Tropical Vacation Must Haves

Time to become that girl during spring break.

by STELLA RINGBLOOM ★ FEBRUARY 19, 2023

With Spring Break being around the corner, now it’s the perfect time to surf the web during our lectures and get shopping. However, with that being said, there’s no need to get a whole new closet for a five-day trip, unless you are like me and feel the need to have new outfits for every vacation. Jokes aside, I’m sure you have something in your closet that resembles the items I’m going to highlight, so no pressure if you want to avoid getting the phone call from your parents (if you know what I mean).

The most important thing you'll need on a tropical vacation is a swimsuit. Every year, I struggle to find swimsuits that fit my body, cover more than half a nipple, and are cute; however, last summer, I discovered a few brands I thought were worth mentioning—starting with Monday Swimwear. I discovered this brand a few summers ago, even before Revolve started selling them. What I love about Monday Swimwear is that there are so many different types of bikinis, including a wide variety of prints. If you're more of a one-piece type of gal, they also offer that, which is great. Furthermore, they sell a wide selection of cover-ups. I love a set when going on vacation, even if I'm just going to the pool. I mean, hey, you never know; maybe you'll meet the love of your life, and god forbid you show up to the pool in an oversized Urban Outfitters shirt and your dad's old denim shorts. I'm kidding—that's a great option, but a matching set never misses. 

Additionally, Oneone Swimwear probably has the most flattering bikinis ever. I got my first swimsuit from them two summers ago, and to this day, it's one of my favorites. It gives you that hourglass figure; trust me, I don't have one without this bikini. The bottoms are cheeky, so I don't know if I recommend it for a family vacation, but if you're heading to Fort Lauderdale during Spring Break, this will be the suit for you. 

Lastly, Triangl has made a comeback. I remember buying my first Triangl suit in middle school, and while I no longer have it, I remember loving it. I repurchased two different ones last summer, which were probably my most worn ones. These three brands are pricier, so if you're balling on a budget, I recommend checking out Target, NA-KD, or even Amazon. I have seen so many people promoting these brands on Tiktok. NA-KD is a Swedish clothing brand, primarily known for its inexpensive but good quality knitted sweaters and tops. However, they have some good bikini options. The quality is pretty good too, and my favorite part of the brand is that they sometimes collaborate with influencers. My favorite collaboration they did was with Swedish influencer Hanna Schonberg, but unfortunately, I don’t think that collection is still available. I recommend checking their website and Instagram frequently because they constantly come out with new collections, and everything is always so cute.

Now moving on to the nighttime outfits. My favorite time of the day is getting dressed after taking the post-beach shower and throwing on some light makeup. I adore Reformation, Vrg Grl, For Love & Lemons, and Rat & Boa for nighttime looks. Again these are on the pricier side, so they’re by far more investment pieces, but they’re worth the hype. Princess Polly, Zara, and Beginning Boutique offer more affordable options but still make you put together. Although I love investing in my clothing, I have realized that it’s all about how you style it. It is absolutely possible to get a dress from Amazon and make it look as elevated as if you get it from Revolve or Reformation. I pointed this out earlier, but there is no point in spending lots of money on something, especially if you’re planning on only wearing it for one trip.

Enjoy your tropical vacation and if you’re not going somewhere warm for Spring Break, use this as a guide for summer because it’s coming up sooner than we think!