Resort wear with retro flair

The four girls of Sexy in the Sixties, with Hilton, Hudgens, Lohan & Rihanna

It’s like an instinctive reaction—as soon as the temperature falls below a certain degree, my mind fast-forwards three months to winter vacation, which automatically implies glowing tans, sandy toes, and breezy resort wear.  Whereas I spoke of warm knits and chunky cottons yesterday, vanquish all thoughts of outerwear.  For today, I invite you into the sunny daydreams of my mind.  Tijuana here we come!

But first, what to pack in our Louis V. duffle…

Resist the easy outfit, but keep the outfit easy.  Styles may indeed be cyclical, but this time around, don’t let sailor inspired appliqués and neutral navy tones rope you in.  There is a time and place for preppy cruise-wear, and it’s certainly not Miami in December unless you’re a Burbank Betty or Venice Veronica.  If you’re considering blazers and stripes, I’d say anchors throw-it-away (unless it’s the WGACA Chanel vintage anchor bracelet you’re referring to.  If that’s the case, I am squinting my eyes and glowering where I stand).

If there’s one attribute celebrities have that doesn’t need to be touched up via Photoshop, it’s their capacity to vacation with pomp.  That means the concierge, the cuisine, and the clothing will all be of five-star, ritzy quality.  And while you might not opt for the palatial villa, room service, or cabana boy, definitely take a tip from this season’s desirable bodies in even more desirable cruise-wear.

A kaleidoscope of colors from celebrity must-have brands Tolani, Gypsy ’05, and Karina Grimaldi make a splash on decadent gauzy fabrics.  Showrooms are suddenly flanked with a trail-mix of patterns and textures that transport Ms. Nicky Hilton, Vanessa Hudgens, and Lindsay Lohan from the beach to the boutiques with the simple addition of Havaianas.  One part Malibu floral, one part peacock and paisley, two parts Woodstock tie dye (I’m as partial to Rihanna’s tie dye J Brand skinnies as I am to the sparsely distributed peanut M&Ms in the bag), the lineup of flouncy sherbets and rich gemstone hues has a more powerfully psychedelic-chic essence than a sixties soiree.  So even when vacationing among the cream-of-the-prep, you’ll be more suitably crowned as the queen-of-the-pop.