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-legged 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.
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.
My Unbothered Picks
I’ve written about my beach wardrobe formula before, so rather than give you another formula piece, here are a few things I’ve already bought, along with a few I’m shopping for my upcoming trip.
I was 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!
I read somewhere that if you need a belt, you should size down in your pants. Maybe. But what if you just like belts? I really like this faux-croc leather belt from Mango. I just wish it came with a silver buckle too.
Here’s a cute cotton crochet cover-up from Soma Swim. I like the Coconut, but the black maxi version is nice too if you want something a little more dramatic.
I love the back on this swimsuit. I love the front too, but the back is what sold me.
I also like this pool pareo. It comes in black and white, but I prefer the black. There’s a longer version I’ve been eyeing too. I’ve been watching both for a sale. I found the short one on eBay for $40, but I’m still holding out for a price in the twenties.
I finally bought these balloon pants after waiting for them to go on sale. I probably could have held out a little longer, but I didn’t want to risk my size selling out. I’m also keeping an eye on this pair by Sanctuary. They look like they’d be perfect for travel.