It’s that time of year again…the time of year when you get to escape the frigid air and trade in slushy sidewalks for white sandy beaches and sunshine…it’s resort season! It’s time to set your parkas aside and bring out your finest vacation attire, also known as your resort wear. Whenever I hear the words “resort wear” I envision Grace Kelly in the 1950’s, laying poolside at the most luxurious hotel in Palm Beach. I also think about walking into Bergdorf Goodman and admiring the elegant mannequins dressed to the nines in the season’s latest one-piece swimsuit, paired with a wide-brim sun hat, a fabulous beach bag and of course, couture sunglasses.
Resort wear is now a modern idea once dedicated for the upper echelon society; in other words, people who had the means to travel to warm destinations during the cold winter months. Fashion houses began designing resort wear as there was a need for chic attire that could easily be worn by the beach but also appropriate for fine dining. The key to resort wear is versatility as well as lightweight fabrics that are easy to travel with and look effortlessly fashionable. Breathable fabrics such as cotton, silk and poplin as well as no fuss fabrics are characteristics of resort collections. The nautical theme, with clothing that mimicked sailors’ looks, was very common during early resort trends. Wide leg cotton pants and navy striped sleeveless tops are some of the most memorable looks from early resort wear designers. While some traits can still be found in todays resort collections, styles are now ever changing and becoming more modern! Originally, only high-end and exclusive stores catered to this line of clothing, not every fashion house subscribed to the resort lifestyle.
However, times have changed and many designers are creating ready-to-wear resort collections. Traveling to warm weather destinations is much more accessible and resort wear is now in very high demand. Resort wear is no longer considered a seasonal collection but rather a year-round clothing style that displays a sense of style to the wearer.
Photo Credit: Luccia Lowenthal
