You’ve been waiting all winter for that tropical beach vacation, and it’s finally here!  Make the trip a little easier with these tips and ideas for packing and traveling in style.The main things to consider for your travel wardrobe are your destination’s particular customs, your activities, and how long you will be there.  Many Central American locales, for example, are considered dangerous outside of the resort or hotel property, so if you should venture out on your own (or even with a trusted local), you should err on the conservative and cover yourself with a light shawl, long-sleeve shirt or t-shirt.

Hot, beachy weather, no matter where you are, calls for a little more punch in your wardrobe.  Bright colors and bold jewelry are acceptable anywhere, anytime.

The Weather

Humidity can be overwhelming for many people who are used to cooler, drier climates, especially when the moisture carries into the night air.  But it offers a certain advantage – no matter where you go and what you do, you will always be sticky, sweaty or both, so comfort trumps worries about style, leaving you with many as many or as few options as you choose.  One of the easiest tips to keep cool is to keep fabrics light and airy – light cotton, rayon, jersey knit, and linen are all good options to keep you cool in hot climates.

If you are lucky enough to hike or zipline through mountains, don’t forget a light rain jacket or long-sleeve shirt and, preferably, light capris to cover your legs as you walk through jungle areas.  Temperatures can be 10 to 15 degrees cooler and much drier in those areas, making it even more of a change from the warm, humid temperatures by the shore.

Some good advice because of the hot weather: Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!  It’s always a good idea for your skin and muscles, but there’s nothing worse than getting heatstroke that lasts for two days and missing part of your vacation (been there, done that, hated it!).   The general rule when you’re out and about in the heat and especially when consuming alcohol is one glass of water for every two drinks.

What to Wear

Packing for a tropical destination might seem as daunting a task as any other vacation, but you have more room to play with your wardrobe (literally and in your suitcase!).

For a ten-day trip, you can be comfortable with two pairs of walking shorts, a pair of board shorts, a pair of lighter casual pants in cotton or linen, a few knit tees or woven tops in bright colors, a couple of basic-colored tanks (great layered under a long-sleeve shirt), a pair of capris for traveling to colder climates, three swimsuits, a long-sleeve shirt, sarong, two casual dresses, and one nicer dress that can be worn for a more special occasion.

On your feet: Haivianas for the beach, pool, and (in some cases) the shower (I know, YUCK!); a pair of neutral wedge sandals to go with black or brown-based outfits for fun, non-walking day trips and at night; light summer flats; and a pair of thong sandals that can be worn anywhere in brown, tan, or white leather.

Versatility, as with most vacations, makes your trip wardrobe easier to manage and less of a headache though not as key for a trip to a warmer country since each piece you pack won’t take up as much space AND you won’t care as much when you are sticky and sweaty most of the day anyway.  A sarong, for example, doubles as a cover-up at night or when traveling in the city or as a cover-up for the beach and pool.  A long-sleeve shirt can be your travel top, a “jacket” in the mountains, or a cover-up for the beach and pool.  A light jersey halter dress can be worn both during the day with casual sandals or at night with wedges.

In general, you will likely be by the pool or beach most of the day, so you can re-wear two or three cover-ups over the course of your trip.  For the sake of pictures, a good tip is to wear an outfit at night then wear it on an excursion or during the day when your are likely to sweat so you don’t waste an outfit by sweating in it the first time it makes its appearance.

Hey, Travelistas! Wanna know what to wear for the weather? Just click on My Stylist and type in your location, date, and an occasion and let My Stylist do the rest. Join us on Facebook and Twitter for everything fashion and travel from WeareverTheWeather.com!

Photo credit | Victoria's Secret

Photo credit | WhosDatedWho.com

Jamie Lynn Sigler. Photo credit | Gustavo Caballero, Getty Images.

Just because you can shred it as well as (if not better than!) the boys can doesn’t mean you have to dress like ‘em! Ski season is just beginning for a number of spring breakers and deal seekers but still in time to take advantage of the sweet fashions on the slopes and sales galore.   But every stylin’ snow bunny knows that you won’t look good unless you feel good, either. Here is what the experts had to say about meshing fashion and function for a productive, fun, and fashionable trip.

