A few stylin thoughts from vacationing

Hi Everyone - 
I missed you!
After driving a 14 hour day and a 16 hour day, we're back from vacation.  (And my kids are amazing travelers - not a single complaint about being in the car!)
As I unpack and get things back to some sense of order, I thought I'd jot down a few thoughts from my trip.

1) I missed white.  I didn't take it, because I didn't want to worry about getting dirty.  But I felt less crisp and more frumpy without it.

2) On that note, I really am not yet in a happy place with my summer wardrobe.  Most of what I took and wore, I didn't end up liking much.  Good excuse to shop, eh?

3) While hiking, I especially noticed what others wore.  There were the casual hikers like me, that mostly just wore some sort of jean shorts and a tee, there were people in stylish gear, and people in serious gear (light colored long pant and long sleeved shirt - both in linen, I think, so very cool on a warm day).  I may have been the only person without a hat.  But the ones who caught my eye as looking especially fantastic were those who wore lipstick.  I think I want an spf lipstick.

4) I'm loving the big top silhouette, at least on others, and am more motivated than ever to figure out a way to wear it.  I especially liked the sheer swimsuit-cover-up dresses that I saw on the beaches.  Big and flowy - I want to figure it out.

5) I need a bright color to feel cheery.  My all-grey and grey-blue outfits just didn't pack much punch unless I added my orange jacket - but it was generally too warm to do so.

And that's it for now.  Back to unpacking and laundry!

This post is also published in the youlookfab forum. You can read and reply to it in either place. All replies will appear in both places.

22 Comments

  • Suz replied 10 years ago

    We've missed you, too, Ami, and these sound like smart realizations that will move your forward on your style journey. I think colour is definitely important in your style persona. 

  • cinnamon fern replied 10 years ago

    Maybe you felt like your outfits lacked punch (5) or were otherwise not perfect (2) because they needed some white?

    I'm confused about SPF lipstick.  Why not just put on sunscreen then lipstick over top?

  • lyn* replied 10 years ago

    I saw some SPF30 lipstick in my drug store the other day and wondered what it was for - now I know! HIKING! :D

  • replied 10 years ago

    Welcome back, Amy! I missed you!

  • Joy replied 10 years ago

    Welcome back! I loved reading your vacation style thoughts.

  • Beth Ann replied 10 years ago

    Welcome back! 

    Sounds like you learned some things about fashion on your trip ---- you are a keen observer of your environment, too.

    I agree with Suz that color seems to be an important part of your happiness factor.  I'm just packing for a weeklong trip myself, so I'm been making some tough edits to my suitcase.  I'll take your lessons to heart!

    Next time, what about bits of white, such as a belt, leather shoes, or a watch?  You could do the same thing with color, and put it in your bag and/or shoes.  My yellow bag (we call her "Butterscotch,") goes with almost my entire summer wardrobe, which has not a shred of yellow.

    Kudos to the kids!  Good travelers will go far in life!

  • Adelfa replied 10 years ago

    Your kids are amazing! Southern California is a great place to go to take notes on summer fashion. I'm going there myself in not too long!

  • Caro in Oz replied 10 years ago

    Great thoughts & I think Beth Ann's ideas for colourful accessories are really good too.

  • Jjsloane replied 10 years ago

    Good observations (and I'm jealous your kids were so great - dreading lots of car travel ahead with mine)
    Clinique makes a nice lipstick with SPF that's reasonable. 

  • Deborah replied 10 years ago

    So good to have you back! Love your observation about wearing lipstick:) Interesting analysis, how much do you think this will now impact your future purchases?

  • Jaime replied 10 years ago

    Welcome back! I am very impressed with your kids - and you! That's a lot of driving. Clearly the first things you need are a hat and some lipstick! I am looking forward to seeing where your new insights lead you.

  • Angie replied 10 years ago

    Wow! Great insights! And great to have you back. We missed you too, Amy.

    I also vote hat and lipstick first! And then a few breezy frocks. Wear lots of white and rock that colour. xo

  • amiable replied 10 years ago

    Thanks all!  It's great to be back, and I can't believe how tired I am.  I wonder if all vacations are completely exhausting? 

    I think that observing people on my vacation has given me a much better idea of where I want my summer style to go/be.  Now I just need to get my wardrobe there. 

    Thank you for the suggestions of starting with lipstick and a hat.  Next time I get out without kids, I'll be looking for the right lipstick.  (All I have now is tinted lip balm, which is great for about 15 minutes - it's what you saw me in consistently last winter).

    I'm kicking myself for not buying a straw fedora that I saw on the way - I wanted it, but didn't want to set the example for my kids of making an impulse purchase.  Now to start watching for the perfect hat...

    Ahh... it's good to be back!  You all are the best.

  • Sarah A replied 10 years ago

    Great and well considered vacation analysis! I hope the perfect hat will show up for you soon. You are really making super awesome insights into your style and I love reading your posts :)

    And yes... vacation is exhausting (in all the best ways of course ;) .... I cant believe your kids were such troopers in the car!)

  • replied 10 years ago

    I enjoyed reading yoour observations Ami and it's good to have you back. I like to see you in colour too and I hear you on white, it's cheery wearing white AND a colour. I always feel tired after a vacation too, I think its because we unwind on holiday and then have to rev up again and get back on the treadmill and also get through mountains of washing!
    Good luck with the hat and lipstick hunt.

  • Lisa replied 10 years ago

    Great observations.  A colored spf lipstick sounds like an easy way to add some color to the face while doing outdoor activities.  I always go for some bright colors on vacation, they just cheer me up.

  • Glory replied 10 years ago

    Welcome back and kudos to the kiddies for being such good travellers.
    Hat and lipstick - easy place to start and very skin friendly! :)
    I am interesting in your flowy cover up on the beach comment. Were they mostly kimono style coverups? I have seen many of those in the stores this season.

  • Sara L. replied 10 years ago

    Interesting observations and good to have you back! 

    I've realized that I look like death without some color on my lips, even in the greatest outfit.  I use Revlon Colorstay and then layer lip balm with an SPF over it.  It lasts for the majority of the day and I don't have to worry about reapplying.

  • amiable replied 10 years ago

    Thanks for the suggestion Sara - I'll look for that or some Clinique that Jjsloan recommended.  

    Glory, the cover-ups that I saw and liked were more like really long sheer button-up shirts - not kimono style, more shaped just like a men's shirt (but big, and long, and sheer).  I'm debating whether I have the time to tackle it as a summer sewing project :)

  • Carole replied 10 years ago

    WELCOME HOME! So happy to hear you had a good trip and the kids were good sports. I think packing for trips like these teach us so much about needs and preferences. It's a good place to begin organizing the perfect wardrobe! It looks like a few bright cheery colored big silhouette tops are in order.

  • replied 10 years ago

    Such great observations Amy! Thanks so much for sharing them because then we all learn. I have felt the same way when travelling (and at home for that matter)--what to do when it's too hot to wear the item that adds interest to the outfit? So now I look for details in my tops, like a print, that makes them interesting enough to stand alone. With your climate you're able to layer most of the year, so I don't think you need to worry about it as much as I do.

    I love the idea of the big sheer shirts as swim suit cover-ups. I'll have to keep my eye out for one! I hope you can get caught up on your rest. :)

  • rachylou replied 10 years ago

    I am thinking you are right. I really like you best all lively in bright colour. Also, I am seriously mulling over your lipstick insight. I need to find my 3-in-1 stick asap.

    Fab to have you back! Sounds like you had a great time :D

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