Summer Vacation Fashion Inspiration: Cruise!

Happy Friday fashionistas! I will start by saying that the idea for this post is completely selfish. You see, I am eagerly counting down the days until I set sail on a Caribbean cruise for my summer vacation. It occupies my thoughts, and is ever in the back of my mind should I break out of budget prison to do a little overspending shopping browsing (without buying a thing I swear *hides DSW receipt*).  The outfit planning for this trip to paradise began months ago, before I even made one payment! Can you say obssessed? 

You will be happy to hear that I've busted out of my selfish phase into a selfless one, during which I am going to share some cruise vacation fashion inspiration with you, as well as some insight into cruisin', which is truly a lifestyle choice, one enjoyed by my family and many of my friends. Don't worry-- you can trust me. I'm reputable not only as a gathered lady, but also as an experienced traveler who has literally cruised around the world... more than once. Ready? Let's go! 

The Sea Day 

Every cruise, no matter the route or ports, will probably have one or more sea days. These are days that you enjoy the ship's activities, dining, and amenities for the entire day. In other words, you're not getting off the ship so make yourself at home. This is one of my favorite things about cruising! Instead of being cramped and uncomfortable while you're enroute to your destination, you get to relax (or not), eat (or not), rest (or not)... you get my point. It's yo thang! 

On a sea day you want to be comfortable as you move about the ship. The wind is pretty constant and strong at sea, so I don't recommend hats (despite the big-hatted images the vacation brochures might evoke, your amazing milliner's miracle WILL wind up in the drink without the use of copious hat pins). Scarves are cool on the other hand, because they can be tied and are versatile. I've also rocked them as headwraps. Note that the highest heel here is a platform. That's on purpose. A ship is in constant motion, and that swaying plays heel on the balance and ankles. Not to mention that even if you take elevators everywhere, there are still stairs you can't avoid, and some portals are old-school naval style and you may need to step over them to enter your cabin, or the bathroom, for instance. 

Lastly, don't forget to bring your tunes and your e-reader or magazines. There's nothing like finding a beach chair and some breezy shade (or sun) to enjoy the time passing by. Le sigh... 

The Shore Day 

The opposite of the sea day is the shore day. Getting off the ship, yay! What you do with your day is up to you, but with ports of call in the Caribbean it's certain that at least part of that time will be spent splayed out on a white, sandy beach. The fashion tips I have here for a shore day assume that at least part of the day will be spent at the beach, but should you decide to take a tour, got to a museum or park, or even stay on the ship (horrors!), this outfit choice should work for you. 

My main tips for your shore day outfit is that it should be able to take a beating. Sand, sun, salt, dirt, etc... this needs to be hardy clothing that you can wear all day and break a sweat in. It needs to also cover your swimsuit well and stand up to being rolled up and stuffed into a beach bag. 

For a beachy shore day, make sure to take your beach bag, and pack it well, but don't bring anything expensive or valuable with you. (We've got you covered on how to do this!) Note, for example, that the sea day e-reader has been replaced by a Marie Claire magazine. My personal policy is that there shouldn't be anything in your bag that would make you run after a thief instead of waving goodbye to your stuff. You may laugh, but it's an excellent policy! 

Formal Night 

Most cruises have an official formal night, a night when dinner is a little fancier (lobster! souffle!), and the dress code is after five. It's also often called the Captain's Dinner. I love these nights! I mean, after all these days of no heels and "beach formal" dinner attire, it's a nice change. This is your big chance to step it up! Not to mention that if you're going to pay $$$ for one of the official crusie photos, you might as well buy the one on this night while you are dressed to kill. Serve!

Note the two dress options provided. This is because you should choose whether you want to go formal or semi-formal. It's up to you. What really makes the night is the bling and pearls, the hair and makeup, and of course your luscious scent (Haven't picked a scent for summer? Let us help!)... do this right, and that guy you've had your eye on will move from flirt to fling! And married ladies, your evening is guaranteed to end early and your door will have the Do Not Disturb tag hanging off the handle. Cabin Stewards... poof! Be gone! 

Well that's what I got for you guys today... anybody going on a cruise? Have more fashion inspiration or outfits? Share on email or facebook, and if we like it, we'll share!