What I'm Packing for Maui

This next weekend my husband and I head to Maui for a week-long business trip with some of our favorite people on the planet...our Chiropractic friends that are like family. We learn and laugh and soak up the sunshine, while getting super inspired talking about big goals. We've been going on this Super Achiever Gold trip for about 10 years now...and I can't wait to get packing.

So I thought it'd be fun to share a few of my favorite things that I'm packing because I found some great clothes and swimsuits this year! I know how hard it can be to find a good swimsuit.

First off, let's talk swimwear. I needed new swimsuits this year as my old ones were starting to look a little shabby AND my body has changed a bit since the last time I shopped swimwear.  Sometimes I look in the mirror and think, "where'd my 25 year old body go?!....even my 35 year old body?!"  But even though my body isn't what it once was at 46 years old and it doesn't bounce into shape as quickly as it used to, I found some suits I really like.

At my age, a high quality swimsuit makes a big difference and is well worth it to get a high quality fabric that fits well.

Here are the swimsuits I'm packing this year...

The first one in the photo (left) is a new brand for me that I found on Instagram. It took some returns to get the sizing right because this company's sizing was way different than the other brands I'm used to on the right.  They run bigger than the other brands. This suit is SUCH high quality, thick fabric. It's also completely reversible so it's like 2 suits in one with a classy Navy and White on one side and plain Navy on the reverse side. It looks great on both sides unlike some suits that "say" reversible but only look great on one side.

Heidi Klein Navy and White Reversible Bikini Top

Heidi Klein Navy and White Reversible Bikini Bottom

Sizing help: I'm a 32D size bra and a26" waist, 36" hip and the Medium top and a Small bottom worked great. This brand ships from London but I got it within 2 days!!

---

The second one (middle) is a brand favorite of mine and I love the soft quality of the material. I liked this suit so much I got it in two colors.  It lays really nicely against the body an doesn't dig in anywhere.  This brand runs on the small side and also comes in a classic black top and bottom.  

Vitamin A Sage Bikini Top

Vitamin A Sage Bikini Bottom

Vitamin A Ink Bikini Top

Vitamin A Ink Bikini Bottom

Sizing help: I'm a 32D size bra and a 26" waist, 36" hip and the Large top and a Medium bottom fit me.

---

The third one (right) is also a brand favorite of mine and fits great and is a flattering sporty style while still being sexy.  This brand runs on the small side also. These bottoms have the most coverage of all three while still having a really flattering style that fits straight across the hips. The color blocking is fun and is also reversible, but I probably will only wear it on the white side.

L*Space White Colorblock Bikini Top

L*Space White Colorblock Bikini Bottom

Sizing help: I'm a 32D size bra and a 26" waist, 36" hip and the Large top and a Medium bottom fit me.

---

Extra essentials in my beach bag:

Sun Hat with fun verbiage in different sayings - of course I chose Rosé All Day!

Beautycounter Safer Sunscreen

---

Here are a couple of the easy-to-wear outfits I'm packing this year:

 I looooove jumpsuits and rompers and this navy romper is darling!  It has a wrap look in the front and a drawstring for an adjustable look depending if you want a tighter or looser waist.  It has a snap in the chest area for closure and I'll probably wear a bodysuit underneath. The back has a beautiful lace detail on the upper back.  I got this in a Medium and it drapes really nicely and isn't too short. I'm about 5'7" and like my rompers to be a little drapey and loose because i'm too old for a tight romper! LOL! Sorry for the wrinkled look....I still need to steam it;)

L*Space Navy Romper

Here's a peek at the cute lace back!

---

The short black flowy lined mini-dress with embroidered flowers will be so easy and comfy to throw on with flats and go for a day trip to Lahaina ....then dress it up with a quick change of shoes for dinner.  I love flowing sleeves....it always makes me feel like I'm channeling my inner Stevie Nicks.

Free People Mini-Dress

Here's how the dress fits...

---

A few other essentials I'm packing:

My favorite Eric Javits Fedora that goes everywhere with me (yep that's the same one in all my profile pics!)

Clare V Striped Flat Clutch

Sam Edelmen Platform Espadrilles

Vince Camuto Blush Ankle Strap Heeled Sandals

Kendra Scott Disc Drop Earrings

---

I hope this inspires you to book that summer vacay! 

I'm so excited to pack up all my swimsuits, coverups, cute outfits, and shoes in my new Champagne colored Delsey Luggage....this will be it's first of many trips! 

ALOHA!

I'm taking her on many trips this year!

Maui, then Palm Springs, then Minneapolis, then Bali ...and hopefully more!

What I'm packing for Maui...

---

In a few days I'll be in Maui!  I'm so excited gathering my essentials that I'll be taking with me... 

We go to Maui every year and this year we are going for 12 whole days!  It usually falls right after my birthday so I always love getting a couple of new swimsuits for the trip;)  I've always been very picky about my swimsuits and used to have so much trouble finding one I liked that I once had a dream of designing swimsuits just to be able to have what I was looking for!  Well, I'm happy to say, these days there are many "suitable" suits to choose from and I'm going to let you in on some of my faves, and where I find them.

This year, I'm loving the color-blocked swimsuit look, so I'm mixing and matching for a classic chic black and white look.  Each year I seem to get obsessed with a different swimsuit brand.  Last year it was all about my sexy black Mikoh one piece.  This year it's all about Vitamin A.  

