I Left My Heart in Jamaica

I have been going to Negril, Jamaica since 1990, with a few around-the- island forays thrown in between. It is our family Happy Place, for sure. So after a 6-year hiatus, my husband and I finally made it back. And guess what? My love for this gorgeous island (and its people!) has only grown stronger. This post is the first of two and is focusing on what I wore…mostly on the beach. Post #2 will feature travel recos. As always, one love!

Life’s a Beach

Surprise, surprise, the beach is a main focus of your stay in Negril. I’ll share more details in Post #2, but I did have a fun pre-getaway discovery at Target with their “resort” swim collection. All the bathing suits I’m featuring are from that shopping score. The great news? Every suit was under $40! My overall advice is to size up. I am normally a size Small, but with Target I typically go for a Medium in bottoms and sometimes even a Large in tops. (For reference, I almost always wear a 27 in jeans and a 34 B/C bra.)

And while it might seem crazy, now is the BEST time to shop for bathing suits. Stores like Target are well-stocked and more expensive designer styles (my faves are Tory Burch and Tommy Bahama 40% off and reversible) are easy to find on sale. Then, when “real” summer rolls around, you’ll be all set! And if you can manage a tropical vacay before then, all the better!!

Palm Trees, Please

Kimono (Rachel Zoe, old) Similar here and here. Two-Piece (Target, Top & Bottom). Slides (Schutz, on major sale!) How cute are these and these, too.

Stripes by the Sea

This blue-and-green striped suit was soooo comfortable. And pretty darn cute, too. One caveat is that the back was cut a bit higher than my buns are used too, so generous sunscreen application was a must! Two Piece (Target, Top & Bottom).

Island Vibes

I don’t normally feel comfortable wearing a skimpier cut suit, but I just loved the color and cut of this one. And, given the shapes and sizes that paraded up and down the beach all day, I felt pretty OK daring to bare a bit more of me. If not in Negril, then where? Floral Bikini (Target, Top & Bottom). Baseball Cap: (BooneArtLife, Limited Edition & Artist Signed, check out the cool merch here.)

Jump to It!

There’s no denying that a great jumpsuit is a one-and-done look you can wear day or night. (Just give yourself enough time to extricate yourself when you need to pee!) I scored this flutter-sleeve beauty on super sale ($525 reduced to $105!!!) and knew it was going to be my birthday dinner look. And it didn’t hurt that its floral print incorporated the colors of Jamaica’s official and Rasta flags (black, red, yellow, green).

I kept my accessories simple and beachy. And now, every time I wear this jumpsuit, I’ll remember a beautiful evening in Negril. Jumpsuit: (Parklife, sold out) Love this and this. Bag: (old) Fun alternatives here and here. Bracelet: (old) Similar here and here. Slides: (Gucci, all I can say is that I love these splurge sandals to death, they feel like marshmellows on your feet, and they always look like a million bucks!).

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Stay tuned for my more detailed post about where we stayed, what we did, what we ate, and more. Coming soon!

Photos by MP & Chris Allegaert. Photo Editing by Kristin Moore-Gantz @artdirectthis.

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