Confession time: About 70% of my wardrobe consists of beach wear. Kaftans, cover ups, one-piece, two-piece, rashies…

If someone were to dissect my wardrobe, they’d think I was living somewhere tropical like Queensland or even Asia. And not freezing Canberra! (Maybe its my coping mechanism to dealing with the cold).

Well most of the places I go to are resort / island destinations so it only makes sense that I would have a number of resort wear.

And while I’m quite honoured to get asked often what swimwear or kaftan I’m wearing, I also feel a little bit guilty.

Because one of the reasons the main reason why I love wearing them boils down to…

Laziness.

So I decided to create the Holy Smithereens’ Ultimate Guide to Resort Wear (Lazy Girls edition)

Lazy Girl =  stylish with minimal effort and time.

1.) The Long Kaftan

As a number one rule, kaftans are a lazy girl’s best friend. First of all, kaftans (especially long ones) feel so damn good. They are breezy, airy, and you end up looking feminine without even trying. It’s like showing up to a party in pajamas and being complimented for it.

Second, a kaftan is the answer to most lazy girls’ dilemma:

Skipped a workout? Kaftan it!

Had an extra plate of dessert last night? Kaftan it!

Planning to have an extra plate of dessert tonight? Kaftan it!

Want to look instantly tall? Kaftan it!

Well obviously, the taller one is, the better one looks in a kaftan. But for not-so-tall (and not-so-short either) lazy girls like me, there’s hope. Depending on your body type, long kaftans also tend to give an illusion that you are taller.

My favourite type of long kaftan is the round neck:

The round neck allows a lot of flexibility and allows the kaftan to be worn many different styles (off-shoulder, one-shoulder, strapless, etc).

For long kaftans, I just love Camilla. I purchase mine direct from their website but I find that some online stockists often have Camilla kaftans on sale.

Another brand that I love which is more affordable than Camilla (but almost as stylish – you have to really pick the right print) is INOA Fashions (IG: @inoafashions) which is where I got my animal print long round-neck kaftan from.

And because I can’t be bothered bringing accessories / jewellery when I’m in resorts, kaftans give you that image of being dressed up with minimal to zero accessories.

Now there are downsides to the long kaftan as well.

Because of the length, long kaftans are better suited for just “lounging” and not for when you are planning to be active.

Also, if the kaftan is extra long or falls off your shoulders, it can make you look frumpy and shorter than you are.

So my second favourite thing to wear is…..

2.) The Short Kaftan

The short kaftan is perfect for when the lazy girl wants to be active. Long kaftans can also look too formal at times, so during the day time, short kaftans are a great option.

I prefer wearing short kaftans when you need to be on-the-go it is very light and airy.

Short kaftans that are sheer can also double as a cover-up, so they are great to wear when going on boat trips or island hopping.

Most of my short kaftans are from Australian brand iAllure Beach & Resort wear.

What I like about iAllure is that they change their collections every now and then so there are always new designs to choose from.

The only thing that I don’t like about sheer short kaftans is if you intend to wear them as casual wear (and not as a cover up for swimwear), you need to wear a tank slip underneath, and this tends to bunch up so you need to re-adjust every now and then.

3.) The bikini

My number one rule when choosing bikini styles is that they MUST stay on even after jumping in the water and stay put when snorkelling or shallow free diving.

My two favourite brands are JETS and Baku, both Australian brands ( Not biased, but Aussie brands are the best in resort / beach wear, and I have tried a LOT.)

Most of JETS bikinis also have a sort of adhesive like lining on the bikini tops so it really stays put.

I’m not too particular about styles but I tend to avoid thin straps. JETS and Baku both have really secure straps / clasps that keep every thing in place.

I also like moulded cups as they provide coverage and support while being low maintenance. I just can’t be bothered with removable cups. The washing dilema, etc. Didn’t I tell you I’m lazy?

And because I am lazy even when it comes to swimwear shopping (I hate trying on swimwear!), I tend to stick to one (or two at most) brands, and because I know how their sizes fit, order them online. 100% of the time, this works perfectly.

4.) The One-Piece

Fortunately for me, one piece suits have been dominating the stylish resort-ista’s wardrobe the past couple of years. Don’t get me wrong, I love bikinis too but sometimes I can’t be bothered to “hold it in” all the time.

The one piece swimwear is my best friend whenever I’ve had too much dessert the previous night or skipped a workout or two. Although nowadays I find that there’s a whole lot more stylish one piece suits, that even on the rare “good-bod-days”, I reach out for the one piece over the bikini.

5.) The Cover-Up

The cover-up is just as necessary as swimwear itself, in my opinion. Not only do they serve their main purpose of covering you up, but they also add a flair and make your swimwear look more dressed up than usual. I find them really helpful after a swim, and I’ve dried off a little bit and want to head to the resort restaurant for lunch or snack, but don’t have time to go to my room to change.

6.) That Floppy Hat

They sometimes call that hat the “Instagrammer’s Hat” because almost every female traveller you see on Instagram will have that floppy hat shot.

Call it what you will, but I find this hat necessary for resort destinations. For one, well…it’s sunny! And I don’t know about you but I rarely wear makeup when I’m in a resort destination. Along with big resort sunnies, the hat will give you that look of being put together without any dab of makeup.

And most recently, I found another use for the hat when I’ve basked in the water far too long and couldn’t be bothered to re-apply sunscreen on my face.

So there you go, my lazy edition guide to resortwear.

Do you love resortwear as well? What are your favourites??

 

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Disclaimer: JETS has provided me with a couple of the bikinis above. But I have long been a loyal customer and been purchasing their swimwear regularly.

I-Allure has provided me with the short kaftans, but my opinions and thoughts of them are my own.

All other items I have purchased independently.