Cheryl Shops

That may have been the most humble-braggy (or just braggy) blog title I've written to date, but I went to Bora Bora last week for my 40th birthday, and I'm just going to own it. The trip was years in the making, and I can't wait to show and tell you all about it in my very first travel diary post, coming later this week. But in the meantime, this very special outfit post is coming to you from the St. Regis Bora Bora, where we spent four way-too-short days in paradise. My daytime uniform was bikinis, sunglasses, and flip-flops, but by night, I was all about a simple sundress and barely-there sandals.



This sundress was a last-minute impulse purchase, and while it's not my typical style—I'm not a gingham girl, and it's pretty bare up top—I'm glad I took a risk. The front cutout seems a bit brazen (pun intended) for my age, but it's placed so well that it doesn't matter if you don't have rock-solid abs (I certainly don't). The straps and front tie are fully adjustable, too, so you can get the perfect fit. The skirt was full and breezy, and skimmed my body lightly, which was key in the super-humid tropical temperatures! I'm a bit busty, as you can probably tell, but the top comfortably fit my strapless bra, and I didn't feel like I was showing too much cleavage. I sized up to a medium, however, and I was glad I did. I think this will now be one of my go-to vacation dresses!





You may have noticed that my hair is slicked back like a Robert Palmer video, and I found that was the way to go in Bora Bora—it was humid, so my hair would curl if I left it down, but it was also rather breezy, so then it would blow around and become a big, frizzy mess. Not a good look, so slick I went. I think Sean has a secret crush on Sadé, so he was a fan of my vacation 'do, at least.





I brought several necklaces on vacation and didn't wear any of them, except for my black diamond necklace, which I never take off. It was so warm, I didn't want anything around my neck; earrings of all kinds and a few dainty bracelets and necklaces were my go-tos. Everything I'm wearing here is Stella & Dot and linked below; the ring, especially, is one of my recent scores. The sequined clutch is one of my favorites too—you've seen it recently here and also here.





I brought five or six pairs of shoes on this trip and ended up wearing mostly the two in this post because my feet swell like crazy in humidity, so I should have known to keep it simple. Thankfully my Hermès sandals were comfortable and not constricting, so they were my go-to nighttime shoes. These are their Oasis slides—they're like the Oran slides but with a little heel, which I prefer.



And I'm wearing my new favorite Vionic sandals in some of these photos because, as I found, I can't ride a bike in heels! Thank you, Vionic, for sending these to me—you'll see more of these for sure this summer!



OUTFIT DETAILS: Bardot dress (also here) || Hermes Oasis sandals || Vionic thong sandals (c/o) || Stella & Dot Margeaux clutch, sparkle studs, abundance necklace, wave cuff, pavé rectangle cuff, and pavé duo ring