What to Take on Your Summer Vacation

I like to take along a few new things when traveling on vacation that are stylish and functional. For me, it always seems to be a challenge not to overpack but I am working on making smarter packing decisions like sticking to one color scheme and taking along pieces that work from day to night. I put together some great fashion finds for your next summer vacation that are super versatile and can be worn throughout the season.

1. The perfect swimsuit - High waisted bikini styles are so on trend right now and they are flattering on most body types! Some great brands include Cami and Jax, P2F and L'Space. Plus a great kimono (like the Free People one pictured above) can be tied and worn as a dress or used as a jacket to wear from day to night. 

Order a swimsuit from Cami and Jax and use code glowgirl10 for a 10% discount!

Dress by Natalie Martin

2. Dress to wear from the beach to dinner - I love this gorgeous Natalie Martin dress which is perfect for Italy. I’m also a huge fan of dresses from Ba&Sh, Love Shack Fancy, Sunday Saint Tropez, Self-Portrait, Faithful the Brand, and Misa. 

Shoes by Vision Quest. Cropped jeans by Mother. Tote by Mansur Gavriel shown with TOPTOTE hat clip.

3. Comfy Chic Sandals & Sneakers - My latest obsession are flats by Vision Quest Shoes (use code glowgirl10 for 10% off) as well as some staple faves by Ancient Greek Sandals block heels or slides from Loeffler Randall and Nike Classic Cortez sneakers as shown above.

4. Cropped pants - I love my classic Franne Golde magic pants in white as seen in the above picture with Janet Gunn! Other faves include Levis Wedgie Icon, stretch high-waisted by Mother Denim, and cropped white linen pants by Faithful The Brand.

Sunnies by Diff, Ex-Boyfriend Trucker Jacket by Levis, Tote bag by Mansur Gavriel & Hat by Halogen, Hat Clip by TOPTOTE.

5. Sunnies - I usually like to take a few pair with me since there are so many amazing styles out now, they can change up your look depending on the style. I wear styles by Illesteva, Le Specs, Diff Eyewear, Oliver Peoples and Ray Bans.

6. Pretty Straw Hat + TopTote. A hat is a must-have to protect your skin and completes your day look too! Make sure to take the new TopTote with you - this chic hat clip is genius and attaches to your bag or luggage. It makes for the perfect travel companion and keeps your hat crush-free. Halogen has a great selection of budget-friendly hats that are stylish and chic.

8. Jacket - Pack one for those cooler nights and if you are flying, wear on the plane! A light jacket in denim like this Levi's Denim Trucker Jacket or a white linen blazer are classic and go with everything.

7. Tote bags and fanny packs make great travel bags - I love Wandler, Maje, Zimmerman, and these Bandolier phone cases for hands free photos.

9. Tech must-haves to stay connected - Xcentz.com phone charger - small size does 1.3 charges and comes in several colors + Skyroam Solis, wireless airpods, longer charging cables for phones and devices is so important during travel. Use code GLOWGIRL10 to get 10% off your Skyroam wireless device!

I hope this gives you some helpful packing ides when planning for your next summer vacation!

xxMelissa

Marie Kondo Wardrobe Edit: What to Ditch and What to Add

It’s a great feeling to konmari your home and to surround yourself with only the things that spark joy (Marie Kondo)! Lately, I’ve been purging so much of my “stuff”—especially items in my wardrobe that have been sitting there unworn for years! This experience of decluttering truly is life-changing and inspired me to create a list of what to add and what to ditch from your wardrobe! There are so many great pieces to shop from this post including several from the Shopbop sale with items up to 40% off!

5 Things to Add:

1. High Waisted Jeans: Nod to the 90's--think mom jeans. This style elongates the legs and hides the tummy!

2. Puffed Shoulder Sweaters and Blouses: This style has made a comeback this season. I love the way a white puffy blouse looks with denim for any casual summer outfit.

3. Costume Jewelry: My favorite pieces are by Dior and vintage Chanel. Costume jewelry adds a bold statement to your look and can be worn dressed up or down.

