My Hawaii Packing Guide & Shopping List
my favorite brands for sexy laid back island life, a pragmatic yet stylish, semi-chichi but mostly chill packing guide & a round up of a wishlist pieces in a range of price points
Since I’ve been in Maui the last two weeks, it only makes sense to make this week’s dispatch dressing for Maui-themed. I’d also seen someone in the Cereal Aisle chat seeking recommendations for small inexpensive brands for a trip to Maui. Since I’ve been coming here for nearly 20 years, I have some helpful tips to share. I will share some links and recommendations as well as more practical advice for what to pack. First brand that comes to mind for not exorbitantly-priced, understated resort wear is St Agni or Matteau. Or Emily Dawn Long for smoking hot, playful contemporary pieces. For cool smaller brands offering items under $200, I’d say look to Gil Rodriguez and Baserange. They make good pieces for sexy, laid back tropical trips. For a little more flex and a little more scratch, Maryam Nassir Zadeh, Nia Thomas and Mara Hoffman would be my island fantasy wardrobe go-tos for a fancier destination. (You can find these brands all in once place at Bona Drag). But Maui isn’t fancy.
This isn’t Palm Heights Grand Caymans. Bambi won’t be judging you, commenting on your look or suggesting you to go back to your room and change. This is Maui. I’ve been visiting the island for 20 years and can say I’m finally good at packing for the climate and the vibe. The first time I travelled here I was warned, “you know, Maui is very casual” by my family, with a “please don’t embarrass us” tone. I’m sure they anticipated me packing obnoxiously high heels and massive hats like I was straight off the Jacquemus runway. Of course I did. Of course I could under no circumstances wear them with dignity here.
From then on, I would still pack too many “just in case” options. Multiple beautiful flowing dresses for the one fine dining establishment we’d be going to that had a dress code. The dress code: ‘Shoes and shirt required’.
Eventually it clicked. This is a good place to be off the hook in absolute paradise, not a place to stunt or flaunt wealth. No one cares. Even if you stay at a chichi place. However it is still a good place to express your personal style within the confines of dressing casual.
If you’re traveling with a fashionable crew and you all want to dress up and go out be cute, that would be really fun. If you’re goal is to vacate the rat race and detach from material trappings for a bit, just know you can be as chill as humanly possible with your attire. There is only one nude beach though.
You also have to factor in the humidity, wind and extreme sun. It gets a little chilly some nights. If you go on a boating excursion, it can get quite cold out on the water.
Cotton, linen and raw silk are ideal. Sun shirts, swim shirts, sun hats with chin straps, and reef-safe sunscreen. Breathable, flowing fabrics. Little dresses. Mix your swimwear with your streetwear. Bring subtle jewelry for a personal touch, anything too bold or flashy just feels foolish here. Personally, I like to wear high neck tops, halters and tees more than the tubes and square neck tanks during the day or else my tender, mature and under-melinated decoletage gets too much damaging sun exposure. You’ll thank me later, kiddos.
I didn’t treat myself to anything new for this trip. I had plenty of beloved summer pieces in my wardrobe that were easy to mix and match. Anyway, I have observed that so many very stylish people outfit repeat and wear old clothes - carefully selected and quality-made of course.
Here are some suggestion I rounded up in case you are shopping for a balmy getaway.
Pictured: MNZ wrap skirt, Baserange mar top, Labucqu sandals, Rita Row long sleeve tee, Gil Rodriguez tubes, Baserange pull on pants, Wales Bonner x Adidas shorts, Nia Thomas Dress, Jacquemus mini dress, Agolde tank, Hakea swim skirts, Deiji Linen Button Up Set, Crossbody nylon bag, Rodebjer cotton button dress, Signe crochet vest, Everlane wrap top, Acne Studios linen pants, 40% off, St. Agni high neck top, 30% off, Lemaire hat, Agolde beige cotton track pants
Not pictured but highly recommended: Reformation muse tee, Mozh Mozh crochet pieces, Wales Bonner crochet skirt, Lauren Manoogian cotton pants, Lauren Manoogian split knee cotton/linen pants, KkCo shorts, Stella McCartney scuba sandals 79% off, Giu Giu wrap top, all things Emily Dawn Long.
Love the Baserange pants! Hawaii felt a lot more casual than I expected when I first visited too and I'm glad you wrote this post as it will be helpful for others!