with love, from jamaica {real style, real travels}

It only seems fitting as we're about to bid summer adieu, that I share photos from what has quickly become my favorite trip of the season for my second Real Style, Real Travels installment. Oh, Jamaica. Where to start? To be perfectly honest, I wasn't entirely sure what to expect. While I love lounging on beaches and sipping on tropical drinks, I'm much more of the go, go, go type when it comes to vacations (remember London and New Zealand?). Basically, what it boils down to is that I'm really bad at sitting still for too long. But this trip? Well, let's just say I'm a believer now.  

Usually, when I reflect back on vacations to eventually post about here on the blog, I like to make a list of all the things I miss about my particular stay there. Here's the condensed version of what I wrote on my return flight back from Jamaica:

Morning swims in the Caribbean Sea.

Breakfasts out on my room patio, waves lapping nearby.

Dirty banana cocktail, made by Marcel the bartender.

Canopy beds that catch the breeze just right when you're settling in for the evening.

Dinner conversations that lasted into the early morning hours (we were usually the last table to leave).

Paddleboarding. Kayaking. Ziplining. River rafting. (No sitting still for me!)

Interior decor designed by Ralph Lauren himself.

Hammock time. Enough said.

Farm to table meals. 

Roadside coconuts.

Late night infinity pool sessions.

The crew (aka Beca, Justin, Jenny, Olivia, Adam, Sazan, Marianna and Thuda -- Marianna's mama!)

Living in cut offs (like this Cult pair) and slip on shoes (hello, Soludos!)

SUNSETS.

Now, before I unleash you to browse through the rest of my snaps, I have to thank the amazing Socialtye team (I'm looking at you, Beca and Justin!) for 1.) organizing such a fabulous trip and itinerary and 2.) putting up with us crazy bloggers and our compulsion to stop every 10 seconds to take photos. (Seriously, thank you.)

Secondly, to the incredibly gracious and kind team at Round Hill Resort, my revived soul is indebted to you. Thank you for hosting and sharing your little slice of the island with us. I think I speak for the whole crew when I say this, we'll be back. Very soon. Everything irie!

A rum cocktail a day, keeps the doctor (or at least the frowns) away. These two girls, Jenny and Olivia, had me smiling (and drinking) the whole time.

This Alexander McQueen dress borrowed from The RealReal was the perfect island frock.

My uniform? This Isabel Marant shirt borrowed from The RealReal, Cult denim shorts, several pairs of Soludos on heavy rotation and the MVP Tory Burch beach tote also via The RealReal.

Spent a lot of time in this bad boy.

Indulged in a little roadside coconut treat -- so fresh, the stand owner literally picked them, whacked them open with a machete, stuck a straw in and we were on our way. Other local fruit to try? Guineps! They're like a cross between a lychee and a lime. 

Went adventuring for the day with Chukka tours. When I found out we were going both ziplining and driving ATVs, I may have done a little happy dance.

The Soludos gang. // Told you I lived in that hammock! // Celebrating our last evening together the only way we know how: a group selfie that rivals Ellen's Oscar selfie. Just sayin'.

But really, let's talk sunsets. Seriously, some of the best I've ever witnessed. The pinks, oranges, reds, purples. So incredible.

Outfit details: Dress: Alexander McQueen borrowed from The RealReal; Shoes: Reed Krakoff (similar style here)

Outfit photos by Jenny Ong // All other photos by Krystal Bick

This post was in partnership with Round Hill Resort, Soludos, Cult Denim and The RealReal. As always, all opinions and styling are my own. Thank you for supporting posts that keep This Time Tomorrow's doors open.

sundays...

Dress: Tibi (similar style here); Shoes: Jenni Kayne; Bag: Chanel; Hat: J.Crew; Sunglasses: YSL; Necklace: Jennifer Zeuner; Watch: Daniel Wellington; Bracelet: Gorjana

... are meant for easy, chic flats and stripes. Always stripes.

