If a girl has an upcoming beachy vacation, you can be sure she'll go on the prowl for a brand new swimsuit for the occasion. This usually involves tons of online shopping and a Pinterest board called "Dream Swimsuits." 

I've always had a hard time shopping for swimsuits because my taste is so extremely particular... let's see, I need: a retro-ish style, full(er) coverage, simple colors, no pattern, removable straps, comfort, and a shape that flatters my flat, wide-at-the-shoulders body shape. I was leery of buying a swimsuit online, without being able to try it on.

However, when I came across this gorgeous piece from Nanette Lepore, I was utterly spellbound. From that moment on, I had no control over what my fingers typed into my keyboard.

Another post from Hawaii!

Having a comfortable daytime tourist outfit and a going-out-for-dinner outfit for each day compounds the amount of clothes you have to pack. I don't like doing that, so I try to wear clothes that can transform from day to night without too effort. Check out my look, and how just a subtle change lets this look perform double duty.



For the daytime look, I un-tucked my shirt and wore some super comfy, yet pretty flat gladiator sandals. I got these last summer from F21 and adore them. They can be dressed up or down, and are comfortable enough to walk in for miles.




You can read the details about this fabulous Italian leather clutch in my previous post.



We stayed on the North Shore near the popular surf zone, Haleiwa Town! Matsumoto's Shaved Ice is a classic there... there are always massive queues in front of this quaint grocery. The wait was worth it though for such a yummy treat on a hot day!


Here's a closer-up of the night look. All I did was tuck my shirt in, add this cute golden geometric necklace, and put on some golden heels instead of the flat sandals.


I can't remember what we had for dinner this night, but there were many fantastic outdoor places to eat in Haleiwa Town. And of course, after dinner, you have to stroll along the beach. Bye bye, golden heels! Aloha, golden sunset! >.<



Shirt: Freeze via Ross. Shorts, Sandals, Heels & accessories: Forever 21. Clutch: from Rome, Italy.

I just got back from 11 days in Hawaii! I sincerely miss the perfect weather, the vivid lush colors, the mysterious jungle noises, and of course— the sunlit beaches. We stayed on the North Shore, and this spectac mountain range was something we commonly drove by daily. I was dying to photograph my bright red dress against those verdant green hills. I think this shoot turned out quite fiercely.

I am a maniacally obsessive vacation packer. I have a million lists and pack super light, but try to bring pieces which are flexible and can be worn in various ways. This red dress I brought along because it's un-wrinkle-able, very flattering, and even has a cute peekaboo cutout (air conditioning for hot weather) in the back. I felt like it could be dressed up or down, but in these photos I'm dressing it up with a pair of golden heels. Still, good lord, those mountains stole the scene. They were absolutely breathtaking!



I bought these amazing bone earrings at a random shop along the North Shore highway. I almost lost my mind in there... it was a treasure trove of extraordinary Polynesian and Asian antiques... no ordinary tourist shop! Wow! I wanted to buy the entire shop.


A fabulous friend gave me this clutch for Christmas. It's genuine leather, and my she watched them sew and stamp it together in Rome, Italy! I didn't mind reducing my purse contents so that I could carry this sweet pochet everywhere. I'm addicted to it now.

 

And the true star of today's show, the Hawaiian mountains in green and smoky gray.


Dress: Prime Cut via Ross. Earrings: Bone earrings from North Shore shop. Purse: Leather purse from Rome, Italy. Shoes: Forever 21. Bracelet: Forever 21.