Resort Wear For Women | Chic Vacation Style

Fashionable vacation outfit ideas for day and night on and off the beach | Caribbean and Mexico outfit ideas

Resort wear for women and womens resort wear dresses varies so much from place to place, depending on the culture, resort and weather. Which means that packing resort wear isn’t always the same! I wish it was to make life easy, but it’s also fun finding new cute affordable ladies resort wear outfits that’ll work in each environment.

Mexico, the Caribbean and Far East are not like packing for Italy or Australia. It’s like packing for a shower because of the humidity. So think lightweight flowing fabrics and sleek hair when it comes to resort wear for anywhere humid. These are my resort wear packing essentials, resort wear dresses, outfits, shoes and accessories.

This womens resort wear post contains affiliate links.

Shop resort wear dresses, coverups, outfits & accessories

Super cute kimonos, chic cover ups, breezy dresses, on trend beach bags and gold accessories to complete your resort wear outfits.

Stylish resort wear dresses

Revolve has some of the best resort wear dresses at all price points. I also love Reformations super feminine, floaty styles.

Resort Wear for Women Must Haves

When we went to the Caribbean last July it was 88% humidity! I’m used to the heat, but dry heat even my husband was surprised I was sweating! That was even with my womens resort wear being loose and flowy.

Easy resort wear for women 2023

I’m getting ready to head to Rhodes this Summer and have been updating my resort wear including new rompers, maxi dresses, trending crochet dresses, sun hats, coverups and Chanel Deauville tote bag. Other resort wear must haves include:

• Womens resort wear dresses: sundresses, maxi dresses, or rompers that don’t need ironing or steaming for walking around and dinners. I’m personally not a fan of linen as it creases too easily.
• Cute cover-ups and swim wear for the day.
• Gym wear and sneakers if you’re planning on working out or exploring.
• A sun hat that offers good coverage and tighter fitting sun hat like a baseball cap or sun visor for windy days. As well as a headband to keep fly-aways and stray hairs in place in the wind.
• Water shoes for water sports, clambering over rocks on the beach, etc.
• A SPF top or SPF rash guard for watersports to avoid getting too much sun.
• Statement jewelry for accessorizing and creating the vibe you want.
• A few different pairs of sunglasses especially ones you don’t care if they get scratched on the beach.
• A beach bag that doubles up as a carryon bag.
• Travel dresses with pockets for hands free walking on the beach & keeping possessions safe.

The best beach bags

I love an oversized beach tote that I can also use as my personal bag for the plane as well as at the resort. These are the most fashion forward beach totes for classic straw to Versace’s latest colorful summer tote.

What to Pack Shoe Wise | Resort Wear Shoes

If you’re going to a beach resort there’s not much reason to pack heels unless you want to break an ankle. Especially after day drinking in the sun or too many margaritas.

We spend most of our time barefoot on the beach or in flip flops or slides so we don’t burn our feet or show up to lunch barefoot.

Shop your vacation shoes

Wedges or espadrilles, flip flops, slides or smart flat sandals, sneakers and water shoes/aqua socks are plenty. Water shoes are a must if you’re planning on going to any of the water parks like Xplor or Xcaret. As well as for in the ocean if it’s jelly fish season or there’s sea urchins. Use code SARAHFLINT-BAEVE for $50 off the Sarah Flint sandals.

Resort wear for women : Outfit ideas and inspiration

I’ve always found when I’ve packed for beach vacations I end up not wearing half of the casual day outfits I’d packed like jean shorts and bodysuits.

You really don’t need many casual day outfits to laze around the resort, unless you’re planning on going out exploring on day trips. So my ladies resort wear packing items are a lot more streamlined with a lot of womens resort wear dresses and cover ups.

What I’ve found that I wear the most are long sleeve coverups to avoid getting too much sun, cute summer dresses I can wear to breakfast, floaty maxi dresses and rompers for dinners, swimwear and my SPF rashguard as I like to kayak and paddleboard.

I used to travel with so many pairs of shoes, now it’s just flip flops, flats, sneakers, water shoes and espadrilles.

For the plane I layer. It’s normally something like a comfy loungewear co-ord set with bodysuit underneath for when it’s hot when I arrive or a jumpsuit. Then I’ll throw a blazer and pashmina over it that I can wear to dinners on vacation when the AC’s cranked.

