Olivia Culpo’s Holiday Rules

A true globetrotter, get the inside on our cover girl, Olivia Culpo’s, musts and lusts.

Your most loved vacation destination?

I always love a good beach vacation! A few weeks ago I went to Exuma, Bahamas for a trip with friends and had the most amazing time. The beaches were unbelievable and the water was crystal clear. The swimming pigs were a highlight and if you have never seen videos of them you must look it up! They were so cute!

Favorite hotel?

I love the Greenwich Hotel in New York.  It’s so classic and beautiful and the staff is amazing. They have a great Spa too!  I have a few other go-to hotels in NYC including Hotel Hugo (great rooftop), 1 Hotel (free fruit in lobby!) and the Edition (amazing interiors).  The Aman hotels are the most gorgeous for beach/relaxing/vacation. Hotel George V (classic French style) or The Reserve hotel (hidden gem) are a few of my favorites in Paris. I just visited Marina Bay Sands in Singapore and it was unreal!

Your beach read?

Right now, I am reading Heart Talk by Cleo Wade. It is a great read for everyone in every stage of life. Each page has words of encouragement and wisdom. I am not a big fiction reader.  Another great one is I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban by Malala Yousafzai and Christina Lamb.

3 Packing essentials?

When I go on trips, I always bring vitamins with me because being on the road can be very hard on your body and it is important to make sure you are taking care of yourself. There are brands like Olly Vitamins that make delicious gummy vitamins! I also always bring a good book with me (see above for good options!) and I always bring a hand moisturizer (loving the Dove DermaSeries Hand Cream Replenish right now!).

Your packing advice?

Always opt for a second suitcase rather than cramming everything into one bag and risking damage to your purses and shoes.  Your clothes will also wrinkle less if they are folded nicely with plenty of room.  I always try and pack things that could all be worn interchangeably. When packing for long trips I try and stick to mostly neutral colors so that I can turn multiple outfits from only a few items!

The one beauty product you can’t live without?

Right now I am obsessed with the SK-II Facial Treatment Essence.  I just spent a week on vacation in the Bahamas and the miracle water kept my skin hydrated after spending all day in the sun.  But I can’t pick just one! I love Charlotte Tilbury and Becca highlighter and my Koh Gen Do and Bare Minerals concealers.  The Bare minerals foundation powder has an SPF which is great for vacations.

What beauty trend will you be rocking this season?

I am trying the “clean skin” beauty trend which is wearing minimal face makeup.  It feels so fresh and looks so beautiful, and it is always great to give your skin a break and let it breathe! I saw a lot of glitter last month at the fashion shows but I am not sure I am ready take that one on!

How would you define you style?

My style is a classic/simple take on current trends. I love to follow trends and try new things, but I always try to put my fingerprint on it and make it my own. Right now I love the athleisure look. I think it’s really fun to pair opposing trends like a chic blazer and heels with a track pant and baseball hat.

This season’s 3 wardrobe musts?

There are so many things I love for the upcoming seasons! I actually just did a post about it on my website, OliviaCulpo.com – go check it out for all of the scoop from the past fashion weeks and more. I include options to pull together looks for less also because I feel fashion should be approachable and accessible to anyone feeling creative.

What’s swimwear trend is a must this season?

I think a high wasted two piece is great! I know it has been around for a while, but I really do think there is something so great and classic about it. Same with a great one piece with a high leg cutout – it makes your legs appear longer!

Airport style? 

Layering is so important when traveling because you can be going between two totally different climates and you can never predict the temperature on the plane so I always layer my travel look.  I usually go for a really comfortable pair of jeans and a white t-shirt as my base and then layer with a sweater, jacket, and a cute hat and bag.  I am releasing a capsule collection this month and there are some really good options that are comfortable and chic for travel like an all red tracksuit (try pairing it with white booties) and a grey sweatsuit with cutouts and pearl embellishment.