KIAWAH ISLAND – WHAT TO BRING

Kiawah Island is a private island paradise in South Carolina.  It is one of my favorite places to visit for recharging and unwinding.  It is a quiet, undisturbed, tiny southern private island paradise!   The island boasts miles of beaches and bike trails nestled amongst marshes and woods with lots of wildlife.  The southern charm coastal homes are stately and the southern chic style is classic Americana.  Packing for this trip had me a little stressed but what I brought was exactly what was needed.  I packed beachwear (beautiful white sand beaches), sportwear (great golf, tennis and miles of bike paths), loungewear and resort casual wear.  Here is a quick rundown of what I packed and wore on Kiawah Island.

This Draper James dress HERE is made for Kiawah Island’s Southern chic charm with its bright and vibrant floral print.  Wore it casually biking around the island one day and wore it again for a late night dinner at The Ocean Course.  Shown here with a rattan cross body purse HERE , Erica Ray Ban Sunglasses HERE and Jack Rodgers Comfort Jack sandals HERE.

These striped linen wide leg paper bag pants HERE are super comfortable and lightweight and very cool.  Perfect for the South Carolina humidity in July.  Scalloped tank and cross pattern slides are last years styles.

Another Draper James dress (any dress from DJ would be a Kiawah Island hit).  This one The Tammy T Shirt dress HERE and it is perfect for travel since it doesn’t wrinkle!  A long sleeve version too HERE.  Worn with Rothy’s bright white sneakers HERE.  

The reusable everyday tote from J Crew is a travel MUST have HERE.  It’s a steal at ONLY $10 (monogram extra).  Its fabric and can fold up small to be packed or stored in luggage for travel.  I use it endlessly on vacation as a beach bag, computer bag, shopping bag and purse.  Pictured here leaving dinner at the The Osprey Golf Course.  Wearing a chambray button down signature fit tank HERE and linen drawstring pants HERE.  

No, I didn’t pack the beach cruiser bike for vacation (the rental had them waiting for us)!  The Priority Coast rustproof bikes HERE are sand friendly cruisers perfect for the beach and Kiawah Island’s miles of bike paths.  

The J Crew market tote HERE is huge and another travel must have!  The straw tote is classy and elevates any summer or vacation look and fits a ton of stuff inside.   Another summer must is a hat to protect from the hot summer rays.  The rollup travel visor HERE works great for top bun summer hair wearers.  Beach cover dress is last years style and no longer available.

Can’t go to anywhere south (especially an island in the south) and not bring Lilly Pulitzer!  These pull on palazzo pants HERE come in many prints and colors too!   White top HERE and Rothy’s shoes HERE.

There are many famous golf courses on and around Kiawah Island.  So packing sportwear for golf and/or tennis is a must!  Gingham golf skirt HERE (comes in solid colors too) and new Nike golf shoes HERE an visor HERE.

Packed lots of casual loungewear for the trip and with the hot climate on Kiawah this time of year I’m so glad I had these silky PJ bottoms.  HERE.  Lightweight, airy and sleeps very cool.  

More loungewear in this matching lightweight striped shorts and pocket sweatshirt set.  Top HERE and Bottom HERE.  Comes in pink or blue.

Always useful for a beach trip are YETI coolers.  The soft sided backpack cooler HERE came in handy to transport while riding bikes.  The smaller hopper HERE was also used every day.  Slim can insulators HERE are convenient for keeping the drinks you are drinking cool until the last drop!

My newest obsession is eNEWTON jewelry.  I usually wear solid gold jewelry since I’m lazy and don’t take jewelry on and off.  eNewton jewelry is gold filled so it will not tarnish and provides the same quality expected from solid gold.  It’s high quality long lasting designer jewelry that you don’t have to take off…ever!  Jewelry you can sweat, sleep and shower in.  I haven’t taken mine off once since I bought them.  Even when I’ve jumped in the ocean and the pool!  Pictured scalloped one piece bathing suit HERE.  

For a trip to the beach or pool I’ve switched from oversized terry beach towels that are bulky and take a long time to dry to microfiber be3ach towels.  Microfiber towels are quick drying, sand free, come as large as traditional towels and are better for travel because they fold up nice an small and take up little space in your beach bag.  Come in lots of designs and colors too!  Microfiber towel HERE and HERE.  Yeti slim can cooler HERE.