Your Complete Guide to Resort Casual Attire

Your resort casual tops should be relaxed but still elegant: a lace camisole, a striped, oversized button-down, a short-sleeved sweater. These tops can be sexy, like a stretchy tube top, or more refined and mature, like a linen vest. One of my favorite resort tops is actually just a silk scarf tied to look like a strapless shirt. It’s effortlessly elegant and looks expensive, something an heiress might wear.

Oversized button-downs and boxy tees can double as beach cover-ups, making it easy to pack for beach days and other outings. And your slinkier styles can be dressed down with linen pants or dressed up with a silk slip skirt.

No heavy jeans or work slacks digging into your skin on vacation—hallelujah! For resort casual attire, all your bottoms should be uber-comfy and relaxed, so opt for silhouettes that let you move with ease. And look for drawstring or elastic waistbands that provide extra comfort.

I’m talking about linen pants that move with the wind and crocheted shorts that leave you with weird but wonderful tan lines. If there was ever a time to bust out those capris that never seem to fit the occasion, this is it. Wide-leg pants, especially balloon pants or palazzo pants, are sensational for resort outfits as well. You can wear denim, but go for more laidback cuts, lighter fabrics like chambray, and experiment with bold colors or embroidery.

Of course, you need to pack fabulous and graceful dresses for the trip. These silhouettes can range from tunic or button-down T-shirt styles to ballooning maxi dresses and twirly babydoll styles. The possibilities are ample, just avoid pieces that feel structured or heavily tailored. Anything that feels office-y should be left in your closet.

I never go on a warm vacation without one of my trusty silk slip dresses, which always look elegant but feel like sleepwear (I guess the design technically is for sleeping). Playful mini dresses, sexy knit dresses, fringed styles, saucy cutout looks, and halter dresses are all on the resort menu too.

On a vacation with lots of walking, dresses and skirts may leave you feeling exposed. That’s where resort casual rompers come to the rescue. I’m also lumping skorts in with rompers, as they are similarly useful. Like with all the dresses and bottoms, you want to pack roomy rompers if you’re going for a resort casual style. These keep you comfortable on every kind of adventure, but also make it snappy to put stylish but easygoing vacation outfits together.

Matching sets are similarly effortless. They can be composed of shorts, pants, mini skirts, maxi skirts, midi skirts, tees, tanks, button-downs, crop tops, and whatever other silhouettes call to you. For a set, you can lean into a striking pattern or keep things sophisticated with a solid-colored design. You can also mix and match them with other pieces to make more outfits.

Don’t forget your bathing suits! For the most part, any bathing suit can qualify as resort casual attire. However, I think you should lean away from athletic-looking swimwear with zippers and harsh lines. Channel your mermaid side or opt for a vintage 1950s vibe that feels cool and oceanic.

Whether it’s a one-piece, a bikini, or a tankini, just be sure it delivers that easy-breezy energy. Oh, and add some saucy beach coverups to your packing list so you can walk to the beach in style.

To complete these women’s resort outfits, you need the right accessories. Keep the chill aesthetics in mind and lean into organic materials and beachy accents.

Sandals, Espadrilles, and Slides

Open toes are the name of the game here, so bring all your favorite sandals, flip-flops, slides, and espadrilles. You can also bring a pair of sneakers if you plan to do a ton of walking. If you pack heels, make sure they’re not too formal (wedges are the way to go).

Jewelry Basics and Statement Pieces

I don’t like to deal with fussy jewelry on vacation, so I stick to my basics and personality pieces for the most part. But if you have fancy plans at some point, definitely bring a few statement pieces with a tropical vibe, like fringed earrings or beach-inspired necklaces.

Beach Totes and Unique Bags

Every gal needs a beach tote on a resort vacation, so don’t forget to pack that. I also love to bring tiny (like too small to even fit your phone) statement bags that take evening outfits to the next level. They bring a little pizzazz to simple vacation outfits.

Wide Hats, Silk Scarves, and Claw Clips

You might just want to let your hair down, literally and figuratively, for your vacation. But for greasy hair days or windy weather, I recommend packing beach-chic wide-brim hats, cute claw clips, silk scarves (that can double as shirts!), and patterned scrunchies.