By Lisa Neff

Contributing writer

“Hey, Chicago.”

That’s what I heard often the first year after I left Illinois for Florida. The way I dressed gave me away as a girl from the north country. In time I learned to forego plaids for palm tree motifs and traded shoes and socks for sandals. I sometimes go weeks without wearing long pants. Same for a jacket. And my wool sweaters have gone into the closet—maybe for good (any takers?).

So, with that, I offer some advice on how Chicagoans getting away from snow and sleet, from the cold and gray, might play local in a sub-tropical or tropical paradise.

Friday: When you fly out of Midway or O’Hare after clocking out at the end of the day, make sure to leave the parka behind—or at least packed away in a suitcase.

And leave with some color. Florida birdwatchers identify snowbirds by their white legs. Rimmel’s Sunshimmer Sexy Instant Tan combines Lycra, glycerin and pearls, glides on evenly and effortlessly and leaves skin soft, moist and glowing. The instant tan colors in two shades—golden for fair skin and amber for darker skin. Rimmel’s Natural Bronzer—in three shades—powders the skin with a touch of sun.

Saturday: You’ll be anxious to get to the beach for sun and fun. Remember sunscreen—a sunburn later would give you away and cause you some pain. Shady Day SPF 30 sunscreen wipes are saturated with moisturizing lotion, water resistant, laden with vitamins and aloe vera, have a citrus scent and fit just fine in a pocket or pack. You’ll also find the skin rapidly absorbs the sunscreen, without leaving a greasy or sticky film.

Sunday: You’ll be hungry for brunch, open-air, on the waterfront or veranda or at a sidewalk cafe. Remember, no long pants. Also remember sunglasses. During Chicago winters, you can tell a southerner by his or her choice in slippery shoes. During Florida winters, you can tell a northerner by the squint. Forgetful Floridians stock up on cheap sunglasses at the dollar store so they can leave them behind in cars and stores and offices. Sophisticated Floridians invest in shades, like the high-end, fashion-forward eyewear from John Varvatos and Carolina Herrera. These are perfect accents—and useful tools—in a vacation wardrobe.

Monday: You’ll be eager to see the sights, take a stroll on the pier and ride a trolley along the water. Remember, no socks on those feet and no laces on those shoes. California-based Flojos makes a variety of footwear for sand, surf and street. The Jasper is an all-leather thong sandal with a padded footbed. The Valencia is a smooth flat sandal with ladder stitching and strap. And a favorite, the Neptune in green and white strips or blue and white stripes, is a twin gore slip-on with soft fabric, a rubber toe wrap and a non-marking sole.

Tuesday: You’ll be curious about the clubs. Remember your basic black, and more black. And remember to toast with a drink of the sun gods. Nurture a taste for tequila—if you don’t already have one. Tequila Tezón is 100-percent blue agave, super-premium tequila. Imported from Arandas, in the highlands of Jalisco, Mexico, Tezón is the only exclusively Tahona-processed tequila available in the country. Tahona refers to an ancient, authentic and revered volcanic millstone technique. A colossal crushing wheel, fashioned from tezontle—volcanic stone found in Mexico—and weighing up to two tons, is employed to pulp the agave. This method, the cornerstone of the process, is employed in preference to the ordinary, modern-day, mechanical means. The juice and the fibers of the agave are then slowly fermented and distilled (on the first occasion) together. These factors create a unique aroma and taste because the essence of the agave is conserved.

Wednesday: You’ll be hoping to catch a sunset and perhaps enjoy some romance. Remember at the Golden Hour to wear white on white or white on blue. And remember to capture the moment. SeaLife’s EcoShot camera is specifically designed for those who love any type of outdoor diversion, from the serene to the extreme. Its durable, fully rubberized exterior allows users to take impressive photographs in outdoor conditions. And its compact size makes it the ideal camera for the outdoors. CFP went gaga for this camera. The spy mode allows the camera to take continuous pictures at set time intervals to capture the perfect shot of hard to photograph subjects. The EcoShot also features a unique land and sea exposure program so the camera automatically takes sharp, colorful pictures in a variety of applications. Set the camera to sea mode for optimal exposure control and color correction of underwater pictures. www.sealife-cameras.com

Thursday: You’ll be running short on clean clothes and ready for a shopping excursion. Remember to leave some room in your luggage for a Tommy Bahama “Cruisin for a Boozin” camp shirt, an everyday Ron Jon Surf Shop “Swell Flames” T-shirt, a traditional guayabera from the Cuban food market and a pre-washed “Jimmy Buffett End of the World” baseball cap.

Friday: You’ll be wanting to extend your stay. Open up your laptop, connect to the Internet and see about getting a later flight—like on May 1.