Cape Cod weekend: New England Clambake + ASOS floral swimsuit

ASOS swimsuit (runs small, fit review below) - filter by size on all their cute swimwear here

H&M hat, Ray-Ban 58mm aviators

The one-piece swimsuit made a major comeback recently and I hope it's here to stay. What's not to love about tummy coverage, especially in all the cute prints and designs that this year's suits came in? We spent a weekend with friends in Cape Cod where the highlight of the trip was an authentic New England clambake. With chowing down heartily on the agenda, a one-piece was a no-brainer.

Being small-chested, I usually shy away from styles without underwire cups or some kind of padding. I ordered this suit anyways to try on because it was so darling. Despite the lack of a boost in the bust, I was really pleasantly surprised by the look when on, and encourage fellow small-busted ladies to not be afraid to try things outside of your comfort zone...
Nick loved it as well which always serves as a double vote for me. I will say it runs very small on the bottoms and the waistband. I am wearing a US 0 and heard the sound of some stitches ripping as I pulled the waistband on over my hips. In hindsight I probably should've sized up to a 2, but wasn't going to return it after busting a few threads! I think the stitches that broke were not critical, since I've worn and washed it 3 times since with no issues, holes, or signs of it coming apart, so I'm not concerned. The higher-style bottom kept my tummy tucked in all day comfortably despite large meals.

The suit is lined but not padded in the bust. I tried it on at home and it was not see through for me, but not wanting to leave anything up to chance (or potentially cold breezes), I used needle and thread to tack in (stitched and knotted just at the corners of the triangular shapes) a few thin liner cups that I took out of an old swimsuit. These cups are also sold at Joann's or other fabric/craft stores where the bra clasps are. So many swimsuits that I browsed only are only lined and not padded these days...must be a lot of brave souls out there. I also want to note that the butt coverage on this is less to medium. Definitely not brazilian style, but in between there and full coverage.

An authentic clambake involves a lot of labor and love, and the end results get scarfed down in minutes! The boys had gathered wood and stones the day before, and were up at 5AM digging a sandpit and heating them up. The heated pit is then layered with seaweed before the goodies go on and get covered by a tarp. Everything is steamed together under the tarp for a while, and the tarp lifting below is truly magical to hungry bystanders.

Lobster, clams, potatoes, corn, and sausages oh my

PS - ASOS also has some great padded/cupped swimsuit options in extended sizing, ranging from 30A to DDD/F cups! See my past review on their underwire cup swimsuits and also their full swim selection (you can filter by size, which is the easiest way to browse for me).

Beach casual: pom pom shorts, chambray shirt + cork wedges

Halogen petites shirt in light denim, Lush crochet shorts sz xs

BP Summers wedges (size up), Mar Y Sol Collins tote, Ray-Ban aviators in blue/gold

This was one of my favorite comfy outfits while traveling last month...the button-up shirt and elastic-waist shorts are so easy to throw on, and serve as a swim coverup too. I had ordered these wedges (3 colors) to try as an alternative to skinny heels, which don't work so well on sandy or grassy surfaces (unless you're aerating the lawn!). I tend to go safe and hoard neutral shoes, but saw the bluish grey option in person and those are quite pretty too. Frankly, I didn't expect these to be keepers due to the height, but they are surprisingly lightweight and comfortable and feel like much lower shoes! Would definitely recommend if you're shopping for leg-lengthening wedges. Fit note: These run on the narrow side. I'm typically between 5 and 5.5, and the latter was snug on me so I'd suggest potentially going up half a size from your usual.

For this post, I'm partnering with Nordstrom juniors, where I've found many pieces that fit without alterations and can actually be appropriate for a more mature wardrobe (especially when styled right). These cute shorts are one of those items - the XS was fitted at my waist (24" for reference) and stretches with the elastic band. You can also make the length appear longer or shorter to your liking, by wearing them either lower at your hips or higher up on your waist. My only gripe with these is that the elastic band within the waistband casing tends to flip around and get twisted inside. You can fix this easy with a few hand stitches to secure it down, but I wish they had come like that. The pom pom detailing and crochet material are good quality in person and fully lined. As with all white pieces, I'd suggest wearing nude-colored undergarments to avoid show-through - I'm wearing a swimsuit bottom below and you can kind of see the outline show through. Thank you to Nordstrom juniors for sponsoring this part of the post!

And yes I can't get enough of this soft chambray shirt (wearing xxs petite in the "light denim" option)...in addition to styling it both for work and the beach, I've also loved knotting it like this but over a dress. It works especially well breaking up more busier patterned dresses, like the ASOS floral one from this post.

Tying a scarf as a beach cover-up + Mar Y Sol Collins tote

Express shorts sz 00 (longer version), AT sweater c/o, Ray-ban aviators in blue/gold

Mary Y Sol "Collins" tote (2 colors), Triangl bikini c/o (similar starting in 30A)

Even though "jorts" (jean shorts) were infamous in my how to look older post, I found myself hankering for a pair for those casual days. I wanted just the right amount of distressing and a broken-in wash, with cuffs instead of a raw cutoff edge. I ended up with these from Express, which actually has decent denim options starting in 00 regular and short. I wouldn't have minded a longer length, but these aren't bad on short legs and certainly more modest than my 'crombie pairs that have seen better days. The waist is a little loose but works as a casual fit. FYI, I noticed afterwards that Express also makes a longer version.