Jared Shope – President of CD Ski and Sports

FABRIC | The latest in fabrics for ski wear is “soft shell” – nearly every designer is using this. Gone are the bulky, ridged fabrics. Soft shell provides a four-way stretch, making it comfortable and warm. (Jared can share details on what each designer/manufacturer calls this fabric in their lines.)

COLOR | Hot on the slopes this year is a bit of ’80s re-done – bright colors are back, like brilliant orange and lime green. Color blocking is also in, but done in a more subtle way than it was in the ’80s.

ACCESSORIES | Accessories are falling in line with colors, mimicking some of the styles of 1980s with bright colors.

LAST WORDS | If you want to get a jump on fashionistas, next year’s hot color will be purple.

Caitlin Gambee –

ACCESSORIES | (???) Every snow bunny should definitely have cute accessories so even when they fall they will look good!

APRES SKI | I also stress the importance of Apres Ski items such as good stylish boots that can easily transition from the harsh elements to looking good all day long as well as nice baselayers that can also be part of your aprs ski outfit.

Khombu www.khombu.com – Apres Ski boots to keep transition your day skiing look to night time fun look!

FUNCTION TRENDS | Heat Trap, Eco Fabrics

Gordini www.gordini.com – baselayers, gloves, faceprotection – trendy snowboarder and ski styles. Also using new heat trap technology!

Kombi www.kombisports.com – baselayers, gloves, and hats – they are using advanced eco fabrics which are really advanced at keeping you dry and warm. Cute styles designed by professional skiers and snowboarders.

STYLE TRENDS | Be bold and be scene. Bright colors and Eye catching designs!

LAST WORDS | Don’t make yourself choose between style or comfort – Pain is beauty? No way!

Shredding Betty

STYLE TRENDS | A better-looking profile.  Dontcha just hate those helmets that make you look like a Goomba in those Mario games?  New styles feature a shape that give you a more ergonomic profile by fitting around your head as opposed to on it. (Bern Muse Helmet – http://shop.shreddingbetty.com/bern-muse-helmet—matte-grey-p45.aspx)

ONLINE RESOURCES

Aspen Fashion Week | Hit the slopes, shop the latest, and get a head start on the next big thing in ski resort fashion in Aspen March 14 to 19. Celebrities like Heidi Klum, , pro skier Nick DeVore, and Olympic gold medal winner Lasse Kjus will kick off the annual event with on-mountain activities that will help show off their lines of ski and snowboard apparel.  Apres ski (that’s after skiing, for all you newbie’s!) fashion shows and presentations will feature designs from Marmot, Kjus, Victorinox, and more.  AFW has partnered with FEED as the official charitable partner.

Hey, Travelistas! Wanna know what to wear for the weather? Just click on My Stylist and type in your location, date, and an occasion and let My Stylist do the rest. Join us on Facebook and Twitter for everything fashion and travel from WeareverTheWeather.com!

Since comfort and style go hand in hand on any vacation, it’s always a good idea to bring the following items for your ultimate comfort.

• Bugspray | Self-explanatory.
• Wet wipes | Use them at the beach, before you eat, on an excursion, and to “wash your face” for those particularly rough nights when you are too lazy to wash your face.
• Bandanna | Pull your hair back at the beach or pool, wrap it around your wrist on excursions to wipe away sweat, dip in cool water and place on your neck on superhot days.

Protein bars | You never know when you’ll get hungry, plus it’s great on long excursions to keep your energy up.

iPod dock | You love getting ready at home to music – why not on vacation?  Target has supercheap ones that are easy to pack.

Aqua socks | Traverse those rocks close to shore as you make your way through the waves in comfort.

LeSportsac Basic Backpack | click to buy

Backpack | Find one that is not too heavy, has a lot of pockets (like this one which has them inside and outside), and can be used both on excursions and as a carry-on.

Stain stick | No need to let that stain on your favorite white shorts set all vacation-long!

Woolite powder packs | Chlorine from the pool and saltwater can damage suits if they are not properly washed off after wearing them.  Soak in the sink for ten minutes, rinse, and hang to dry.

