Resort wear is what we call the interseason collection of travel clothes for those leaving a cold climate and heading somewhere warm. The term is a bit retro, but the idea is still current. Right now — in the dead of winter — I have many clients packing their bags for Barbados, Cancun, Cuba, Bali, Australia, and beyond. I know some of you are doing the same, so let’s talk about what’s going in your suitcase.
The best resort wear is all about breezy, lightweight outfits that can seamlessly transition from the beach/pool to dinner or a walk around town. I often use resort vacations as an excuse to try something new on my clients. It’s the perfect time to dress a little bit more sexy, colorful, or eccentric. After all, you’re on vacation! Below I have outlined the best resort wear pieces and outfits you must pack for your escape-from-winter travel.
For a list of my favorite year-round resort wear designers, read my post on My Go-To Resort Wear Brands.
Resort Wear Must: Hat
Paradise tends to be sunny and you need a hat to protect your eyes, skin, and hair from the rays of that beastly goddess. I tend to favor hats with structure versus floppy hats. Yes, they are harder to travel with since you can’t just crumple them up in a suitcase, but geeze Louise, those “packable” hats look like shit when you take them out of the suitcase. To travel with a structured hat, I use the Lindsay Albanese hat holder to clip my hat to my bag. If you really need a good packable hat, I highly recommend San Diego Hat Company’s signature roll-up visor.
Available at Nordstrom, Revolve, Zappos, and Lack of Color.
Sizing: S-XL
Material: Palm-leaf straw
Resort Wear Must: Killer Sunglasses
You gotta have killer shades for your resort stay. Again, try something you may not usually rock. I love to select a bigger look, often in an usual color, when preparing my clients for a resort stay.
Available at Revolve.
Sizing: One size
Material: Acetate frames with translucent lenses
Resort Wear Must: Stunning Sarong
I want everyone to have an absolutely exquisite sarong. A sarong is so versatile for a vacation and one of the best resort wear items you can pack. You can use your sarong:
- As a swimsuit coverup
- As a dress if you are going straight from the beach or pool to dining
- To cover your shoulders from the sun or a chill
My favorite one pictured above is lovely, but my second favorite by Maaji is more affordable and ready to shop right now. See all of my favorite sarongs in my post on Stylish Sarongs for Summer, and if you need help tying your sarong, check out my post on How To Tie A Sarong for step-by-step instructions.
Available at Neiman Marcus, Net-A-Porter, and Revolve,.
Sizing: One size
Material: 100% cotton
Resort Wear Must: Throw On Garment
You must have a dress or garment that is easy to throw on for breakfast, a romp to the beach, or whatever quick thing you need to get dressed for on a resort vacay. I love this coverup dress above because it can go over a swimsuit or a simple bralette and makes for an easy and chic resort outfit. Another favorite is Show Me Your Mumu’s crochet coverup dress, which comes in so many different colors you can easily find one to match your resort wear wardrobe. (You can see me wearing the rainbow version here.)
Available at Revolve, Shopbop, and Anthropologie.
Sizing: XS-XL
Material: 85% viscose, 15% cotton
Resort Wear Must: Chic Swimsuit
Always pack multiple swimsuits. I love to pack a couple of two-piece suits for a better tan, and then one-piece suits for hanging around and more sporty activities. Either way, you must coordinate your suits with your sarong, throw-on dresses, and wide-leg pants. If you are packing right, you should be able to really move these pieces around with your swimwear for a cohesive look and easy outfit changes. For all my favorite swimsuits this season, check out my post on the best swimwear brands.
Available at Free People.
Sizing: XS-XL
Material: 90% Recycled Polyamide, 10% Elastane
Resort Wear Must: Bold Beachy Dinner Look
One of my favorite resort wear outfits is a bold, beachy dinner look. At least one night you want to dress up in such a way that looks like you are ready for the beach, yet it is utterly stunning. Just Be Queen is one of my favorite designers for this type of look. For all my favorite resort wear designers, see my post on My Go-To Resort Wear Brands.
Available at Bloomingdale’s.
Sizing: XS-XL
Material: 100% linen
Resort Wear Must: Breezy Wide Leg Pants
A breezy wide leg pant is a definite must for resort wear. The style is great for sun protection and the lightweight fabric keeps you from overheating. You can wear them casually, or throw them over a swimsuit to sport for dinner.
Available at Revolve, Bloomingdale’s, and Faithfull the Brand.
Sizing: XS-XXL
Material: 100% rayon
Resort Wear Must: Minimal Comfy Sandals
I would love it if those beautiful resort sandals were comfortable, but they are not, so I am all about keeping it super simple and utilitarian on the feet with comfy sandals. I also prefer to pack as much water-friendly footwear as possible. These sandals by Bared Footwear are my go-to resort sandals at the moment. They come in so many different colors, I am sure you can find one to complement your resort wear outfits.
Available at Bared Footwear.
Sizing: 5-12M (US)
Material: Natural rubber
Resort Wear Must: Crossbody Bag
I am all about a crossbody bag for travel, especially when you want to easily carry personal items around a resort or hotel. I am tickled pink I found a rattan crossbody bag to go with this resort post!
Available at Clare V.
Sizing: One Size
Material: Leather
Resort Wear Must: Wood Earrings
If you wear earrings, you must pack a unique pair. Gold is lovely with all these resort pieces, of course, but I tend to favor an earthier material, like wood, as a nod to the magic of nature that often surrounds a resort vacation.
Available at Revolve and Madewell.
Sizing: One Size
Material: Wood
Resort Wear Optional: Off the Shoulder Dress or Top
I know my busty gals don’t love to wear an off-the-shoulder top, but for those who feel comfortable, an off-the-shoulder top or dress screams resort wear chic. Plus, it helps keep unwanted tan lines away.
Available at Nation Ltd.
Sizing: XS-XL
Material: 100% Pima, Cotton Poplin
Resort Wear Optional: Chic Packable Tote Bag
If you are doing some serious beach or pool lounging, you must have a chic packable tote bag for your towel, book, and other larger items. This is also great if you are shopping in the town. If you want to save space, I recommend chic reusable tote bags. I love this large tote bag from Clare V or this smaller stylish reusable bag from Anthropologie.
Available at Shopbop, Amazon, and Hat Attack.
Sizing: One Size
Material: Raffia
Resort Wear Optional: Statement Bag
These bags usually don’t make sense, but they are just so cute and seriously polish off a solid resort wear outfit. The bag I selected above is lightweight, fits nicely on your wrist, and packs well. It looks fabulous for a dinner out.
Available at Revolve, Amazon, and L*Space.
Sizing: One Size
Material: Wood
Photos by Dayley Photography
My blog posts are my honest and personal opinion. Sometimes my content includes products sent from brands or PR firms. In this case, I was sent a sample from Made Terra, Onecklace, Fitflop, and Tenth Street Hats.
