Hitting cruise control

My name is Sarah, and I am a window shopaholic. Like a fashionable fish, I swim toward the many shiny lures–a chain-handled bag, a platform shoe, or a to-die-for dress. So, last week as I stared at my pale reflection in the travel agency glass, I knew instantly what I needed (besides a serious sweep of blush): a sigh-inducing island getaway. It was time to hit cruise control. What could be better than sun, sand and a suitcase full of the latest resort collections?

Fashion designers work on resort (or cruise) collections between their fall and spring shows. Stores tend to roll out this merchandise from mid-November until mid-February hoping for sales from the jetset and the get set (read: those who are oh-so-over the sales racks). These covet-worthy collections keep the fashion houses sewing and singing all the way to the bank. And while the majority of these collections include looks for lounging poolside at posh resorts, designers have recently expanded their lineups to include pieces for all beautiful bunnies, whether they are bound for the beach, city or ski hill.

This season, the newest members of the cruise club are the sweet LBDs and pretty evening looks that speak less to the private yacht prepster and more to the black-tie benefit babe. However, if I had to make a choice (gasp–travel light?), my luggage would be lovingly zipped around these perfect packables:

• Chanel’s bouclé tweed suit with crystals and streamers
• Christian Dior’s super sexy (and trés skinny) pants in metallic linen
• Zac Posen’s striped shirtdress belted at the waist

Perhaps, if nothing else, these delightful creations remind us during the bleak days of winter that spring is indeed just ahead. Despite the fact that my calendar reads January, I am ready to give my knee-high boots the boot and slip into a pair of white and blue floral “porcelain” wedge shoes from Gucci. Perfection.

Fashion designer Vivienne Westwood once said, “You have a much better life if you wear impressive clothes.” I don’t agree. I think you have a much better closet. But like Westwood, we need to continually search for inspiration in our own lives, the same way designers do season after season with their own collections. It may be a story. It may be a person. And sometimes, it may be as simple as a little ocean air and a little Oscar de la Renta number.

View a slideshow of Sarah’s resortwear faves.

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