Desert Heat & Mountain Peaks: A Palm Springs Weekend Guide

Ali
2 days ago
3 min read

There is no place quite like Palm Springs in the winter. One minute you’re basking in 75-degree sunshine, and the next, you’re ascending thousands of feet into a winter wonderland. Since we’re staying just outside the city, Saturday is all about the "trunk transition"—living out of the car to make sure every outfit change is seamless.

The Journey: Airport Chic & Tactical Packing

The vacation officially starts with the travel fit. I’m all about the FP Movement onesie for this trip. It’s the perfect cozy aesthetic—stretchy enough to handle luggage gymnastics but stylish enough for a pre-flight latte.

The Base: The onesie paired with a classic white tee.
The Outer Layer: A light denim jacket for the plane breeze (since I won't need the heavy puffer until we hit the Tramway on Saturday!).
The Footwear: You guessed it—boots! I’m sticking with a pair that has no-hassle laces so I can breeze through TSA without the drama.
The Gear: I’m strictly Team Carry-on for this one. I’m pairing my roller with a backpack that is going to pull double duty as my "adventure bag" for our Saturday activities.

The Day Look: Boho-Western Ease

For exploring the desert floor, I’m leaning into a mix of textures. It’s all about staying comfortable while keeping that aesthetic sharp.

The Fit: Long denim shorts paired with a flowy, bohemian top.
The Layer: A cozy Valentine’s-themed vest to nod to the holiday.
The Footwear: Boots (always).

The Tramway Pivot: From Sun to Snow

If you’ve never been on the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, the 30-degree temperature drop is no joke. It’s a total wardrobe 180. I’m packing a dedicated "mountain bag" to swap into:

The Essentials: Thick sweats, my favorite Uggs, and a heavy puffer jacket.

Pro Tip: Don't let the palm trees at the bottom fool you; you’ll want those layers the second you hit the top!

Valentine’s Night: Gold Boots & Desert Glow

Dinner in Palm Springs calls for something a bit more elevated. Since it’s Valentine’s weekend, I’m going bold with the color palette.

The Vibe: High-impact red to celebrate the holiday.
The Statement: My gold boots—because a little metallic shine is mandatory in the desert.
The Carry: While I usually go minimal, I’m breaking out my vintage LV bag for this trip. It fits the "closet in a car" lifestyle perfectly while adding that classic touch to the evening.

Tips for a "Trunk Closet" Saturday:

Pack in Themes: Keep your "Tramway" gear in one tote and your "Dinner" gear in another so you aren’t digging through the trunk in a parking lot.
Footwear Strategy: Wear your day boots, but keep the gold ones tucked away in a dust bag to keep them pristine for dinner.
Hydrate: The transition from the dry desert to the mountain air can be draining—keep a gallon of water in the car!

The Sunday Swap: Brunching in PS to Dinner at Home

Sunday is all about maximizing every minute. We’re squeezing in one last Palm Springs brunch before heading back to Santa Rosa, so the outfit has to work overtime.

The Morning Vibe: I’m leaning into my travel favorite again with a bold blue two-piece set from FP Movement. It’s that perfect off-the-shoulder, oversized fit that feels incredibly cozy but looks totally put-together for a mimosa at brunch.
The Footwear: One last ride for the boots! They tie the whole "Boho-Athleisure" look together perfectly.

The "Airport Quick-Change" Trick: Here’s where the backpack earns its keep. Since we’re landing and heading straight to dinner with friends, I’m doing a quick change at the airport right before we board.

The Reveal: A Free People maxi dress—it’s lightweight, easy to pack, and resists wrinkles, making it the perfect "hidden" outfit.
The Finish: I’ll toss on my denim jacket for that extra layer as we land back in the cooler air.

The Reality of the Desert Pivot

While I’d love to tell you, every transition was as smooth as a Stevie Nicks vocal, the reality involved a lot more adrenaline! We stayed at the Tramway so long that our Valentine’s dinner countdown hit zero, leading to a frantic, laughing-until-we-cried outfit change right in the car. But the real trophy goes to the return flight change: I found myself in a tiny airplane lavatory, wrestling into my Free People maxi dress while the seatbelt light glared and heavy turbulence rocked the plane. If you can survive a mid-air wardrobe swap at 30,000 feet, you can survive anything!

Gypsy – Stevie Nicks (Live) "To the gypsy that remains... she faces freedom with a little fear." (Especially when changing a maxi dress during turbulence! 😅)