IN THIS ARTICLE
Escaping to the sun? YES PLEASE. For all those who are lucky enough to be cramming their suitcases with beach clothes and jetting off to a dreamy destination, we salute you.
While we may be green-eyed with envy, we also are here to hard celebrate people getting to go on a gorgeous tropical vacation. It's been a wild ride and we could all do with plenty of resort R&R to recalibrate and rediscover the pleasures of life.
Whether you are heading out on a cruise, a beach vacation, or even finally taking that honeymoon resort vacation in Hawaii, we have some personal style tips to make you shine.
Piecing together resort outfits takes some time and care (and a whole host of space). While you are certainly going to spend some time kicking back in a bathing suit and flip flops, you also need to think about finding occasion outfits too. From elegant dinners at night to days exploring, easy throw on vacation dresses for after the beach, warmer clothing for nights when the sea breeze starts to pick up, and so much more.
Also, what kind of shoes? Do you take boots or sneakers? How about jewelry to pack and do you choose one purse to wear multiple ways or take one casual and one dress option?
Before you start tearing your wardrobe apart and going into full fashion panic mode, we have some suggestions on the cutest resort wear styles out there.
The Crop Top and High Waist Shorts
High waisted shorts have the benefit of being beautiful for casual days exploring a city and can also be glammed up at night simply by swapping sneakers or flats for heels. We love pairing high shorts with a cute crop top because it shows just a band of skin meaning you stay feeling sexy without feeling exposed. This pairing celebrates linen-blend shorts (the perfect material for hot weather FYI) with a tie top for cinching in the waist and giving feminine flow. The top is also a linen blend with smocked detail that makes it fit snug at the waist and relaxed elsewhere. It's a dreamy blend of casual chic. As mentioned, you can totally play with footwear here - sandals for blue sky brunches, flats for adventures, and heels for a starlit lobster supper.
Perfect for: day trips, city exploring, relaxed lunches and dinners
The Tank Dress
Of all the vacation dresses, we adore a stylish midi that falls below the knee but far above the ankle - keeping us looking fresh and fabulous all day long. A quality dress for your trip should seamlessly see you from day to night, just in case your afternoon takes an unexpected turn, and you don't feel like heading back to the room to throw something different on for the evening. Welcome the tank dress! Fitted beautifully around the bust area but with a free-flowing style from the waist, the tank lends itself well to a sexy silhouette without being clingy or uncomfortable. Its length will keep you protected from the heady sun and the chill of an early eve breeze and if you carry a lightweight cardigan in your purse, you are all set. Pair with flat sandals for a relaxed yet polished look.
Perfect for: day to night wear, cocktails, and cruises
The Strappy Floral Dess
Nothing says carefree summer vibes like a strappy floral number. This floaty little dress is a dream. The best thing about these kinds of strappy dresses is that they are for all occasions. Sling it on over your bikini and walk barefoot in the sand, pair it with a lightweight cardigan, pretty purse, and heels for a dinner date, or throw on your fave pumps and head out for an afternoon checking out local shops, ancient ruins, and any other extraordinary sights close by. Make no mistake, floral dresses are a cute mood.
Perfect for: throwing on over your swimsuit, day trips, and casual dinners
SHOP SOZY
The Lightweight Jumpsuit
Resort elegant casual is a thing, and nothing does it better than the lightweight jumpsuit. Jumpsuits are one of our favorite outfit choices when vacationing because they are soooo comfortable and so versatile. Pick a jumpsuit that is all about soft flow (especially for those who have spent a little too long soaking up the heat and now have sensitive skin). A gorgeous gauzy jumpsuit with a slashed back, thin straps, and chic print is bound to make you feel a million bucks. If you want to shape up the flow, cinch it in at the waist with a belt and wear with strappy sandals.
Perfect for: long lunches and lush dinners
The Short and Sweet Romper
A romper is always a summer showstopper, especially one that's short and sweet. Rompers that come created from a lightweight fabric with a cute print and a fitted feel that doesn't hem you in - this is the checklist you need when packing a summer romper. This piece of clothing also works perfectly on the beach and when heading to a new city as it's super versatile and has a trend that can be changed in a number of ways. Wear with pumps or cute sport shoes for a casual feel or pair with sandals and accessories for a classy cocktail vibe.
