Sun Seeker

Hot holidays might be a time to flex your fashion flair, but the key to every successful colorful capsule closet is the addition of ultra-versatile, pared-back foundations. “You can never go wrong with a good oversized white shirt,” says Kelifa. “I find myself throwing mine over swimsuits as a cover-up, pairing it with shorts and a bikini top when strolling around, and over a dress in the evening when the temperature drops.” For Haskell-Thomas, a matching linen-shirt-and-shorts set is the ultimate foundation: “You can wear both pieces as separates, with the shirt open over a bikini, or the boxer-style shorts over a swimsuit. But they also look great as a two-piece set, styled during the day with flats, or dressed up for evening with chunky silver jewelry and a pair of heels.”

The best travel outfits can be reworked on arrival: think a breezy linen shirt thrown over a tank top, and a lightweight pair of pants that can double up as eveningwear: “I love lightweight pajama-style pants for summer,” says Haskell-Thomas. “Either in a neutral linen or a cotton stripe, which can be dressed up for evening with a luxe tank or worn casually to the beach.” When it comes to swimwear, opt for versatile, minimal ’90s styles that can worn with denim and crochet for day, then peeking from under sheer mesh dresses by night. “Look for solid shapes that will carry through year on year,” says Georgina Huddart, founder of Hunza G, whose bestsellers are simple, timeless silhouettes and colors. “Neither super-skimpy nor super-covered – just very flattering.”

“A good bikini is an important foundation to all wardrobes, not just a holiday one,” says Isa Boulder founder Cecilia Basari. “It’s a versatile and timeless piece that can be easily styled with accessories, but also more formalwear.”

For Aza Ziegler, founder of LA-based knitwear label Calle Del Mar, the retro weave is the epitome of summer style – “It’s easy, a bit breezy and carries a sense of story and nostalgia that summer is all about!” Try pairing the brand’s crochet cardigan with a crisp linen pant and a sandal, or over an easy summer dress with some chunky statement jewelry. “The key to styling crochet is to celebrate it as the statement and pair it with clean or bold basics,” says Ziegler. Dodo Bar Or’s striped crochet ‘Morten’ midi is similarly versatile: slip it on with sandals and sunnies for a beach lunch, or style with cowboy boots for a festival. Alternatively, try Cult Gaia’s ‘Niki’ top and matching ‘Sato’ skirt, crocheted from vibrant jade threads and embellished with tiny beads that glitter in the sun: “It’s a great layering piece, with beautiful beaded details, but is also so simple and elegant when worn over a bikini,” says Cult Gaia founder Jasmin Hekmat. “I love that our crochet pieces are handmade and worked on so extensively – it’s a perfectly imperfect craft because no two pieces look the same.”

Why leave sequins and shimmer languishing in your wardrobe until next Christmas? Opt instead to repurpose your party-ready glitz for warmer climes with the addition of pared-back basics. “Play with contrast and dress it down with something simple,” says Kelifa. “Pairing a sequin skirt with a cotton tank top always feels cool.” Try Bottega Veneta’s silver intreccato crinkle leather skirt with a white tank, as worn by Devyn Garcia in our PORTER shoot; or pair a shimmering Paco Rabanne chainmail miniskirt with a crisp white shirt for a summery night-out look. And who’s to say you can’t wear sequins on the beach? “I love the unexpected contrast of a sequin minidress casually thrown over a bikini,” says Haskell-Thomas. Try Loewe Paula’s Ibiza’s ribbed-knit, strappy minidress sewn with giant sunshine-colored sequins over a simple white bikini – as mood-boosting to wear as it looks.

Priceless diamonds and precious gems can feel excessive for the beach, plus a loose stone slipping from its claws to the ocean floor is enough to put a downer on even the most blissful of boat days. Opt instead for sturdier beachy bling with a natural feel: crystals, colorful beads and freshwater pearls are trending for summer ’23. “Crystals in pastel tones and bright colors are back – and, when styled with a simple T-shirt or tank top, make every outfit feel more elevated,” says NET-A-PORTER jewelry buyer Emily Johnston, who recommends pairing pops of color with gold and silver pieces to keep things chic. “Summer really is the best time to have fun with jewelry – by adding color or oversized statement pieces. Be bold!”

“Crystals are a gift of natural beauty that carry meaning, intention and thoughtfulness – perfect for traveling,” says Jia-Jia Zhu, whose eponymous crystal-centric label Jia Jia uses ethically sourced, natural crystals that are hand-set with gold, diamonds and semi-precious stones in New York City, San Francisco and Los Angeles.

While a stack of crystal necklaces or bracelets partner perfectly with minimal ’90s swimwear, a pair of dramatic freshwater pearl earrings is the ideal way to take a slip dress from beach to bar: “They always look chic when paired with a summer slip,” says Johnston. For Completedworks founder Anna Jewsbury, whose designs deliberately mismatch real baroque pearls alongside bio-resin pearl imitations made from renewable sources like cashew-nut oil and soy-bean oil, it’s the imperfection that is the charm: “I love knowing that each pearl is slightly different – and unique to the wearer.”

Whether jetting off long-haul with half your closet or traveling light on a minibreak, savvy packing always makes dressing easier once you get there. Kelifa suggests using packing cubes – which are particularly useful if you’re moving around different locations – while for Haskell-Thomas, it’s all about pareos in different colors and prints: “I find them so useful as beach cover-ups, worn over your shoulders if it gets chilly in the evening, or even on the flight. Plus, they take up no space to pack,” she says. “I also use old shoe dust bags to separate bikinis, underwear and tanks tops, which keeps everything organized and easy to find. And I always pack a cotton laundry bag to throw my dirty washing in. That way, I can easily see what I still have to wear – and then my laundry is all in one place, ready to take home at the end of the vacation.”

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