Chasing Sunshine: My Packing List + New Finds from Scottsdale ☀️

I recently tagged along with my husband on a work trip to Arizona — mostly to escape the frigid wind and endless winter in New York. The timing couldn’t have been better, because with Daylight Savings Time finally here, I’m so ready for longer, brighter days.

We stayed at the very chill and luxurious Fairmont Scottsdale Princess in, you guessed it, Scottdale. And if you’re wondering about the flower crown, the theme of the event was: “Boho anything, breezy, groovy, casual attire. It’s a festival, baby!” Ugh. I don’t do well with themes and I would never categorize anything I wear as boho, but at least I had the perfect blouse from NYC-based brand Love The Label - here, a similar version in chocolate, currently on sale! (Thank you to my friend Sandy at Popup Westchester for the recommendation.)

Packing for a high 80 degree heatwave in Scottsdale was a challenge coming from the frigid temps of NYC, but I pulled it off with some of my favorite standbys. Here’s a few favorite things that made it out West with me, as well as a few new purchases:

I never go on vacation without my Wilfred Free relaxed poplin shirt from Aritzia - mine’s in blue but I love this sunny amber orange hue. The cut is relaxed with dropped shoulders and it stays crisp even after being packed in my suitcase. I pop it over my bathing suit and wear it to the pool.

I usually wear the shirt with a pair of black nylon shorts with little Miu Miu-esque bungee ties from a few seasons ago from J. Crew, but these Geared Shorts from the new Uniqlo : C collection would be perfect too. I’m planning on stocking up on these for this summer!

My airplane carry-on always morphs into my pool bag. I’ve been using this MZ Wallace bag (love the Carry On play on words) in red. It’s from a previous collab so no longer available on their website, but I found this version in blue on offer at Poshmark. It’s perfectly roomy with a lot of inside detachable mini bags that can be stuffed with everything you need from plane to pool.

My favorite pool and general walk-about-the-property sandals are these Tkees Riley Vegan Animal flip-flops in the Coco Snake pattern. Chic, comfortable, and on sale now!

My favorite travel pants are the cotton cargo convertible pants from Tibi. The material is lightweight and keeps you cool even in the hottest temps. Since I’m “vertically challenged” ahem, short, or let’s call it petite, I think the zip-off bottoms are brilliant. Zip them off to wear with sneakers, and zip ‘em right back on to wear at night with heels.

I love when hotel amenities are actually from a brand that I would use. Lately, so many hotels have gone generic in an effort to save money, I would guess, so it came as a welcome surprise that Le Labo supplies the Fairmont Hotels with their
Rose 31 bath and body products - hand soaps at the sinks and shampoo, conditioner and body wash in the showers. I love their subtle scent of Grasse Rose.

I ran out of my travel size SPF spray while I was there so I just had to buy this cute, exclusive Coola Organic Suncare Travel Set from one of the swim shops on the property which includes a Sunscreen Spray SPF 50 in Guava Mango, an SPF 50 Classic Face Lotion, and a full-size Classic Liplux Organic Lip Balm. I’m happy I can throw the products in the little travel pouch it came with and use them on my next adventure.

I didn’t have time for a treatment at the Sisley-Paris Spa on the property, but my husband and I did purchase day passes to the spa which gave us access to their outdoor waterfall grotto (high Hugh Hefner/Playboy vibes), steam room, saunas and their private rooftop pool for a few hours.

I did get a chance to sample Sisley Paris’ award winning Black Rose Collection which includes the Black Rose Cream Mask, said to offer the skin “instant youth” (I’m in!) and was a Harper’s Bazaar Anti-Aging Award Winner in 2021, as well as the Black Rose Beautifying Emulsion, voted a Town & Country Beauty Classic.

I’m back home now and ready to enjoy the extra hour of daylight today. It’s supposed to warm up later this week, fingers crossed! Thanks as always for reading!