4. Flowery Long Dresses: These never go out of style and are super comfortable to wear as the weather gets warmer. I love long flowery dresses from Ulla Johnson, Misa, and Natalie Martin.

5. Anything Vintage: It's less expensive and resellable if you go designer. Plus you will be original!

Click directly on the image to shop my favorite pieces!

5 Things to Ditch:

1. Cold Shoulder Sweaters: I liked the trend a few years ago but they just look dated now! I still really like the off the shoulder or one shoulder look though.

2. Low-Rise Pants: They may be super comfy and flattering (I had a closet full of them) but a higher rise pant is king now. I think you can keep any style jean as long as they are flattering and they zip up to nothing lower than right below the belly button.

3. Platform Sneakers: These shoes are great for teens but not really my favorite look for anyone over 21.

4. Biker Shorts: These are being shown everywhere now but I am not a fan as these cut the body off in a place that is never flattering and shorten the legs.

5. Micro Glasses: These are super cute and retro but offer little eye protection and are way too trendy. Plus, they are only flattering on smaller faces.

Shop my favorite ‘what to add’ picks from Shopbop’s 40% off sale below!

I hope you get inspired to do some major spring cleaning and updating for spring!

xx Melissa

Best Trends to Wear from Decades Past + My Who What Wear Feature

Last week I was so grateful to be featured in the recent Who What Wear article, “What a 54-Year-Old is Buying from Zara for Spring.” I take so much of my fashion inspiration from the current trends as well as other iconic moments in fashion history. All of my favorite brands are pulling from so many fun decades, it’s like a blast from the past! ‘50s inspired skirts, ‘80s inspired prints, ‘90s inspired denim… fashion has become a “best of the decades” highlight reel.

Below are some of my favorite trends from each decade, as well as links to wearable options in a variety of styles and price points. Keep reading to feel inspired by wearable fashion from decades past.

‘50s Inspired Polka Dot, Pleats & Kitten Heels

The classic ‘50s skirt gets a fresh makeover. Polka dot prints and pleats are making a comeback, as well as cute kitten heels. Prints and pleats in the ‘midi-length’ bring out my feminine style and I love it!

Check out my favorite ‘50s-inspired polka dots, pleated skirts and kitten heels below. Click on carousel items to shop directly!

‘60s Inspired Bird Patterns

A favorite re-invented ‘60s trend of mine is bird prints. The bright and playful patterns can make quite a statement, so pair this print with neutrals to keep it chic.

Check out my favorite ‘60s-inspired bird prints below. Click on carousel items to shop directly!

‘70s Inspired Balloon Sleeves & Ruffle Blouse

The ‘70s brought a wave of free-spirited, lightness to fashion. Balloon sleeves and ruffle blouses are back and I’m all about it! I love pairing these tops with denim for a causal look.

Check out my favorite ‘70s-inspired ballon sleeves and ruffles below. Click on carousel items to shop directly!

‘80s Inspired Leopard & Satin

Leopard print is everywhere and so are the ‘80s vibes it originated from. Lately, I have been living in leopard print and satin slip dresses. These pieces are so versatile and are perfect for a casual day look or dressed up for a night out.

Check out my favorite ‘80s-inspired leopard and satin looks below. Click on carousel items to shop directly!

‘90s Inspired High-Waisted Denim

The simplicity of the ‘90s lives on in modern day high-waisted, classic denim. High-waisted denim is my favorite as it’s comfortable and timeless.

Check out my favorite ‘90s-inspired high-waisted denim Click on carousel items to shop directly!

‘00s Inspired Boyfriend Blazers & Cropped Pants

The early 2000s live on with borrowed-from-my-boyfriend blazers and ankle-baring cropped denim and pants. I love throwing on a boyfriend blazer with a long skirt or t-shirt and jeans to dress it up a bit. Cropped pants are great for summer and always look Audrey Hepburn chic!

Check out my favorite ‘00s-inspired boyfriend blazers and cropped pants. Click on carousel items to shop directly!

I hope you enjoyed this blast from the past and find some great pieces to add to your wardrobe!

xxMelissa

Don’t forget to check out my featured article on Who What Wear here.