Perfect for: beaches, city exploring, cocktails
Midi Skirt and Crop Top
Free flow in style with this sublime pairing of a printed midi skirt and cute crop top. The midi skirt is a thing of beauty - especially when fitted at the waist and flowy from there on down. Pick one with a soft and subtle print and pair it with flat sandals and a crop top. A white crop always looks fresh and will absolutely show off sun-kissed skin. It's the perfect outfit to show of your curves, too :)
Perfect for: day trips, lunches, and spa days
Wide Leg Pants and Halter Top
Wide leg linen pants should certainly be on your pack now list. Airy, comfortable, and forever stylish - wide-leg pants are a much better choice than jeans when it comes to resort wear. They are the perfect step up from casual to balmy summer night chic and can be dressed up or softened down depending on shoes, purses, and top. For example, if you want a more casual feel you can wear them with a soft cotton tee tucked in. For those who are seeking a sultrier look - a black halter that shows off your shoulders and is cropped to just above the waist will figure hug and provide a pleasing contrast in comparison to the flowy wide-legs. Match with black sandals and delicate rose-gold jewelry for a truly elegant finish.
Perfect for: nights out, cocktails, and dreamy dinners
The Maxi Dress
Comfy, flattering, and flowing - the maxi dress can be one of the only things you wear when at a resort. It's such a summer wardrobe staple. Forever sexy, the maxi dress is a statement outfit that is always versatile. You can wear a maxi to everything from a bling wedding to a barefoot walk on the beach. As a daytime wear option, your maxi will keep you covered from the sun's rays and in the evenings, it stops the chill breeze from getting to your legs. You can easily change the look by swapping out brown sandals or flip flops for wedges or heels, and they look good with all kinds of throw-overs - from a denim jacket to a cropped blazer, a cotton cardigan, or a warm wrap. Pick a maxi that plays around with print or color and yes, you can totally afford to go wild with anything from feminine pink to tropical orange. Strappy shoulders and a plunging neckline are just going to add to the fun. It's one of our staples in our comfy girl outfit guide!
Perfect for: beach days, lunches, city exploring, fancy occasions, and dinners
The T-Shirt Dress
The t-shirt dress will change your life. For those times when you want to look fresh and sporty and like you just stepped off the tennis court, this casual-cool little dress is just the cutest number. T-shirt dresses are a mood. Soft and stretchy, they just feel super good against the skin and always lend a flattering silhouette that isn't try hard in the slightest. Pick one in a beautiful blocky color like dark grey and dusty sage and accessorize it with sunglasses, a cute, cropped denim jacket, and a baseball cap for a look that says 'I'm about to jump in my sportscar and tour the Amalfi coast.'
Perfect for: casual days, lazy lunches, and exploring
A Fab Formal Dress
Some resorts call for black dinner dress codes especially if you are off on a cruise someplace special. Having at least one formal style dress in your suitcase is a must. Choose something in a splashy color scheme like yellow and with a showstopping mermaid silhouette. Mermaid dresses are gorgeous - they are snug and stunning and make you feel super sexy without losing an inch of class. Finish with heels and if you have a low back cut, you can sweep your hair up into a chic chignon and don a set of sparkly earrings for an Anna Karenina finish.
Perfect for: black tie events, elegant dinners, and cocktail lounges
Packing Tips for Resort Wear Fashions
For those who want to know how to pack the perfect array of resort outfits, we have some quick and easy tips to help you ensemble the perfect cast that is on-brand for your personal style and elevates your whole vacation experience.
- Be sure to pack a few essential fashion items in your carry on, especially if you have a connecting flight. Even if it's a swimsuit, a couple of lightweight dresses, and a set of beach shoes, you want to make sure that should your luggage get lost you don't have to miss out on a moment of beach fun waiting for your luggage to show up.
- Pack a beach cover-up! A lot of time in resorts may be spent sipping cocktails beside the pool and chilling on the beach, but when you need to run back to your room for something or if you want to grab a snack, throwing on something loose is a must. Whether it's a kaftan or an easy wear loose dress, a beach cover-up is completely relevant to your packing list.
- On that note, be sure to take more than one swimsuit. There's nothing worse than having to wear a damp swimsuit the next day. Even in tropical weather, it can take things some time to dry. Three is considered the ultimate number of swimsuits to take.
- Choose chameleon clothes if you are tight on space. A dress that can be worn in the day and seamlessly transition to night with a simple change of shoes is. game changer. Maxi dresses are awesome for this as are strappy summer dresses.
- Don't forget to check the dress code at the resort you are heading to. Some places require you to wear formal evening wear when dining in the restaurants at night whereas others may be more casual.
- If heading out on excursions do a little research so you know what kind of shoes to wear. Hiking a volcano in strappy shoes is certainly not a good idea. A decent hardy sport shoe should be thrown in with a set of flats that can be tailored to every occasion.
- Material matters. If you are heading to a tropical resort you want to make sure that you pack lots of easy breezy and breathable materials for your resort wear. Comfort matters when it comes to close heat and tight fitting synthetic clothes will not be your friend in this scenario.
- Also, don't forget to roll your clothes in the suitcase so have much more space to play with.
What are your go-to resort outfits? Do you live in a swimsuit on vacation or are you all about stuffing that suitcase full of the latest fashions? Share your favorite resort wear ideas with our VIP Sozy Community.
TOP
