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Headed to a vacation at a resort but don’t know what to pack? We’ve got 5 drop-dead looks no matter your style preference. Read on for some gorgeous resort outfits!
What to Wear for Beach Resort Vacation
Written By: Niki Landry
Table Of Contents
While beachfront huts and low-key digs are perfectly fine accommodations for your summer vacation, a relaxing stay in a luxurious resort also has benefits!
Start by reading these general tips on packing for summer travel:
- Capsule Wardrobe for Summer
- Lightweight Jackets for Easy Layers
- Best Beach Towels for Travel
- Best Beach Bags and Totes for Vacation
- Versatile Beach Dresses
- 11 Beach Sandals
- Comfortable Walking Sandals
For one thing, you can take advantage of your upgraded lodging by turning in your flip-flops and denim shorts for a lovely summer dress and stylish sandals. You can get away with dressing a little more refined at a resort, so why not pull out all the stops!
Dresses are the key to traveling light, not only are they perfect to create a functional but minimalist capsule wardrobe, they also easily pack into packing cubes!
Below I’ve gathered a collection of resortwear looks in a range of styles to bring along on your summer beach vacation.
Dress | Bikini Top & Bottom | Sunglasses | Bag | Bracelet | Sandals
Classic
A classic resort look involves all of my favorite things: black and white with a hint of retro styling. This look is feminine and polished with a subtle, sexy vibe. The dress shows sleeveless v neck while the block heels gives a little lift. It’s a simple way to look pulled together without much effort.
The bold pink bag offers a pop of color to add interest to the overall look. Top it off with cateye sunglasses for a glamorous resort outfit. When sitting poolside, a long-line classic triangle top with matching bottoms in simple white is a trend-spanning option.
If your travels call for some comfy heels, here are 18 practical styles to choose from!
Dress | Bikini Top & Bottom | Sunglasses | Crossbody | Headband | Sandals
Boho
Paisley patterns, loose, flowy silhouettes, and a mixture of materials, prints, and textures all fall into a bohemian summer resort look. I started with a purple strappy maxi dress, paired it with tasseled and slide sandals, topped it with a knotted headband, and added oversized hexagonal sunglasses to complete the look.
I kept the patterns minimal, so the details on each item could shine. For swimwear, I opted for a mix and match bikini with a high-waisted paisley bottom. You could also add a solid colored bottom for another easy swimsuit option.
We’ve got a roundup of 20 beautiful summer maxi dresses – get ready to update your travel wardrobe with these versatile styles!
Dress | Bikini Top & Bottom | Sunglasses | Bag | Sandals | Earrings
Structured
If you prefer a tailored look for your resort vacay, then this combo of shirtdress and ankle strap sandals may be more your speed. Shirtdresses are such an easy shape to wear and they look great on many body types.
Featuring a color block handbag, patterned dress, and stack heel shoes, this outfit is streamlined and sophisticated. The one-shoulder cutout swimsuit in a saturated hue is a modern edit to the typical bikini shape.
Find out why the most versatile, comfortable, easy-to-wear outfit for travel is a shirtdress!
Dress | Swimsuit | Sunglasses | Crossbody | Earrings | Sandals
Minimalist
Dressing simply doesn’t have to be boring, and this dress is the first step in putting together an effortless and chic outfit. The asymmetrical styling, pleats, and folds elevate this simple, solid-colored dress to a wardrobe favorite.
To complete the look, slide on metallic sandals, cool round shades, and a leather crossbody bag. The refined materials and construction help to add interest to the minimalist outfit.
Choose the best crossbody purse that’s right for you!
Maxi Dress | Bikini | Bag | Sandals | Earrings
Tropical
There’s no better place to pull out your tropical print clothing items than on a beach resort vacation. Rock the boldest of palm leaves, floral, and bird-inspired patterns. Espadrilles pair perfectly with this tropical palm print maxi dress.
Look for espadrille options with an ankle strap, platform, or open toe style to add a fun detail to the popular summer shoe. The colorful floral tropical print swimsuit makes for an easy base to mix and match other solid colored tops and bottoms, maximizing your swim wardrobe to its fullest potential!
Take a look at our top 7 stylish espadrilles – shoes that are perfect for summer travel!
How to Organize Resortwear
Packing cubes can help organize all the clothes you intend to bring, along with your resortwear! We designed our own brand of slim packing cubes, with a unique color and numbering system, so it’s easy to remember where you’ve packed everything. See the video below for more.
Learn our hacks with packing cubes in the video above!
We put together a five-part YouTube series showing the different methods to use packing cubes for travel. If you use this specific packing strategy, packing cubes can also compress your belongings. This is the secret to traveling carry-on only!
What are your resortwear packing tips this season? Share your thoughts below!
For more tips on summer travel, please read these posts:
- 5 Floral Print Dress Styles to Shop this Season (and How to Wear Them)
- A Kimono Style Cardigan that when Reversed is a Chic Shift Dress. What?
- What to Wear to a Beach Wedding: the Best Clothing, Shoes, Accessories
- This 7-Piece Capsule Proves You Can Travel Carry-on for Summer
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Author Bio: Niki is an interior designer and artist from Louisiana. In addition to her design work, she writes for local and online publications sharing her experiences and passion for travel. Niki is currently adding stamps to her passport while building her design practice, Niki Landry Designs.
This was just what I needed! Thank you
The stuff you had chosen was sold out, but gave me great ideas for similar items!
Hi Carlie, so pleased you found the article helpful! Thank you for letting us know about the old out products, we will update this as soon as possible. Have an awesome trip! 🙂