Whether you’re planning a tropical vacation or just want to escape to a warmer state of mind, use our guide to see exactly what you’ll need to pack to look and feel your best. We’ve put together a list of tropical vacation outfit ideas, including convenient beach vacation must-haves, chic outfits, and a few items you might not have thought of (but will be thrilled you packed!).

Take a look at our guide for what to wear to a resort location or cruise, and as you start to pack, consider consigning anything you know you’re ready to part with. After all, the best way to get rid of your excess summer clothing is to consider what you don’t want to bring along for your sunny vacations.

Easy slide-on shoes

Comfortable slide-on sandals or flats are essentials for any tropical vacation and are something many people often forget to bring. But, luckily you know to pack 1-2 pairs of your most comfy-cute slip-ons!

When you need to run back to your room or head off to a grab a quick bite at the nearby cabana — you know you’ve got a convenient option to protect your feet from any debris or hot sand!

Colorful dresses or rompers (one for every night out!)

For every night you’re planning to go out to dinner, make sure you have a chic outfit set aside. Finding cute dresses, rompers and other outfits is almost the best part about pre-vacation shopping! Plus, you know you can rock any of these looks again right when summer hits, so they’re worth splurging on!

Pro tip: Don’t forget to coordinate your shoes with these outfits! This way, you know you’ll have a complete look every night without stressing that you’ve forgotten to pack an essential piece of your ensemble.

Wedges to match every outfit

Everyone knows heels are not the best beach vacation shoe, because if sand comes into play at all, forget walking through it. So, if you’re wondering what shoes to pack for a night out during a beachy vacation, wedges are your answer! They’re often a perfect match for any neutral or bright dress you’re planning to wear. And, their sturdy platform makes walking easy, which is great if your feet are tired from roaming through sand or on pool tiles all day long!

Pro tip: Try to grab a couple neutral-toned colors with a tan or brown base. We recommend blush, black, tan, or white!

A swimsuit or two for each day

What to pack for a beach vacation? Endless swimsuits. You can never go wrong with packing plenty of your favorite swimsuits and buying more to bring along. After all, they’re not too heavy and don’t take up too much room in your suitcase … so it’s okay to go a little overboard! Plus, if you pack a few swimsuits, you’ll always have a dry suit ready on backup duty for all the impromptu trips to the pool or beach.

Pro tip: Always find tops and bottoms you can mix and match! To do so, grab a few tops and a few bottoms in neutral colors so they can match any bright-colored counterpart!

Versatile hats

Pack a few hats to go over wet or windblown hair, and make sure you have options to match your many outfits. Keep in mind as you pack your newest hats that you’re okay with them getting splashed or even soaked if you’re jumping in a pool with them on.

Our top picks:

• Baseball hat: bring 2-3 that offer different colors and that you’re okay with getting wet
• Floppy hat: perfect for throwing over windblown hair or complementing a dinner outfit
• Fedora or Panama hat: For a bold and classy statement, try a fedora or Panama hat for a stroll around town or night out. 

Two of your favorite beachy cover-ups

If you’re looking for tropical beach vacation outfit ideas, the most important ones to plan are the swimsuit and cover-up combos. You’ll want to make sure you match your many suits with three or four chic cover-ups.

So, we recommend you choose either colorful or neutral. But, before you pick one option, try to base your cover-up look on your swimsuit style.

• If you’re a fan of flamboyant swimsuits, opt for neutral colored, semi-see-through cover-ups to wear on your way to the beach/pool. 
• If you’re into neutral swimsuits, try to step out of your color palette a little bit with a brighter cover-up. After all, you really only wear them on the go in these sunny locations!

Last but not least … comfortable travel outfits!

The most important, yet most often overlooked tropical vacation outfit idea is the travel outfits that you’ll be wearing all day long while on the plane or in the car. You’ll be thanking yourself later if you pack a clean and comfortable outfit to wear over possible sunburn for your long ride back home.

For your travels to the destination, you’ll be happy you chose an outfit cool enough to keep you from sweating on the long trip to your resort.

Our top picks:

• Leggings or comfy shorts
• Lightweight t-shirts or long-sleeve shirts
• Zip-up hoodie

Get everything you need for less!

Shop your local Turn Style for everything on your tropical vacation packing list. When you come into one of our stores, you’ll find thousands of name-brand clothing and vacation staples all year round, and if you’re lucky, a current sale or promotion to help you save even more.

Find your Turn Style today to get shopping for your upcoming trip to paradise!