What I Wore: Beach Vacation 2020

Beach all-inclusive resorts are not for everyone, but they are one of my favourite ways to vacation. As far as I’m concerned, nothing beats them when R&R is what you’re after. This trip marked my ninth (!) visit to the Yucatan peninsula since 2003 or so. I’ve been to all manner of resorts (from 3 stars and up) all up and down the Riviera Maya from Cancun itself down to Tulum. I love the area, its history, and all the attractions it offers. I’ve been alone, with girlfriends, with my husband (pre-kids), and with the whole extended family. Some of my favourite memories are of listening to the ocean waves, lying in some hammock or recliner, watching the palm tree leaves sway in the breeze. I don’t think I could be a beach bum all the time – the sun is my sworn enemy – but I like pretending to be one for a week every now and then.

I used to put a lot of thought into my resort wear, but that was before kids. Nowadays, every time I go, I pare down my clothes packing a little bit more. As previous posts would attest, I would rather save my luggage allowance for books and personal care items. [I don’t splurge on resort spa services, so I like having my own products at hand with which to pamper myself.] For this trip, I pared down the previous year’s list and the only reason why I ended up taking even as much as I did is because I was excited to have a chance to wear some of my summer dresses, finally.

Here’s what I took with me:

• 2 bikinis and 1 one-piece swimsuit (with an extra mix-and-match top and bottom);
• 2 cover-ups
• 2 jumpsuits
• 4 dresses
• 1 topper
• 2 pairs of sandals

We were there for 7 nights and 7 days and this was a perfect amount of items (not including travel clothes which I wore on the plane ride there and back). I re-wore some items, but still got enough variety to feel like I could dress up in the evenings, which I enjoy. I did end up borrowing a shawl from my mom for a couple of nights when the weather was a bit chillier than I expected but overall, I did pretty good. Here are the deets:

Notes: I got this Body Glove bikini at Winners for under $30 and I love it. My previous fave bikini, which I had for over a decade, was also from this brand. I find their cuts super flattering and the quality is great for the price point.

Notes: This was one of my 2 cover-ups, a thrifted MaxMara linen blend tunic. I love wearing linen at the beach, it’s nice and breezy and who cares about wrinkles.

Notes: This thrifted Orientiques dress was perfect for casual daytime resort wear. I hate wearing wet swimwear for any length of time, so I like to change as soon as I leave the beach. I wore this dress every day for the couple of hours between the morning and the afternoon beach shifts.

Notes: This was another Winners find. While I loved the colour and found the overall fit sufficiently accommodating for my long torso, the cutouts were a bit of a pain. I worried a bit about having a wardrobe malfunction in the bust area, but luckily it didn’t happen. It was the perfect colour to match the ocean too.

Notes: This was one of mix-and-match options, featuring the Body Glove bikini bottom and a top I bought at Nordstrom Last Chance in Phoenix a couple of years ago. They don’t really match all that much but, by the afternoon, with a gin bear under my belt, it didn’t matter.

Notes: This was probably my fave outfit of the whole week. The Rachel Zoe linen jumpsuit was an impulse buy at Winners last year. I adore the rust-red colour and the fit. It works so well with this Floreat wrap I bought at the Wardrobe Exchange secondhand market last year, not to mention my fave pearl necklace.

Notes: White is a risky choice to wear to a buffet but I like living on the edge. Besides, I don’t get enough chances to wear this Ulla Johnson dress and the white eyelet seemed perfect for the tropical setting. I kept things simple with a pair of colourful Melody Ehsani earrings.

Notes: At the opposite side of the spectrum was this Ted Baker maxi dress I thrifted last year. It’s not really my usual style but it’s a fun Boho chic beach vacation option. I’m on the fence whether to keep this long term or not.

Notes: Another fun, summery frock with bonus built-in bling. I thrifted this Moulinette Soeurs dress last year because I couldn’t resist the gorgeous embroidered neckline. It was a good decision. My mom said this reminded her of stars in the night sky.

Notes: Last but not least, I wore this Bailey44 jumpsuit twice. It’s so easy to accessorize, you guys – AND perfectly comfortable for a night at the buffet.

And that’s a wrap on my Spring 2020 beach vacation. Back to real life … and the rest of my closet!