7 Instant Summer Updates For Vacation Season And Beyond
Packing for a last-minute getaway? Hit refresh on your summer closet with these hardworking, escape-ready pieces
The resort-ready dress
Whether you’re jetting off to far-flung shores or spending your vacation closer to home, a sunshine-ready summer dress should top your packing list. The best styles come in slip-on-and-go silhouettes that require little effort to style, like Posse’s ‘Paloma’ tea dress. Featured in our NET SUSTAIN edit and crafted using lower-impact materials, it’s sweetly patterned with trending polka dots and falls to a flowing maxi length – perfect for market strolls and golden-hour drinks. Alternatively, try Matteau’s breezy organic cotton and silk-blend dress – another NET SUSTAIN highlight – for more of a bohemian feel. Simply add minimalist sandals, layers of beaded jewelry, and salty, tousled hair to complement the free-spirited feel. Meanwhile, Zimmermann’s ‘Tallow’ wrap dress is an elegant choice for summer events. Wear it to a beachside wedding with espadrilles and a mini top-handle bag.
A chic cover-up
If you’re heading to warmer shores, your central closet component is likely to be swimwear, so it makes sense to pack loose, floaty pieces that you can layer on top. Enter the cover-up. A kaftan, such as Johanna Ortiz’s embroidered cotton-mesh design, is the ultimate versatile piece. Wear yours over a bikini at the beach, adding a tonal slip underneath to wear to dinner. Another vacation essential is a maxi skirt, and they don’t get much chicer than Missoni’s ‘Mare’ style. The signature striped crochet-knit design looks as pretty paired with a knotted linen shirt as it does the matching swimsuit. Meanwhile, Loretta Caponi’s embroidered maxi dress will suit all kinds of summertime festivities, from long lunches to end-of-day sundowners.
Sleek swimwear
When it comes to swimwear, it’s always worth investing in timeless designs that surpass seasonal trends. Choose a one-piece that can double as an elegant bodysuit or bikinis that are easy to mix and match to maximize wear and packing space. Hunza G’s ‘Judy’ bikini is crafted from the brand’s signature seersucker with a gathered top and high-rise briefs, while Maygel Coronel’s sky-blue version is detailed with a floral appliqué for a romantic take. Prefer a one-piece? Look no further than Lido. Made in Northern Italy, the elegant cut and timeless poppy-red shade of this ‘Uno’ swimsuit deliver elegance and longevity. Wear it with denim shorts and leather sandals for lunch by the harbor.
Versatile co-ords
The co-ord is fast becoming a warm-weather staple – and its appeal is twofold: it looks instantly put together with very little effort (essential for good vacation vibes), and each piece can be styled separately, which is a real bonus when suitcase space is at a premium. Posse’s embroidered cotton-voile ‘Antoinette’ top and skirt set exudes easy elegance and will look beautiful in photographs at sunset. Meanwhile, Faithfull’s floral-print linen top and shorts are perfect for balmy city escapes or dinner by the sea – just add ballet flats and a basket bag à la Jane Birkin. Heading to the beach? Layer Loewe’s lightweight printed silk set from its collaboration with Paula’s Ibiza over your bikini.
A day-to-night raffia bag
A bag that is crafted in raffia instantly gives a sense of escape. This season, seek out colorful styles in shades evocative of picturesque sunsets and verdant landscapes. Eugenia Kim’s ‘Chelsea’ tote is a chic choice for alfresco dinners and cocktails, while Chloé’s fuchsia style in crocheted raffia is perfect for the beach or sightseeing and playfully adorned with a banana charm. Elsewhere, Loewe Paula’s Ibiza’s gingham tote comes with an optional strap if you’d prefer to wear it crossbody. Alternatively, choose roomier totes in neutral shades that will work just as well back in the city as they will when traveling or island-hopping. Ticking every box, Gucci’s monogrammed carryall has plenty of space inside for a beach towel and change of clothes.
Minimalist sandals
A variety of diversions, locations and terrains, combined with limited suitcase space, can make vacation-footwear packing a bit of a conundrum. But one thing you will most definitely need is a pair of simple sandals. Pared back for the beach and elegant enough for evening, multi-functional sandals are a compact size and a packing dream. K Jacques St Tropez and Aquazzura both excel at sleek designs – the former’s classic ‘Actium’ sandal and the latter’s knotted leather ‘Oaxaca’ style are timeless examples that will work as well with a bikini on the beach as they will with a slinky dress for evening.
Beach-ready jewelry
Summer is the perfect time to play with jewelry in playful colors and textures – think beads, shells and pearls. Brooklyn-based Julietta’s crystal-embellished ‘Donna’ necklace is strung with chunky tiger’s eye beads that feel so smooth against bare skin, while Lizzie Fortunato’s colorful ‘Laguna’ necklace is made using responsibly sourced recycled glass rondelles from the Ashanti region of Ghana, Africa. Both are easy to layer with other favorites in your collection. Elsewhere, Completedworks’ recycled gold vermeil earrings are embellished with clusters of sunset orange agates and are a chic way to elevate even the simplest vacation looks.
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The models featured in this story are not associated with NET-A-PORTER and do not endorse it or the products shown