Gulf Shores: Travel with Me.

My most favorite part of summer (and, I think, everyone else's, too) is going on vacation. This year, my whole family--aunts, uncles, cousins, and my grandma--rented a beach house in Gulf Shores, Alabama. Starting Saturday, we'll be spending the whole week bonding, playing cards, and eating lots of seafood. I cannot waitttttttt!

Okay, I know most people h a t e packing for trips and would rather wait until the absolute last minute, but that's not me. I literally started packing for this trip last week, that's how stoked/prepared I am. Something about organizing my suitcase is weirdly cathartic--I get a lot of joy from it. Weird Emma things. 

I concentrated on bringing mostly neutral pieces when packing for this trip because I like having a little wiggle room for mixing and matching outfits. I packed all neutral-colored tops except for my black lion sleeveless tank. Every shirt I packed is made of thin, breathable cotton because it's the best material to wear in hot weather. 

| White V-Neck: Had it Forever | Blue & White Striped Tee: GAP | Jimi Hendrix Sleeveless Tank: Target | Lion Sleeveless Tank: Hillsong |

I couldn't resist packing my Jimi Hendrix tank. It's too cute. 

I have a serious obsession with patterned shorts. They just get my goat. I packed three of my favorite patterned pairs and my favorite denim pair, all from GAP and LOFT. In the dead of winter, I bought these super cute boyfriend-style shortalls (pictured below with a striped crop top from Express) and I'm SO happy about finally having some good weather to wear them in. 

| Denim-Wash Shorts: GAP | Palm-Patterned Shorts: GAP | Tribal-Striped Shorts: LOFT (ON SALE NOW) | Striped Double-Buttoned Shorts: LOFT (ON SALE NOW) | Shortalls: LOFT, sold out, similar here | | Striped Crop Top: Express |

No beach trip is complete without a sundress! I featured this chambray sundress on EM a few weeks back. I'm obsessed with how light and flowy it is--perfect for a night out but still beach-appropriate. 

| Chambray Sundress: Molly Greene, sold out but similar here and here |

And the foot candy! I packed my two favorite pairs of sandals: lace-up faux leather with floral details and white mesh espadrilles with a leather wrap-around strap. Both pairs are perfect for walking around town and playing on the beach. Of course, can't forget my tennies, for a late night or early morning beach run :)

| Nike tennies: here | Mary Janes: Urban Outfitters | White Mesh Espadrilles: ASOS but they're sold out, similar here | Lace-Up Sandals: Forever21 |

Last--but d e f not least--is swimwear! We have got to talk about my cute Kortni Jeane swimmer, people. If you haven't read the guest blog I did for my friend about them, Morgan at The Elena Mae, you should, because that's how important this swimsuit is to me. Holla! I also love the 90's high-neck trend that's coming back in, so naturally I had to pick up a wavy two-piece from CUPSHE. It has the cutest back everrrrr. Talk about business in the front, party in the back, y'all. Then there's the newest addition to my swimsuit collection, the cutest triangle top I've ever seen, that is also SO flattering. Plus, it's white, and no color shows off a good tan better than white. Can I get an amen?

| Crossover Triangle top: Garage | Blue Floral Midi-Bottoms: Had them forever | Swing Top & High-Waisted Floral Bottoms: Kortni Jeane | | 90's High-Neck Two-Piece Set: CUPSHE |

& just like that, I'm all packed for a week in Gulf Shores. Stay tuned for next week, I'm sharing all of my Summer Reads (and maybe some wild stories about family vacation) with you! 

Looking forward to getting tan. XOXO, my loves. 

EM.