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Before I left for my in-law’s family reunion in the Virgin Islands this holiday, several BrandHabit-ers said that they would be waiting for my blog about Island Fashion.

Here is the scoop: There is no island fashion…At least there isn’t in the US Virgin or British Virgin Islands.

Bottom line: If you are doing what you should be doing in the islands which is either lying on a beach or sailing in a sailboat, you won’t need anything other than a few bathing suits, a sarong, a pair of basic khaki shorts, and flip flops. Anything more than that and you’ll look out of place, like you’re trying too hard. Even if you go out for dinner the look is very, very casual. Keep in mind that everything you wear should be salt-water-worthy, because it all ends up drenched or sweaty or both.

Leave behind your designer clothes, handbags, and shoes…because it just doesn’t matter there. There is no need for make-up because it just washes off in the salt water, and the natural flush you get from the sunshine is so much prettier anyway. Also, don’t worry about highlighting your hair because the sun will give you those naturally perfect, face-framing highlights that some people pay $300 for. Jewelry can even feel extraneous.

Fashion shopping on St. Thomas is fairly limited. The island is known for duty free shops where one can buy liquor, cosmetics, jewelry and watches without paying taxes. The rest of the stores are ticky-tacky tourist t-shirt shops. Don’t come to St. Thomas expecting a Beverly Hills shopping experience. Although I avoid downtown St. Thomas as much as possible, I did notice a store in town called Larianna Boutique that carries Red Engine Jeans, Custo Barcelona and Language Los Angeles… so I had to stop by. It’s a cute store with a fashionable selection… but nothing to write home about (so to speak). Go there if you want to buy these items tax free.

Here is the one thing I need to say in this blog that must be announced to ANYONE with ANY sense of self-respect: If you come to St. Thomas, or ANY OTHER TROPICAL PLACE IN THE UNIVERSE, DO NOT, I REPEAT, DO NOT GET BRAIDS!!!!!!!

A few braids, one braid in the beard, or a full head of braids a la Bo Derick--any braids at all with bright plastic beads on the end are tacky and hideous. Tourists think they look totally cool, like they’ve been in “De-islands, Mon.” But they don’t… they look foolish and tacky. Please, please take my advice and don’t do braids. If your kids beg you for them, JUST SAY “NO”! They’ll thank you someday, I promise.

Ahhh, I’ve said my peace.

POSTED BY carla ON 01/04/07 23:01 PM

comments [1]

User Comments:

Loved your post and am in full agreement about the braids!

My husband may be traveling out to St Croix for work and we thought we'd make a family 'lax trip out of it.

I'm a total island girl at heart so trips that require less packing and make up I don't mind at all.

Thanks again for the blog!

POSTED BY MsGardere ON 02/07/07 21:02 PM

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