Resortwear: Fun, flirty and fabulous

The pandemic gave way to revenge travel and comfort clothing, with holidaywear rising to the top. We spoke to experts to know more

Crochet tops, sheer shirts, floral print maxi dresses, sultry bikinis, oversized hats, tinted sunglasses, flowing kaftans, linen pants, and comfy flip flops — all of these, and more, come under the broad umbrella of resortwear or holidaywear. With relaxed fit and breathable fabric comprising its DNA, resortwear has come a long way from serving the affluent alone to becoming a mass favourite. “Resortwear was born between the two world wars (World War I and II), when people with means suddenly had the option to travel. It also coincided with the idea of travelling to exotic locations for a holiday,” explains designer Nachiket Barve.

Anushka Sharma rocking an orange monokini with a matching cover-up from Flirtatious (Instagram)

What exactly is resortwear?

“Loosely defined, it includes garments that one wears to feel relaxed. The concept began with clothes worn on holiday resorts, at cruise tours, and beaches,” informs designer Anupamaa Dayal. Agreeing with Dayal, Bollywood stylist Akshay Tyagi says, “It falls in the middle of autumn/winter and spring/summer collections; it’s basically holidaywear.”

Tyagi adds, “Resortwear has gained immense prominence in recent years, especially after the pandemic. We began to see more swimwear, sarongs, and kimonos, among other items, on social media and on and off the runways.”

Recently, the multi-hyphenate Jennifer Lopez was seen wearing a printed halter top with matching flowy pants by the pool, whereas closer to home, actor Anushka Sharma gave major vacation goals in an orange monokini with a matching cover-up.

Pandemic effect

While the travel industry was first in the firing line, bearing the brunt of Covid-19, it was also one of the quickest to get back on its feet. According to an online source, homegrown swim and resortwear labels such as Shivan & Narresh, Guapa Resort Wear and Studio Verandah witnessed a spike in their sales post-pandemic. “The pandemic taught people to make every experience special, whether they were travelling or not. We have learnt how to bring holidays home, and resortwear, because of its sense of joyful escapism combined with comfort, totally assisted in this process,” shares Reby Jindal, founder of Guapa Resort Wear, adding, “In fact, we started a line of swimwear during the pandemic that was very well received. I think the industry as a whole suffered, but the months that were open made up for the lost sales.”

Into the mainstream

Recently, resortwear got an upgrade, from holiday to daily and ethnic wear. While actor Sobhita Dhulipala was spotted wearing an abstract printed saree dress ideal for a vacation wardrobe, actor Shilpa Shetty Kundra wore a white printed playsuit at a movie promotion. Actor Ranveer Singh, too, was spotted redefining summer style in an abstract comfy print shirt with clashing pants.

Industry players

“Resort was a very logical segment to pick for us back in 2010 because India essentially is a resort country; the majority of the season is summer or warm with only a few months of winter in North,” says Narresh from Shivan & Narresh, one of the earliest resortwear brands in India.

Some of the other homegrown labels catering to this market include Flirtatious, Nadi Nadi, Papaaya Swimwear, The Summer House, IZSI, among others. Globally, luxury brands such as Oscar de la Renta, Louis Vuitton and Dior, among others, come up with their resortwear collections periodically. Earlier, designers such as Lilly Pulitzer, Coco Chanel, and Elsa Schiaparelli were instrumental in popularising the trend.

Style tips

Always make sure that you are absolutely comfortable in whatever you are picking in resortwear.

Mix and match your clothes, combining high-street and luxury items.

Resortwear should be seasonless and timeless; avoid relying solely on trendy pieces.

Have a great change of outer-layers while keeping the base layer the same.

Inputs by stylist Akshay Tyagi