I Wear Color Only on Vacation—My Cartagena Packing List Is Proof

08/10/25 Update: This piece was published before a 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, August 10. To help, consider donating to relief efforts.

I consider my fashion aesthetic minimalist. I feel most comfortable in simple silhouettes and classic pieces, and my closet contains enough white, gray, and beige to rival a Scandinavian paint chip display. Yet, whenever I go on vacation, a style alter ego emerges. Suddenly, the loudest, brightest items I own make their way out of the back of my closet, as though giving my most-worn wardrobe staples some time off, too.

That was certainly the case on a recent return trip to Cartagena, Colombia. Against the city’s color-soaked walls—and surrounded by tropical flowers, blue water, and a rainbow-hued assortment of fruit—I embraced saturated shades, exuberant prints, and accessories that would ordinarily feel over-the-top for my everyday life in New York. I didn’t entirely abandon my usual dressing instincts, though. I still packed versatile separates, limited myself to a handful of shoes, and prioritized pieces that could be worn more than one way.

This packing list got me through everything the "Gateway to South America" had to offer, from historic sites and waterfront views to shopping, bar-hopping, salsa dancing, and a day on the water. Ahead, everything I fit into a carry-on (a nonnegotiable for me on any trip shorter than 10 days) to contend with the heat and humidity in my newfound maximalist style.

Why Visit Cartagena

Wardrobe considerations aside, there are plenty of reasons to travel to Cartagena right now. There’s the UNESCO-designated Walled City, the historic Getsemaní neighborhood with its colorful murals, and landmarks such as the home of One Hundred Years of Solitude writer Gabriel García Márquez.

Four Seasons Hotel Cartagena, spread across a collection of restored historic buildings that include a former 1920s social club and a 16th-century San Francisco Cloister, opened in April 2026, marking a major new luxury arrival to the city. Cartagena also has a growing design and fashion scene, with standalone boutiques from some of Colombia’s biggest names, including Silvia Tcherassi and Johanna Ortiz, alongside shops and markets specializing in locally sourced emeralds and handcrafted accessories such as woven mochila bags.

Its food-and-drink scene is just as compelling. There is Celele, the acclaimed restaurant devoted to the culinary traditions and ingredients of Colombia’s Caribbean coast; the newly opened Grand Grill, which brings old-school steakhouse glamour to the city and marks Major Food Group’s first outpost in the region; and Medellín's favorite Carmen, which serves contemporary cuisine inspired by Colombia’s biodiversity in a secluded courtyard that feels worlds away from the bustle outside. Then there are also some of the continent’s most celebrated cocktail bars, including Alquímico (No. 11 on the 2025 World’s 50 Best Bars list!) and El Barón, as well as a growing specialty-coffee culture at spots like Libertario and Café Rialto.

Packing List: Sightseeing

For a morning and early afternoon of exploring Barrio Getsemaní, I packed a matching shorts set from London-based staples brand With Nothing Underneath. I tend to gravitate toward co-ords when traveling because of their mix-and-match potential: I can wear the shorts over a bathing suit, pair them with a tank top, or toss the shirt over a summer dress in an air-conditioned space. The set’s relaxed proportions were also ideal for navigating heat, humidity, and crowded cobblestone streets without looking as though I had dressed exclusively for survival.

Speaking of cobblestones, whenever I know I’ll be walking extensively, I pack a pair of white sneakers. My usual choice is a pair of tennis shoes from Keds: They take up very little suitcase space and work with nearly everything.

After accidentally burning my scalp on a past trip, a hat has become equally nonnegotiable in sunny climates. I love this older Loewe bucket hat because it folds flat inside my suitcase without losing its shape. I bought the bag, a traditionally woven Colombian mochila, at a local market during my previous trip to Cartagena. Bringing it back felt fitting. More importantly, it was roomy enough to hold my daytime essentials (sunglasses, sunscreen, water), could be worn hands-free (to take all the photos), and gave the outfit an electric jolt of color.

Boat Beach

Colombia’s Caribbean coast offers access to some incredible water, so a boat-day outfit was essential. For a trip spent swimming and exploring nearby islands, I started with a swimsuit from Left On Friday. The brand has become one of my favorites in recent years for its supportive-yet-comfortable swimwear that works for everything from laps and kayaking to lounging on the beach. I’ll even wear the Streamline one-piece as a tank top with shorts away from the water.

For a lunch stop at Cala Mambo—a private-island retreat in the Rosario Islands, roughly 50 minutes by boat from central Cartagena, that can also be rented for overnight stays—I added a colorful robe-style cover-up from L’Agence, a hat from Gigi Burris, and Saint Laurent sunglasses.

The cover-up delivered the dramatic vacation color I wanted while remaining easy to throw on over a wet swimsuit for lunch. Its versatility also extends beyond the beach: Later in the trip, I wore it as a duster, over black pants and a tank top, to add color to an otherwise somber formula.

Drinks, Dinner, Dancing

For sunset drinks at El Palmar, the Four Seasons rooftop bar with panoramic views of Cartagena, I wore an older one-shoulder maxi dress from Brazilian label Farm Rio. Its oversized florals echoed the tropical greenery, while the sweeping silhouette didn't require much additional styling, which is my preferred ratio of effort to impact while on vacation.

Since the return of heeled thong sandals, I rarely travel without a pair. They can handle a reasonable stretch of cobblestone while still looking dressy enough for dinner (in this case, Pizzeria della Chiesa), and their barely-there shape takes up almost no room in a suitcase.

The floral hair clip came from Pico, a Copenhagen accessories store that Marie Claire’s Halie LeSavage introduced me to years ago during Copenhagen Fashion Week. It reinforced the dress’s tropical mood while keeping my hair off my neck—a practical consideration in Cartagena, especially when the night ends with salsa dancing at nearby Café Havana. A shell-adorned bag from Simon Miller offered one final wink to the seaside setting.

Leisure

Not every Cartagena outfit needs to pull inspiration from its tropical surroundings. For a slower day that began with a courtyard cortado and lulada juice, I returned to my usual black-and-white uniform. From there, I visited Colombian brand boutiques whose pieces I can only find through select retailers in New York, including Silvia Tcherassi, Johanna Ortiz, and Agua Bendita. I'm still regretting not buying this wonderfully quirky monkey handbag from Mercedes Salazar.

When traveling somewhere hot, I always pack extra cotton and linen tanks and shirts that can be mixed with my separates—and can withstand the inevitable midday outfit change. These Pleats Please Issey Miyake pants are also among my essentials, particularly on travel days, because they don’t wrinkle, are comfortable enough to wear all day, and look put-together even after a long-haul flight.

To prevent the outfit from looking like something I would wear in New York, I added colorful jelly sandals and playful accessories. Bright sunglasses, printed scarves that can be worn over the hair or around the neck, and statement jewelry require very little suitcase space but can completely transform a minimal look. For Cartagena, I leaned into pieces featuring shells, pearls, and other under-the-sea references.

For all its brighter colors and loud prints, my Cartagena wardrobe wasn’t so different from my everyday one. The silhouettes remained simple, each piece had to be versatile, and nearly everything needed to work in more than one outfit. The difference was that, for once, neutrals were relegated to a supporting role.