What to Pack for Spring Break

While we love summer vacations and cosy winter mini-breaks, there’s nothing more alluring than escaping Canada’s unreliable spring for some other place’s sun-soaked one. So let’s fantasize, for a moment, that our 2017 spring break will include bikinis and bronzed beach bods, rather than battling the commute in sunglasses, raincoats, parkas, wellies, flip-flops … or all of the above. Here’s what we’ll be (pretend) packing. —Aileen Lalor

going swimmingly. Let’s leave our trusty black Speedo swimsuit in the back of a drawer and pack something bright and beautiful. Bikini Empire specializes in ethical swimwear, made in Vancouver, with a tropical esthetic. This season’s collection, Retro Baja, has retro motifs in a Mexican-themed colour palette. Our pick: the Reversible V-Neck One Piece ($160), which comes in a print by Canadian textiles designer Robyn Waffle of Totem Design Co. bikiniempire.ca

dressed for success. We’re done with generic little strappy dresses; instead, we’ll bring this embroidered dress ($90). It’s bold, but not gaudy, and can be slung on over a bathing suit or worn for cocktails in the evening. zara.com

best foot forward. It’s easy to tumble off heels when we’re three daiquiris over our usual limit, but many flats look too casual. We’re getting sandals in gold, like these simple Toe-post ones ($20) so things stay classy. hm.com

to tan, or not to tan? Never a real tan, of course—SPF 40 is mandatory. If we fancy the bronzed look, we’ll fake it with St Tropez Gradual Tan ($38 at Shoppers Drug Mart), which comes in an easy-to-apply mousse, contains moisturizing ingredients and gives a gradual, buildable, natural tan. If we’re feeling more pale-and-interesting, we’ll apply French Girl Organics Lumière in Moonlight ($60 at India Rose Cosmeticary). It adds a pearlescent glow to collarbones, shoulders and legs, smells like jasmine and neroli and is vegan and at least 80 per cent organic.

hair today. Sun, sea and sand are horrible for our hair, drying it out and making it look the very opposite of swishy and fabulous. AG Hair has just launched Fast Food Leave On Conditioner ($22), with humectants to draw moisture into frazzled hair and oil to keep it there. aghair.com