Resort Wear Through the Years: A Fun Fashion Throwback

• Posted on 14 June 2023
• 0

The history of resort wear is expansive, and it’s more interesting than you might think. This fun fashion throwback is a deep dive through time, all the way back to the first resort wear styles.

Lux Boutique is a unique shop filled with fashion, fun gifts, and more. The primary focus is resort wear, which is one of the most popular types of fashion in the Naples, Florida area. The history of resort wear is expansive, and it’s more interesting than you might think. This fun fashion throwback is a deep dive through time, all the way back to the first resort wear styles. 

Changes During the Interwar Period

Resort wear is bright and cheerful because the concept was initially conceived during the periods between World War I and World War II. After the culination of the first war - but before the start of the second - the socialites came out in droves to enjoy tropical climates around the world. In those days, it was less about relaxation for these would-be celebrities and more about the publicization. After all, mass media gained traction during the first war, and the post-war period was all about using it to achieve fame. 

Exotic Holidays

Exotic vacations became the ultimate getaways. Celebrities visited warm, beachy tropics and made sure that photographs were shared with the masses. Televisions weren’t prevalent yet, and color TV was unheard of, so lighter colors prevailed as they captured more attention (and kept the body cooler in the hot tropical sun). For years, people referred to resort wear as “beach wear,” and it was a highly exclusive category of fashion reserved for the elite and famous. 

The Rise of Fashion Writing and Color TV

As fashion writing grew more popular, the writers grew fixated on the luxurious beach wear and the lifestyle it represented. As the years passed, celebrities began showing up on American television screens, and in the 1960s - along with the introduction of color television into many modern American homes - the style began to shift.  Almost as soon as the media could portray the subtle differences in color on this new technology, fashion featuring light color blocks, polka dots, and stripes evolved into brighter, bolder patterns representative of tropical climates. 

Today’s Resort Wear

These days, resort wear is still bright, bold, and colorful. It still consists of flowy, loose fabrics designed to keep the body cool in scorching temperatures, and it still embodies the beach lifestyle. However, today’s resort wear has a more contemporary spin and features high-tech moisture-wicking fabrics crafted into flirty and sexy styles. Designers like Hale Bob and Trina Turk have all but cornered the market with their beautiful selections of resort wear for today’s empowered women. 

The history of resort wear pays homage to the rise of America’s fixation on celebrity lifestyles. In fact, many view it as the a key player in the first foray into reality television. Resort wear is just as iconic today as it was then, and for many women, it still represents exotic climates, a luxurious lifestyle, and the epitome of comfort and flair.