While scrolling Reddit recently, I came across a thread on resort wardrobe aesthetics. One user described her aspiration as ‘bored heiress,’ and then shared a capsule wardrobe so good I immediately bookmarked it. It wasn’t just the formula I admired, it was how effortlessly she had nailed her aesthetic.
We all buy clothes for the women we imagine we’ll become on vacation. For years, I packed long, flowing kaftans and wide-leg palazzo pants for the beach, only to end up feeling less like a social siren and more like Maude.
Then one afternoon at the beach, I saw a woman wearing a pair of white chino shorts and a navy-blue button-down, open just enough to reveal her bikini top. In a sea of colorful kaftans and crochet cover-ups, she stood out. Her dark hair was pulled back into a ponytail, her hands were tucked into her pockets and she had an easy laugh. She looked comfortable, confident and completely at home in what she was wearing, and I wanted to be her.
The Unbothered Regular
“so I could be myself, just at the beach”
After that day, I stopped shopping for the woman I thought I would become on vacation and started buying beachwear and swimwear that made me feel comfortable and confident, so I could be myself, just at the beach. I call my aesthetic The Unbothered Regular.
For me, that means less loud, high-drama, main-character dressing and more clothes that are comfortable, easy and can take me through an entire vacation day. I want to move from the the pool, to the beach, to the bar, and into town without needing three or four wardrobe changes.
That is the woman I’m shopping for now.
Naming her changed the way I shop. I can see a fire dress and instantly recognize that it belongs to someone else’s vacation. A dramatic hat? Maybe. A crochet thong bikini set? Absolutely not. An interesting sandal? A structured tote? Now we’re talking.
Before buying anything for vacation, I ask myself three questions:
Would I wear this at home? No? Then the cost-per-wear must be super low.
Can I actually move through a full day in it? If I don’t have a planned special event, it’s staying in the store.
Does pulling this off require me to become a completely different person? No? Then it’s coming home with me.
Do you have a resort wardrobe aesthetic? What is it? And how do you shop for her? I would love to hear it.
Add to Beach Bag
I found this Gucci-esque looking scarf on Amazon this week. It’s supposed to be a sarong, but the fabric is super light and thin; I tried it as a head scarf and liked it a lot better for that. It’s also less than $10, so score. I like it in this print too.
I was also looking for a pair of vintage-y black shorts under $40, which is harder than it sounds. Or at least, harder than it should be. I decided to shop Macy’s because Delta was offering 7 miles per $1 spent, which turned out to be a very good decision. All Levi’s are on sale at Macy’s this week, so I bought a pair of Women’s 501 Button Fly High-Rise in Hit Escape (pictured above), and I also picked up this pair for less than $18. I love end-of-season sales!
