Travel Like an Editor: Sarah Balch Heads to Vegas

I am a Britney Spears superfan and what that means, of course, is that I am now a Las Vegas regular, making my way across the country to see her killer performance in Piece of Me a few times a year. Britney, aka Godney, never disappoints and having two trips under my belt, I had an idea of what to expect and pack this time around. For this third adventure to Sin City, we were staying for several days, so we had more on the itinerary (like The Grand Canyon!). That meant a combination of dancing, poolside lounging, and taking in breathtaking views in 100 degree weather.

One of the biggest factors I considered when choosing what pieces to bring was breathability. I kept that in mind and stuck to lightweight, white, and cut-out pieces that would help keep me cool and comfortable. A fun and colorful bikini and playful mini-dress mixed up the rest of my wardrobe.

When it came to packing my skin care and beauty products, I again wanted to keep the weather in mind. Sunscreen and a matte moisturizer kept my skin protected and shine-free.

As an InStyle photo editor, I was not only traveling with a DSLR camera and a few lenses, but I was also testing out a new Wi-Fi enabled camera for an upcoming story, which meant I had to have the proper travel bag to store this fragile equipment. I wish I was able to bring one of my many cameras into Piece of Me, but I did manage to capture Ms. Spears killing it on stage with my trusty iPhone camera (see below).

Brit Brit 😍 #pieceofme #godney #britneyarmy @britneyspears #VEGAS

A photo posted by Sarah Balch (@sarahlizbalch) on Aug 8, 2015 at 11:51pm PDT

We wrapped up the vacation with a trip to the West Rim of the Grand Canyon where I convinced my friend to help me capture my risky jump along the canyon edge (check out my brave jump below).

jump #grandcanyon #gif 📷 by @kcclare

A video posted by Sarah Balch (@sarahlizbalch) on Aug 12, 2015 at 7:16pm PDT

Want to see more of my trip? Click through the gallery below for even more fashion and beauty moments from my unforgettable Vegas vacation!

PHOTOS: Travel Like an Editor: Sarah Balch's Vegas Vacation

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White Hot

Courtesy

“This white romper was perfect for walking along the strip. It was lightweight and wearable. I tend not to wear too much white day to day, but this piece felt like something I would be comfortable in. I received many compliments in this outfit, everyone wanted to know where it was from!”

Get the Look: Lovers + Friends romper, $190; shopbop.com. Ray Ban sunglasses, $150; sunglasshut.com

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My Constant Companion

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“This Elizabeth and James bag came with me everywhere. It was easy to access my wallet and phone while sightseeing, shopping, and gambling. I also loved wearing it as a backpack if my hands were full with cocktails and shopping bags."

Shop It: Elizabeth and James backpack, $545; shopbop.com.

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My Skin Care Arsenal

Sarah Balch for InStyle.com

“My assemblage of products kept my skin protected from the sun, while also keeping it hydrated and shine-free.”

Shop It: Glamglow Thirstycleanse Daily Hydrating Cleanser, $39; sephora.com. Supergoop! Defense Refresh Setting Mist SPF 50, $28; sephora.com. Kate Somerville Nourish Hydrating Firming Mist, $48; sephora.com. Lavanilla Sport Luxe Deodorant, $16; sephora.com. Cosmedicine Medi-Matte Perfected Oil Control Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 20, $63; cosmedicine.com.

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Double Duty

Sarah Balch for InStyle.com

“You would never guess that this beautifully crafted leather bag doubled as a handbag and camera bag. An ideal accessory for any professional or hobby photographer, it kept my equipment safe while adding style.”

Shop It: ONA The Chelsea, $369; onabags.com.

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Little White Dress

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“I love the feminine lace and crochet of this Self-Portrait dress. Again, I wanted to be able to wear a dress, but kept it weather-appropriate with this breathable white lace. An open desert makes the perfect backdrop for the intricate details.”

Get the Look: Self Portrait Dress, $385; shopbop.com. Catbird classic hammered ring, $64; catbirdnyc.com. Catbird twisted stacker ring, $64; catbirdnyc.com.

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Poolside Essentials

Sarah Balch for InStyle.com

“We spent a day at the hotel pool in 108 degrees, so I made sure to re-apply sunscreen every two hours. I also kept my eyes protected with these stunning reflective shades. My sunscreen was actually an oil, which made it easy to spray on and blend in. The best part? It had a delicious scent as Moroccan oil products always do.”

Shop It: Illesteva sunglasses, $177; shopbop.com. Moroccanoil Sun OIl SPF 15, $32; nordstrom.com. Sisley Paris 'Sunleÿa' Age Minimizing Sun Care SPF 15, $260; nordstrom.com.

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Chic Cover Up

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“While lounging at the pool I didn’t always want to be walking around in a bikini. This white caftan added just enough coverage and the mirrored fringe detailing around the neckline shimmered in the sun.”

Get the Look: St. Roche caftan, $195; shopbop.com. Clover Canyon bikini top, $50; shopbop.com for similar style.

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It's Britney, B*tch

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“Choosing the perfect outfit for the Britney show was a challenge. This floral lace dress from Lovers + Friends was beautiful and fun, but it was also something I could dance in! My gold Milly clutch had just enough space for my cards, iPhone and coral lipstick for pout touchups throughout the evening.”

Get the Look: Lovers + Friends dress, $180; shopbop.com. Milly clutch, $245; milly.com. Verameat ring, $70; verameat.com for similar style.

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On-the-Go Pampering

Sarah Balch for InStyle.com

“In my bag I carried a few essentials with me every day. This Charlotte Tilbury multipurpose palette added some color and shine to my look. Commodity is one of my favorite fragrance brands and the Gold scent is my go-to. The notes of sandalwood and vanilla add a sweet and smoky depth to the scent.”

Shop it: Charlotte Tilbury 'Filmstars On the Go' Palette, $55; nordstrom.com. Commodity Gold Travel Spray, $24; sephora.com. Ilia Lipstick Crayon, $24; iliabeauty.com.

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Sightseeing Outfit

“One of my favorite things about the trip was visiting The Neon Museum Boneyard, an outdoor collection of Vegas neon signs, many of them from historic places in the city. This black top has eyelet cutouts that allow for some much-needed ventilation when spending an hour outside in direct sunlight."

Get the Look: Sea top, $335; shopbop.com. Catbird necklace, $288; catbirdnyc.com. Bonlook sunglasses, $69; bonlook.com for similar style. Taylr Anne earrings, $24; taylranne.com.

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Travel Like an Editor: Sarah Balch Heads to Vegas