Gents’ 20-piece Spring Break Travel Checklist

2. The Vacation Polo. A polo is a vacation necessity – it dresses up your shorts, and even swim trunks, for a casual lunch, and gives your jeans and khaki’s a pulled together air for an easy evening. There are lots of options, so why not go with the original? Lacoste, of course. The French tennis star, Rene Lacoste, created it 90 years ago and it's still the standard. There’s no beating the classic pique fabric and fit. It is available in an endless array of spot-on colors (check them out through the ‘shop it’ button) but if you need to pack one for a vacation, make it white. The fit is modern and easy, and Lacoste offers a slimmer fit, if that is more your speed. (Note: You’ll see that we’re sending you to Zappos for this polo. While it’s available at some higher end department stores, and Lacoste’s own website, Zappos quick free shipping and returns won out.)

3. The Perfect T-shirt. Finding it a challenge to get the perfect basic t-shirt? Price, fit and quality all need to align – and it does with our favorite modern fit t-shirt from Agave. We’ve already covered amazing color t-shirts in our Clothes & Conversation, but you’ll also need those basic colors for your trip. Using a long staple Supima cotton and an enzyme wash, Agave’s t-shirts are extremely soft and have the perfectly broken-in look and feel – making them an ideal staple for your vacation. You’ll wear it over and over, and it will stand up to countless washes. Shown in black, which looks great with jeans, khaki’s and shorts, it is also available in white. Both colors are a must.

4. The Relaxed Pants. This linen beach pant from Vince will take you from day of sightseeing or shopping to dinner in the ultimate vacation style. The dark navy color makes them just as universal as a pair of jeans, but with a luxurious beachy vibe. They work with t-shirts, polos, and button down shirts from the short sleeve plaid that we featured at the top of the list, to the blue linen just below. The have a contemporary fit so they look neat without being trim. (For a more relaxed fit, Tommy Bahama offers a great alternative.) You can even roll them up, as shown in the picture – but you don’t have to. And don’t worry if they get a little wrinkled – that’s part of the charm of linen.

5. That Pop of Color. Another key vehicle to bring a pop of color to your packing choices is your shorts. Bonobos’ offers their shorts in a super soft washed twill, so you’ll get loads of comfort with a perfectly worn-in look keeping the color from looking too bold. There are many color options – from neutral to pastel and primary shades – and this lobster red is one of our favorites. It is masculine and versatile, working with the basic black t-shirt, white polo, or blue linen shirt we’re highlighting. The modern fit is great for most gents, and they even offer 4 different lengths to choose from – we suggest the longest, 11”, playing off the return of the classic Bermuda short.

6. The Evening Shirt. Just like a pair of linen pants are a must-have for a spring getaway, the same can be said for an easy fitting timeless blue linen shirt. Linen is a wonderful warm weather fabric that keeps you cool and comfortable. Don’t be concerned about the wrinkles - linen naturally wrinkles, it’s part of the casual look. You have permission to not iron. Peter Millar’s classic blue works well with a navy blazer and twill pants for an evening out. The fabric is so nice, though, it looks just as great on its own, with the sleeves rolled up, and a pair of shorts for a more relaxed look. For a contemporary fit J.Crew offers a slim version.

7. The Unstructured Blazer. This softly constructed cotton/linen blazer from Tommy Bahama is perfect for an evening at a nice restaurant. The casual texture of the fabric, the pick-stitch details, and welt breast pocket are perfect finishing touches that give it the ideal blend of ease and vacation’s version of dressiness. Wear it with the white polo or linen shirt, and jeans or twill pants. You’ll get plenty of use out of it all summer long – it looks great with everything from white jeans to tan linen pants. Tommy Bahama is known for their relaxed fit, so if you prefer a trimmer look, go for Scotch & Soda’s version.

8. The Light Layer. In Clothes & Conversation, we talked about a great zip-up sweater for easy layering. A cotton navy v-neck is the other ideal pick. Peter Millar’s modern fit is great for every gent – not too trim and not totally relaxed, either. You can throw it on over any of the shirt options we’ve talked about today (and any in your closet), and it works with all the shorts and pants options, too. It provides a touch of polish to your look for a a dressier night out on the town. For a slimmer fit, Theory’s crewneck is our top pick.

9. The Easy Shorts. You’ll need more than one pair of shorts, and this Tailor Vintage pair actually gives you two. They’re reversible – pack one, and you get to wear two. The solid side is great neutral olive (click through the ‘shop it’ button to view), and it reverses to a madras plaid (shown). The washing treatment they use for the fabric gives them a soft, vintage look, so the plaid colors take on a muted tone. Wear either side with a solid t-shirt or polo shirt. And, of course, anything goes with the neutral olive side. The fit is modern with a slightly narrower leg that makes them look updated – not at all tight – so they are great on gents of all sizes, from 30-40.

