These Are the Only 23 Items I Packed For A Vacation To Mexico

What I Wore on a Trip to Mexico

Does anyone else struggle with packing??? If you are like me, you literally get anxiety about packing before a trip. A beach trip is a little simpler since everything is smaller and lighter, but it’s still really tricky. BUT… don’t worry because in this post, I have you covered! Keep scrolling to make packing for your next beach vacation a cinch!! BTW, I shared a complete, downloadable beach packing list at the bottom of this post. It’s an oldie, but a goodie (please excuse our old branding). That list includes everything from clothes to shoes to tech to toiletries. In this post, I’m only sharing the 20+ clothing items and shoes I packed for our most recent trip to Mexico… that were all perfect for building the perfect beach vacation outfits!

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1) 7 Tops

First, let’s start with tops since those are what I packed the most of…I packed 3 casual (but stylish) tees, 1 colorful top that can be worn as a top or a coverup, 2 statement tops, and 1 classic button down for a total of 7 tops…

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Tees

Let’s start with tees. Tees are my heavy hitters in the summer and on beach vacations. They are functional, stylish and comfortable. The LNA cutout tee (LEFT) is a basic black tee with a twist. I love the cutouts on the shoulders. I shared more not-so-basic tee in this post. The tee in the middle by Free People is another great option that’s unique. I love the balloon sleeves and cropped fit, which works well on my petite frame. On the right, I’m wearing a long sleeve, ruched top by Frame. The fabric is super soft and I love that the long sleeves give extra sun protection. This one might look heavy, but it’s paper thin!

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Blouses & Shirts

Now, onto the other blouses and shirts that I packed. On the left, I’m wearing a gorgeous blue 9seed top that doubles as a coverup! The gauzy cotton fabric is super lightweight and dries quickly. The back is longer than the front so your booty is covered. I shared more about this top and covering your bottom in white jeans here. Next up…two statement tops. The white high-low style top is by Just Bee Queen. It has flared sleeves, ties in the front or back, and is brining on the drama! The beige deep-v top is one of my favorites by Amanda Uprichard blouses that I’ve featured a few times on the blog and Instagram. (If you’re interested in more statement tops for summer, then make sure you check out this post.) Last but not least…I packed a classic button-down. Instead of bringing my favorite white button-down by Rails, I went with a light blue button-down (also by Rails)! You might notice a color theme already… blue, white, beige and black.

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2) 3 Bottoms

On a beach trip, I tend to pack more dresses than separates because they are easier and cooler. I packed these three bottoms and one pair of travel jeans not pictured. Let’s start with the stunning white flare jeans that are not only super comfortable, they make your legs look a mile long. Pair with sky high wedges for maximum leg length. The denim shorts by Moussy Vintage are SO good, don’t you think? If you missed my post on how to find age-appropriate denim shorts, be sure to check it out here. The white jean shorts are by Agolde. The denim is comfortable, the length is longer, and I love the roomier leg.

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3) 5 Dresses & Rompers

The one and done dress/romper is a winning piece to pack for a beach vacation because it’s easier to style and wear and it doesn’t take up as much room in your suitcase as separates. Plus, they are SO glam! I’ve done a few posts featuring dresses for summer in case you missed them, I’ve listed them all below.

The first dress is a stunning maxi by PatBo. This one I actually bought in Tulum, Mexico and ONLY because Elizabeth insisted I try it on. I saw it and thought, I can’t pull that off, but once I put it on, I knew that I absolutely had to have it! I joked to the team that it reignited my love of clothes. I was feeling a bit over it and wanting to basically purge everything. This also made me feel more excited about shooting pictures again too. Clearly, Elizabeth has an eye. It’s such a joy to watch. I DO love a statement piece on a trip too. This dress is pricey but I’m willing to spend a bit more to feel incredible! Next, I packed this cute green dress for a pop of color. I wore this mostly as a cover-up dress over my swimsuit since it transitioned beautifully from breakfast to bike to beach. (We stayed at the Banyan Tree Mayakoba in case you are planning a Mexico getaway and then Airbnb in Tulum.)

For something a little more versatile that can be dressed up or down, I brought this beautiful trench-style mini dress. It has a small opening in the back for a touch of sexy and the smocking around the tummy is very flattering. I wore it with wedges and sneakers depending on what we were doing. If you want a mix between the stunning maxi and the versatile mini, go for something like this tan Cleobella midi dress! This dress has a tiered skirt, buttons down the top half, and short puff sleeves. The longer hemline and sleeves give you more coverage, which is really nice, but the dress is still very lightweight and comfortable

Last but not least, a comfy romper is a must on any vacation! This one by Lovers+ Friends is so comfortable I could sleep in it! I share everything you need to know about wearing rompers over 40 in this post.

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4) 3 Swimsuits

Depending on how long you’ll be on your trip, you really only need a few swimsuit options. I went with a one-piece swimsuit and 2, two-piece swimsuit sets. As a rectangle body shape, bikinis look better one me. The one-piece I brought is a strappy plunge neck option. The color is beautiful, it feels secure, and it’s sexy! The first bikini I brought, I’ve owned for years. The top and bottoms are both by Trina Turk (exact pink color sold out). The ruffled shoulder is flattering on my body shape creating the illusion of a smaller waist. The second bikini set I brought is by PatBo and unfortunately sold out but I linked a similar top and bottom. The ruffle sleeves create width across the top so my waist looks smaller in contrast.

If you’re interested in what swimsuit will work best with your body shape, make sure you read this post.

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5) 3 Pairs of Shoes

I went light on the shoes for this trip since I knew we’d mostly be on the beach. The first pair of shoes I brought were Kenneth Cole espadrille wedges. They are super comfortable and versatile and I was able to wear them with everything I packed. I wanted to bring at least one pair of shoes that added height, but was still very wearable, secure and comfy. The second pair of shoes are sneakers by P448. You can wear sneakers with dresses, denim shorts, jeans, etc. These were my travel shoes too. Next, I threw in my favorite studded sandals by Steve Madden. These were a top seller last year and continue to be very popular this year!

6) Jewelry & Accessories

Instead of breaking down every single piece of jewelry and pair of sunglasses I packed, I included a widget for you to shop below. Just keep in mind while you’re packing accessories that they should all be neutral and work seamlessly together. Don’t think about packing specific accessories for every outfit, think about a mini-capsule jewelry collection that you can wear everyday. The image above shows my heavy hitters.

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I share my biggest tips for packing like a pro in this post if you’re interested. And, if you want to see more travel posts check out our amazing Lifestyle writer, Amit’s posts here.