But then I realized by all the odd looks I was getting that this wasn’t North America and that the Italians surrounding me did care about what I was wearing. I received dodgy looks as I ate. I quickly finished and hurried back to my hotel to get some sleep. Throughout that first trip to Italy I learned I didn’t possess style. My colourful shirts and cardigans along with shorts (I haven’t seen an Italian wear shorts yet) weren’t in style. It was a lesson in how to dress and look to be more stylish during my travels. Here are some things I think about to stay stylish while on vacation.
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Dodge The Sunburn
If there’s one thing that can make you look a complete mess on vacation, it’s going to be a nasty level of sunburn. Not only will it ruin your photos but also your time for at least a few days as your sore skin mends. If you have fair skin like I do, then you need to make sure that you are packing plenty of sunscreen. You should also opt for the higher mark sunscreen rather than choosing a milder variety to help you tan. It’s a myth that mark 50 or higher suntan lotion is going to stop you from tanning. You can still end up looking golden brown while also protecting the skin that you’re in.
If you do get sunburnt while visiting a beautiful destination, make sure that you apply aloe vera as soon as possible, something I learned in Jamaica. This form of after sun can help mitigate the damage and ensure that your sunburn doesn’t leave you looking like crispy toast for weeks of your holiday. Instead, you’ll only have to deal with this cosmetic issue for a few days. Burning on holiday may be common but it’s certainly not a necessity.
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Don’t Forget The Workout
Are you beach body ready? Who the hell is?
Despite not being in the best of shape I do notice that my overall mental health improves with exercise. If I am feeling good it is going to show on the outside. I try to ensure that I eat a healthy breakfast like oatmeal or fruit and yogurt to kick off my day and then get in a lot of walking.
Workouts that I have used to get me feeling good prior to a vacation are Tracy Anderson’s metamorphosis and Emily Skye Fit. Anderson’s workouts, along with running, helped me lean out before my wedding. On the other hand Emily Skye fit helps me build muscle which is something as a mother I am more focusing on to help me lug around my kid. Both help me keep my mental stability and energy levels up.
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Put Comfort First
It might seem odd to say, but you shouldn’t just think about style when you are trying to look stylish. Instead, you should make sure that you are taking comfortable clothing that feels great. It would have been nice to wear heels in Rome or Paris like Carrie Bradshaw but it just isn’t practical! This means that you should opt for clothing that is both light and easy to pack. Essentially, you should try and avoid any outfit that is going to end up sticking to you at the absolute worst moments on your vacation. Consider the humidity of where you are going. Paris and London are very humid and through the rushing to and from landmarks and the tube I was left damp and sweating with my heavier clothes sticking to me. Summer sundresses are a must and you should also consider something light and breezy that you can slip on over your bikini or swimsuit too when in tropical areas.
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Get The Right Accessories
You should definitely make sure that you are choosing the right accessories before you go on holiday. It can be fun to choose themed accessories or those that match the tropical location that you are visiting. For instance, if you are heading to Hawaii, you could opt for necklaces and earrings that will match the aesthetic of that location. Alternatively, you might want to think about the basic accessories that you’re going to need for a holiday like this.
A clear option that you need to think about is the right pair of sunglasses. Shades will make you look effortlessly cool and ensure that you don’t spend your time squinting in light that you might not be used to. It’s probably worth taking a spare pair too, particularly if you are planning to take a dip in the ocean. Hundreds and thousands of sunglasses are lost in the waves every year. When you choose shades, you need to make sure that they match you. A key consideration here is your facial shape. Luckily, if you search online, you’ll find that there are many options from cat-eye sunglasses to aviator shades. As such, you’re sure to find the right choice.
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Don’t Forget Your Shoes
How many shoes do you tend to take with you when you go on holiday? Don’t worry, we’re not going to judge the answer. Most people take at least a few pairs of shoes on vacation for different occasions. The mistake that people often make is only thinking about style and not considering comfort. Obviously, heeled shoes can look tremendous and ensure that your legs look lovely and long. However, if you’re going to be walking around for a few hours and going on adventures, you definitely won’t want to be stuck in heels. This can be a recipe for disaster and even the best shoes won’t look stylish if you’re limping around in them.
Instead, you need to know the occasions where flats or even trainers will be a better choice on your vacation. Don’t forget, a vacation doesn’t mean that you need to dress up all the time. You can dress down and still look absolutely incredible. Particularly, if you’re planning on adding some awesome shots to your Instagram in different locations.
Try A Light Tan
One way to look completely out of style when you are on vacation is to be the palest person on the beach. This is a problem certainly when you first arrive at your destination spot. The best way to avoid this problem is to ensure that you are at least a little tanned already when you arrive. To do this, you could opt for a spray tan treatment. The best spray tans will leave you with a lovely bronze glow that can look incredible. This is a very popular trend here in Kelowna. Alternatively, you could try sunbathing in your back garden. This could be all you need to add a little extra colour before you travel.
When you are tanning, it’s important that you do take the right safety measures. Even if you live in a location where the weather isn’t blisteringly hot, you should still make sure that you are using sunscreen. The last thing that you want is to end up red and blotchy a few days before you are scheduled to take your trip.
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Melt-Free Makeup
Last but not least, you might be packing your suitcase with different types of makeup. We recommend makeup that you don’t have to worry about being ruined when it gets wet. While expensive, this is definitely going to be worth the extra cost. It means that you don’t have to worry about either sweat or even the ocean waves ruining your carefully crafted style. Indeed, your makeup will stay looking incredible until you head back to your hotel room. Try packing travel friendly sizes of your make up and bring the necessities with you when you head out for the day so that you can reapply on the fly. But most importantly, try to leave yourself enough time to get to your landmarks, dinner dates and appointments so that you aren’t left rushing and sweating.
We hope this helps you understand some of the best ways to ensure that you look incredible when you visit your next tropical destination and that you are able to stay in style. The trick is avoiding the common mistakes and not forgetting about your comfort when you are packing your suitcase.