10. The Favorite Jeans. Besides the perfectly broken-in jeans we suggested you wear on the plane in Clothes & Conversation, AG also offered a super soft twill option that is ideal for vacation. They have the same “everyman” fit as the jeans, with even more versatility (if that’s possible) - a real plus for packing. This neutral tan (called sulphur brindle through the ‘shop it’ button) will go with almost any top you pack. They give off a casual vibe with t-shirts and polos, but take on a dress casual feel when paired with a sport coat and button up shirt.

11. The Belt. It may seem obvious, but when you’re focused on hanging out on the beach, a belt is an easy accessory to overlook. Vacation is the time to store your black dress belt and your heavier leather jean belt, and have some fun. Web belts are back In style and the perfect vacation choice. Polo’s dark navy option has a D-ring closure and leather trim for that cool, casual throwback look that is just timeless. Wear it with all the bottoms we talked about today – and really any summer staples you already have in your closet. While it comes in other pop colors, you’ll get endless use out of this blue. If you prefer a more traditional buckle, Martin Dingman’s version is for you.

12. Yes, The Workout Gear. Vacations can give you time to slip in a workout so packing a pair of workout shorts is a must. These charcoal Nike Dri-FIT shorts have all the necessary bells and whistles – moisture wicking fabric, built in support-lining shorts, and a small zippered pocket for your key card. They have the added perk of being neutrally good looking. So if your workout turns into grabbing a casual breakfast or hanging out on the beach, they’ll work for that, too. You can just rinse them in the hotel sink at the end of the day and they’ll be good to go for the next day.

13. The Swim Trunks. We are seriously into these Vineyard Vines swim trunks. If we didn’t already want to get to a warmer climate asap, this palm tree print in a washed down jetty red would seal the deal. They have 2 side entry pockets and a back flap pocket, so they’re easy to wear to and from the beach or around town. They’re so good-looking, all you need to do is add your white t-shirt or polo shirt and flip flops to complete the outfit.

14. The Flip Flops. And here are the flip flops you need. Havaianas, know how to make an inexpensive, well-made flip flop that looks good, too. The foam rubber footbed is soft and cushioned, the rubber straps are comfortable and you don’t need to worry about them getting wet or sandy. The slim, lightweight design makes this pair easy to pack, while the contrast blue of the sole and straps add just the right touch of sporty style.

15. The Sunglasses. Sunglasses basically need to do three fundamental things. 1. They need to protect your eyes from dangerous UVA and UVB rays. 2. They need to help you see well in bright light. 3. They need to look good – and make you look good. This Havana model from Persol accomplishes all three and is one of our favorites. Persol has been doing this since 1917, so they are experts. (Fun fact: The name comes from the Italian “per il sole”, for the sun.) We really like the non-polarized lenses, which make it easier to see your cell phone screen in the bright sunshine. The classic shape and tortoiseshell look of the frame is timeless and looks great on almost every face shape. You can get a sense for how they look on here.

16. The Beach Bag. Filson has been making quality outdoor gear since the Klondike Gold Rush, so you know, that’s a pretty long time. This tote is just what you need for the beach – and it works as a carry-on for your travel days, too. The waxed canvas is water resistant and close to indestructible. It has very convenient external pockets on all four sides, while the webbed handles make it easy to carry. It can haul towels, flip flops and sunscreen to the beach as well as any snacks you might want to bring along. It’s great for a daylong excursion, too – especially if everyone in the family wants to bring a sweater for the evening.

17. The Other Shoes. We’ve talked about your flip flops, and your casual sneakers. Our final shoe pick are these classic canvas boat shoes from Sperry Top-Sider. Top-Sider’s high quality shines through in the handsewn construction, cushioned footbed, and iconic white non-skid sole. Sure, they’re ideal for a boat trip that may be part of your vacation plans, but they are fresh and stylish with shorts, khaki’s, linen and jeans for any activity. And the soft structure makes them easy to pack.

18. The Water Ready Watch. It’s easy to lose track of time when we’re on vacation – and that’s what we want to do when we’re kicking back and enjoying ourselves. But we need to have easy access to the time when we’re on the beach or working out. This Dive Master 500 is the answer. It is water resistant to 500 meters. – perfect for the beach or working out in the pool. It’s got all the technical details down – of course it would, it’s made by Victorinox Swiss Army. The tough rubber band looks great and is just as durable. You can wear it anywhere on vacation without worry.

19. The Fun-in-the-Sun Gadget. Sure, we all use our phones to take pictures, but for water sports and beach time, a waterproof camera is your safest bet. Olympus’ highly rated (check out the reviews through the ‘shop it’ button) 16.0 megapixel camera is waterproof down to 49 feet and crush proof up to 250 lbs – durability is just not a worry with this one. It comes with all the technical bells and whistles you need to memorialize your vacation, and you will still have money to spend on your actual trip.

20. The Sunblock. Gents, sunscreen is no joke, and they’re not all the same. One of our favorites is from Alba Botanica. It protects against UVA and UVB rays, which not all sunscreens do (SPF rating only measures UVB protection). It’s fragrance-free and free of all the bad stuff, like parabens, sulfates, and phthalates or artificial colors. Just remember: no sunscreen lasts all day, so be sure to reapply every few hours. And have a great time!