Vitamin A is known for their signature "California Cut" bottoms which are the perfect mix between the "Full Cut" (still a little too 'mom jeans' for me;).... and the all too popular "Brazilian Cut" (which I'm just plain getting too old for;)

What I learned about swimsuits is this...  Once you go QUALITY like this, you never go back.  Are they more expensive?  Yep.  It's kinda crazy what swimsuits cost these days for how little material you actually get.  BUT, when you're wearing that little....you want to look your best, right ladies?   Brands of this caliber are just different.  Vitamin A is an exceptional brand with seams that lie flat against the skin.  The quality is meticulous.  The fit is hip slimming, curve-hugging, bust boosting, figure flattering perfection!  They also have nailed the simple, solid colors I love so.  Gone are the days of the bright loud prints, thank goodness.  They are also made right here in sunny California and do their part to lighten their environmental footprint, I like that.

The suit in the photo above fits amazingly well.  This bikini top is the Vitamin A Neutra Bralette in White Ecolux, which is a matte superfine jersey made with recycled nylon fiber to conserve resources.  I have always been a fan of the classic triangle top, but these days, turning 44 years old a week from today... it's just not offering the support I need if you know what I mean.  This top, with its more bra-like shape, is very flattering on.  The bikini bottom is the Vitamin A Neutra Hipster in Black Ecolux (they also have a hipster full cut version if the California Cut isn't for you.)  I love these bottoms because they are simple, yet have cute cut out side panels.  It matches the cutout in the center of the top.  Don't be afraid to mix and match, it's so fun and easy to do with solids.  It's also easy to do if you find a print you like... you can just get the print in one, and pair it with a solid colored bottom to tone it down a bit.  

You'll also see in the pic above that I'm also not going to Maui this year without as couple more of my essentials... my Protect safe sunscreen with SPF 30.  As you know I've started my Safe Product Movement this year, so this and my Dew Skin Tinted Moisturizer with SPF 20 for face will definitely be packed;)  The other thing that I'm so excited to take is my Rose Water Uplifting Spray.  It's one of my favorite things and will be perfect to spritz on when it's hot... and after that plane ride to keep my skin hydrated.

So what other quality swimsuit brands can I recommend for you?  L Space has always been a favorite of mine, great styles to choose from and excellent quality.  I also love ViX Swimwear.  Their Bia suit has an amazing way of looking great on so many different body types, very flattering.  If you're looking for your first luxury, quality suit, I'd recommend this bottom in black and this top in black.  You simply can't do wrong with it.  This was my first quality suit and I absolutely loved it and have recommended it to many of my friends who have loved it too;)  It has gold hardware sliders that you can adjust on the top and bottom to make it look best on you.  This Bia style also offers a brazilian and a full cut bottom to choose from.  I like their brazilian because it's not AS skimpy as other brazilian cuts...it fits kind of like the california cut mentioned above.  It's also one of the best triangle tops that actually fits larger busted women beautifully!  With that said it also looks amazing on smaller busted women...it's simply one of the best all around suits in my opinion.

One thing about all of these quality swimsuits... where the heck do you find them??  I live in California and the only store I've seen these brands at is Nordstrom and some specialty boutique bikini shops in beach towns.  So this is where you have to turn to online shopping.  What I used to do is just order a few to try on to see which brands I liked.  Once I learned what brands looked best on me and what size I was in those brands, it became pretty easy to shop.  My tip is to read the fine print on websites about shipping and returns!  Some swimsuit sites only offer exchanges or store credit...not refunds!  I stay away from those because I always want to option to return a swimsuit if it doesn't fit, because they have to fit perfectly.  I've returned a lot of swimsuits over the years!  

A couple of the sites that offer great quality swimsuits that I use are southbeachswimsuits.com and mollybrownswimwear.com.  They also have cute cover ups and dresses for your vacation shopping!  Here's the thing ladies, these expensive swimsuits go on sale!  Big sales!  You can find great deals on amazing, high quality, luxury brands.  I recommend sites like 6pm.com and zappos.com to find great deals.  Here's what I do... I find a style a like and write down the exact brand name and style name.  I then google it!  I shop around to find the best deal.  Now this trick doesn't work on new styles that were just released that season, but there are some great deals on past season suits out there, you just have to find them.  I once got a $200 ViX suit for $16 for the top and $16 for the bottom on 6pm.com.  

Here's a couple of my other new faves... First this color is called "mimosa" so it was kinda calling my name;)  Shop the bikini top here and the bikini bottom here.

Vitamin A Bikini, Beautycounter Protect Sunscreen, Beautycounter Dew Skin Tinted Moisturizer

Next, this Bikini top is very flattering on.  It has no hardware and the material is so luxurious.  This color is different than any other I've seen...

Mikoh Bikini in Lychee, Beautycounter Rose Water Spray

The bottoms I chose to match this top are really pretty too and come in this same Lychee color.

One store that I love to go take a look around before I go to Maui is Target!  I LOVE their "long lean tanks" and Vintage Tees.  I collect them in white because I wear them with anything and everything. 

I got this really cute cover-up romper that is absolutely adorable on.  The flared sleeves makes me feel like I'm bringing out my inner Stevie Nicks.  I'll be steaming this, sorry about the wrinkles....

I know some of you might still be covered in snow out there, but I hope this inspires you to get ready for some summer sun!  Follow me over on Instagram over the coming days as I'll be wearing some of the items in this post!