Photos by Lydia Hudgens

the vacationer

Shirt: Isabel Marant borrowed from The RealReal; Jeans: Parker Smith; Shoes: Soludos; Hat: J.Crew; Sunglasses: Ray-Ban; Watch: Daniel Wellington; Bracelet: Gorjana; Necklaces: Jennifer Zeuner; Rings: Jennifer Zeuner, Alexa Leigh

The second I spotted this Polynesian-esque Isabel Marant shirt, I knew I had to sport it while on vacation in Jamaica. After all, nothing says "Do not disturb, I'm relaxing" like a printed tropical shirt. Bonus points for a straw fedora of some kind. Right, Mr. Selleck? 

Lots more photos from Jamaica, including the next installment of my Real Style, Real Travel series with The RealReal, to come later this week and next -- so stay tuned! In the meantime, keep those Turkey trip recs coming! We're loving all your suggestions so far!  

Photos by Rebecca Alexander

i'll have what she's having {packing for turkey}

Truth be told, my bags aren't even close to being unpacked yet from Jamaica and yet here I am, ready to pack them to the brim for the next trip. That's right, my trip to Turkey has arrived in full force and is officially T-6 days away (summer, where did you go?!). I'll be hopping around with my friend and jetsetter partner in crime, Heather, and cannot wait to get lost in Istanbul, explore ruins in Ephesus and relax on the beaches of Bodrum.

My personal highlight I'm looking forward to though? Riding in a hot air balloon over Cappadocia. 

If you guys have any tips or recommendations, would love to hear them! Feel free to leave a comment below or shoot me an email. In the meantime, I'm trying to figure out how to get everything above in my suitcase before Monday...decisions, decisions...

shop talk {introducing kit & ace}

As I get older, I'm starting to realize how much I really rely on my basics, both the investment pieces (hello, Chanel) to the tried and true t-shirts that I essentially live my life in. Don't get me wrong, of course. I'll always be game for statement pieces and dressing up -- and I don't think that'll ever change much. I just find that I'm now more drawn to pieces that I can pepper into the rotation effortlessly -- paired down with jeans or elevated with pencil skirts. Fits in nicely at the office but can just as easily carry me through a weekend bike ride. An understated piece fit for lounging with just the right amount of je ne sais quoi slouch and luxe feel to it. 

Sounds like a tall order, no?

Well, yes. But that was before Kit & Ace came into the picture. Let's take a moment to rewind a few weeks back to when I was hopping around Vancouver for a long weekend getaway. I've already shared a lot of what I ate, did and saw while up north (you can read the full recap here) but have been waiting to share these photos with all of you to really introduce my latest brand crush (and the reason I ventured up north in the first place) -- Kit & Ace. 

Launched just this past July, Kit & Ace is a technical cashmere line brought to you by a lot of the same masterminds behind Lululemon. Which brings us to the first reason why I love them -- fit, fit, FIT. These folks truly understand fit and the way garments need to move and adapt to a body. Each piece has signature darting on the lower back, giving it a more tailored effect. Plus, the cashmere blend is to die for and completely home washing machine friendly (reasons two and three why I love their pieces).

For those in the Vancouver area, I highly recommend you check out their shop in Gastown -- lots of unique conversation starter pieces sprinkled throughout the store, like these custom made "button" overhead lights.

This guy on the right, I'm told, is a blend between a flamingo and a Canadian goose. A glamingo? :)

Almost bought three skateboards solely for the purpose of hanging them up on the wall in my apartment. Truth me told, I'm still considering it.

Outfit details: Vest: Alexander Wang; Tank: Kit & Ace; Shorts: Levis; Boots: Isabel Marant; Sunglasses: Target; Watch: Daniel Wellington; Wallet: Emerson Fry; Cuff: Hermes; Rings: Jennifer Zeuner; Alexa Leigh; Necklace: Givenchy 

I think what really struck a chord with me though is their company motto, "Nothing works without integrity" which I personally find to be so true about a lot of things, not just in clothing and fashion. With that in mind, a lot of our weekend was spent brainstorming and discussing our ideas on the retail industry in general, how we see it evolving in the years ahead and what inspires us and pushes us to create in the first place. It was the perfect creative reboot that I've been craving for quite some time now so a huge thank you is in order to the Kit & Ace team for having me! Hurry on up to San Francisco already -- I know we'd be happy to have you down here in the States! 

Outfit photos by Alexander Ting // Store photos by Krystal Bick