What I'm Bringing to the Beach (As Told By Someone Who Doesn't Go Often)
The last time I was at the beach was for a friend’s bachelorette party back in 2019 in Mexico. The time before that was back in 2017 in Tulum where I got e.Coli poisoning (also, coincidentally the last time I smoked weed). Z and I were set to travel to Florida for Thanksgiving with his family this past year, but with the rise of COVID cases, we used our best judgment and ended up staying home. But the time has come to make up for that trip, and we leave this Saturday for a 4 day/4 night beach vacation!
His sister’s family has a beach house there, so we’ll be hunkering down for family time in the sun, and I cannot wait. Because it’s family, though, it’s not necessarily a big fashion show situation. If Z and I were traveling alone to, say, Mexico, then yeah—I’d pack way more full outfits I’m sure. Regardless, I always find a reason to wear sundresses when I can, so I’m bringing one too many with me along with a bunch of other summer staples I think will fit into the beach lifestyle nicely. Almost everything I’m bringing with is under $100 or way under $100 with the exception of a few pieces here and there. Am I overpacking for 4 nights? 100%. Do I care? -100%. So let’s pack, shall we?
dresses
I feel like I’ve been preparing for this moment the entire summer. I’ve loaded up on summertime dresses in all lengths (midi, maxi, and mini) and have been waiting for the chance to wear each. I decided on bringing 2-3 mini sundresses and 2 maxi dresses for good measure.
White and Black Abercrombie Tie-Shoulder Mini Dress
I got this cute little number in both white and black because I just knew it was going to be adorable, and I was right. These are the easiest dresses to wear this summer. No bra required with pockets? Get out of here. I’ll most likely bring both but definitely the black to throw on for dinner or just to hang around the house!
Peach Print Smocked Abercrombie Dress
I mean, I love peaches and I love tiny peach print. This dress fits like a glove and also requires no bra since the smocked top really works to hold those suckers in. It’s the perfect LWD with just enough pizazz to set it apart. Can’t wait to sport this in Florida!
Show Me Your Mumu Cheetah Print Maxi Dress
I picked this amazing dress up at Beatnik here in Dallas, but it’s available on Show Me Your Mumu’s website as well! As soon as I put this on, I fell in love. It’s so insanely soft and light, but somehow also flirty and sexy even with being a tiered maxi dress. It’s super see-through, so I’ll either wear it as a cover-up or with a full body slip. Either way, I love this dress! Could be good to wear if Z and I sneak away to catch a sunset together.
Rixo for Target Ruffled Sleeveless Slip Dress
This is entirely sold out, but I couldn’t not show you guys that I’m bringing it along! I’ve truly been waiting for the right occasion to wear this piece, and it basically screams Florida, right? It’s so happy and colorful and perfect with a pair of slides.
I got this as a lightweight summer robe, but it just hit me how perfect it would be as a throw-on at the beach so in the bag it goes!
SHORTS & pants
The shorter the short, the closer to God, right? I’m keeping it pretty simple with the shorts I’m packing for this beach vacation—simple but effective.
These have been one of my top sellers ever since I posted about them and for good reason—not only are they $15 but they fit so well??? They’re just like any other high-waisted jean short out there, but better because they don’t suffocate your butt crack or vagina and ARE SO CHEAP. You bet you’re bottom dollar that these are already packed and ready for the beach.
Show Me Your Mumu Phoenix Boyfriend Shorts
I also picked these up at Beatnik and love them so so so much. They fit well in the waist but looser in the thighs and are the perfect, ripped jean short for summer. They also run a bit large, so I would suggest sizing one down from your typical! These are the type of jean shorts you can wear over and over without washing them for a while.
Show Me Your Mumu Lavender Romper
WELL, OBVIOUSLY I have to bring this! I have no idea when I’ll wear it (again, this is a pretty casual trip), but I’m packing it just in case. The sun, the sand, the lavender?! Ugh, it’s too much. Again, the romper runs a bit big but is also meant to be comfy. I got it in a small and usually take a medium in these things!
