This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at U Mass Amherst chapter.

I just returned from a wonderful week-long trip with my family in Puerto Rico and while I have never been known to be the best packer, I realized this year that focusing on essentials makes all the difference. While I am no fashion expert, here are some of my go-to items for a tropical trip.

1. Jean Shorts

By far, the most important staple in my opinion. Jean shorts go with almost everything; they can be dressed up or dressed down and serve a crucial role when building an outfit. I wore a pair from Zara on this trip but almost any store has a quality pair of jean shorts that will add a lot to your outfit.

2. A Comfortable Dress

The outdoor voices exercise dress has become my new best friend ever since last summer. I wasn’t sure if the dress would be worth it given the hefty price but it is 100 percent worth it in my opinion. The dress allows me to feel comfortable and stylish and is a staple that can be dressed for any occasion. I have worn it to more formal events but also just casually to get breakfast this week on vacation. The lack of undergarments needed makes it easy to wear and the material is perfect for very hot days.

3. Birkenstocks

As weird as this may be to admit, my feet are hard to find good shoes for. Whether that be simple comfort or more specifics like arch support, I finally found a pair of flip-flops that I can spend all day in. Super comfortable and versatile.

4. A Good Zip-Up Sweatshirt

This may come off as a surprise given the climate of most spring break vacations. However, if you get cold easily like me, this is a must. Most restaurants or places in warm locations have air conditioning and while it might be more fun to pretend you aren’t freezing, it’s much more comfortable to throw on a layer. I specifically love zip-ups because they don’t hide your outfit entirely. A hoodie might cover the cute shirt you wear whereas a zip-up can really add to the outfit instead of taking away from it.

5. Cute t-shirts

Going off of that, I have also discovered how important a solid color shirt is that is comfortable yet not so baggy that it takes away from the outfit. I brought maybe seven different colored t-shirts to vacation because if you are like me and love fun colored pants, a solid shirt is a crucial staple. I found that a nice brown top with light-washed jean shorts is a great combo and if you throw on some Birkenstocks you are guaranteed to be comfortable.

6. Patterned pants

As I just mentioned, I am a huge fan of patterned and colored pants. I feel as though they bring so much life and joy to an outfit and I have a deep appreciation for a good pair of fun pants. During the summer or in warm climates is a perfect time to throw on a pair of light pants when it’s breezy or at night. I personally seem to have the most trouble finding a good top for an outfit, so sometimes throwing on groovy pants takes away from the pressure of finding the perfect top.

colorblock-joggers-nordstrom — Photo Courtesy of Nordstrom

I think vacation and spring break outfits are truly what you make of them. If you want to have a fun dress-up moment day after day, you can. If you want to go full relaxation mode and throw on easy casual fits, that’s also ok. I found a balance between the two on my trip and I hope some of my staples help you pick out your next outfit for spring break!

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My Go-To Spring Break Clothing Items