I don’t know about you, but I’m dreaming of summer. For me, nothing beats a relaxed day at the beach, complete with the perfect suit, plush towels, snacks, and, of course, lots of SPF. As much as I love living in the city, I crave island life at least once per month. So as winter finally drifts away, I can’t help but think back to my vacation to Aruba last month. It felt amazing to be able to leave my parkas, pants, and responsibilities behind and replace them with flowy tops, dresses, and ample mimosas.
Local Arubans, who come from either Dutch or Native descent, have a “no frills” style. It’s 80+ degrees, humid, and windy every day; layers and complicated clothes just don’t make sense. Their sartorial choices are functional and simple, while still being beautiful and full of bright colors. My style is the same; I love simple outfits that include one statement piece. Tropical prints and colors always catch my eye and comfort is key. So on my last day on the island, I decided to implement both simplicity and color in my outfit choice.
I chose one of my favorite pieces of all time as the focal point: a simple white and navy tie-dye sundress. I’ve had this dress for years and I fall more in love with it every season. I paired it with a floppy hat; an accessory that I was eyeing up for over a year and finally caved in and bought right before my trip. It came in handy when I needed extra SPF and didn’t feel like wearing sunglasses. For my footwear choice, I picked a pair of comfy nude lace-up sandals.
Since it was the last day of my vacation, all of my jewelry had been packed away in my suitcase, but that ended up being okay. A single hair tie around my wrist seemed to suffice. While I love adding necklaces, bracelets, or earrings to my outfits every once in awhile, sometimes less is more. Without extra frills, I become the focal point of the look I’ve created. And isn’t that the point?
I urge you, fellow Fashionistas and Fashionistos, to find yourself in every outfit you create. You’ve heard it before, but your style must reflect who you are. Your confidence will soar when you’re wearing something you love. It doesn’t have to be elaborate. It can be a plain dress and a pair of simple sandals. If you love it, you can rock it.