Medicine kit | Pack it with Dramamine for boating trips, ibuprofen or aspirin, a roll of Tums, bandaids, and probiotic pills to help your digestive system’s good bacteria work better in places with nonpotable water.  (It’s a great idea to take before your trip to build up your digestive system, but consult your doctor first!!!)

Hey, Travelistas! Wanna know what to wear for the weather? Just click on My Stylist and type in your location, date, and an occasion and let My Stylist do the rest. Join us on Facebook and Twitter for everything fashion and travel from WeareverTheWeather.com!

Hayden-Harnett Maldives Weekender

by Laura Milligan

Or just a very long one. We at WTW like to think of ourselves as pretty seasoned travelers, but there’s one hiccup that always manages to turn us into sweaty, panicked amateurs the night before a flight: the carry-on. For short flights, there’s the challenge of stuffing everything you need for your whole trip into one single bag (siphoned-out liquids and gels included), but for international flights, you’re most likely going to have a packed bag, too, freeing up more space in your carry-on for snacks and goodies and other delights. So what’s the problem?

Deciding which snacks and goodies you really need to keep you comfortable during an 8-hour flight, and which ones are just going to weigh you down. But before you start making a list, you’ve got to have the right bag. A solid carry-on should include lots of pockets and zippered space inside and out, two handles so that you can carry it like a satchel or swing it over your shoulder, and should be made of a long-lasting, durable material like heavy-duty canvas or leather.

Once you’ve gotten the bag, it’s time for your next challenge: packing (because no matter how many copies of Vogue we want to take with us, we first have to make room for the following):

• Important documents (passport, work papers, itinerary, confirmation numbers, etc). Stick them in a sleek folder if you don’t feel like lugging your whole portfolio around.
• Medication, etc., including aspirin, allergy meds, tissues, band-aids, tampons, Alka-Seltzer, and Emergen-C
• Bottle of water, because sometimes it takes way too long for that first drink cart to swing by.

If you’re traveling during the winter, wear your coat and scarf to leave room in your carry-on for stashing layers if you get hot. Other things you’ll want to stuff inside your carry-on? Jeni Fisher, fashion and style blogger for JeniWren.com and frequent traveler, recommends stocking your bag with travel-sized necessities that will help you look your best upon arrival. “Flights can be tough on you, drying your skin out and making your lips chapped,” she recalls, so “ensure you carry lip salve, moisturizing wipes (a great way to overcome any liquids restrictions), and save space by carrying with you a travel-size hairbrush.” If you wear glasses or contacts, stash contacts in your checked luggage but “rely on glasses so that your eyes are less likely to be dried out and you don’t have the added worry of having your contact lenses solution confiscated at airport security.”

Remember “to pack essentials like mascara, blush and a good concealer to keep you looking fresh” when you land, and Fisher also lists as must-pack items “those that keep boredom at bay: an iPod, a good book or a Nintendo DS can all do their bit to help speed up journey time.”

A chunky scarf or cardigan, soft eye mask, floss, fedora, gum, and a bag of energy-fortifying snacks like dried fruit or granola should polish off your packing list, but don’t forget the camera. As you stretch your legs in the back of the cabin, Fisher points out, “there’s no reason your holiday photos can’t start while your thousands of feet above ground!”

Hey, Travelistas! Wanna know what to wear for the weather? Just click on My Stylist and type in your location, date, and an occasion and let My Stylist do the rest. Join us on Facebook and Twitter for everything fashion and travel from WeareverTheWeather.com!

Hayden-Harnett Toulouse Weekender

Lauren Conrad: Photo Source: The Insider

Mary-Kate Olsen; Photo Source: People.com

Going somewhere fun and last minute this weekend?  Who doesn’t love a little spontaneity?  Keep your bag just as light and breezy with these hints for a great fall weekender wardrobe.

•   Versatility. Take a light-weight, layerable, belted top that can double as a dress with tights and boots or a chic pair of heels.  For more warmth or a more casual look, layer under a long-sleeve tee, add a fabulous vest or scarf on top, or do it all!

