What I Packed for Tulum.

Jen Shoop

January 30

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I somehow overpacked for four days Tulum and yet still -- miracle of miracles -- fit it all in a carry-on roll-a-board. I'll share a few of the photos I snapped of myself in some of these outfits later this week once I get around to editing them, but my full packing list below...

ZIMMERMANN DRESS (FAVORITE THING I WORE)

JULIA AMORY COATUE CAFTAN

ANCIENT GREEK ELEFTHERIA SANDALS

HUNZA G PAMELA SWIMSUIT

CLARE VIVIER LIBEREZ LES SARDINES HAT

MAREA CAFTAN

BEYOND YOGA TANK AND LEGGINGS

JULIET DUNN DRESS

JULIA AMORY HUSBAND SHIRT (WORN AS COVER-UP)

ADIDAS SAMBAS

CELIAB LENA DRESS (MY EXACT PATTERN WAS DIFFERENT)

JULIA AMORY MAJORELLE CAFTAN

GUCCI DAD SANDALS -- ACTUALLY ENDED UP REMOVING THESE FROM THE SUITCASE AT THE LAST MINUTE IN FAVOR OF MY SILVER BIRKS, WHICH I THOUGHT MIGHT BE MORE VERSATILE FOR LONGER WALKS / ADVENTURES

FRP COLLECTION CROSSBODY

ALIX OF BOHEMIA TOP

TORY BURCH UNDERWIRE SWIMSUIT (EXACT PATTERN SOLD OUT, SIMILAR HERE OR IN BLACK HERE)

ALICE WALK GAUZE MAXI DRESS

LAKE PAJAMAS

ALICE WALK STRIPED HALF-ZIP

This probably sounds like a lot of dresses and outfit changes, but this was a celebratory birthday trip for my best friend's 40th, so we'd be out and about during the day, then go home to shower and change and get dolled up for dinner, sometimes with different trips to the pool in between. I actually wore nearly all of the dresses I packed!

I am so bummed because Minnow generously sent me this suit but it arrived the day after we left! I would have excitedly worn it...

My two big oversights: 1) I wish I'd packed a larger beachy daytime tote for some of our excursions. I went the practical route by traveling with my enormous MZ Wallace Medium Metro tote, which I needed to do because my suitcase was JAMMED to the brim and I therefore needed a shoulder bag that could carry a shipping ton, but I wish I'd been able to sneak my Naghedi tote in there, laid flat on top, or at least this inexpensive Amazon one, which definitely would have fit with minimal adjustments, but I didn't think about it. The MZ Wallace is too cavernous / feels like luggage and therefore didn't feel right for daytime wear. I managed to make do with my small crossbody but it was not ideal. In a dream world, I would have been able to carry my favorite seagrass Birkin bag from Dans La Main -- that would have been my preference for daytime wear. 2) I wish I'd traveled wearing a straw hat! I regretted not having one for beach while we were there. My ball cap was fine, but it would have been better with a sunhat -- I own and love both this Sarah Bray Bermuda and this Sunshine Tienda.

For traveling there, I wore this enormous sweater, white jeans, my Margo tee, and my Sambas. For traveling back, I wore the jeans, another Margo tee, my VB Ferazia blazer (on super sale!), and Birks. I ended up swapping out the blazer for my sweatshirt and wishing I'd worn my Sambas because I was freezing on board. I didn't do the best job at layering for this trip! I broke several of my own rules...

I do think I will upgrade my suitcase game for my next trip. I am planning on buying one of these from Paravel. I also saw a chic pea carrying one of these Dagne Dover totes (and another wearing the Dagne Dover backpack) and they just seem like the greatest and most thoughtfully designed travel day pieces.

Finally, mentioned earlier today, but I loved this plastic cosmetics case! I used this for liquids (which I've since learned you no longer need to keep in a separate clear bag...?) along with my medium Julia Amory toiletry bag for all else, and a separate pouch with medicines/bandaids/etc. I used this big Stoney Clover bag (truly enormous) for swimsuits, socks, underwear.

P.S. All the Magpie reader travel recs here. Such great intel.

P.P.S. I followed a hodge podge of your advice on how to handle skincare/beauty while traveling. (Thank you again!) I specifically leaned on your suggestions to stick with my regular skincare routine by just buying products in travel sizes or decanting into these; using a contact lens case to meter out small portions of my favorite serums (truly genius - these will not leak!); and scaling down my beauty routine to just the basics.

P.P.P.S. My A.M./P.M. skincare routines.