A PEOPLE StyleWatch Editor’s Guide to Packing for Vacation

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The key items style pro Andrea Lavinthal brought on a family resort trip that included everything from waterpark time to fancy nights out

Spring break used to mean string bikinis, tube tops and body shots on the bar. Two decades and two kids later, it means rash guards, linen separates and “should we order another bottle of rosé for the table?”

But just because I’m a mom on vacation who requires a bit more support and coverage than I did back in my "let's get our belly buttons pierced” days, doesn’t mean I want to look like a mom on vacation (with the exception of the airport where my fanny pack, Lululemon leggings and under-eye bags are a dead giveaway that I’m a member of the PTA). That means assembling a vacation wardrobe that’s as on-trend as it is comfortable.

And I think I nailed that goal (if I do say so myself) when my husband, kids and I traveled to the Ritz-Carlton on Seven Mile Beach in Grand Cayman, where our itinerary included a mix of family friendly activities like a boat ride to Stingray City and many, many hours at the hotel water park — as well as adults-only plans like dinner at the hotel restaurants.

For Her

Here are some of the key pieces I packed for myself and my husband (yes, he can dress himself but I enjoy curating his outfits just like he enjoys fixing the garbage disposal) in our matching (of course) Beis suitcases.

The Perfect One-Piece: Unsubscribed makes some of the best swimwear out there, especially their one-pieces. The stretchy fabric (it’s 83% recycled nylon) is so comfortable and flattering, while the high-cut leg, keyhole cutout and low-back design give it a non-mom vibe. It comes in solid black and dark green, but I opted for the poppy pink with a tropical flower print.
Buy It: Unsubscribed One Piece, $178; unsubscribed.com

Breezy Separates: I’ve upgraded my coverup selection from shapeless dresses to tailored pieces that can be worn beyond the pool or beach. I wore a white Gap button down over my swimsuit every day and brought it to dinner at night in case it got chilly. These wide-leg linen Madewell pants were perfect for a casual family dinner outside, and I also wore them for our boat trip with my Unsubscribed bathing suit. 
Buy It: Madewell Pants, $88; madewell.com

Designer Sunnies: Sunglasses trends come and go but for me, an oversize tortoise pair is always in style. Plus, when your sunglasses cover most of your face, you’re basically guaranteed to like how you look in the one family photo you manage to capture, especially if you pair it with a cute hat (go for one that’s packable). 
Buy It: Tory Burch Sunglasses, $198; toryburch.com and Lucca Couture Fedora, $20; luccacouture.com

“Fancy” Dinner Outfit: We scored a reservation at Blue by Eric Ripert, and since it’s considered the swankiest restaurant in Grand Cayman, I wanted to get a little decked out for the occasion. I went with a yellow eyelet Farm Rio crop top and matching skirt. The outfit was surprisingly versatile since I wore the top with high-waisted shorts to happy hour and the skirt with a white tank to lunch one day.
Buy It: Farm Rio Crop Top, $150 and Maxi Skirt, $285; farmrio.com

Beach Tote: This beach tote takes up almost no space in your suitcase, yet it’s big enough to fit your towels, goggles, sunscreen, extra change of clothes, beach toys and the 100 other items you need to schlep around, plus it’s reversible, splash-proof and easy to clean (mine even survived a virgin strawberry daiquiri). I used a Dagne Dover neoprene toiletry bag to hold all of our sunscreen. Speaking of, since the sun is so strong in Cayman, I brought a ton of sunscreen with us. Two standouts: the new Vacation Orange Gelée (it smells incredible and gives your skin a sheen) and Wear SPF which is a line from pro golfer Justin Thomas.
Buy It: Aloha Tote, $64; aloha-collection.com and Dagne Dover Toiletry Bag, $45; dagnedover.com

Neutral Sandals: One of my best (okay, my only) packing hack is that I will only bring shoes that go with at least three outfits. These neutral raffia sandals were a huge win since they worked with everything from the Madewell linen pants to all the dresses and skirts. 
Buy It: Dolce Vita Sandals, $100; dolcevita.com

Statement Slides: You wouldn’t think these rainbow metallic Kurt Geiger sides would fit my packing rule above, but since my coverup pieces and other casual items were all neutral, they added a fun pop of color and looked more polished than rubber flip-flops.
Buy It: Kurt Geiger Sandals, $130; kurtgeiger.com

For Him

Board Shorts: When I first met my husband over a decade ago, his swimwear of choice was long, baggy board shorts with some hideous pattern. I’ve since upgraded him to a shorter (7.5-in. inseam) length with a streamlined fit and cool color blocking. And speaking of upgrades, I also got him a new pair of shades and a hat with a minimalist logo (everyone at the pool doesn’t need to know that you’re a Red Sox fan from 30 feet away).
Buy It: Vuori Cruise Boardshort, $74; vuoriclothing.com, Sunski Glasses, $98; sunskii.com and Adidas Baseball Cap, $24; adidas.com

Linen Pants
Most nights, he wore shorts and a short-sleeve shirt for dinner (this Fair Harbor one is wrinkle resistant), but for the nice dinner out, he stepped it up in tailored (but breathable) linen pants and a lightweight button-down.
Buy It: Abercrombie Trousers, $80; abercrombie.com

White Sneakers: During the day, my husband wore Industry of Nations flip flops, but at night, he switched to white sneakers. This might be an unpopular opinion, but the only time it’s acceptable for a man to wear flip flops to dinner is when he’s dining on an actual beach (show me a man with attractive, non-hairy feet and I’ll take it back). A white sneaker is just as comfortable and looks way more stylish.
Buy It: Rothy’s Sneakers, $179; Rothys.com

Yeti Cooler Bag: I picked up a genius travel tip from my stylist friend Vanessa Powell who said she packs a small cooler bag with socks and underwear, then uses it at her destination to tote drinks and snacks around. We put bottles of water and some cereal from the breakfast buffet (I know I’m not the only person who hoards those mini boxes for mid-day snacking) and brought it to the beach everyday, on our boat trip and to a family pickleball lesson.
Buy It: Yeti Lunch Bag, $80; yeti.com

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