Photoshoot: TS Summer Essentials

[trip style = any]

Right before the stork delivered Baby Styler 8 months ago, I launched the Trip Styler Store. It was kind of like having two babies at once, except one got WAY more attention—my wee wanderer, of course! 

The store, focusing on wearable lifestyle finds hand-sourced from coordinates as far as Morocco, Mexico and Bali, embodies the true spirit of trip styling: Getting deep with a destination, and doing so in style. 

So often I see the world's top fashion and home publications—think: Nylon Magazine, NET-A-PORTER, People StyleWatch, Canadian House & Home—featuring similar goods to those curated for the store, which got me excited to showcase our limited-edition bounty in a lifestyle shoot. 

And, since I wear at least one find from the TS Store daily—I always buy one extra for myself to road-test it—here's a selection of our hot-weather haul, perfect for summer. 

Happy browsing!

Wearing: Thai Golden Triangle Micro-Print Purse // $89

Wearing: Bali Beads Wooden Necklace in Black // $30

Wearing: Bali Beads Stone Necklace in Fire Red & Oaxacan Wrap in Technicolor // $35 & $59

Thai Envelope Clutch in Earth // $35

Wearing: Miami Necklace in Sizzling Sunrise // $49

Wearing: Tulum Beach-Weave Bag in White // $39

Wearing: Tulum Embroidered Top in Midnight // $46

Tulum Beach-Weave Bag in Earth // $39

Wearing: Tulum Embroidered Top in Purple Pairs // $46

Thai Golden Triangle Tempt-Me Tote // $110

Note: All prices listed in CAD

[photos by @heatherlovesit for trip styler]

Bali's X-Factor

[trip style = beach + sun]

Sultry sunsets. Steamy beaches. Scintillating views. Meet Bali, the sexiest stop—so far—on the TS flight map.

After a life-long obsession with the Indonesian island's photogenic seascapes and far-flung location, I finally satisfied my longing to visit Bali last year. 

With so much pent-up desire for the place, Mr. Trip Styler and I didn't stay at a reasonably priced pension just off the beach {of which there are many}. Since we traveled more than halfway across the globe to get there, we decided to turn up the heat and book three beachfront hotels—two of which had oceanfront infinity pools, and one of which had its own bath...on the view-for-miles balcony!

And don't even get me started on our moonlit dockside dining, or late-night tipple at Rock Bar, a low-lit lounge perched over the edge of the Indian Ocean {only reachable by open-air elevator}.

As a member of the crew piloting the Expedia Viewfinder Travel Blog, I was asked to write about the sexiest destination on my jet-set list. Bali won by a mile.

It turns out I'm not alone in my infatuation with sand and sea, based on the findings of the Expedia Heat Index, released just in time for Valentine's Day. Almost a third of Americans {29%} identified beach vacations as the most romantic trip style, and a whopping 64% chose "room with a view" as the most romantic hotel feature.

What trip style and hotel amenity is sexy to you? While I don't expect you to jump on a plane to your x-factor destination in time for February 14th, just thinking about it is enough to set the mood, mais oui?  

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Check Expedia's Instagram to see other spicy stops chosen by my fellow Expedia Viewfinders {and, if you're an American citizen, details about a LAN Airlines sweepstakes valued at $2,500}.

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Anantara Seminyak, one of my Bali beachfront stays. 

Just a "typical" restaurant along Seminyak Beach in Bali. 

Dockside dining in West Bali at The Menjangan {glamping!}.

Bali's famous cliffs and, nestled amongst them, the private beach for RIMBA and AYANA Resorts.

Sundara {see below for more information}.

Mr. Trip Styler swimming at Sundara beach club at the Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran. Read about how to get into Sundara and other tips about Bali.

[Photos by @tripstyler. Post presented in partnership with Expedia.]