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Packing for a vacation can be stressful. One reason? Trying to feel fashionably prepared for any situation that might come up while you’re away (and only having a portion of your closet available!) can be tricky—and even more so during the holidays. The key to pulling together a tightly edited mini-wardrobe is to pick a few strategic pieces, and follow-up by curating other accessories and garments that tie back to them (a selective color palette helps). Whether you’re planning on spending time in the high country, or lounging on a beach in Mexico, here are a few essential holiday wardrobe items.
For the Mountains
Pick a parka that can do double-duty. It should be functional in cold temps, but still chic enough to wear in any major city. Snowman NY’s Original 883 is a wet look fitted parka with a detachable hood and fleece-lined pockets—and with 700-power fill of 90 percent down, 10 percent feathers, this coat will keep you warm from head-to-toe. Original 883, $766, snowmannewyork.com
Après ski calls for a cozy, but stylish outfit—the perfect mix of casual and on-trend. This luxe cashmere set by Minnie Rose keeps things sporty, and strikes just the right note for relaxing in the lounge with a hot toddy. Ski Bunny cashmere sweater, $260, and cashmere jogger, $315, Marcus, 501 E. Hyman Ave., Aspen, 970-429-4186, shopmarcus.com
A good-looking boot that can keep your feet toasty and dry is a high-country must. This leather and knit mid-calf boot by Bos & Co. is made from silicone-sealed leather, making it waterproof, plus it has an interior lined with merino wool. There’s also a durable rubber sole, which will keep you from slipping on slick sidewalks, and a side zip, so that the lace-up front stays looking perfect. Holding boot $225, Two Sole Sisters, 1078 S. Gaylord St., 303-722-2887 and 1703 Pearl St., 303-442-0404, twosolesisters.com
Packing a single bag for vacation will save you precious suitcase space, but it needs to be versatile enough to go from day to night. Dylan Kain’s LSC bag meets that need, because it’s two separate bags that can be carried numerous ways: Wear the two together (they connect via magnetic snaps) with the included leather shoulder strap or the metal and leather chain one (my fav); you could also wear one pouch as a wallet or a clutch. Any way you choose to style it, the LSC makes it easy to create multiple looks with a single bag. LSC Stars Light Gold bag, $390, Bazar, 2525 15th St., 303-249-0477, denverbazar.com
For the Beach
The wide leg pant is still on-trend for Resort 2018. To make it a statement piece, choose a graphic version like this clean-line wrap pant in multi-color striped silk by Apiece Apart. It can go from stylish and sophisticated with a drape-y white silk blouse to casual and sporty with a solid color crop-top. Navy stripe Raka soft wrap pant, $395, Perch, 2606 E. 3rd Ave., Denver, 720-381-0290 and 122 E. Meadow Dr., Vail, 970-688-5947, perchvail.com
If you’re going to the beach, then obviously you’ll need a swimsuit. Take a tip from the swimwear collections shown in Miami this past July and make it a crochet one—like this tiny, two-tone bikini in sand and violet (so close to Pantone’s color of 2018, Ultra Violet) by Denver-based line Beauty & The Beach. All Together Now bikini top and bottom, $54 each, beautyandthebeach.com
Statement earrings are a great bring along for any seaside vacation. They’ll finish off the look of a boho beach dress, and polish any short and T-shirt combo. These large, 14-karat gold fill hoops by Bloom Jewelry are a custom design for Danielle Van Ede’s fashion-forward boutique Sterre. They’re accented with turquoise stones and hand wrapped wire. Heavy Hoops, $140, Sterre, Stanley Marketplace, 2501 Dallas St, 720-990-6743, sterredenver.com
Flats remain one of the most important shoe trends going into the resort and spring fashion seasons. Designer Mercedes Castillo’s take on the trend is a sleek architectural silhouette that mixes well with minimalist shapes or provides a balance to more romantic pieces. Leive pointy toe mule in white leather, $350, Nordstrom, Cherry Creek Shopping Center, 2810 E. First Ave., 720-746-2424, shop.nordstrom.com
The upcoming Spring 2018 season is all about sunglasses in bold colors like yellow, orange, and lavender. So leave your basic black or tortoiseshell sunglasses at home and instead, opt for a pair with a colored frame and set of lenses. One of luxury eyewear brand Barton Perreira’s best versions of the trend comes in an updated aviator silhouette with cat-eye shape, giving this pair of shades an elegant, yet still sporty vibe. Raphina rose gold and cherry wine sunglasses with lavender mirror lenses, $510, Europtics, 100 Fillmore St., 303-321-3000, europtics.net