•   Pack a great statement piece. The easiest way to glam up a tee or sweater for a night on the town or to jazz up a Sunday brunch ensemble is a statement necklace.  Bib necklaces drenched in stones, gems, and luxe fabrics look expensive and can pull everything together.  Or layer your favorite necklaces together, match up select bangles and cuff bracelets, or don that eye-catching pair of earrings.  Scarves and vests (can’t get enough of them) in more interesting textures and silhouettes (fur to knit, long to cropped, slouchy to super-tailored) can easily be thrown on to accomplish the same thing.

•   Stick to a color palette. No one will likely see you more than once except the people you are traveling with (and they love you no matter how often you wear that same pair of jeans this weekend).  Check out our piece on how to make packing easier with a color theme in mind.

Express Elbow-sleeve Flyaway Cardigan.

•   One great jacket or cardigan. Depending on what you are doing, there are a number of great styles out there that can take you from the road trip to lunch to an afternoon museum visit.  For a more crisp, preppy look, choose a well-fitted, neutral-colored tweed jacket that will look good with jeans as well as over a dress.  Or try a banded-collar, stretchy, medium-weight number that will layer well over the most casual of outfits with tennis shoes but also act as a great cover-up for a night out.  Cotton velveteen or wool gabardinel are great, structured but versatile options.  A well-made knit cardigan with a wrap feel in a deep blue, purple, or gray, for example, can also perform the same function and be your go-to to keep warm and covered.

•   Two bottom pieces. Unless you’d like to stick to your favorite stand-by jeans, opt for a fresher casual pant that you can wear anywhere, dress up, or dress down.  There are a number of options to choose from.  If you like skirts or shorts, packing a good pair to show off your gams, to wear with the number of awesome hosiery options, and to just vary it up a bit will give you another bottom for the weeked.  A cotton sateen a-line mini; an adorable knee-length corduroy in a fine wale (softer) and fun color; or a cozy sweater-like knit in black, gray, or brown are all great options.

•   One flat, one heel rule. Whether it’s your favorite street shoes and a round-toe pump or a great open-toe flat and wedge ankle boots, having one pair on your feet and one in your bag that takes care of all potential activities you will be doing on your weekend will keep the load light and your options from being too daunting.  Choose materials that will help you be prepared for unexpected rain (check the weather before you go!) and that will help your feet breathe.  Have more fun with the color and texture.  Muted metallics go with a lot as will the new grays.

•   The Everything bag. Having a great, medium-sized bag in a more fun “new neutral” color like mustard yellow, slate gray, or a deep, deep berry red will complement most of your outfits and hold all your essentials.  A more chic texture like crocodile will add an extra to your casual outfits but look just right for a dressier affair.  One that you can easily wear just under your underarm and that you can also carry daintily in your hand is best.

Consider your activities for the weekend and don’t be afraid to wear anything twice.  If you anticipate ever having to get away quickly in the near future, prepare a list of what you would bring ahead of time so you can just pull them together and throw them in your bag.  Then check out the My Stylist feature on our site.  Who knows?  It just may inspire you to take that trip sooner!

Kate Hudson.

Accessories make a huge difference with a versatile dress.

Simple pieces layered together create a solid look.

Hey, Travelistas! Wanna know what to wear for the weather? Just click on My Stylist and type in your location, date, and an occasion and let My Stylist do the rest. Join us on Facebook and Twitter for everything fashion and travel from WeareverTheWeather.com!

When a cocktail party or after-hours business event comes around during your normal schedule, you’re probably excited to play dress up and impress the crowd with your stylish choices. But when you have to pack for a special event, it takes some of the fun out of digging around in your closet and experimenting with new looks, especially if your sartorial brilliance comes at the last minute.

Packing for a cocktail party or evening out also poses a problem in terms of dressing for a restaurant or bar you’ve never been to before. You can check out the venue’s website and do a little research on WTW to find out what people are wearing in a particular city, but when it comes to picking out a foolproof cocktail outfit that’s easy to pack and makes you feel comfortable and fabulous, you’ll have to consider things like fabric, your travel itinerary and accessories.

Here are some tips to make your packing challenge a little easier.

