Sponsored by Zappos

Madewell top  |  AG denim  |  Two24 by Ariat shoes c/o Zappos  |  Gucci handbag  |  Ecowish jacket  |  Ray-Ban sunglasses

Fall is one season where I switch all my blacks to browns before the coldness of winter sets in. The color fits in so easily with the warmth of the trees and leaves, while still being a dark enough neutral to ground an outfit, especially one that’s mixing prints like this. I found these mules by Two24 by Ariat at Zappos, a new-to-me brand that’s established itself in equestrian culture and heritage. Familiar with Secretariat? That’s where the name Ariat comes in. The inspiration is clear in the silver bit detailing on these mules, as well as the sensibility in the sturdy soles hat support them. They really add instant class and sophistication to this cozy weekend look. Plus, like every order I get from Zappos—free one-day shipping. Perfect for when I need something to arrive in time for a trip!

Mexico is an absolutely fascinating country. It’s obviously a major destination for beach vacations, for one thing. However, Mexican and Hispanic culture are one of my favorites in the world to learn about. There are so many beautiful, unique, and intriguing things about it! Every country or city certainly has its dangers, but with each passing year Mexico becomes more heavily shrouded in stigma, at least in the United States. So, if you haven’t thought of Mexico as a place to travel to outside of a five-star resort, I would encourage you to take another look. Below are just a few things I drew me in, so hopefully, they work on you too.

1.    Rooted in history

As I get older, my interest in cultural history grows by the day. In fact, learning about history is one of the main reasons that I travel now. Ancient history specifically dazzles me—particularly Mayan history—and getting to visit the ruins at Tulum last year was the icing on the tip of my Mexican vacation cake. I don’t love guided tours, so I always recommend exploring on your own and seeing what you want to see, and then doing some library or even just Internet research when you get back home or just to your hotel room. It helps maximize the experience.

2.    Beautiful beaches

For vacationers, the first thing that comes to mind when you mention “Mexico” is the pristine coastline, and for valid reasons. Turquoise waters and white sands that span from the Pacific coast to the Caribbean have enticed tourists for decades, and kept them coming back. It makes water sports like kayaking, sailing, parasailing or even just swimming that much more magical. Or, you can just enjoy looking at it from your lounger at the beach. No matter how you experience them, Mexico’s beaches are some of the best in the world, and the just about the easiest for American travelers to get to.

3.    Tacos & Tequila

Everyone’s two favorite things to come out of this North American paradise. Many cities like Mexico City and Tequila itself offer unique tequila tours and tastings, or if head down to Oaxaca for an inside look at the world of mezcal—it’s the scotch to tequila’s whiskey. But really, you’ll find these Mexican staples anywhere without even trying. Same with tacos—now that’s my kind of paradise. Try a variety of fish tacos in the cities by the sea and other meat (or veggie) varieties inland. But you can guarantee they’ll be authentic—skip the lettuce, tomatoes, and sour cream but don’t forget the squeeze of lime juice.
 

4.    Monarch Butterflies

You might have heard once about the magnificent Monarch butterfly migration that takes place each winter, when those beautiful little flashes of orange flap their wings from Canada to Mexico and set up camp on the oyamel fir trees, just a few hours outside of Mexico City. What a once-in-a-lifetime sight to see millions of these striking beauties basking in the midday sun! There’s a ton of research out there on how to put this trip together, and it’s easily made its way onto my bucket list.

PHOTOGRAPH BY JOEL SARTORE, NAT GEO IMAGE COLLECTION

5.    Dynamite cruise ports

Whether you’re on the Caribbean side (Cozumel, Costa Maya) or the Pacific side (Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan, Acapulco), cruise ports were built to handle thousands of people coming in and out each day while giving them a taste of the culture in every region. After the recent hurricanes around the Caribbean, ports were built back up to be bigger and better and they’re all welcoming new visitors. Cruising is a great way to see a new side of Mexico by land and sea alike.

Photography by Michele Equitz

Reformation tee | Mother denim | Arno Cooperative boots | ASOS handbag (similar) | Ray-Ban sunglasses

Do you ever read the “About” page of a new brand you discover? The way the world of clothing revolves around fast fashion these days, it’s pretty common for sites that carry inexpensive, trendy pieces not to have an “about” page at all. Why would they want to articulate just what it is they do? “We make it easy and cheap for you to fit in with everyone else—buy more, more, more!” No one wants to hear that. When you do find a brand whose ethos aligns with yours, it certainly makes you feel good to shop there, and I feel that way about Arno Cooperative. Not only are they sufficiently edgy enough to fit in with the trendiest brands out there today, but they are a women-founded company who practice slow, ethical fashion and put their people first.

Between that and my recent discovery that Reformation is all about sustainability, not just unique and adorable clothes, I felt great wearing this outfit despite its simplicity. Doing my best to live out the saying “quality over quantity.”