I packed these on a recent beachy getaway to keep my bum covered, and ended up wearing them often with this scarf. I had browsed everywhere for petite-friendly cover-ups, before realizing I could just tie old, lightweight scarves as sarongs. This rectangle one (borrowed from my friend) worked well either knotted simply around the waist, or crossed-over in an easy "dress/top" of sorts. I can't wait to sift through my old scarves and see what else can be re-purposed for future beach trips.

A note about my bikini - Triangl suits are my absolute favorite for smaller chests, but I wanted to point out a few commenters on this post who mentioned they were charged with very high custom fees on their orders. Like other international retailers, Triangl mentions on their site that all duties and custom fees are the customer's responsibility, but I had no idea just how much such fees could be! It seems that these fees are determined by your own country and state...anyone who has a better understanding, please help explain. I noticed ASOS has a similar bikini that starts in 30A (note: I own an ASOS suit and it runs a little small - had to exchange for 32A which is a snug fit). They are an international retailer too so custom fees could still apply, but I haven't yet been charged any on an ASOS order, knock on wood.
Last but not least, I am in love with this straw tote and impressed by the brand behind it. The designs are adorable and the quality of the weave and stitching is visibly good. If you like knowing how & where your products were made, Mar Y Sol has a video showing the artisans in Madagascar who handcraft these bags from start to finish.
For lovers of oversized totes, Mar Y Sol's most popular bag seems to be the Caracas but I personally preferred this smaller Collins tote for a petite frame. The base of this one is about 11" x 6," and the top at the biggest part gets to be about 16" x 9.". I brought it everywhere with us and it had room aplenty for changes of clothes, sunscreen, snacks, beer, you name it.

Level Melia Caribe Punta Cana (+ more beach coverup reviews)

Swell ruffle dress (also in navy), Philippines clutch (similar), Talbots sandals (similar)

Panama Jack hat (borrowed from Khatu - similar), Accessory Concierge necklace c/o

Many of you know that I'm a big proponent of formulaic dressing, and especially while on vacation! A hat for keeping the face shaded + a breezy dress/cover-up + comfy neutral sandals was my daily uniform. My second keeper from Swell was this cream ruffle dress. I love the sultriness of an off-the-shoulder style but without the fuss and struggle of keeping the sleeves up. This has thin top straps and also an elasticized bust, so the fit is secure and the off-shoulder sleeve things are decorative. Please note that although there's two layers, bright swimsuits or garments underneath does show through, so if you want to wear this alone as a dress be sure to wear nude-colored undergarments. A size S fit well for me as-shown and can easily be worn through maternity days...heheh.

Also as you may be able to tell, I've really been liking Accessory Concierge pieces lately. The costume jewelry quality in my experience so far has been weighty and durable, plus the company is run by two moms which I admire and am happy to support! Along with this necklace, I did request this scarf, just to be able to test out the quality as a suggested dupe for my ASOS one and report back. It's big and cozy and the print is on-point (see on me), but be warned something about this material was statick-y for me and caused wild lion hair. They have another navy/green plaid similar to my LOFT one on sale, which I thought was adorable on Fran and didn't look as frizz-generating against her hair. While playing around, I came up with a new favorite way to tie an oversized square scarf and will post a step-by-step soon.

Lush "Kendal" dress sz XS (on sale in many colors/prints), Essie "mint candy apple" polish

I wanted to bring another versatile cover-up with sleeves and thought this Lush dress (see it styled 2 other ways) was perfect for the occasion. As much as I appreciate silks and other finer materials, this type of polyester travels very eaisly, dries quickly, and takes up minimal luggage space and weight when rolled up. I balled up each of these dresses and used them to stuff underwire bikinis and keep them "shaped" in my suitcase.

I've mentioned this before, but since the Lush dress has an elasticized waist, you can adjust the length of the skirt just by tucking more or less material under the elastic. Also if you find the crossover neckline to be a little too revealing, I typically wear this dress with the bust safety pinned an inch up for more coverage.

Reversible tote c/o Sole Society (reviewed here, similar for a bit less)

We had a tough time choosing a resort out of the myriad of options in Punta Cana so decided to stay at a few! I'm glad we did as each was so very different and really gave us a flavor of the range of options. These photos were taken at the Level Melia Caribe which was the most spread-out property we stayed at. The resort had expansive lush gardens, spanish-inspired architecture, and exotic-looking birds galore roaming free. At one point Nick and I had found what we thought was a secluded patch of ground to take photos on, before noticing a pack of peacocks encircling us and zoning in with sharp beaks and beady eyes...I don't think I've ever heard such a high-pitched shriek from my future husband and seen him scurry so fast ; ). The beach was approximately a 10 min walk from the rooms (unless you stayed at the closer adults-only section) so most people opted to get around via little train shuttles or call for golf carts. It wasn't the most convenient so we personally preferred other resorts that were more concentrated.

The "Level" is just a subset of the overall Melia Caribe resort with extra access to a designated restaurant, pool, and beach area in addition to the general amenities. The lodging was the most spacious out of all the places we stayed, and Nick especially enjoyed his Presidente beer in a bubbly hot tub that opened into the bedroom (and most importantly, ESPN on TV). Unfortunately one thing consistent at all the resorts we stayed at was mediocre food at best, and you do have to be careful if you have a weaker tummy.

Leaving you guys with this snapshot of our breakfast by the Gabi pool - it was my first time trying passion fruit which is a tart little thing. Wish I knew some of your expert serving suggestions from Instagram (mixing with sprite, sugar, and other desserts, etc.) in advance!