Out and About in Nantucket

Hello! Lisa here, and I’m excited to fill you in on my recent island getaway, and show you what I wore out and about on beautiful Nantucket! My husband Stew and I absolutely love going to Nantucket, and try to spend a little time there every summer. It is such a special place, steeped in history and old New England refinement, but alive with modern-day sophistication, and balanced with just enough wind-blown saltiness to keep any sense of stuffiness at bay. Walking through the narrow cobble-stoned streets of town, lined with closely-packed shingled cottages and grand brick ship captains’ houses alike, feels like stepping back into days of yore. But poke around in the tasteful and stylish clothing and home boutiques, and it’s clear that this place is anything but stuck in the past. For a change of scenery, a short bike ride out of town quickly removes you from the hustle and bustle, and suddenly the peace of the undeveloped conservation land surrounds you. The beaches are scenic, the town and villages are picturesque, the whole island smells of salt air and privet, and it just has a charming vibe all its own.

It’s hard to believe we are nearing the end of summer. But just because the kids are going back to school in a couple weeks doesn’t mean there will be an immediate shift to brisk fall weather, so I am hanging on to my summer state of mind and wardrobe for as long as possible! In this post, you’ll see some of my favorite summer clothes that I packed for our trip, and I’ll also take you on a little tour of the island by sharing some of my favorite Nantucket photographs. So it’s time to take a ride on The Brick Nests’ ferry, imagine taking a deep breath of ocean air, and enjoy some seaside scenery and style!

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As soon as we arrived, we took a stroll out to the landmark Brant Point Light. It’s a lovely spot to sit on the sand and watch all the boats coming in and out of the harbor. I wore this lightweight Calypso St. Barth sundress, as it is super comfortable, has a pretty print, and makes a great beach dress. I am a bit of Calypso devotee because I love the brand’s bohemian aesthetic and their attention to detail (you can see me wearing Calypso here in the white and pink dresses and also here), but I especially love that this dress from their Soleil collection is super packable and such a great price! Generally when I travel I like to keep accessories to a minimum, but this monogrammed straw tote and these go-with-everything white flower earrings worked nicely with the dress. And of course no vacation wardrobe would be complete without a fun pair of shades.

After enjoying the sunshine and sea breeze for a while, we headed into town to stroll around the pleasant streets and pop into some shops. But there was no need to change–I dressed up this outfit with a pair of versatile denim wedges and off we went!

For our first evening out, we headed to one of our favorite restaurants on Nantucket, American Seasons. After a delicious meal, we took a walk down by the harbor. As it sometimes gets cool in the evening there, I opted for a long-sleeve dress in a gorgeous pink shade (similar and similar). What’s great about a long-sleeve dress in a saturated or jewel-tone color is that it will carry right into fall. I paired it with my go-to wedges (similar), as I am a little afraid of navigating cobblestones in stilettos!

Of course we spent some time on the beach while we were there. In this instance, I wore this cute cover-up romper as it was intended to be worn–over a swimsuit. But, believe it or not, I have actually worn this romper out as regular clothing, both with flats and wedges, and people, none the wiser, always compliment me on it. I guess my secret is out now!

For our second night out, we dined at the fantastic Ventuno. But before eating, we walked out on the wharf to look at all the beautiful boats in the early evening light. I wore this linen Island Company dress (from a few years ago) with a whimsical parrot print. They have a store on Nantucket with so many airy and pretty dresses that I was tempted to get another. I completed this outfit with a cute pair of white and gold flats (similar).

After dinner it cooled off quite a bit, so I changed out of my linen dress, put on a pair of white jeans, and topped them off with this super soft sweater. It’s lightweight enough for a cool summer evening, but cozy enough for fall, and the colors remind me of an island sunset. Despite the cooler air, it was a gorgeous evening for a twilight stroll around town and down to the beach.

One of our favorite things to do on Nantucket is rent bikes and explore the island. In particular, we love riding out to Sconset, which is a quiet village perched along a bluff with sweeping views of the ocean. In the center of the village is a cluster of insanely charming cottages, many of which date back to the 18th century and look straight out of a fairy tale. While it was a little too late in the season to catch the spectacular display of climbing roses and hydrangeas that adorn these cottages earlier in the summer, the gardens were still a riot of color against the weathered shingles and island fog. For this almost twenty-mile round trip bike adventure I went with a pair of shorts (similar) and a breathable tank. I like to mix patterns when the combination feels harmonious! And comfortable shoes were a must, so I wore Birkenstock sandals. The bright white patent leather gives them a crisp style, and I could walk (or bike) all day in them.

I’ll leave you with some extra photographs of Sconset’s picture-perfect cottages and gardens. I hope you had fun on my little tour of Nantucket! We still have a few weeks of summer left, so enjoy every sunny, balmy minute of it!