Packing Tip: roll don’t fold your clothes, you’ll get more in your case and they don’t crease as much. I also tend to avoid linen as it’s just too much work to keep crease free and as soon as you sit or get in the car it just wrinkles again.

Where to find fashion inspiration for the resort or area you’re visiting

The easiest way to get an idea of what other women are wearing where you’re going and more specifically at your resort, especially if you’re doing an all inclusive, is to search using the relevant hashtag. E.g. for the area or resort your staying #playadelcarmenstyle #mexicoallinclusive #eldoradomaroma.

That way you know you’re going to fit in, unless of course you want to stand out which is totally fine too.

My vacation ladies resort wear wardrobe requirements

When packing resort wear and for vacation I’m always thinking about their culture, colors, what we’re going to be doing, and comfort. For resort wear dresses it also includes hiding my food belly which means loose fabrics or fabrics with stretch.

Along with fabrics and styles that won’t show if I’m sweating or make me sweaty like layers and nothing too tight on the chest or armpits. As well as being wind proof on island vacations so there’s no Marilyn Monroe moments as the Mexican and Caribbean winds can be no joke.

My husband and I love dressing up for the evening, it’s part of the vacation and makes it feel more special. All of my resort wear dresses, especially for dinner tend to be stretchy.

Check the local weather!

If you have thunderstorms forecast, pack a lightweight waterproof jacket. Most hotels will provide umbrellas so don’t worry about packing those and leave anything suede or that rain could ruin at home.

Working with Hair in Humid Climates

My hair and humidity don’t go well together so I don’t even bother packing my straightening irons. I did try curling my hair a couple of times with my curling irons this Summer in the Caribbean but it lasted about an hour in the humidity and wind before being tied up. For me it’s sleek buns and braids all the way!

I always pack my Dyson hairdryer because it’s so fast and hotel hairdryers are normally pretty powerless or I end up with my hair caught in the back of it. Along with lots of hairbands, grips, headbands and hairspray.

Feeling some Bo Derek vibes in this white crotchet dress and braids.

This year my latest find for holiday hair is Supergoop Poof Part Powder which is an SPF 35 and dry shampoo in one. Since I tend to wear a center part and it was too windy most of the time to walk in my sun hat I used this on my parting.

Other Packing Essentials | Resort Wear For Women

 

• Mosquito repellant. I always get bitten alive, whether it’s mosquitoes in Mexico or sand flies in the West Indies. When shopping for bug repellent look for a spray thats at least 40% Deet otherwise the sand flies will still get you.

• Anti frizz serum. Great for the humidity. You can also use Olaplex 5 to slick hair back which will strengthen and condition at the same time.

• Tinted Body Bronzer. I don’t really go in the sun but shade bath and cheat with self-tanner (Tan Luxe dark) and a tinted body bronzer. This way even if you are a sun worshipper you can get an even color and golden glow for the evening. My go to is Fake Bake Tinted Body Glow (cruelty-free).

• Statement Earrings. I love statement earrings for pulling any outfit together and adding some personality. The bigger the better! I really like the gold hoop earrings and layered gold necklaces from Ettika. Use code LTKeve15 for 15% off.

More Outfit Ideas and Womens Resort Wear Inspiration

If you’re traveling you may also like Loungewear sets for traveling and everyday which are comfy for flying then you can just throw on heels to make it dinner or work appropriate.

If you’re heading to Europe, check out Venice Luxury Guide as European fashion tends to be completely different.

See Also

Pinterest also has some great women’s resort wear fashion inspiration:

Resort wear for women: Mexico Vacation Outfits by Eliza or from my Pinterest. I have lots of boards there covering literally everything (recipes, workouts, beauty, fitness, fashion, pageants). Because it makes it easy to find everything if I keep all of my inspiration and recipes I’m planning on trying, etc in 1 place.

Shop vacation swimwear

If you’re more of a swimsuit than a bikini person, check out these stunning one piece swimsuits for your vacation.

More ladies resort wear style and fitness articles for you

*I’ve called it womens and ladies resort wear as that’s what people are searching for but it doesn’t mean it’s just for that gender.