•    Pick one or two statement accessories to keep your suitcase light: choose either a crazy awesome pair of shoes (neon yellow pumps or studded gladiator heels) or a diamond-encrusted choker, for example. Then, you can add in two or three mix-and-match pieces that go with your louder accessories and that will give you some room to change your mind depending on your mood, weather changes or the overall tone of the party. Good basics to throw in could be a leather mini skirt; black one-shouldered dress; or dark, expertly tailored jeans.

•    Stick to wrinkle-free materials and hang up your outfit in your hotel as soon as you arrive. If you have time to check in to the hotel after your flight, hang up your party outfit to loosen any wrinkles. (Locking it in the bathroom while you take a hot shower is also a dirty little trick to smooth out light wrinkles.)

•    Pick the right fabrics. If you’re going to be pressed for time and don’t think you’ll be able to wrestle with the iron before you go out, be cutthroat about picking clothes based on fabric. Jersey, wool, and even structured, embellished pieces won’t wrinkle as quickly, while silks, light cotton and linen will be your worst enemies. Another helpful tip is to favor heavily textured items or clothes that depend on your body to give them structure. (i.e. anything uber stretchy).

•    Consider your comfort. While wearing 5” platform pumps and your tightest jeans might be an okay choice when you’re in your own city and can head home whenever you feel like it, going out on vacation or a business trip means your plans are probably less flexible. Wear something fashionable but something that you know you’ll feel comfortable in as you battle jet lag, unfamiliar territory and even (ew) irregularity.

•    Keep in mind the culture of the city. We’re obsessed with researching the trends and styles of girls in other cities (that’s why we’re here after all!), and what’s appropriate for a business cocktail party in Austin won’t necessarily fly in Boston. Ask your friends, family, and of course, us, if you need tips on dressing up in a new town.

Gwyneth Paltrow. Photo credit: Jon Furniss/WireImage

Sienna Miller. Photo credit: people.com

Hey, Travelistas! Wanna know what to wear for the weather? Just click on My Stylist and type in your location, date, and an occasion and let My Stylist do the rest. Join us on Facebook and Twitter for everything fashion and travel from WeareverTheWeather.com!

Experienced business travelers know that packing right means packing light. But if you’re a stylish professional who hates sacrificing your unique fashion perspective just because you have to fit all your belongings into a tiny carry-on, you’ll need to be a little more strategic with your packing efforts.

The easiest way to pack light is to stick to the same color palette and edit your clothes, shoes, bags and jewelry accordingly. For instance, if you decide that you want a black color palette, you would pick a few basics in black, gray, white or camel, and then only add in pieces that match those items, instead of introducing new themes. Keep reading for more tips.

•    Try to bring only one or two pairs of shoes. Pick a pair of work-appropriate shoes and either a pair of comfy shoes for the trip or a pair of going-out shoes if you know you’ll have to attend a cocktail party or similar, dressier event.

•    Play with jewelry. Stick to the same color palette (silver or gold), but don’t be afraid to pick out bolder jewelry, since it takes up much less space than clothes and shoes and will act as your outfit’s “flair.”

•    Add one or two statement pieces. For special events, pack a patterned blouse or statement dress for variety. Just make sure it matches the shoes, jewelry and other accessories you’ve packed.

•    Throw in one or two extra basics. If you’ve got room, Holly Denham, an accountant and frequent business traveler based in Tallahassee, FL, suggests “including alternate, basic pieces to be mixed in as necessary” so you don’t get stuck, “like a simple gray sweater dress, a white blouse or black cardigan.”

•    Pack what makes you feel good. “Choose things that make you feel chic,” Denham adds. “Since traveling –especially business traveling—takes so much out of you anyway, you don’t want to have to worry about your clothes falling the right way or not fitting correctly. Pack the clothes and shoes that make you feel powerful and gorgeous no matter what.”

If you get stuck, just remember the color palette rule and throw in your favorite basic items accordingly, plus a statement necklace, dress or top to keep you fresh and fashionable as you travel.

Hey, Travelistas! Wanna know what to wear for the weather? Just click on My Stylist and type in your location, date, and an occasion and let My Stylist do the rest. Join us on Facebook and Twitter for everything fashion and travel from WeareverTheWeather.com!