No matter where I am or what I’m doing, the chances are that I’d rather be on an island somewhere. Lucky for me, piña colada fantasies became my reality for a recent getaway to The Caribbean, and with a new vacation came — you guessed it — last minute shopping sprees.

For my week long stay in Antigua &  Barbuda, I decided that I wouldn’t stress about making sure that every item I wore was new (I mean, who told us that we need an entire new wardrobe for vacation anyway?), but I did want to make sure that I was outfitted to feel my best for each day. 

Though I knew about my impending trip for about 6 months, I honestly didn’t start shopping until about 2 or 3 weeks in advance, because, life. So my dream of shopping entirely from independent designers was a little out of my reach. Fast fashion wins again! However, I did manage to snag a couple of items from brands with integrity and designers that could deliver my product by hand. 

My itinerary at the beautiful all inclusive Royalton resort did include plenty of sunbathing, relaxation, and a spa day, but there were also several themed occasions by Collin Devon Events that I wanted to be outfitted appropriately for. Here is what I packed for my island getaway:

Night one I attended a welcome party and knew I wanted a dress that captured the island vibes while also being of good enough quality so that I could revisit it for another vacation or future summer soiree. I opted for the I.Am.Gia Greta dress with my Miista sandals and had no regrets. The cutouts in the front are a fun detail that I can’t get away with regularly in NYC and the ruffles gave me “Wild Thoughts” vibes.

Next, came the pool parties. 
This simple white bikini is a TopShop find from seasons ago, and I paired it with a red bandana I’ve had since I can remember. 

Shortly after I switched into another all white suit from Matte Collection that I paired with white mesh pants that have also been in my closet for too long to remember the brand. I had hopes of styling this set with a vintage Hermes scarf but this Amazon look alike did the job and I was ready for the resort’s water gun party.

My favorite look of the entire trip is this LV swim set from Agana Ltd. Xera, the designer, is still a college student and I was super excited to get these custom pieces from her. I’m definitely going to hold on to this suit as long as possible. 

Another look that I loved (but under documented) was my all red fit for the Antiguan annual Dadli Day Fete. I rocked a PrettyLittleThing red maxi belted kimono with a simple Matte Collection red bikini. A quick stop to H&M the night before my trip led to these fun kiss earrings and scarf to match the red sunglasses I picked up from a street vendor in Soho. 

The events just kept coming, and for a yacht party we attended, I choose this high waisted striped PrettyLittleThing bikini that I paired with the Matte Collection Shiloh cover up. This was perfect for my day on the water and I thought that the pearls in the cover up went nicely with my oversized pearl hair clip.

For my final day on the island, I rocked an old swimsuit with this beautiful reversible wrap skirt that I picked up from a street vendor. It can be worn on either side as a skirt or a dress, and It came in handy several times throughout the trip.

Of course, you can’t forsake a handy, casual romper. This striped piece that I purchased from a beach shop in Hilton Head Island also made multiple appearances throughout my vacation.

Will I one day become a good enough planner to travel with all sustainable fashion pieces? I sure hope so! Until then, these fun and colorful looks served me well for a trip I surely will not forget.

— Kindra Moné