These are a no-brainer. They are super comfortable, super cheap, and super easy to pull on over a swimsuit or after a long day in the sun. I have them in both red and grey in a size medium!
It looks like it may get just a tad bit cooler at night on the beach, so I’m packing my new favorite lounge pants—Outdoor Voice’s Rectrek pant. I ordered these during the LTK sale and am truly obsessed with them. They’re the perfect cool casual pant to throw on for whatever. They’re also a relaxed fit and slightly cropped for ultimate errand running comfort.
tops
I’m keeping it stupidly simple when it comes to tees, tanks, and tops. Packing the absolute most basic and most versatile ones I own to mix and match where necessary!
These tank tops are perfection for summer. They’re not long, but they’re not cropped—they’re somewhere right in the middle, which makes them easy to wear untucked or with a french tuck (said like Tan). I have 3-4 colors, I think but I’m only bringing the pink and yellow because they feel the most beachy to me. I’m a medium and obsessed with them!
We all need a crisp white button up in our closets. That’s a fact. There are a lot of good options out there, but the best ones can get super pricey. I love this white button up from Everlane, but it’s no longer available which is silly because it’s perfect. However, this J.Crew version is identical! I’ll wear this with either biker shorts or jean shorts for a casual beach look, a la Nancy Myers or something.
Two totally different things, trust me. I ordered this from Amazon as a true swimsuit cover-up for the beach and, although it’s yet to arrive as of right now, I know it’s gonna be perfect. Some reviews complain that it’s cheap but like… duh? It’s from Amazon. What do you expect? I got this literally for the beach and that’s it.
I wear these Girlfriend tees to workout in and to do life in because they’re perfect for both. Therefore, I will be bringing 1-3 on this trip. They are cropped, they are soft, and they are easy.
I just got this from Target last week and have already worn it approx 100 times. It’s the most comfortable short sleeve sweatshirt and is cropped so it’s extra cute with, say, the Rectrek pants! I can’t recommend this guy enough. I love him.
My mom and sister hate this SO much, which makes me love it even more than I already did. It’s a great beach shirt, you can’t deny that. Perfect with shorts or jeans, too!
swimsuits
This ribbed, high-waisted bikini from aerie is what beach dreams are made of, and I can’t wait to sport it!
Girlfriend came out with swimwear a few months ago, and I saw stars—that’s how quickly I bought this fiercely red-orange bikini. Excited to give it a true test run in the ocean and pool!
I discovered this year that I actually do love low cut bikini bottoms on me as long as they’re high-leg and cheeky. These peach printed bottoms from Abercrombie (same peach print as the dress, don’t @ me) are exactly that and incredibly flattering. I got them in a solid black, too! The white top is from aerie and, while I thought I’d never like a bikini top that ties on the side, I love it? Took a medium in both of these!
I haven’t owned a one piece in years, but this blue one sang my name all the way back in February, and I’ve been waiting to wear it ever since! I did a test with it over Fourth of July weekend, so I know it’s ready for the beach. LET’S GOOOO!
sandals & shoes
Wow, I am getting tired of writing so I’m get real lazy here. To the beach, I am bringing my Birkenstocks, my happy colorful Tevas, my happy colorful Charlotte Stone slides, these amazing woven slides from Beatnik, and one pair of sneakers because there’s a gym onsite and who knows if I’ll get a wild hair.
extras
Of course, I’ll also be packing up my sun hat, my favorite pair of cheap sunglasses, a last minute simple beach tote I ordered, my beaded Target clutch, a new book to read (People We Meet On Vacation) and a book to hopefully finish (The Office: The Untold Story of the Greatest Sitcom of the 2000s), Supergoop!, my extremely handy 3-in-1 iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods charger, our portable sound machine because we’re both infants, and like sports bras and leggings and panties and all that shit, too.
That’s a lot. I’m truly exhausted having just written all that, and I need to start packing now. Wish me luck!
SHOP IT ALL
